Body Acne Tips and Tricks: Plus, Check Out the Top Rated Body Washes for Acne Breakouts.

Hi there, reader. You’re probably here for the same reason I’m writing this article – we’ve both had close encounters with body acne, and have searched for methods to deal with it. And there’s good news, and bad news. The bad news is that many, many people have body acne, both in their teens and in their adult years. Body acne, just like ordinary acne on the face, is also not easy to treat, and it takes dedication, persistence, and patience. Ok that was two bits of bad news! But here’s the good news: body acne is treatable! And there is more than one way to achieve that. That’s simply the truth.

Finding that hard to believe?

OK, let me tell you my story first. I was one of those people with perfect skin. I used to pride myself whenever I heard a compliment on my skin, even from complete strangers. “Wow, its so smooth…” and “What’s your skincare regimen?” are probably the Top 2 compliments, but those are just the two most common. The truth was I was one of those lucky people who had no skincare routine, and just went along with how smooth their skin looked, naturally, with little to no intervention.

But then, one fine day last year, I decided to work out, and work out hard. Sure, my skin was smooth, but with the pandemic and all, all that downtime made me put on a few extra pounds. The gyms where I am were closed and open on an almost unpredictable basis, but in the age of YouTube who needs gyms anyways, right? So I started exercising at home, every day.

Well, two weeks later, I almost cried in the shower. My perfect skin was now speckled with dozens upon dozens of pimples of various sizes, some even leaving crater-like marks on my skin (I popped them, something you should never do!). After some reading, I realized that the body acne breakout was probably caused by my new training regimen. So what was I supposed to do? It’s one of those situations where you’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. I wasn’t just going to stop exercising… And the worst part was that summer was just around the corner. In the season of bikinis, tank tops, and backless dresses with bare shoulders, I wasn’t just going to go out all pimple-ridden. But I wasn’t going to not lose weight either!

OUR SKINCARE EXPERTS HAVE EVALUATED OVER FIFTY OF THE TOP ACNE PRODUCTS

So, I decided to not give up. I was going to do both things at the same time, acne be damned. There must be a solution to my problem, so I continued reading more about various causes, ingredients, treatments and so on. Having the good luck to have family members from the medical field, I also asked them to help me consult with top dermatologists, skincare professionals, beauty experts, estheticians – you name it. I drilled them down with questions about ingredients, skin types, acne causes, home remedies, everything I could think of. And now, a year later, I’d say I’m pretty well-equipped to deal with any acne emergency, on the face, on your chest, on your private parts or on your back.

First things first, the ingredients. Basically, you knowing this is 80-90% of homework done. When shopping for body washes with acne-fighting properties, be on the lookout for these time-tested, scientifically proven ingredients: Salicylic acid (one of the best exfoliators out there, it unclogs your pores and reduces whiteheads and blackheads at the same time), Glycolic acid (a gentle but effective exfoliator, which due to its small molecular size can clean the deepest layers of the skin), Lactic acid (combats acne and promotes a more natural looking, even toned skin), Benzoyl peroxide (a medical grade antiseptic used to break up the acne-causing bacteria like P. acnes), or Sulfur (reduces inflammation and calms ‘angry’ breakouts).

 

 

BEST BODY ACNE WASHES IN 2023
OUR #1 PICK	Misumi Blemish Clear Body Wash	Clears up body acne fast Calms redness and inflammation Removes impurities that clog up pores and cause acne	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
	Misumi Clear Skin Salicylic Cleanser	Best acne cleanser on the market Cleans pores deeply & thoroughly Helps control excess oil without drying the skin	VIEW LATEST PRICE →
	Paula’s Choice-CLEAR Back and Body Acne Spray	It can reach anywhere but your hands can’t A bit pricey and not very effective Contains Salicylic Acid
	Murad Clarifying Body Spray	Contains Salicylic Acid Questionable practicality For those with money to splurge
	CLn Body Wash – Moisturizing Body Wash	Contains a component of bleach Can be very effective but irritating Pricey

 

Tips and Tricks to Banish Body Acne & Keep Them at Bay

 

• Turn Exfoliation Into a Habit

“Like with acne on the face, the skin on the back, the chest and the torso contains more skin oil-producing glands (so called sebaceous glands). Naturally, this means the pores will produce more sebum, which combined with dead skin cells, sweat from workouts and chafing clothes, often clogs up the pores causing acne breakout. This is why regular exfoliation is crucial. It removes the dead skin cells and other impurities from the skin, making the acne-forming scenario unlikely. Body washes that contain exfoliating acids are your best choice in this regard”, says New York City dermatologist Doris Day, who’s also an Olay Professional Alliance member. Try the Misumi Blemish Clear Body Wash, $28.95.

• Spot-Treat Body Acne

Masks, serums, and spot treatments aren’t just suitable for pimples on your face – they can be a very good to target body acne as well. Renee Rouleau, a renowned esthetician and skin-care professional suggests using a ordinary face masks for treating pimple-ridden areas of your body as well. The most effective ones are those that contain salicylic acid, camphor, tea tree oil, volcanic clays or sulfur. You can also use normal acne spot treatments for acne on your bod. For a quick, overnight pimple fix, grab a skin drying lotion and drop a drop on the zit in question. By morning, it should be reduced in size and appearance.

• Can’t Reach that Spot on Your Back? Try Acne-Fighting Sprays

Managing to apply any form of acne medication on those hard-to-reach areas on your back can be anywhere from super tricky to impossible. But, luckily, human ingenuity has come up with acne treatments you can actually spray. The Murad Clarifying Body Spray, $43, is one of the best products for this scenario, but, as with all sprays, it comes with its typical downside. Half of the time you’ll have bad aim, and will be missing your back, spraying good product in the air. Sprays are cool, but they sometimes come close to… Well, spraying money in the wind. So unless you have good aim, don’t bother. Better grab a cream or a gel and ask a friend or a family member to apply it to those sneaky back nooks and crannies. 

• Shower After Working Out 

One of the most common reasons why body acne happens, as I mentioned above, is exactly because we love exercising so much. “Acne breakouts on the body, the chest, the back or the thighs can definitely be provoked by intense workouts or to be more accurate, by sweating more,” explains beauty expert Rouleau. But thankfully there’s an easy way to prevent this – shower immediately after a workout as often as possible. Removing the layer of dead skin cells, and rinsing off impurities, gunk and accumulated sweat from our skin is how we fight body acne.

• Use Specially Formulated Body Washes and Skin Cleansers

But all those are DIY workarounds. Professionally designed treatments that target the issue are a must. Don’t be shy and take advantage of science, because it’s produced some very effective cleansers designed from the grounds up to fight body acne, like the Blemish Clear Body Wash. It’s a body wash that contains generous amounts of acne-busting, pore unclogging Salicylic acid, and make no mistake, it will get the job done.

• Use a Back Brush

Another solution for reaching those impossible areas on your body is, of course, to use a body scrubbing brush. It’s an ancient invention, but modern back brushes come with extending handles. If you want one and are in the mood for splurging on your pampering arsenal, check out the Clarisonic Mia Smart Deluxe Acne Prevention Kit, $199.

• Don’t Let Conditioner Sit on Your Back

It’s not always the gym’s fault for acne appearing all over your body. Sometimes it’s a more innocent looking thing… Like your hair conditioner. Have you noticed how soft, creamy, and slippery it is? It’s great for your hair, right? Well, it’s not so great for the pores in your skin. And if you have long hair, it’s more likely than not that you’re just lathering your hair with generous amounts of conditioner, then letting it all stick to your back while you wait for it to work its magic. But, part of that magic can also end up inside your pores, clog them, and 3 days later – a pimple is born! To avoid this scenario either tie your hair for a couple of minutes, or clip it with a hair pin. Or… Cut it short.

• Don’t Squeeze Body Acne

Same like with regular acne, squeezing a pimple on your chest, shoulder, back, or your leg is bad news. All you’ll gain is some pain and the very high risk of giving yourself a dark spot, or a deep scar where it once was. Even worse, if the zit contains acne-causing bacteria, you’ll be spreading them around and infecting more pores. Just don’t do it.

• Keep Your Linens, Pillows, Bedsheets and Gym Apparel Clean

Whatever presses against our skin carries the risk of also pressing bad stuff inside our pores. So, think about all the linens that you sleep on. When was the last time you washed that pillowcase? Or the blanket you cover over your face? Or the gym clothes that chafe you every time you go for a run? See, all form of physical pressure and friction against your skin can give you acne. Pick cotton-based, loose-fitting clothing for the sweat sessions, and keep your pillows clean.

• See a Dermatologist 

“I’m personally familiar with the plight that body acne is, since I struggled with it for most of my youth” says Denver, a Seattle-based dermatologist. “But the truth is – you can only do so much at home. We all try a home remedy or two and keep our fingers crossed, but sometimes that’s just a waste of time. If nothing works for you, or if you just wish to see the best results, or provide yourself the best care possible, don’t hesitate and book an appointment with a dermatologist.” There’s a difference between home remedies, OTC treatments and medical-grade procedures. Denver continues, “I had body acne once, but no more. From medical-grade exfoliation to laser treatments, there’s a wealth of options in the professional world. It’s why I became a dermatologist.”

Best OTC Treatments for Body & Back Acne 2023

Here are the best creams, washes and cleansers for healing your bacne in 2023, based on quality review and user experience.

 

 

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Best Supplementary Treatment: Paula’s Choice-CLEAR Back and Body Acne Spray-w/2% Salicylic Acid-Leave-On Exfoliant

 

 

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