TL;DR: Your acne body wash might not be the problem. How you use it, what you use with it, and what you do after showering can all affect your results. A BPO bar can also be the ideal format for everyday use if a liquid product isn’t doing it for you.
So, you went and bought a new body wash for acne. You used it in the shower. You followed the instructions and waited for those breakouts to subside…but they didn’t. At this point, it can be easy to blame the product and simply assume that you need to move on and try something else.
However, the thing you’ve got to keep in mind is that body acne treatments with benzoyl peroxide aren’t like the regular shower gels you might have been using. Little things – like how long you leave them on your skin for – can change how effective they are.
In this article, we look at what you might be doing wrong with your current acne body wash and why a BPO bar might be more suitable for the problem.
Reasons Your Body Wash for Acne Might Not Be Working
So, if you’ve been using your body wash for acne for a few weeks and you’re not seeing anything like the improvement you were expecting, it can feel a bit unfair. However, the chances are, there’s just something you’re either doing wrong or your expectations are not realistic.
Let’s take a look at what could be causing you issues…
- You’re expecting immediate results – This is a super common misconception with acne wash products – that they take care of your body zits pretty much from the get-go. Sadly, that’s not really how it works, as body acne can take a while to settle down.
With proper, consistent use, it might be 6-8 weeks before you see your breakouts becoming less frequent and angry.
- You’re not using it consistently – If you want any acne treatment products to work, they need to be fully folded into your daily routine. It’s rarely enough to use one every now and again, you’re not going to give it enough time to get into the pores and kill bacteria.
- You’re not changing clothes after the gym – If you’re an active person, there are all kinds of issues you can face where your clothes work against you. Tight gym wear, sports bras and other sweaty fabrics can all aggravate breakout-prone skin, so it’s always best to change and shower before doing anything else.
- You’re using other heavy body products – Who doesn’t love to luxuriate with body butters and oils after a nice bath? The problem is, if you’re getting breakouts on your chest, shoulders or back, and you’re using heavy products like these, they can quickly clog your pores.
- You’re going at the problem too hard – When you’ve got body breakouts that won’t abate, it can be very tempting to scrub harder and add more products. However, that’s not likely to work, as you’ll likely just make your skin look angrier – not clearer.
Just stick to a simple, regular routine with a benzoyl peroxide acne wash and if you do what the bottle says, that should be enough under normal circumstances.
So, if your new body wash for acne hasn’t worked yet, don’t assume it’s useless straight away. Look at the whole routine around it. Sometimes, the thing holding your skin back isn’t the wash itself, but everything happening before and after it. What also might help your cause is if you consider a BPO bar, instead of a liquid-based product.
Why a BPO Bar Can Make Your Routine Easier
A typical BPO bar looks very much like a regular bar of soap and being in this format can be very useful for some, as it can simplify the process. Its compact shape makes it easy to lather up in your hands and reach all those areas that would otherwise be tougher to get to.
For body acne, that kind of simplicity can be great. The easier your routine is to repeat, the more likely you are to stick with it. And when you are dealing with stubborn spots on your back, chest, or shoulders, a stable, long-term approach is what’s called for.
Want More From a Body Wash for Acne? Try a BPO Bar
If your current body wash for acne isn’t giving you the results you hoped for, the important thing to remember is to not give up. Sometimes, it can be as simple as choosing a format that makes your routine feel easier, and less like a chore – which a BPO bar can.
One can give you a simple way to bring acne-fighting benzoyl peroxide into your shower routine, in a format that won’t just be washed out of your hands. That said, it’s also important to make sure you’re not leaving on sweaty clothes after the gym or using thick body products – as they can both curtail your efforts.
Either way, you don’t want those body breakouts to stick around for any longer than necessary, so just stay consistent and always have a bar with you in the shower.
