Best Body Washes and Soaps for Keratosis Pilaris

Do you have keratosis pilaris? This harmless condition is much more common than you might think. I know because I had it too, and I was so embarrassed by it.

It’s more common in children; grownups get it too. Every day I’d see those dry patches of skin and little red bumps. I didn’t at first. A boy in high school pointed them out on the back of my arms. He wasn’t mean or anything, but he was like, “OMG, are you ok? What happened to your arm?”

I had no idea. As I said, it doesn’t itch or anything. It’s actually caused by the buildup of keratin, that good protein in your skin, hair, and nails.

While no one is really sure why keratin builds up like that, when it happens, it blocks the pours and hair follicles and causes problems.

Thankfully, there’s an easy remedy for it in the way of body washes and soaps. Here, you’ll find the best body washes and soaps for keratosis pilaris, so keep reading, say goodbye to patchy, bumpy skin, and say hello to looking and feeling flawless!

Best Body Washes & Soaps for Keratosis Pilaris

Ready to tame your keratosis pilaris? Here are the best body washes and soaps I’ve found to help with it.

They’ll minimize the appearance and while the condition itself isn’t itchy, you may accidentally scratch yourself and cause it to be irritated.

In that case, you’ll want to read below for the formulas that also provide soothing relief.

I know it’s such a pain, but with these great products, you’ll have skin you can feel great in again!

1- Best for smooth skin: Skinceuticals Body Retexturing Treatment

With Skinceuticals, this Body Retexturing Treatments was made just for dull and rough skin on the body. So, it exfoliates and hydrates to smooth and soften your skin. It features some great key ingredients to help speed up repair cell turnover and your skin’s protective barrier.

Oh, and it has hyaluronic acid, which is one of my favorite ingredients for moisturizing skin. Niacinamide is also in there, which is such a great thing for taming inflammation too.

Anyway, rough and dry skin really disappears with this. It’s so soothing and softening, and the redness really fades.

I like that it’s very hydrating too, so my skin felt instantly quenched.

2- Best overall: Glytone KP Kit Keratosis Pilaris – Exfoliating Body Wash

The power of glycolic acid will be your BFF when it comes to taming keratosis pilaris. I was once recommended this by a dermatologist, and it’s amazing at smoothing skin. Since it’s very exfoliating, you’ll see results fast for smoother and calmer skin head to toe.

Before I forget though, with Glytone’s Exfoliating Body Wash and other options, you’ll see on my recommendations following below, that glycolic acid requires you protect your skin with extra vigilance when you go in the sun. It makes your skin more sensitive to the sun’s rays.

Not that you should ever go out in daylight without sunscreen, but do take extra precautions. Aside from that, you should be thrilled with your results using this fabulous exfoliating wash.

3- Best for oily, combination, and sensitive skin: Murad Acne Body Wash

Murad is a really science-based brand that has very specific formulations to handle all those pesky skin concerns. Murad’s Acne Body Wash is no exception, as it’s great for keratosis pilaris and acne.

Oily skin, in general, really doesn’t stand a chance. Skin becomes so much smoother, and if you do have breakouts (like one of my friends who begged me not to use her name), you will see a huge difference in how calm and soothed skin looks.

No annoying bumps. No acne. No redness. Murad totally gets your skin with this phenomenal product!

4- Best with natural ingredients: Moroccan Black Soap – Original

Have you used a black soap before? It looks a bit, well, not like soap. But this Moroccan Black Soap is really something else.

I wanted to try something more natural to see if that would help, and my search took me to this wide-mouthed jar of what looks like goop. I was a little skeptical, but OMG.

Nature really knows best because this stuff cleanses like nothing else, and there are no nasty chemicals in it. It’s fully natural!

If you can’t stand fragrances, this is unscented, so it won’t bother you. Don’t judge it by looks…just try it, and you’ll get silky-smooth skin from this amazingly soft soap!

5- Best to balance skin pH: Touch Keratosis Pilaris & Acne Exfoliating Body Wash Cleanser

I think I’ve talked about pH balance for your skin in my other posts, right? Well, if not, here’s a crash course: your skin has a pH level that needs to be maintained for good health. If it’s out of whack, so is your skin.

That brings me to this option, Touch Keratosis Pilaris & Acne Exfoliating Body Wash Cleanser. It’s free of sulfates yet it foams up in the most lovely of ways.

With glycolic acid and salicylic acid, it exfoliates like a dream while having a pH of 3.5, so your skin can be, well, it’s proper skin self, thanks to free acids.

Because there are no alcohols or harsh beads, it’s a great choice if you have irritated skin. Rub it on and let it sit while you sing a few songs in the shower before rinsing it off, and you will be a believer too.

6- Best to get rid of the redness: Keratone KP Body Wash

One thing that always bothered me about my keratosis pilaris was the redness. That’s why that boy noticed. Ugh. Anyway, Keratone KP Body Wash is a great choice when your KP looks angry and red too.

This formula exfoliates with glycolic acid and helps smooth those bumps and redness right on out of there. The first time I used it, it felt really nice. But after a few uses, I really noticed a difference.

My skin felt really clean, like all the way down to the pores. And it felt smooth to the touch too. The redness became less obvious until it was finally not even noticeable at all.

7- Best to revitalize skin: Mario Badescu A.H.A. Botanical Body Soap

I love the smell of papaya and grapefruit, don’t you? Turns out those invigorating tropical scents are even better for your skin. The extracts are great for getting rid of dead skin cells and smoothing things out.

Mario Badescu AHA Botanical Body Soap is just the stuff you need with those wonderful extracts plus ginseng and oat protein to soothe and rejuvenate on your sensitive, irritated skin.

I have used this to clear up breakouts as well as my KP, and I just love it. It smells so wonderful every time, and my skin looks smoother and clearer.

Also, the cleansing effect it has always makes me feel like a brand new gal. Definitely try this revitalizing body soap!

8- Best for athletes: TheraTree Tea Tree Oil Soap with Neem Oil

My friend Jaira has always been a runner. Whenever there’s a marathon, she is so there. But her keratosis pilaris always looks worse after she races, and she wanted something that would help soothe and repair her skin.

TheraTree Tea Tree Oil Soap with Neem Oil is a tingly and lovely soap that really gets to work on skin. Jaira said I should put it on my list because it’s so amazing. “It really makes my skin tingle with a clean feeling that I just love.

When I’m showering after running, I’ll even use it on my hair to just free myself from everything. What a feeling!” she told me.

The organic and natural foaming formula can be perceived as intense if you don’t know what to expect with tea tree oil, but it’s great. Also, that invigorating scent is like therapy for the senses!

9- Best black soap: sky organics Liquid African Black Soap

Here is another black soap option by sky organics. Black soap is one of those natural beauty remedies more people need to get into. I find it is just wonderful for inflamed skin.

sky organics really deep cleanses with a soothing feeling that leaves no irritation behind. My mom likes this one too.

She used it because she had a skin irritation that wasn’t letting up and as she puts it, “When we turn back to nature, it heals us.” I couldn’t agree more.

If you want to try black soap, you will be very happy with the results you get from this lovely option.

10- Best Natural & Organic body soap: Dead Sea Mud Soap Bar

I love organic ingredients. Another thing I love? Dead Sea minerals. Oh man, if you’ve never tried it, you don’t know what you’re missing!

With the Dead Sea Mud Soap Bar, which my mom had gotten for me initially (I have since bought my own fair share), my skin felt so much healthier and softer right after the first time I used it.

I was absolutely hooked. It’s great on your face too. I had a breakout (that time of month lol) and washed my face with it. The next morning, my skin was cleared up.

The scent of this soap smells so refreshing too. It’s astonishingly good quality at a really great price too.

This is one of those things I gift people when I make up a gift basket for a birthday or holiday, and everyone tells me the same thing – “This soap is fantastic!” It truly is.

You’ll love the soft, soothed feeling you get every time you wash with it.

11- Best Hydrating Face Wash & Body Wash: Cetaphil Gentle Skin

Cetaphil has been a long-time contender for all kinds of skin concerns. My dermatologist recommended it, and I have to say, Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser is a worthy option that’s not even remotely expensive in the slightest.

You might be surprised by the texture of this face and body wash because it doesn’t lather up. But don’t be fooled. It’s working, trust me. It’s delivering deep down hydration to your thirsty, irritated skin to help soothe it and calm it into a beautiful appearance.

There’s no fragrance or irritation here, so even my friend Cindy with super-sensitive skin loves this stuff and uses it on her face and body every time.

One thing I will add is that if you really want the best difference in your skin with Cetaphil, do yourself a favor and get the lotion too. It really seals the deal, helping bring your skin full circle into better health.

12- Best cost-effective: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash

Don’t let dry skin win! Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash is a wonderful treat that is cost-effective and worthy of your time. My legs became so dry one time that even after moisturizing them religiously, I had flakey white patches. It was so embarrassing.

I was really busy, so I just chucked this into my cart at the supermarket, and lo and behold, it worked.

The gal a few doors down from me told me she has eczema and has never had a problem with it since using this body wash. I really love the smell and the way my skin feels when I use this.

So glad I found it though now I order it, so it’s conveniently brought to me whenever I need it.

13- Best for itchy skin: Sulphur Soap   

While KP doesn’t actually itch, the drying out of your skin because of this condition can absolutely make you feel itchy all over. And of course, you’ll respond to the call by scratching like a dog with fleas.

I was recommended Sulphur Soap when my skin dried out so much I couldn’t take it anymore. The weather was drier and cooler, and I couldn’t find relief. That is, not until I used this.

Right after bathing, I noticed a huge difference. My skin was calm, and it didn’t feel itchy anymore.

After a few uses, the itching never came back, and my skin felt hydrated and normal again. I am so relieved I found this!

If you feel itchy and your keratosis pilaris is drying things out and leaving you inflamed, try this soap, and you’ll finally get the relief you seek.

Conclusion

Coping with keratosis pilaris is easier when you know the best body washes and soaps to use.

Each of these options can really help soothe your skin, leading it to look its best and helping you feel more confident to show your arms and legs without worrying about redness and bumps getting in the way!