Photo: Courtesy of Esker Beauty
Fact: Body acne is just as real and relentless as facial acne. And even though it may be talked about way less often, inflamed breakouts and blemishes on the body, whether on the back, arms, shoulders or elsewhere, come with their own set of terrors, like making skin sensitive to the touch and heightening insecurities.
According to Dr. Michele Green, a New York City-based board certified dermatologist and RealSelf.com contributor, body acne is caused by excessive production of sebum which clogs pores. And while it’s most commonly triggered by the same sources behind breakouts that surface on the face — like hormones and clogged pores — sweating, friction from tight clothing and heavily-fragranced body products can contribute as well.
Thankfully, though, solutions exist, and among the most effective are anti-acne body washes. Of course, as with facial acne, a trip to the dermatologist is recommended for more persistent or cystic cases, but Dr.Green recommends taking advantage of the effective over-the-counter options available for less severe cases.
“Body washes containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid and benzoyl peroxide are the best options and will help to exfoliate and treat acne causing bacteria,” she explains. “Exfoliation is important for cell turnover, which will aid healing as it reduces the sebum buildup.”
When used on a regular basis, these powerful-yet-gentle formulas can make a serious difference to body acne woes. To save you the trial and error, we’ve rounded up 12 acne-busting, dermatologist-approved body washes to scope and shop below.
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