In general, hand soap is not a great choice for a facial or body cleanser.
Soap and Bacteria
It’s true that acne is, in part, resulting from bacteria.
ThePropionibacterium acnesbacterium to be exact.
JGI / Jamie Grill / Getty Images
And, yes, reducing acne-causing bacteria can have a positive effect on your skin.
But bacteria is only one piece of theacne developmentpie.
But as they grow, they progress into blackheads or inflamed blemishes, like papules and pustules.
Antibacterial soap will not stop pore blockage.
Problems With Hand Soap
Antibacterial hand soaps are made for, well, your hands.
Using hand soap on the face can easily over-dry and irritate your skin.
There are better antibacterial cleansing options for your face.
A cleanser designed specifically for delicate facial skin cleanses away dirt and excess oil without stripping and drying.
As far as for body breakouts, antibacterial hand soap doesn’t make the best body wash either.
It’s unlikely to do much to clear breakouts because these products just aren’t formulated to treat acne.
Acne isn’t triggered by dirty skin.
And there are also plenty ofacne facial cleanser options.
The ingredients to look for in your OTC acne cleanser arebenzoyl peroxideand/orsalicylic acid.
Salicylic acid may help boost the effectiveness of benzoyl peroxide when used in combination.
To avoid irritation, some people will use salicylic acid on one night and benzoyl peroxide on the next.
You needn’t spend a lot of money on an acne cleanser either.
A drugstore brand can work just as well as a fancy salon product.
Just see to it to check the active ingredients.
Cleansers aren’t the only OTC acne treatment options.
Toners, medicated cleansing pads, and lotions containing the aforementioned ingredients are also great choices.
Prescription Medication
Prescription acne medicationsare also available.
This is also the route you should take if your acne is moderate to severe.
A Word From Verywell
Gettingacneunder control can be challenging.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Antibacterial soap?
you’re able to skip it, use plain soap and water.
Mukhopadhyay P.Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disorders.Indian J Dermatol.
2016;74(5):945-73.e33.
