I would like to know the same thing.. Also been about 6 weeks for me. My face is so bumpy and icky and it's really depressing. Was thinking of going back on it just a few times a week. I was on the regimen for a lot longer period of time though.

Just do without it,you should just use it on active stuff,start the healing process then stop applying and just use moisturiser.

i stopped applying it 3month perhaps more ago but have to reach for the tube to apply to active spots other than that i dont use it like i use to,i use to plaster that crap everywhere

i think one side effect i got was rosacea that seemed to spark off with the moisturiser i use and still use.

under my eyes and my nose was red raw,stopped applying moisturiser to my nose and it cleared up.

so a possible withdrawal could be caused or triggered by another product.not necessarily bp.

I'd say the majority of my withdrawal was for 3 months. After that my skin started to show signs of normalization. Keep it up! BP can be verydestructive to the skin and it's such a bummer to be addicted to it. I'm pretty sure I gave myself dermatitis and uneven skin tone from 10+ years of daily use.

I weaned off of my 3 year benzoyl addiction over a period of some months and eventually got to a point where I wasn't using it at all. My skin was relatively clear and unaffected for the first 3 months of being benzoyl free. But this is month 4 and I'm covered with congestion and very tiny hard bumps all on my upper lip, chin, and certain areas of my cheeks. This MAY be my own fault as I started using conventional face wash to help remove makeup (which I'm assuming destroyed my acid mantle).

Before quitting benzoyl I switched to an extremely clean and healthy lifestyle. I was certain that benzoyl was horrible for my skin and I was also very confident that had I never started benzoyl, my skin today would be clear due to my lifestyle.

When I got off of benzoyl I switched to using diluted apple cider vinegar as my face wash to help restore my acid mantle. My skin stayed pretty clear for 3 months like i mentioned above. I notice that my skin looks glowy and feels soft but on top of that is all the congestion and acne. Im riding the wave because i dont want to damage my body or be dependant on this product, which disables your skin.

So basically I'm month 4 and experiencing a "purge" Ill let you know when it goes away. Ive read its taken some people 1-2 years! But if you eat a low inflammatory diet you should be able to minimize the effects.

Goodluck!

Update: Month 5 and the "white head in every pore" look has reduced significantly but my face is extremely bumpy and scarred. Still breaking out pretty badly. Did LOTS of research on benzoyl and wow is it horrible for your skin and body. It oxidizes your skin and reacts with sebum to produce squalene peroxide which is a pore clogging substance. It does this by wiping out all antioxidants on skin.Try an ANTIOXIDANT cream, and ingesting as many antioxidants when coming off.

Update: My face got worse than EVER and out of frustration i started the caveman regimen. 7 days in and I am basically 100% clear. Hyper pigmentation is fading quick. Lets hope this works!

Update: It is now January 2018 and I am almost 100% clear!!! With minimal effort! You just have to hang in there and wait it out while your body detoxes and learns how to function without benzoyl. I do wash my face now, but every couple of days or after a workout. I can also wear makeup and remove with a gentle cleanser without breaking out. I eat a very nutrient/antioxidant dense diet and I am active with my body. I know that while breaking out it is so easy to go back on the product or to start new products but if you hang in there, try to attack the root cause of your acne, and live a healthy lifestyle you WILL see success! And trust me it is SO much better than being dependant on products!

If you have any questions feel free to ask!!

About a month for me. BP left my skin all dry, red and itchy. Actually I helped it along by applying honey and eating healthy.

Hey how are you doing?

Hey folks,

My wife was a long time (13 years) user of BP 2.5%. Shed developed a rash over a year ago and quit BP to try to resolve the issue. After a year roller coaster with a Periorial Dermititis diagnosis shes considering and Accutane regimen to clear up the dryness and pain cause by what we now think is BP withdrawal. Shes basically at her wits end and has tried everything. My concern is that BP withdrawal doesnt seem well understood, but finding some hope here and Reddit. Looking to see if any of you have any advice on definitely understanding if this is Perioral Dermititis or BP withdrawal if the latter, best next steps?

I have been on BP for 8 years. I tried quitting for the 2nd time. after 4 months of the initial quitting period i had the worst Atopic Dermatitis that my dermatologist had ever seen. He kept saying your skin barrier has been broken. It eventually turned into impetigo all over my face.

After that hell, i decided to go back on BP i have no choice. The BP makes my face so red. I now buy the 2 oz BP and use it for 30 days. This helps with redness.

Yeah i have clear skin but am i'm 26 and i can't even go outside in the sun. BP and Acne has been challenging but i'm doing my best to live a good life.

@krishmapee i am dealing with the same hope it ends for me too because right now in the 4th month its like somedays better someday more acne i don't know when will this phase end

Im week 6 of benzoyl every other day and my skin is bad, mainly at the area around my mouth where my acne usualy was (yes i do exercise 5 times a week, eat healthy and drink plenty of water but all that has a minimal affect on me). im gonna keep pushing and see when this purgin may stop , im hoping for max of 12 weeks but we will see.

My acne didn't stop forming its the 6 month after quitting all of my face like even the.areas where i am.not prone got breakout i try Carbon laser peels and a serum too but didn't work much for me so thinking about reintroducing benzoyl peroxide again