We tend to be very selective of the products and ingredients we put on our faces. However, we sometimes forget that our body deserves that same love and consideration! Whether you’re accustomed to washing yourself with old-fashioned bar soap or a simple liquid soap, we’re here to ask you if those are quite cutting it?
If you feel like the skin on your body is particularly dry or dull, or a little, maybe a lot broken out — you might want to upgrade to a medicated body wash.
How do I know if I need a medicated body wash?
The term “medicated body wash” sounds kind of scary and intense, but we promise it’s not. Body washes that are infused with treatment ingredients — aka exfoliants — can be amazing shower additions if you want to get the skin on your bod into tip-top shape.
There are two main conditions that can really benefit from a medicated body wash:
Body Acne
If you have acne on your face and use a medicated treatment for it, chances are, you’ll need one to treat areas below as well. Nearly 50% of people with acne have experienced pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, or even cysts on or around their neck, chest, back, butt, and other areas.
Acne on your body can arise due to a multitude of factors. Continuing to sleep on dirty sheets and pillowcases is one culprit. Another is staying in sweaty workout clothes! When you have acne-prone skin, sitting in sweaty clothes gives bacteria and sweat the opportunity to clog your pores and create acne. Post workout, get out of your sweaty gear and cleanse your skin, ASAP with a medicated wash. It’s a great way to effectively cleanse skin and ensure that your pores stay clog free.
Dry Skin
When it comes to washing your skin, one of the most important functions of a body wash is to get rid of any dry or dead skin cells that collect on the surface of our skin. This is commonly referred to as exfoliating, but a lot of people associate exfoliating with harsh beads or scrubbers to get the job done. Acids like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid aren’t harsh, and are excellent, gentle ways to get rid of all the dead skin and gunk that’s clogging up your pores. Much like the skin on your face, sometimes the skin on our bodies can be a combination of oily and dry, and should be treated accordingly… likely with a medicated body wash with these ingredients.
What do I look for in a medicated body wash?
When searching for the right medicated body wash, it’s important to keep a few key things in mind. Familiarize yourself with the different types of exfoliants out there: physical and chemical.
Physical exfoliants rely on scrubbing beads or other sandy, gritty ingredients to physically exfoliate the surface of the skin. While this may make for a satisfying experience for some, anyone with painful pimples or blemishes can tell you that those gritty grains can really hurt an already inflamed area and spread the bacteria from your acne across other parts of your body, leading to, you guessed it, more breakouts.
Chemical exfoliants rely on acid ingredients to penetrate the top layer of dry and dead skin cells to break them down before they become washed away. Our favorite pore-degunker is salicylic acid, but glycolic acid and lactic acid are equally effective.
A formula that combines both chemical exfoliants and gentle moisturizers is the best option for dry and acne prone skin. These types of products will work to unclog pores and exfoliate the skin in a way that won’t irritate.
This all might sound overwhelming, but now that you’ve identified your specific symptoms and know what your body needs, you’re just a handful of showers away from better skin!
How about just dry scaly looking 63 yr old female with no acne skin,thanks
Where can i buy this product?