Smooth Skin Operator

How to banish bacne, buttne and those bumpy arm bits…

Keratosis Pilaris

Stubborn red bumps that cannot be masked by fake tan, keratosis pilaris, usually found on the backs of arms, is caused, as the name suggests, by a build-up of keratin that blocks the hair follicle. The result is small bumps that are difficult to disguise. Glycolics are your friend; daily use will dissolve the build-up and serve up smooth skin just in time for summer. Try Alpha Beta Smoothing Body Towels by Dr Dennis Gross Skincare, €30, or Alpha-H Liquid Gold with glycolic acid, €37.90, for two weeks for smoother looking triceps.

Bacne

The skin on your back is home to more germs than your face and needs daily antibacterial diligence. Snug clothing doesn’t help ?the issue, creating the perfect breeding ground for spots and blackheads. Keep flare-ups at bay with a salicylic wash; products used for facial blemishes can double up for the back too, but given there are more square inches to cover, try Murad Blemish Control Body Wash, €41, with a long-handled body brush, like the BackBliss Lotion Applicators, €18, to help you hit those hard ?to reach areas.

Buttne

Not the nicest affliction, and one that’s not openly discussed or admitted, but like the back, the bum harbours bacteria. A word of advice: remove gym clothes as soon as you get home, and don’t forget to tend to your behind in the shower; use a body wash with salicylic acid and wear cotton or silk underwear to keep your backside looking sunny-side at the beach.

Follow Liz Dwyer on Twitter! @BeautyBootcamp1