I have a confession to make …I don’t use soap in the shower. I stopped using it several years ago and have never looked back. And no, I am not dirty, I don’t smell and my body has not broken out in horrible acne!
What has happened is my skin is more hydrated, looks healthier and I’ve saved a lot of money on buying soap.
Why am I choosing to tell you this now? I was responding to a High on Health forum post today about back acne (or “bacne” as it’s often called) when I came to the realization that perhaps stopping washing my back with soap was the key to clearing my back acne for good.
When I was 18 or 19 I suffered from mild back acne which was bad enough for me to be concerned about. The exfoliation trick in this article - How To Cure Body And Back Acne - that I wrote a few months ago worked wonders for me. But shortly after I also stopped washing myself with any body wash or soap, and since the back acne never returned, I’m wondering if that had something to do with it. Kind of like how some have said that switching to the water only method for the face has cleared their facial acne.
If you suffer from bacne, I still think it’s important to use a deep pore exfoliant until the acne clears up. A period of two weeks to one month should be adequate depending on the severity. And if you have large or deep acne on your back, it may also be advisable to follow the exfoliation with an anti-bacterial wash (look for a natural anti-bacterial wash with ingredients like tea tree oil or manuka honey).
But after your acne clears, consider not washing your back with anything other than water. You may find that the soap or cleanser that you were using was irritating your skin or clogging your pores and inducing the acne. You may even have an allergy to one of the ingredients.
And if you’re worried that water will not be cleansing enough for you, don’t be! Nature didn’t put us on this earth holding a bar of soap so I think our bodies can handle it.
If you sweat a lot or do manual labor and worry about dirt and toxins building up on your back or other acne areas on your body, what you can do is use a puff ball sponge to gently exfoliate the dirt off without using any soap. There are many different types of exfoliating sponges you can use. The one pictured below is the most gentle I can find and okay to use when you have a lot of acne in that area (this exact type of sponge cleared up my own back acne for good). But once your acne is cleared up you can use something as strong as a loofah.
What about you, do you wash with soap in the shower? Have you found that giving up soap also cleared your body acne? Or did something else work? I’d love your input!
Fran Kerr is the founding editor of High on Health. To cure your acne, sign up to Fran's FREE acne cure mini-course or download her latest how to guide, Eat Away Your Acne.
34 responses ↓
I stopped using soap about 2 years now or close to that amount.Soap (or at least the many different ones I tried) were sp drying to my skin that I would stop in the middle of my bath and start scratching my arms cause my skin was that dry.But what I use instead is a body wash from St.Ives. I love the line of body washes from St.Ives cause they are so hydrating for my skin. St.Ives has bath wash names like whipped silk,mineral therapy (which I currently use),oatmeal and shea butter and even fresh H20. They are definitely worth trying.
But you are probably one of the few girls in the world that don’t use any product to wash your body which I find really cool.I think I’ll find a natural body wash then stop washing with anything for a while.
I’ve been on the hair detox you mentioned in this article: http://www.highonhealth.org/would-you-shampoo-your-brain/
My hair has been really good since doing this and until I find a natural product or start using hair care products again like spray and stuff only then will I shampoo my hair.
One last thing to note is that you’re right about not having anything in the early time for our body.
Hey Kevin, that’s awesome you did the hair detox! I had a friend who did it too that finally gave in when he went to the hairdresser and they washed it before they cut it
I’m still too scared to do it because my gets so oily ..
I’m not sure how people with curly hair can do the detox cause they need to wash or they can become overwhelmed with frizz.I read about your problem with the hair detox in the article but if your hair is oily you can still just wet it during the day and let it air dry.It shouldn’t be too much of a hassle.It’s going to be hard to start using hair styling products when vacation is over cause then I’d have to wash my hair.
I never use hair styling products so that’s not a problem for me, as long as I have my hair straightener/curler though! My friend who did the trial has very curly hair. He found his hair was okay, just a little dryer than normal. But he did wet it every day.
No hair products? Not to sound weird but when I was watching the video where you reviewed the miessence purifying blemish gel I kept noticing how gorgeous your hair looked.Could I get the name of the stuff you use for your hair please?
Yeah never had patience for hair products and I think it makes my hair feel oilier. The hair iron works wonders though. It has an ionizer affect so it makes my hair softer ..it’s a GHD.
I wrote an article about the shampoo I use
- http://www.highonhealth.org/im-in-love-with-giovanni-organic-cosmetics/
You’re absolutely right.When I used mousse like everyday for school plus hairspray my hair would feel so oily that I would make sure not to touch my face.It made my hair look really hard too as one of my friends would randomly come up to me and touch the front of my hair and comment on how unmovable it was.
I love the brand Aussie cause they’re a non natural brand making an effort to be natural.Aussie has been disastrous for many people but I like it for me, a bit overkill with the scent though.They dont have CFC’s either which is important and they contain kelp extracts.
Do you think it’s better to not wash our hair at all or to use a natural product like Giovanni?
This is probably gonna sound really weird but my grandmother told me once that when she was little she and her sisters would wash their hair with mud! She said she lived really close to a river or something (can’t remember exactly where) and she would use the fine, grainy mud to wash her hair with. She said it left her hair really soft and smooth. Weird huh?
But that was a loong time ago. That, and the place where she used to live is now a big ol’ city. Filled with pollutants and other stuff. Kinda makes me wanna live back in her days…lol
It was all just so outdoorsy. Is that a word? ha
I think you’re right, Fran. I used to get keratosis pilaris all over my upper arms. Since I stopped using any kind of soap/wash and a loofah (which actually kind of hurts when I use it), it has disappeared.
Only if I’ve been out in the wind a lot or working outside in the dirt, I use mineral oil all over my body first (which picks up all the gunk like a charm) and then shampoo or something. That gets it off without irritation.
Eddie, I think it doesn’t sound weird for me, I’m washing my hair with green clay
it works wonders for my curly hair!
I really love natural soap bars. I have even used many on my face that were said to be good for acne. One even worked very well for me. But recently I read that all soaps, even natural ones, leave a film on your skin after washing, so you shouldn’t use bar soaps at all! I’m not sure how true that is, but now I wipe my face with a cotton ball and toner if I use bar soap on it. Lately I have been using liquid cleanser on my face.
I hope it’s not all true because I am kind of a natural soaps addict - I have so many to use up!
You might think that after I got into Yoga I would start washing my back with soap more than ever. Most people who do yoga start to get away from things like soap, hippies you know what I mean, but the funny thing is that once I did Yoga for a while I could reach my back better to wash it better… with soap. Actually bodywash with a puffy ball thing. You see my point, Yoga has made it easier for me to wash all of my back because now I can reach it.
(Maybe someone could use two different puffballs, one for the front and one for the back of the body… maybe even three different puffballs.
Hi Fran! I do think you’re right about soap. I stopped using soap on my body several years ago, and my back acne cleared up sooooo much! I rarely get anything on my back or shoulders now. The only time I use any type of cleanser is after I’ve worked out or been outside for most of the day. I use Johnson & Johnson baby wash when I do. It’s very gentle, and soap free!
Recently though, I’ve started using Dove Beauty bar for sensitive skin because my skin is so dry during the winter months. It’s supposed to be moisturizing, and not leave a residue. Do you Know of any natural moisturizers I could use?
Hi Sarah, for the body I find that most natural moisturizers from health stores will do, because you don’t have to worry about pore clogging on your body. Just ask the staff at the store you go to for something rich and hydrating.
I just got into the habit of using soap again too!
I’ve thought about making my own soap. My sister did it once and I’ve heard of other people doing it.
im not sure if soap affects my back, but as long as i use those exfoliating balls that you have pictured above every now and then, the skin on my back is beautiful. i just wish it would be that easy for the skin on my face! i usually do use some natural soap on my back though and it does leave it a little dry so i just use whatever natural moisturizing body lotion that i have at the time, and my back is perfect. i’d be too scared to try that for my face though.
is that logical though? that i do not want to do the same for my face? something about the skin is different, right? so that what might work for our back would not necessarily work for our face? i just don’t understand that. it’s because the hair follicles on our face are more sensitive and fine?
Samantha, good question! I’m pretty sure it has something to do with how thin the skin is, because the skin on our face is the thinnest on our body. In fact, the THINNEST skin on our body is our eyelids!
And of course, the thinner the skin the more delicate, which explains why we have to be a little gentler on our face
Wow, not use soap on ANY part of your body?? That’s pushing it for me; I have to draw the line at the lower portion of the body that I feel needs cleaning with more than water. I realize we didn’t have soap a very long time ago, but I feel us getting soap is akin to the invention of toilets over outhouses. Yeah, we don’t NEED toilets, but they definitely make life more beautiful.
But, I have found that typical soap does contribute to my back acne. I always had to use an exfoliant and a topical at night to keep it kind of under control. But, accidentally, I stumbled upon some natural soap that is THE BEST. A booth at a craft show called Scentastics was selling all natural body oils, incense, soap, and aromatherapy. They have a site, which I believe is Scentastics.com, which has more of their products. But, I tried their soap which is made with shea butter, goats milk, and essential oils in all different fragrances, so it makes taking a shower a relaxing, enjoyable experience each time. And since I’ve been using it, I’ve had maybe one pimple on my back in 7 months.
My skin has been so soft and it serves as a moisturizer, too without any harmful chemicals or additives.
I use 5 of their perfume oils and love, love, love them. They last forever and they’re only 4 dollars. Everything is totally affordable, which has made me a constant customer of their’s. I believe the soap is 3:50 a bar and it lasts about a month.
(I don’t work for them, just a happy customer!)
Julie- well, I occasionally do use it if I need to get sunblock off or if I’m feeling a bit yuck and sweaty or something. So I have a block of natural soap which I also use to wash my hands. I agree with you with the goats milk, it makes an awesome soap, very moisturizing.
Hmm but Julie, doesn’t shea butter clog pores?
I find that my body reacts differently to products than my face. I’ve never tried to slather shea butter directly on my face, so I’m not sure what would happen. But I have used the bar of soap that contains shea butter on certain stubborn pimples or a pimple that accidently opened in the shower while washing with my regular face soap and it hasn’t aggravated the lesions. If anything, it seems to have made them heal faster. But, I’m scared to try it as a full face soap because the one I’m currently using seems to be working quite well, ::fingers crossed::
I had terrible acne face and body since I turned about 13 and nothin would ever help and I tried everything I am over 30 now and I still have teenage acne I think I am now realising something I stopped using soap or any kind of detergent just wash with plain water a few weeks ago and I realy think its made a huge difference I have gotten less new spots and the old ones have just crusted over and died away a bit gross I know and early days to tell its going to take another while for my skin to balance out and my hair to do similar I thought initialy if I don’t see any improvement within two weeks I go back to soap but I realy think I have been noticeing a change so hopefully another two weeks a month things will have started to balance themselves out a little more , see how it goes
wow I am so impressed by Fran. NO SOAP! I was just thinking of never using it again. I have been cleaning my body with powdered oatmeal. I make a paste in the shower and rub it all over. If I need “lotion” then I rub a little extra virgin coconut oil and I am clean. I must admit I have only been doing it for two weeks but my skin is softer and smoother. There are many natural substances that have antibacterial/ cleansing properties. I was just afraid to continue not using soap. Fran you inspired me.
Another week has passed and I haven’t touched a bar of any kind of soap to my skin. I have only cleaned my skin with colloidal oats, milks,green tea, salts, vinegars, yogurt, and all “bacne” and acne have cleared up. I had a rash on my cheek and even that has cleared up. I am not going back to soap. My bf even noticed to softness and improvement in my skin.
Oh that’s great news Veronica, I’m glad the no soap thing is working for you. Did you use those natural products on your skin or is that your diet?
So I NEVER had a problem with back or chest acne until a year ago and I am so depressed. I am getting married in 23 days and I would do anything for clear skin on my wedding day. Any suggestions. I have used acne medication and still do for my face which works, but it doesn’t seem to do the same trick for my chest and shoulders. Plus, it’s too expensive to use on those areas too! Someone please help me. I can try no soap, although it scares me to try something different this close, but maybe for a couple of days. I bought proactive to just use on my body and it cleared everything up, but then it flared up again and isn’t working. Although, that stuff probably just flares it up and clogges pores. Please please… help!
Any suggestions would be great. Even if it’s a particular soap that I can use that won’t clog pores.
Oh, I guess I should also say that I am allergic to highly scented detergents and break out in a rash very easily. This again, was all new a year ago. I now use a sensitive skin or free detergent which works. And I have to stay away from certain soaps or I will get a rash fast.
Samantha, I would really try the not using soap thing, give it a go for a week and you will see results - I just hope you have enough time b4 your wedding to get it all clear… Use the puffball/loofah method, but just buff gently otherwise you could exfoliate too much skin off as I have done in the past, then you need the skin to heal which looks worse than zits…
Personally, I try to avoid soap on my back and chest, I just use a minimal amount of a natural tea tree soap from the health food store on arms, legs, feet, underarms and ‘down there’ lol
I have long hair, so when I wash and condition my hair I pull my hair to the side and rinse it to avoid getting the run-off on my body. I use Aveda and Alchemy hair products anyway, so not as bad as regular hair care if it does come into contact with my back/chest…
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR!!! After reading about it in one of Fran’s articles, I decided to use organic apple cider vinegar on a cotton swab and rub it over my seriously bad chest acne (it is at the point where i buy shirts & dresses to cover it up… and at the point where i refuse invitations to the beach). I have been rubbing apple cider vinegar once a day for the past couple weeks and I see a VERY NOTICEABLE improvement!!! I wish I would have taken before and after pictures to share with you guys!
PS - Tea tree oil absolutely did NOT work for me on my chest
PPS - For the past couple months, I had also been exfoliating with a loofah as Fran suggested, which helped. But adding the apple cider vinegar was AMAZING!!! I hope someone else tries this and comments that it works for them too!
I have been washing my face with casteroil and jojoba oil and have stopped waring makeup and lotion with spf. cuz of all the chemicals. I know I need sunscreen and May use makeup on occations. I want to know what to do when I do where that stuff. Mind you I was an everyday sunscreen girl. And I have not seen much of a difference in my skin doing the oil method.
For a week I’ve been using a handful of rolled oats tied up in a stocking. It doesn’t really help to clear the pimples themselves but within hours of my first oat shower the inflammation was right down and my skin felt really smooth. Even the blackheads on my nose started disappearing within days. Soap is definitely not be used except on hands and feet now, or unless I’m really dirty or something I guess
Hi Fran,
I made a mistake and clicked submit by a mistake but I was wondering about exfoliating the back acne when you have discolorations on your back will this also help? Also my derm told me dove sensitive soap is good for the skin. I don’t like to use it for my face because it’s the same exact bar soap that I use for my body which can cause bacteria to spread.
Doesn’t it hurt? To use the loofah or those exfoliating thingies without soap to lubricate the scrubbing? I tried using a scrubbing glove(those sold at body shop in a myriad of colours) with LESS soap and it hurt already.
I actually don’t break out all that often on my back; I just have scar after scar after scar.
Can anyone recommend anything that might help with that? It’s all hyperpigmentation and pits, and what’s disorienting is that I never picked back there (’cause I couldn’t see what I was doing. :p) Help is much, much, much appreciated!
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