Best Face Wash for Acne
Many of our patients ask us, “What is the best face wash for acne?” For mild acne, adding in a medicated face wash to your skin care routine is sometimes enough to fight off the development of acne. For those with moderate or more severe acne, a medicated face wash is often not enough to treat acne completely – though it can still be a valuable part of the skin care routine. Dr. Schweiger notes that, “The most effective facial cleansers for acne prone skin contain either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide is antibacterial, meaning that it helps to kill the p. acnes bacteria that can lead to the formation of acne. Salicylic acid helps to clean out clogged pores and reduce the formation of blackheads and whiteheads on the skin.”
Both benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid cleansers are available in many strengths. Dr. Schweiger formulated a benzoyl peroxide cleanser specifically for acne on the body (called AttackBack Wash.) This cleanser is strong enough to fight the p. acnes bacteria living on the chest and back, but is gentle enough to use on the face. Salicylic acid cleansers can be easily found in any drugstore. Most people can benefit most from using these medicated cleansers once a day, and using a cleansing brush once a day. A cleansing brush, such as the Clarisonic brush, can be used with a gentle cleanser to manually remove dirt and grime from the pores that regular cleansing cannot address. Most cleansing brushes are waterproof, meaning that they can be used in the shower to clean the back and chest if necessary.
Click here to read more about the best face washes for acne.
