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Best Face Washes for Acne
These products can help control oil, clear breakouts, and prevent flare-ups. By Caitlin McCormackReviewed: July 27, 2018Fact-CheckedAcne-prone skin? These face washes can help gently cleanse and hydrate your face. iStockAcne is the most common skin condition, affecting up to 50 million people in the United States, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. It’s not just something that teenagers struggle with — acne can strike any age group — and if it becomes severe, it can lead to scarring. 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
Dermatologists recommend CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for people with acne as it works to cleanse the skin and remove oil, without disrupting the skin’s protective barrier. It won’t clog pores or dry the skin out, and contains niacinamide and ceramides to help calm and moisturize irritated skin. See price on Jet.com Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
Suitable for all skin types, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is another that can be used on both face and body, and features a mild, soap-free formula that gently cleanses skin without irritation. Originally formulated for dermatologists, the non-comedogenic, fragrance-free formula won’t strip skin of its natural, protective oils. See price on Walmart Bioderma Micellar Cleanser
Dr. Skotnicki recommends Bioderma Micellar Cleanser for acne. It’s one of the few products that can be used safely on both the face and body, even by people who are also taking acne medication. Its gentle formula won’t irritate skin, and it contains a patented “Fludiactiv” complex that helps regulate sebum quality to prevent pores from becoming clogged. See price on Jet.com CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser
Great for those with normal to dry skin, CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser works to gently cleanse the skin while helping to restore its protective barrier. Developed with dermatologists, the fragrance-free formula is non-comedogenic and non-drying, providing up to 24 hours of hydration. See price on Walmart Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne and Redness Facial Cleanser
Thanks to its special MicroClear technology, Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne and Redness Facial Cleanser helps boost the delivery of active ingredient salicylic acid, in order to help reduce the appearance of acne. The inclusion of aloe and chamomile help to calm irritation while visibly reducing facial redness, a source of emotional stress for many acne sufferers. See price on Jet.com THENA Natural Wellness Deep Cleansing Mask
If you’re looking for a deeper weekly treatment for acne, THENA Natural Wellness Deep Cleansing Mask is a solid choice. It features healing dead sea minerals from Israel, which help to remove impurities, fight acne, and reduce the visible appearance of pores. Suitable for all skin types, it’s free of fragrances and parabens. See price on Amazon NEWSLETTERS Sign up for our Healthy Skin Newsletter
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