I Found the 10 Best Body Acne Products for the Chest, Back, Butt, and Wherever Else You’re Breaking Out
Summer sweat is no match for this routine.
While there is so much to be excited about in the summer, there are a few things to be stressed about, too. Warm weather equals fun, but it also equals sweat. Sweat can clog pores, ultimately leading to body acne. From chestne to backne to the horribly named situation that is buttne, no form of body acne is fun to deal with. But the best body acne products might make tackling them a little easier.
According to board-certified dermatologist Mona Foad, MD, your body care routine can make a "significant difference" in your relationship to body acne. "Body acne develops for many of the same reasons as facial acne: excess oil, clogged pores, bacteria, sweat, and friction," Dr. Foad explains. "The skin on the back, chest, and shoulders is often exposed to workout clothing, prolonged sweat, and friction, all of which can contribute to clogged pores and breakouts."
As is the case with facial acne (yet again), improvement will never happen overnight, and it's always important to see a derm for a personalized treatment plan. But compiling a strong body acne product routine—and having the wherewithal to shut down bacteria before it starts doing its thing—is a great idea. Ahead, discover 10 of the best body acne products on the market, from hypochlorous acid sprays to specialty serums and some easy-going exfoliators.
A Clean Slate
Every good skincare routine starts with a proper cleanse—body skin included. "A consistent routine with the right cleansers and treatments helps keep pores clear, reduces inflammation, and supports a healthier skin barrier over time," explains Dr. Foad.
Michelle Ventresca, an esthetician and founder of Live by Skin, also has some recommendations for kicking off your routine. "Choosing non-comedogenic body care products is one of the best ways to help prevent breakouts," she says. "I recommend using a gentle exfoliating body wash and a silicone body scrubber instead of a traditional loofah, since silicone is easier to clean and disinfect, making it less likely to harbor bacteria over time."
A bottle of Face Reality L-Mandelic Face and Body Wash—plus a tube of serum for good measure.
Face Reality's products, sold only through brand-certified skincare professionals, are a great place to turn when you're looking to target acne. Ventresca is a big fan of their 15% L-Mandelic Serum, and you can also find the ingredient in a body wash. "Mandelic acid helps exfoliate dead skin cells, clear clogged pores, and reduce post-acne discoloration," she explains. "A higher concentration of mandelic acid is often recommended for body acne because the skin on the back is thicker, requiring a stronger formulation to effectively exfoliate and penetrate the skin."
"I tend to recommend products based on the individual's skin type and the severity of their acne, but there are several over-the-counter options that consistently perform well," explains Dr. Foad. "A benzoyl peroxide wash, such as PanOxyl, is a great choice for inflammatory body acne because it helps decrease acne-causing bacteria."
This extremely affordable tube contains the highest concentration of benzoyl peroxide available without a prescription, plus moisturizers to help combat any dryness. It also helps clear existing acne while preventing new breakouts from forming in the first place.
Gentle Acids
While scrub-a-dub-dubbing might seem like the way to go, Dr. Foad says it's important not to over-exfoliate your skin. "Using multiple exfoliating products or harsh scrubs can actually strip the skin and cause more irritation," she explains. "A gentle, consistent routine is almost always more effective than an aggressive one."
As Dr. Foad explains and anyone who's done their acne-fighting ingredient research knows, "salicylic acid is excellent for unclogging pores and exfoliating inside the follicle." Made for your body, these easy-to-use exfoliating pads offer mild exfoliation via salicylic acid (at a 2 percent concentration), azelaic acid (which also kills acne-causing bacteria and can fade marks from leftover blemishes), and glycolic acid (another AHA with a small molecular size that allows it to really penetrate the skin and do its thing).
Of course, I love a Cyklar body oil, and it's worth noting that the brand's more novel offerings really do the work, too. Yes—chic body acne products exist. This spray uses glycolic acid as its main exfoliation powerhouse, allowing you to target the exact areas you want. You'll also find glycerin to soothe the skin and lock in moisture and a tripeptide to further refine skin texture and tone.
Hypochlorous Heroes
Dr. Foad says that one of the most overlooked factors in the world of body acne is what happens after we exercise. "I encourage patients to shower as soon as possible after sweating and change out of damp workout clothing promptly, since sweat, oil, and friction can all contribute to breakouts," she explains.
If you can’t shower right away, the expert recommends an over-the-counter salicylic acid wipe such as Stridex Body Wipes. I'm also partial to an antibacterial hypochlorous acid spray, which is so easy to stick in your bag and spritz on any sweaty areas that might be breeding acne-causing bacteria.
Though it's mainly marketed for the face, Tower 28's excellent hypochlorous acid spray can work its magic anywhere on the body. Alcohol-free, fragrance-free, and pH-balanced, the brand says to "think of it as a reset button for stressed-out skin, whether you're dealing with breakouts, post-workout sweat, or an eczema flare-up."
I so look forward to the day Personal Day expands with a body care line. But until then, I'll happily use this spray wherever I see fit; one lives in my car, and the other lives in my gym bag. Thank you for all you do, Lili Reinhart! Developing this great spray, especially in a cute green bottle.
Targeted Treatments
Everyone's body acne situation is unique, which can make tackling the problem more complicated. "It's important to understand each client's skin story before making any recommendations. This includes learning when their body acne started, what they've tried in the past, what they're currently doing, and where they'd like their skin to be," says Ventresca.
"Those conversations often reveal patterns or triggers that may be contributing to their breakouts," she notes. "From there, it’s important to assess whether the acne is primarily inflamed or non-inflamed and build a customized treatment plan based on their skin's needs." One of the best ways to customize a routine is with a targeted treatment, applied exactly where you need it.
Designed more as a treatment than a preventative measure for body acne, this thin salicylic acid serum can be applied to troublesome areas one to three times a day. Just be warned: it can dry out your skin. Start sparingly, and make sure you have a proper, non-comedogenic moisturizer on hand to rehydrate your skin afterward.
If you're not a liquid serum person, might I recommend a stick? So easy to apply anywhere you might need it, this formula combines seven percent glycolic acid with salicylic acid and nourishing shea butter to add a little extra comfort after all that acne-fighting. You can use it as part of your morning or evening routine, and there's no need to rinse it off.
The Final Step
One thing to note about body acne treatments: while doing their job, they may also make the skin super dry or sensitive. Dr. Foad encourages using a fragrance-free moisturizer to support the skin barrier, "because healthy skin tolerates treatment much better." And now that you've moisturized, don't miss one of the most important skincare steps: "a lightweight, non-comedogenic sunscreen to decrease post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from acne."
Sophia Vilensky and her bottle of Speed Soak gel moisturizer.
If your skin is getting dry from your other body acne treatments (or feeling dry in general!), let this pretty blue tube be your go-to. Speed Soak was made to hydrate your skin instantly with a blend of glycerin, Aquaxyl, and squalane. I've noticed that it absorbed faster than the other body moisturizers I've tried, and (this is important!) it didn't cause breakouts.
As Dr. Foad mentioned, it's so important to finish things off with a quality SPF. I've been loving this classic from EltaMD, which rubs in beautifully and is water-resistant, fragrance-free, paraben-free, non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, oil-free, and dermatologist-tested. It won't clog your pores, and you can hit the town easy knowing you're taking good care on the body acne and sun protection fronts.
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Meet the Experts
Dr. Mona Foad, M.D., MHS, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist and the Founder & CEO of MONA Dermatology in Cincinnati. She has been recognized as a “Top Doctor” by Cincinnati Magazine every year since 2008 and has been in private practice since 2002. Dr. Foad is dedicated to delivering innovative, compassionate dermatologic care in a patient-focused environment.
Michelle Ventresca is the owner of Live by Skin and a licensed esthetician with more than 14 years of experience specializing in acne treatment and corrective skincare.
