The following side effects are expected to occur in the first few weeks of treatment, and resolve with continued use of benzoyl peroxide. Contact your doctor if these symptoms are severe and/or do not go away:
How Common (based on clinical studies)
| Redness and/or warmth in the area | Up to 38.5% of all users |
| Skin peeling or scaling | Up to 20.6% of all users |
| Dryness of skin | Up to 19.2% of all users |
| Skin irritation | Up to 19% of all users |
| Acne flare-ups | Up to 15.4% of all users |
| Burning, stinging, or tingling sensation | Up to 11.5% of all users |
| Itching | Up to 11.5% of all users |
| Soreness / Tenderness in the area | Up to 11.5% of all users |
| Change in skin texture (roughness) | Up to 3.8% of all users |
| Inflammation of the eyelids | Up to 0.4% of all users |
Benzoyl peroxide may cause some side effects that are serious. If you experience any of the following, contact you doctor immediately or seek emergency medical treatment:
| Burning of the skin with blistering, swelling, and redness in the treated area | Up to 7% of users |
| Intense skin irritation or rash | Up to 7% of users |
If you experience any of the following side effects, stop using benzoyl peroxide immediately and contact your doctor or get emergency medical care right away:
- A sudden appearance of swelling and rash (known as hives)
- Swelling of the eyes, lips, tongue, or entire face
- Severe itching
- Trouble with breathing
- Feeling dizzy or faint
Benzoyl peroxide may also cause other side effects that are not mentioned here. Contact your doctor if you experience any other troublesome symptoms when using benzoyl peroxide.
References
- UpToDate. Benzoyl Peroxide: drug information. Cited October 28, 2018.
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- Bucknall JH, and Murdoch PNT. Comparison of tretinoin solution and benzoyl peroxide lotion in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Curr Med Res Opin. 5, 266-268. (1977).
- Hughes BR, Norris JFB, Cunliffe WJ. A double-blind evaluation of topical isotretinoin 0.05%, benzoyl peroxide gel 5% and placebo in patients with acne. Clinical and experimental Dermatology, 17, 165-168 (1992).
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- Gollnick HP, Draelos Z, Glenn MJ, Rosoph LA, Kaszuba A, Cornelison R, Gore B, Liu Y, Graeber M; Adapalene-BPO Study Group. Adapalene-benzoyl peroxide, a unique fixed-dose combination topical gel for the treatment of acne vulgaris: a transatlantic, randomized, double-blind, controlled study in 1670 patients. Br J Dermatol. 161(5),1180-9 (2009).
- Kawashima M, Hashimoto H, Alio Sanez AB, Ono M, Yamada M. Is benzoyl peroxide 3% topical gel effective and safe in the treatment of acne vulgaris in Japanese patients? A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled, parallel-group study. Journal of Dermatology, 41, 795-801 (2014).
- Kawashima M, Nagare T, Katsuramaki T. Open-label, randomized, multicenter, phase III study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of benzoyl peroxide gel in long-term use in patients with acne vulgaris: A secondary publication. Journal of Dermatology, 44(6), 635-643 (2017).
- Kawashima M, Sato S, Furukawa F, Matsunaga K, Akamatsu H, Igarashi A, Tsunemi Y, Hayashi N, Yamamoto Y, Nagare T, Katsuramaki T. Twelve-week, multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, comparative phase II/III study of benzoyl peroxide gel in patients with acne vulgaris: A secondary publication. J Dermatol. 44(7),774-782 (2017).
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- Bucknall JH, Murdoch PN. Comparison of tretinoin solution and benzoyl peroxide lotion in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Curr Med Res Opin. 5(3), 266-8 (1977).