Dermatologist recommended body wash for sensitive skin

Four out of the six dermatologists we spoke to recommended this bodywash for all types of skin. Dermatologist Sapna Palep of Spring Street Dermatology thinks it’s “so good for any skin type” because it’s a nonirritating formula free from parabens and sulfates. Angela Lamb, associate dermatology professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, explains that sulfates can be problematic for skin because they “are the strongest, most stripping, harshest ingredients within a cleanser.” She adds that when you create a product that’s sulfate-free, it’s not stripping the natural oils on the skin nearly as much” (and stripping the skin, of course, can cause dryness and further irritation). When you disrupt what’s called the “acid mantle barrier that we all have on our skin” with these heavy detergents, you end up with “cracked, dry skin,” according to Palep. This CeraVe wash cleanses the skin without disrupting that barrier. And even though the ingredients are top-notch, Palep appreciates that “it’s so cheap.”

Henry recommends an exfoliating bodywash for oily, acne-prone, and normal skin types because it can help scrub away some of the excess oil building up on the skin. “Someone with oilier skin or someone that’s acne-prone can use it every day,” says Henry. But even if your skin can handle more exfoliation than others, Henry still recommends “that you start out using it twice a week and gradually increasing based on your tolerance.” The last thing you want is to over-exfoliate and strip the skin. But the likelihood of that happening with this Dove wash, however, is low, and that’s why it’s a favorite among dermatologists. Lamb notes that while the Dove does have an effective detergent in it that can “pick up the dirt and excess oil,” it’s “not stripping and does have that coveted high-moisture content.” Dove formulates this product with what it calls Nutrium Moisture technology. And there also might be something to be said for what Dove calls its Nutrium Moisture technology, which supposedly helps your skin absorb the nutrients.

Lamb likes this hydrating wash from Dove because it adds moisture back into the skin with its Nutrium Moisture technology, but it’s also sulfate- and paraben-free, so it won’t be quite as stripping as other cleansers. “Bathing time is really critical” for these skin types, according to Henry, because this is an opportunity to quench the skin’s thirst. Palep even describes using this cleanser as “like washing your body with a lotion.” Henry thinks that within three to five days, you’ll know if a bodywash is working for you and giving you enough moisture, based on the way your skin feels to the touch. And while dry skin types may be inclined to switch to a gel in the warmer months, Lamb recommends that these folks still stick to the creamier formulations year-round.

All six of the dermatologists we spoke to recommend salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide for body acne, but which one you use depends on your type of acne. If the bumps are fairly mild and not too red, bodywashes with salicylic acid are probably your best bet. “If you look at the skin and you can actually see what we call comedones, like those clogged pores” — like blackheads and whiteheads — “then I would recommend salicylic acid. Salicylic acid is going to go into the pore and try to cleanse that out,” says Palep. This Neutrogena bodywash has “the maximum amount of salicylic acid that you can get over the counter,” according to Palep, so it’s probably your best bet if your body acne is mostly made up of mostly clogged pores. (Those with body acne often already know if this is the case for them, because the acne tends to look less angry than the inflammatory acne we’ll get to below.) But since body acne typically occurs only on the torso and back, Palep recommends only using treatment washes on the affected areas. “People should not be using these gel cleansers necessarily for their whole body,” she says. The shins are more prone to what she refers to as “alligator skin,” which is extremely dry skin. A strong wash, like this Neutrogena one, might just exacerbate or cause dry skin on areas that aren’t quite as oily.

Benzoyl peroxide works best for those with inflammatory acne. “If you look at it and it’s juicy and red, I definitely recommend benzoyl peroxide,” says Palep. Lamb explains that “benzoyl peroxide is an active ingredient and an antibiotic, so it actually kills the acne bacteria on the surface that causes acne.” Three of our dermatologists recommend this PanOxyl wash for treating the aforementioned inflamed acne because it’s strong enough to treat without being unnecessarily drying, according to dermatologist Noëlle S. Sherber, co-founder of SHERBER+RAD and clinical assistant professor of dermatology at George Washington University. And keep in mind: Graber prefers a bodywash that only includes four percent benzoyl peroxide, instead of ten. While many patients think that the higher the percentage of benzoyl peroxide there is, the more effective it will be, Graber says that’s not necessarily true. “There was a study done a long time ago that shows that once you get above about 5 percent benzoyl peroxide, it didn’t work any better at killing the bacteria that causes acne; it just is more drying on the skin,” says Graber. But regardless of the percentage, Henry warns that benzoyl peroxide “can bleach your clothing, so don’t wear your fanciest pajamas.”

Those with sensitive skin can easily react to commonly found ingredients in body products, like fragrance. That’s why half of the dermatologists we spoke to recommend Vanicream’s bodywash. Graber calls this “the best way to go” for those with sensitive skin because it’s free of preservatives, formaldehyde, lanolin, fragrance, dyes, sulfates, and parabens, which are typically ingredients that those with sensitive skin are allergic to. Put another way, it’s a gentle cleanser that doesn’t have a lot of active ingredients in it, according to Henry. Of course, even though Vanicream checks all the boxes recommended for sensitive skin, you’re going to want to spot-test first, “just to make sure it doesn’t flare up your skin,” according to Graber, before rubbing it all over.

Four out of six of dermatologists recommend this bodywash for eczema, with all citing the oatmeal as the key ingredient. “It’s soothing for the skin, and it brings in lots of moisture,” says Henry, who advises against eczema patients using a gel or foaming wash as such products are much too drying. “Everything that they do should really pack in the moisture,” she adds. Palep notes that patients with eczema should also “stay away from heavy fruit- and plant-extract-based cleansers.” She also suggests avoiding dyes, fragrances, and common allergens, such as formaldehyde. “In eczema, your skin barrier is broken down, so you’re more likely to get an allergic reaction,” says Palep. “And when you’re skin is broken down, you’re more likely to react to a fruit extract or a plant extract. People with eczema are definitely more reactive to all organic products. I always say, tea-tree oil is natural to a tea tree, but not you, right?”

This is technically a face wash, yes, but half of the dermatologists interviewed recommended it for treating psoriasis all over. Graber admits that psoriasis is “tough” to treat because it’s another finicky condition much like eczema. She recommends that patients look for a wash “that contains salicylic acid, which can be really helpful to get some of the scale off.” Because it contains 2 percent salicylic acid, Graber thinks this works well for removing the “extra dead layer of skin that’s on psoriasis.” But it additionally contains ceramides, so it’s moisturizing, too, according to Graber. Henry also chose this wash for psoriasis because it has urea in it, which she says “helps to break down the plaque.” She calls this cleanser “moisturizing but also exfoliative,” so it removes the thick psoriatic plaque that can build up and soothe any itching or irritation that typically occurs with the condition. Because face-wash bottles typically aren’t as large as with a bodywash, you might end up buying more than you typically would with a regular bodywash. But then again, CeraVe has a great price point, and its effectiveness for a condition like this makes it worth the extra money.

While all the dermatologists we spoke to agree that there’s nothing wrong with the ingredients listed on the products recommended earlier, some people still prefer to stick to these “clean” or naturally derived products that have limited amounts (if any at all) of chemicals. Sherber recommends this Nécessaire bodywash as a great pick for those folks. She notes that the sandalwood scent contains “no synthetic fragrance but has a subtle, natural sandalwood scent and a rich gel-oil texture.” And the brand also emphasizes that its bodywash is filled with vitamins to help nourish and balance the skin, including vitamin C, vitamin E, and antioxidants. It even offers it in a fragrance-free version in case you’re on the sensitive side and want to play it safe.

For some, $25 might seem like a steep price for bodywash. But if you’re still looking for a chemical-free bodywash, Henry recommends this Honest Beauty shampoo-and-bodywash combo. “I like that it’s not too stripping, it’s a good balanced wash for all skin types, and that it has natural ingredients,” says Henry. She explains that although this is a two-in-one product, this one actually contains oils, which is what a lot of two-in-one products are missing. “We don’t regularly use shampoo on the body because it’s too harsh. This one actually has some hydrating ingredients in it, so that’s why I think it’s not as harsh as the standard combination products,” she adds. The Sweet Orange Vanilla scent is her personal favorite.