The Best Body Acne Treatments to Fight Stubborn, Below-the-Neck Breakouts

Similar to the face version, the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment is made to exfoliate the skin, preventing acne in the first place. Each pad is loaded with glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids to minimize pore blockage and texture, all while brightening the skin.

Peter Thomas Roth Goodbye Acne AHA/BHA Acne Clearing Gel can be used on both the face and body. The beta hydroxy acid (BHA) is salicylic acid while the alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) is glycolic acid — both of which work together in this lightweight gel formula to reduce any unevenness and breakouts.

Give the Bliss Clear Genius Acne Body Spray a good shake before you use it to get all the active ingredients flowing. This list includes witch hazel to soothe, salicylic acid to clear out pores, and niacinamide to diminish dark spots with time and use.

Miami-based, board-certified dermatologist Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD, recommends Dove's sulfate- and paraben-free Anti-Bacterial Body Wash as a stellar option for sensitive skin types who are prone to developing acne and folliculitis (aka inflammation around hair follicles) on their backs. She notes that the satiny formula is non-comedogenic and "safe for people whose skin gets irritated [using] harsh or drying antibacterial products." In fact, this glycerin-spiked formula keeps skin feeling baby-soft long after you've stepped out of the shower.

Mona Gohara, MD, a Connecticut-based, board-certified dermatologist, is a fan of First Aid Beauty's FAB Pharma White Clay Acne Treatment Pads. They're technically designed for the face but work wonders on any areas of the body as well — especially when you're in a rush, like after a gym workout. Two percent salicylic acid "cuts right through the oil in the pores to break up any clogging," she says of the treatment.

Additionally, these 60 alcohol-free pads are drenched in clarifying tea tree oil and willow bark to exfoliate and smooth out your complexion, while kaolin clay sucks out all of the gunk lodged within your pores.

New York City-based, board-certified dermatologist David Kim, MD, vouches for the CeraVe SA Lotion (along with the SA Body Wash), which contains beta hydroxy acids (salicylic acid) but manages to be gentle and highly moisturizing. "BHA is lipophilic, meaning oil-loving, so it's great for clearing excess oil from the skin and, therefore, preventing acne," Dr. Kim explains. (However, he points out that CeraVe doesn't disclose the concentration of salicylic acid present.) Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and ceramides round out the skin-hugging formula to ensure all-day and/or all-night hydration.

One of the reasons why back acne is such an annoyance is that it can pop up in hard-to-reach areas. If no one's around to help, don't sweat it. Versed's superfine Back-Up Plan Acne-Control Body Mist is super easy to use and covers a lot of area with each spray. A mild yet effective team of two percent salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and witch hazel fights acne-causing bacteria, reigns in excess oil production, and soothes redness. As long as you give it 30 to 60 seconds to sink in, you're good to go — no staining or sticky residue to be found.

If you're a fan of leave-on treatments, then the Paula's Choice Weightless Body Treatment 2% BHA will be right up your alley. This silky, lightweight lotion keeps working hard overnight to provide gentle exfoliation and shed built-up layers of dead skin cells, so you're left with smoother, softer skin upon waking up. Best yet, two percent salicylic acid is accompanied by a squad of soothing ingredients like allantoin, bisabolol, and vitamin E to keep skin looking and feeling calm.

Target breakouts that crop up on your back, chest, and shoulders with Murad's Acne Control Acne Body Wash. This dependable shower companion uses one percent salicylic acid to dive deep into your clogged pores and clear active breakouts, while an additional exfoliating duo consisting of date seed powder — a physical exfoliant that is particularly great for oily skin types and removing stubborn layers of oil buildup — and glycolic acid reveals instantly smoother skin. Irritation won't be a problem either, since green tea and licorice root extracts swoop in to deeply condition skin. 

AcneFree's Salicylic Acid Body Spray is another easy-to-use mist that combines the exfoliating powers of salicylic and glycolic acids to blast through clogged pores and prevent future breakouts. (As a refresher, glycolic accounts for the smallest and most easily penetrable of all of the skin-care acids.) And because the last thing you need is more irritation, this fast-drying, non-sticky formula contains a blend of hydrating aloe vera and niacinamide to alleviate any potential inflammation or redness.

If the body acne you're battling is concentrated mostly on your shoulders and chest, Connecticut-based, board-certified dermatologist Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, recommends Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% Acne Treatment, a prescription-strength topical retinoid that's available over-the-counter. "It helps to keep the pores open, ridding them of clogging sebum and bacteria," she tells Allure. Did we mention it's won three Best of Beauty Awards to date? It simply works.

If you're a regular at the gym, Dr. Prather says you may want to add an additional step to your breakout-fighting routine — and an additional product to your gym bag. "Working out can create a warm, moist environment from sweating that can lead to acne flares by fostering an environment friendly to bacteria and yeast growth," she tells Allure, advising a quick change out of your workout clothing as soon as you're done exercising. "Choose a to-go cleansing wipe targeted for acne, like the Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Treatment Wipes, to wipe your back and clean acne-prone areas immediately post-workout."

It's not just salicylic acid that makes for an excellent acne cleanser. "PanOxyl has a 10 percent benzoyl peroxide to penetrate the pores and kill bacteria," Mraz Robinson, MD, tells Allure. (Benzoyl peroxide is also great for treating butt acne — the more you know.) Henry is also a fan of PanOxyl's Acne Foaming Wash but notes that you need to time your use of it carefully. "It can bleach clothing, so reserve this for when you aren't wearing your favorite pajamas," she says.

After cleansing, Dr. Prather recommends applying a toner that contains acne-fighting ingredients. That may seem tricky for areas like the back, but that's where a product like this quick-drying Glytone Acne Treatment Spray Back & Chest comes in. "Because the back is a hard-to-reach area to apply topicals, look for user-friendly products in a spray bottle that you can mist on your back, such as this spray formulated with two percent salicylic acid," she notes.

In addition to salicylic and glycolic acids, Dr. Prather likes products that also contain natural acne fighters, like witch hazel. These saturated ZO Skin Health Oil Control Pads fit that bill, offering a balance of active ingredients. "[These] are some of my favorite acne treatment pads because the pad thickness is durable, allowing you to treat multiple areas [at once]," she tells Allure.