Topical Antibacterial
Reviews
3.5
20781 Reviews
Topical Antibacterial
Efficacy
54%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
1
2
3
4
5
Note: Benzoyl peroxide clears the skin completely when applied correctly.
Topical Antibacterial
Side Effects
Low-Medium
Topical Antibacterial
Acne.org’s Real World Take
It’s been a staple of acne treatment for decades for a reason. When used properly it can completely clear the skin. It is widely available and affordable. Comes with side effects for the first few weeks and can bleach fabric.
Topical Antibacterial
How to Get It
This is an over-the-counter treatment. Here are some places you can find it online.
Read All About Benzoyl Peroxide
Compare To Other Treatments
5
31.3%
4
25%
3
17.2%
2
12.5%
1
14%

Used Benzoyl Peroxide? Rate It:

Choose from 1 to 5 stars
May 18, 2010

Pros:

Works super fast
Makes skin feel amazing
Easy to use

Cons:

Tiny bottles
Cleanser is a bit rough (feels like sandpaper)

I got the "new proactive" about 3 days ago and I immediately saw results. I started getting bad acne after getting the mirena birth control. I used it as directed and the next morning all my white heads had dried up and were practically gone! I absolutely love this product. The repairing treatment makes my skin so smooth! The only problem is that the bottles are so small I'm afraid it will be gone in just a few days and I'll have to spend a lot of money replacing it...
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May 8, 2010

Pros:

oderless, reduses spots, and it was quite cheap (in britian it was just over £5)

Cons:

in the first week makes skin dry but if you use moisturiser it will go back to normal

this treatment works for me and it has reduced the size of my spots and cleared up my skin and if you don't mind having a bit of dry skin a for a few days this is a product for you
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April 21, 2010

Pros:

my skin is better than when i don't use, it does effectively clear up mild acne at times.

Cons:

-HAD to use it twice a day, if i skipped even once id see breakouts
-still didnt keep my skin totally clear, I still got a big zit every often enough to cause frustration, even when I was using it twice a day regulary

Not worth the money. I used proactiv for a long long time, about 6 years. Before I used it I would have acne around my mouth and on my chin at ALL times. When I started using proactiv there would be times when my face was totally clear, but I would still get breakouts that drove me nuts, especially when paying the high price. Not worth the time (takes about 10 minutes to do, a pain when you have to do it every night and you are tired) either.
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April 21, 2010

Pros:

Best acne product I've used that actually cleared up my skin. I use Industrial Strength Foumula for Teen acne eventhough I'm not a teen it has worked best for me.

Cons:

None I love the products :)

I had been trying to get my acne cleared up for years. I tried everything possible, (clean & clear, Neutrogena'etc.) I also tried products from the Body shop and Proactive in which is supposed to work'.it didn't. Then one of my friends told me about Carley's Clear & Smooth Skin Treatment. It took a few months for my acne to clear up it seemed to get a bit worse before it got better. But now my skin if clear and I'm happy with the products I use. Now every face product I use if from Carley's Clear & Smooth Skin, they have soaps, moisturizers, facemasks, foundations and more. It is also nice that every time I've purchased something I was sent sample sizes of their different products. I also got my boyfriend to use my soap and acne scrub his face had cleared up so well; he rarely ever gets pimples since he's been using it. He had acne since I met him and his was pretty bad mine was only moderate'It amazes me how well Carley's Clear & Smooth Skin help clear up both of our faces. I have purchased their products several times now and I will continue to use the products
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April 18, 2010

Pros:

The toner did not irritate the skin. It was actually kind of nice, but definitely not effective at really doing anything about the acne itself.

There is a low percentage of benzoyl peroxide

Cons:

The cleanser has micro-beads in it that literally rip your face apart and the directions state to actually rub them into your skin for up to 2 minutes which is suicide.

The benzoyl peroxide is too thin to really glob on like you need to for it to be really effective. Plus, it is too much like a lotion. It needs to dry really nicely after you put it on before the moisturizer.

The moisturizer does not moisturize well enough. You also have to apply SPF no matter what.

Caused irritation like nothing else. Constantly following this regimen routinely caused face to be in shreds. Had to take breaks to let it heal from the irritation and burning. Acne never got a whole lot worse, but it never got better either. Why spend so much money on ProActiv that only irritates your skin when you can buy acne.org for next to nothing and get cleared up fast?!
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April 8, 2010

Pros:

-Reduces acne rapidly
-Didn't notice any irritation or severe dryness using this.

Cons:

-Seems to clump on very badly on the skin
-Expensive
-Small Quantity

I heard so much good stuff about Clean and Clear's Persa-Gel from the reviews here. I'm currently a long term user of Panoxyl Aquagel, I begun at 2.5% and moved up to 5%. So far though it seems the Aquagel has become inefficient at removing my stuborn acne. So it decided to purchase this gel over eBay. The most noticeable difference was the price, this is very expensive at $9.00 considering the quantity which is 28g compared to 40g worth of gel I get from Aquagel. This is relative though considering you only need to spot treat with Persa-Gel, on the otherhand I can still buy a triple pack of Aquagel 5% for about $13.00 so I felt pretty ripped off. My biggest pro to this product is that I witnessed no irritation or burning (and my acne reduced much faster then before), I had used another 10% BP treatment before which was Quinoderm and that unlike this treatment stung horribly and caused acne due to the extent of the irritation. This for a 10% BP treatment is quite an accomplishment and you get the rapid acne reduction alongside the given strength. Though the major con is that I don't think it was worth the price, I think I'll just purchase Panoxyl's Aquagel at a 10% strength if I want a stronger treatment, also the Persa-gel didn't seem to absorb into my skin well and instead clumped up which to me felt like a waste of an already expensive product. This product great for customers on here who are willing to fork out any amount of cash for a treatment, but for those on a tight budget you should look elsewhere, I suggest looking into purchasing Dan's 2.5% Treatment, while it's pricey you get so much product and no other company out there delivers that (wish he would sell at different strengths!) I also highly recommend Aquagel which is cheap and delivers very well, another product you can try is Nixoderm which is a Salicylic acid treatment but from experience has gotten rid of my acne faster than any other BP treatment on th
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April 8, 2010

Pros:

Love it!
It doesn't ball up on me.
It's clear.
It works.
And I get a great amount compared to on the spot.
Dries quickly.
Stays on, through workouts.

Cons:

Dry skin
Slight red skin (for me anyway)

It's worth it, and a money saver.
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April 6, 2010

Pros:

cleared acne

Cons:

Scrubbing beads irritate skin

I think proactiv is the best acne system in the world the reason for the low rating is because the people who write reviews are on acne.org looking for help with acne. Overall it helped a lot but wont help everyone defiantly worth a try.
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April 2, 2010

Pros:

Its working a little.

Cons:

I been using it for a few weeks now and it makes more acne. My acne still looks the same now. And the refining mask make my pimple worse

This proactive doesn't work. I recommened u to not use it.
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March 9, 2010

Pros:

it works!
easy and quick to use (only takes me about a minute)
I don't have an allergic reaction to it
quick shipping
awesome customer service
free samples

Cons:

takes forevor to work! (ok... 4 weeks... but still)
no makeup untill it starts working (and if you cheat you'll pay for it by ultra red acne the next day)
before it gets better, it gets worse
bleaches fabrics
I don't really like the price
the free samples that you get are awesome and are going to make me broke (I got the daytime and nighttime moisturizer for acne- prone skin)

I might not have tried every acne product that exists, but now atleast I know I won't have to!!! it takes awhile for it to start working (for me, it took about 2 1/2 weeks to stop breaking out and about 4 weeks for acne to start getting better) also, you want to avoid using makeup at all costs before it starts working. this was a major downfall to me because I was pretty self consious about my acne and wanted to hide it if you skip a day, acne seems to get worse, especcially within the first month or so of first using it. a changed diet also helps- for me I just eat an apple a day and drink more water and acne seems to flare up less
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Finding a Doctor

The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.

Finding a Doctor

Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.