Acne is a very common skin condition that involves the clogging of hair follicles and sebaceous glands, resulting in those pesky things we all know and hate: pimples. Once acne sets in and pimples start to appear, you face two challenges: first, resisting the temptation to scratch and/or squeeze the pimple, which may feel uncomfortable, sore, or even painful to the touch; and second, finding the right treatment to control it and make it go away as quickly as possible. When acne breakouts affect large areas such as the chest and back, you may face bring additional difficulties, including discomfort, pain, and self-consciousness. Particularly severe cases likely need the intervention of a healthcare professional to come up with a treatment plan; milder cases might see significant improvements with a good body wash that helps control sebum production and minimize breakouts. If you’d like to try this option, keep reading: we’ve rounded up some of our favorite body washes for acne that can help you better manage this problem.
Table of Contents
Our top best body washes for acne
In addition to cleansing the skin of surface dirt and impurities, a good body wash for acne has other important functions: removing excess oil and dead skin cells to help prevent and control acne breakouts, while also helping to rebalance and soothe the skin. You will notice throughout this list that many of the cleansers we’ve selected contain gentle exfoliating ingredients such as AHA/BHA; some even include soothing ingredients like Centella asiatica or thermal spring water. Those are good signs! Nowadays, the gold standard for a good cleanser for acne isn’t just something that will dry out your pimples: it’s also something that will ensure your skin stays balanced, hydrated, and soft.
CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser Bumpy Skin
An exfoliating gel with salicylic acid and ceramides
Cleansing and exfoliating the skin at the same time, the CeraVe SA Smoothing Cleanser manages to remove dead cells and excess oil without disrupting the skin barrier.
It’s all thanks to a combination of powerful ingredients, namely salicylic acid and hyaluronic acid coupled with essential ceramides. After each application, the skin looks smoother, softer as well as brighter!
Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel
A purifying cleansing gel with zinc gluconate
Tailor-made for oily and acne-prone skin, the Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel is ideal to target larger areas such as the back and chest. Comedoclastin™, a plant-based active ingredient with unique and patented properties, helps to regulate sebum production all the while limiting the appearance of blemishes.
In addition, Avène Thermal Spring Water enriches the formula with soothing as well as hydrating properties, and zinc gluconate grants antibacterial and sebum regulating properties.
Foamie Men 3-In-1 Shower Body Bar What a Man
A cleansing bar with activated charcoal
Specially created for oily and acne-prone skin, the Foamie Men 3-In-1 Shower Body Bar What a Man is a vegan cleansing bar that’s just as compact as it is effective.
Featuring ingredients of natural origin, such as charcoal and cacao butter, it provides the skin with a gentle exfoliation in each application that helps to eliminate impurities as well to get rid of blemishes and blackheads.
Sesderma Salises Foamy Soap Free Cream Acne-Prone Skin
A foaming cream cleanser with aloe vera
The Sesderma Salises Foamy Soap Free Cream brings you the best of both worlds: a gentle and high tolerance formula that also performs a thorough cleanse. This is a great skincare starting point for any routine for acne-prone skin!
While the creamy, soap-free texture gently foams as you massage the skin, salicylic acid is delivering its keratolytic and germicidal action; at the same time, aloe vera, chamomile and mimosa extracts work to reduce irritation and soothe the skin.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micro-Peeling Purifying Gel
A daily exfoliant with salicylic acid and zinc
With a purifying and micro-peeling action, the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Micro-Peeling Purifying Gel actively contributes to eliminating impurities, reducing black and whiteheads, controlling sebum production, and unclogging pores.
Featuring salicylic acid, zinc, and soothing La Roche-Posay Thermal Water, the formula offers an antibacterial and keratolytic action while reducing irritation and contributing to bringing the skin microbiome back to balance.
YOUTH LAB Blemish Shower Gel
A shower gel for oily skin and body acne
If you’re looking for a shower gel specifically designed to help you target body acne, try the YOUTH LAB Blemish Shower Gel. This foaming shower gel was designed for oily acne-prone skin and it features a gentle formula that helps prevent and manage acne breakouts on the back, chest, and arms.
The formula couldn’t be more complete: while the exclusive Polysaccharide Complex helps prevent acne breakouts, the Undecylenoyl Glycine Complex provides sebum regulation while protecting the skin barrier. Finally, the formula also contains soothing sage extract, to help calm the sensitivity and irritation that often comes with acne breakouts.
SkinCeuticals Cleanse Blemish + Age Cleansing Gel
An anti-aging exfoliating cleanser
The SkinCeuticals Cleanse Blemish + Age Cleansing Gel combines the best chemical exfoliators–lipo hydroxy acid coupled with salicylic and glycolic acids–in order to transform your cleansing routine as well as your skin.
Each application eliminates dead skin, which is usually related to an increase in acne lesions. Day after day, the texture of the skin looks more even, while visible signs of aging are smoothed.
Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Body Cleanser
A Korean cleanser for back acne
The Some By Mi AHA-BHA-PHA 30 Days Miracle Acne Clear Body Cleanser is one of the most popular Korean body washes for tackling body acne, specifically back acne. This specialized formula combines AHA, BHA, and PHA, three types of exfoliating acids that help remove dead skin cells, clear away excess sebum, and refine the skin texture effectively, yet gently.
In addition to these exfoliants, the formula also features moisturizing tea tree extract and soothing Centella asiatica extract, which contribute to the balance and well-being of the skin.
Want to see even more products for body acne? Then make sure to drop by the shop, where we have a full selection of body washes, creams, and sprays to help you target acne breakouts on the back, chest, and more.
