13 Best Body Washes for Acne, According to Dermatologists (Reviewed for 2023)

If you have sensitive skin, then you already know that a body wash loaded with strong actives may do your skin more harm than good. That's where this gentle option from Zitsticka comes into play. It uses a blend of pre-and-postbiotics to balance the bacteria on your skin and strength your skin's protective barrier. Also great? It has soothing and calming properties to reduce any inflammation associated with body breakouts.

THE REVIEW: "I have tried so many products to make my acne go down and nothing has worked, but after using this product for a week I saw AMAZING RESULTS—worth every penny," writes one tester.

I love the feel of a rich, creamy body wash, but most don't rinse clean and end up clogging my pores. Differin's formula is the exception. It feels super luxe and lathers *just* the right amount—plus it's spiked with 2 percent salicylic acid to deep-clean skin and get rid of excess oil and buildup without causing irritation.

THE REVIEW: "I get upper back and shoulder acne from time to time and whenever it pops up I start using this and it goes down almost immediately—a genuine miracle-worker."

Anyone who is into clean, green beauty will love this body wash from Naturium. It's made with salicylic acid to treat and prevent body bumps and breakouts and high-quality plant-based oils to nourish and soothe skin. Plus, it's vegan, cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and paraben-free too.

THE REVIEW: "I'm a huge fan of Naturium Products and this one didn't disappoint," writes one reviewer. "I have sensitive skin, and this body wash doesn't bother me at all. As a matter of fact, my skin loves it. What I love the most is that it doesn't leave a film like some do on my skin. If you're on the fence, give it a shot!"

This drugstore body wash from Dove is a solid choice for treating stubborn blackheads and whiteheads on your chest, shoulders, and back. It uses 1 percent salicylic acid (so it's a bit gentler that versions that contain 2 percent) and bamboo extract to degunk pores and prevent breakouts—and unlike other gel body washes this won't leave your skin feeling tight or dried-out after you get out of the shower.

THE REVIEW: "This is such a great deal/buy. It smells both floral and herbal to me but in a very pleasant way that I don't find overwhelming or irritating. It's made my skin feel soft and the hormonal acne on my chest has lessened," writes one reviewer.

You can't beat this drugstore acne body wash from PanOxyl. It's loaded with 10 percent benzoyl peroxide, this maximum-strength foaming wash helps treat existing acne and prevent new breakouts from forming. "I will recommend the PanOxyl 4 Percent Benzoyl Peroxide formula for people with mild acne or skin that might be on the dryer side," says Dr. Turegano, "but I will usually recommend this 10 percent version for most patients struggling with acne."

THE REVIEW: "After a week of using this only in my morning routine, my breakouts really reduced in irritation, size, and redness," writes one tester. "After two weeks, more than half of them were gone. After three weeks, they were all gone—this stuff really works."

There's a reason this iconic body wash has been on the market for years (and why it's one of Henry's fave picks): The classic formula is a tried-and-true option for treating breakouts and rough, bumpy texture on your back, chest, and shoulders thanks to 2 percent salicylic acid.

THE REVIEW: "This soap prevents acne on your body but it is a wonderful treatment for KP too," writes a tester. "A lot of these treatments are are really, really expensive for the average consumer but this is affordable and will do you wonders for your skin too."

The hero ingredient in this body wash for acne is sulfur, which is loved by derms for it's antibacterial, antifungal, and skin-softening benefits. And the pasty clay texture is super versatile—use it all over as a regular wash, leave it on a little bit longer as a mask, or dab it on like problem areas like you would a spot treatment.

THE REVIEW: "This has become my new holy grail body product," writes on reviewier. "I have sensitive, combination skin that's prone to breakouts and this calms my active body breakouts without drying out my skin. It also seems to be preventative too."

Even though your body is tougher than your face, gritty scrubs do way more harm than good, as they can create micro-tears in your skin that mess with your barrier and lead to more breakouts. Instead of physical exfoliants, opt for chemical exfoliants like glycolic and salicylic acids—like you'll find in this triple-action acne body wash—to gently and effectively clean your pores and minimize oil. And at $48 we totally get that this bb is too pricey to use all over your bod, so think of it as a "spot-wash" and massage it on breakout-prone areas like your chest and shoulders.

THE REVIEW: "I never write reviews but had to for this product," one reviewer writes, adding "I've used it consistently for 6+ months and my bacne is all gone!!!!!!! If you're doubting it or unsure, JUST TRY IT."

We get it—liquid body washes aren't for everyone. That's where this bar soap from Clinique comes in. It's formulated with everything you want in a body acne cleanser (pore-clearing salicylic acid and hydrating glycerin) but with the creamy texture of an easy-to-handle bar.

THE REVIEW: "I’ve been dealing with hormonal cystic acne all over my chin and cheek area for years now," writes a tester. "I’ve tried everything and have never seen results until I started using this—it's the best thing around for cystic acne!!!"

If you're dealing with fungal acne (aka acne-looking bumps that are usually tiny, red, and/or itchy), then you'll wanna check out this cleanser from Skinfix. Along with salicylic, azelaic, and glycolic acids for reducing breakouts and minimizing excess sebum, this formula includes niacinamide, which will reduce inflammation and redness that is often caused by fungal acne.

THE REVIEW: "I have sensitive skin that breaks out often," writes a tester. "I love that this is gentle enough to not irritate my skin but still powerful enough to clear up pimples. I highly recommend."

While most acne body washes are gonna be too sensitive for your cute lil face to handle, that's not the case with this bb from Bliss. Formulated with a blend of salicylic acid, Brazilian sea water, and willow bark extract, Dr. Zeichner says this non-irritating cleanser is great for cleaning, detoxifying, and soothing the skin on both your face and body.

THE REVIEW: "My skin is very sensitive and prone to breakouts but I haven’t seen any pop up breakouts since I started using this cleanser," writes a tster, adding "my skin is silky soft after using it and I really like the smell too."

You can thank the glycolic acid in this body wash for its ability to prevent annoying breakouts and fade the stubborn acne scars and marks they leave behind. Not only does glycolic acid dissolve pore-clogging dead skin cells, it has brightening benefits that help fade post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation too.

THE REVIEW: "I typically have breakouts on my chest and back but once I started using this twice a week no more breakouts! It comes out thick but it lathers well and a couple pumps is good for the whole body. My skin was so smooth after using it—love!"

Not down to treat your body acne with a medicated wash? No prob, loading up on hydrating ingredients is just as important (and effective) in the fight against zits. This gentle body wash from Avène cleanses your skin without messing up your pH levels—which can lead to breakouts—courtesy of gentle ingredients like glycerin and spring water.

THE REVIEW: "This is one of the only cleansers that keeps my combo, hormonal cystic acne prone skin clear while managing oil production. I keep coming back to it time and again. With regular use blackheads even are diminished. It's got a pleasant scent and lathers even though it's soap free," writes one tester.