One of the most effective ways to prevent and treat acne is to regularly wash with cleansers that are designed to keep skin clear and healthy. These acne washes are typically inexpensive, widely available, and simple to use. Choosing the right one may take some trial and error as everyone’s skin is different.
What to Look for in a Face Wash for Acne
Active Ingredients Check the product label for key active ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, advises dermatologist Sandy Skotnicki, MD, founder of Toronto’s Bay Dermatology Centre and author of the skincare book Beyond Soap. Other ingredients to look for include oils that can help to moisturize skin — just make sure the package says non-comedogenic, which means that it won’t clog pores.Free of Fragrance Dr. Skotnicki also recommends using products without any added fragrance that could irritate already inflamed skin. “No facial wash needs fragrance,” she says. “It’s an irritant, and your skin is already irritated with acne and possible medication. This includes botanical or plant-based fragrance.”Avoid Soap Another thing to avoid is washing your face with a regular bar of soap. “It disrupts the skin barrier, and leads to irritation from acne medications,” Skotnicki says.Formulated for Face And don’t think that just because you’ve got a body wash for acne, that you can use it on your face as well. Skotnicki notes that the ingredient concentrations of the two products are regulated differently, with higher concentrations of detergents in body products, which may make them more damaging to sensitive facial skin.Avoid Too Many Products If you are using acne medication — either over-the-counter or prescription — then you may want to avoid using an acne wash, says Skotnicki. “The combination of both is too much and often dries the skin out.”
Here are some face washes to try:
CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser
See price on Jet.com
Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
See price on Walmart
Bioderma Micellar Cleanser
See price on Jet.com
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
See price on Walmart
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne and Redness Facial Cleanser
See price on Jet.com
