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
September 18, 2011

Pros:

It makes your face feel clean, even though once you look in the mirror, it is just as bad as it was before. It doesn't increase amount of acne it just really didn't seem to do much of anything. AKA not much of an initial breakout. It does make your face dry, no oily skin anymore atleast!

Cons:

Makes face visibly more red.
No improvement.
Very dry face.
harsh chemicals, the third step will dye your sheets at night.

I think I may have over used this product, washing your face to much can simply make it worse. I think proactiv is worth a shot honestly. Because for the people it does work for it really fixes their acne for good. But if it doesn't work for you your face probably wont get much worse, just remain how it was. Give it a month or two to see if it really works for you or not. Your body needs to get use to these types of things it's not going to fix it overnight.
September 17, 2011

Pros:

easy to use.

Cons:

watery
smells bad
made acne much worse
made skin oily

TERRIBLE! it gave me tiny bumps all over my forehead and made my acne much worse. Now i have really oily skin and break out all the time. It may work for you but it was horrible for me.
September 5, 2011

Pros:

Only thing that works on my face!
Leaves my skin so soft!
Really reduces acne...a lot!

Cons:

Face pretty much NEEDS it after a while; if you get off, you will pay.

I have pretty bad acne. I'm a guy -- 15 years old, and I have my fair share of discoloration. Cystic acne runs in the family. This cleanser, however, is the bomb. It helps tremendously. Only thing that works, though. Tried to get off and use different cleansers. Tried a whole bunch! Left my skin a wreck! Started using the Proactiv cleanser again & used the refining mask to get the acne rashes gone fast and it's gone! Yay!
August 28, 2011

Pros:

I like the scent

Cons:

Doesn't help with moderate-severe acne, cystic acne, or inflamed acne which is what I have now at age 29. I actually tried this "solution" ten years ago at age 19 when I had moderate acne (just a few nodules, some blackheads). It cleared me up after one week using it. Proved effective until about two months of use. Then I became allergic to it as it caused my face to break out in mild rash.

May be worth it for mild acne. Didn't work for me now that I've tried to treat my cystic acne.
August 11, 2011

Pros:

none :(

Cons:

it itched
nothing happened
it smelled funny

this product didnt do anything for my face. i have one pimple in the middle off my face and its huge and red and i read on line that bp can make your face redder so i found this wich had low bp in it and it did nothing. i need help i start junior high in 5 days and i need something that will work fast can someone help me!!!!!!!!!
August 8, 2011

Pros:

works great
only takes about 3 days to see resultss

Cons:

dries face.
leaves face red if too much is used in one spot

ive used this for like a year now. and its worked great :) just dont prevent acne :/
August 3, 2011

Pros:

It works
Easy to use

Cons:

Dries out skin
Expensive

I am a 13 year old boy with light to moderate acne. I picked this up at cvs because it was made by AcneFree (see my review on AcneFree). I had quite a large pimple on my lip and put this on it. I worked tremendously along with some blackheads on my chin and "T-Zone". It made my pimple dissapear after 1 day along with some blackheads under my chin. I dont like how it dries out my skin and i would go with a cheaper alternative.
August 2, 2011

Pros:

smells awesome
works great!

Cons:

none

it works great! BUT it does make a numbing feeling on you face the first few times you use it. bottom line it works great!
July 18, 2011

Pros:

Made the pores on my nose slightly smaller.

Cons:

Made everything else ten times worse!

This stuff really did a number on my skin. When I ordered it, I was having a particularly bad stress and hormone related break out, but by the time it arrived in the mail, I only had 3 very small pimples left. I had read so many rave reviews about it, that I decided to try it anyway, hoping that it would at least keep my breakouts to a minimum. Boy was I wrong! The morning after I first used it, my three small pimples were almost gone, however; in a few days, I broke out in horrible cysts all over my cheeks, chin, jaw, neck, and even forehead (FYI, I have NEVER, in my entire life, had a cyst on my forehead. NEVER!). Some of the reviews have said not to give up on it, as you may breakout worse at first, and so I planned to keep using it for a month, but I just washed my makeup off and found three more shiny new cysts. In the one week that I have been using this kit, I have developed more than 10 brand new cysts! This is the worst my skin has been, maybe ever, at least since I was a teenager. Enough is enough! I will definitely be sending it back!
July 2, 2011

Pros:

none!

Cons:

rubs in quickly, more moisturising than the panoxyl, works really well :)

My skin is sooo much better since using this. Panoxyl was making my skin dry and flaky and seemed to take ages to sink in, wasnt helping my spots much either. As long as you wash your hands thoroughly and wait after applyinf a few mins, you should not harm clothes. None of mine are bleached or discoloured and am using twice a day!

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.