The Best Acne Soap According to a Dermatologist

Added: 2026-05-16

[00:00:00]It's come to my attention that a lot of people are searching online for the best soap for acne. When it comes to cleansing reagents, I would say a medicated cleansers for acne that are probably the most robust as far as cutting down on inflammatory acne lesions, clearing up existing acne, and with ongoing use preventing future acne flare-ups is going to be benzoyl peroxide. This is available in a wide percentage of strengths. Don't assume that you need the most powerful strength available. In many cases, you don't and that can just end up being more drying and irritating. Benzoyl peroxide is antibacterial. It helps cut down on the burden of acne-causing bacteria and it's also anti-inflammatory and comedolytic.

[00:00:38]So, it hits at like multiple arms of the true root causes of acne. It doesn't matter if you go with the name brand or the generic store version, either. The other advantage of benzoyl peroxide cleansers is that they can cut down on the risk of antibacterial resistance if you are taking an oral antibiotic or you're using an antibiotic topical like clindamycin lotion, for example.

[00:01:01]Bacteria don't become resistant to this.

[00:01:04]Now, there are other medicated cleansers out there for acne like sulfur and salicylic acid, but without a doubt, benzoyl peroxide is the most robust. It tackles multiple aspects of acne pathogenesis. One downside of this is that it can bleach fabrics and it can bleach your hair if it gets on it. It doesn't bleach the skin, however. It can be drying. It's also great for using to wash your feet and under your arms because it cuts down on odor-causing bacteria that break down sweat and make you stink.