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
July 12, 2011

Pros:

make it dry my skin

Cons:

never prevent new pimples from coming out.

at frist i dont want to use this thing..but when my friend thought me to use this product ..ill go with it ... because he has already sever acne last year..then he/she try it and he/she said to me that it was effective... thanks a lot pro activ you change my life...now im focusing on the scars that this product
June 20, 2011

Pros:

-exfoliated wonderfully
-makes my face feel smooth

Cons:

-smelled odd

I used this Clinique 7 Day Scrub in turn with Epiduo gel for about a month and it didnt clear up my acne all the way and i still got very frequent breakouts. I started using this with Differin and Benzaclin, both prescription acne creams, about 3 weeks ago, after my doctor recommended it for me. I have barely any pimples on my face, maybe a couple on my forehead, but the rest have dissappeared !!!
April 27, 2011

Pros:

clears acne
leaves skin smooth after using moisturizer
buy at any target or walgreens

Cons:

none

AWESOME!!!!!! !!
April 22, 2011

Pros:

It has dried out my acne.

Cons:

Im really dry and have only been using this for about a week...

It's way too early to tell but if this doesn't work I'm switching to Acne Free.
January 10, 2011

Pros:

- Diminished acne when it showed up on my skin
- You don't need to use too much of the formula to cover problem spots
- The percent of benzoyl peroxide is 2.5%, meaning it's a lot less harsh on your skin
- Formula turns clear when applied on skin

Cons:

- First using this product, my skin became irritated and turned red for the day
- Product doesn't necessarily prevent acne. I've found that this product diminished the acne I had present on my face, but on occasions I would get new pimples
- For such a small product, you have to pay a ton of money for it!

This product is decent. After a while, I found that my skin got used to the product, and I didn't turn red anymore. I haven't had problems where my acne gets worse; I find that I only get new acne when I'm getting stressed out and just having teenage problems?...haha. It's a little pricy, so look into other reviews before buying this product. I use Neutrogena's On-the-Spot Acne Treatment only ONCE A DAY, applying the product at night.
November 16, 2010

Pros:

none it's cheap but 20 bucks for something that's going to destory your skin isn't worth it. I honestly can't think of anything positive about this

Cons:

-makes your skin break out worse
-is filled with butters and other pore clogging materials
-doesn't clear up acne
-if you read all the reviews for this product they all say the same thing because the people selling Carley's are writting fake reviews.
-not gentle

Don't bother with this product. If you search about it on the forums you'll realize that this product is fake and does not work. THEY ARE WRITING FAKE REVIEWS SO YOU BUY THIS. BUYERS BEWARE
June 25, 2010

Pros:

None

Cons:

-Made acne 5 times worse
-Dried my skin out worse then any other product
-Made my cheeks really red (looks like a sunburn)
-Made my back and neck really itchy and dry
-Expensive with s&h.

I have very sensitive skin, but NOTHING I have ever used has messed up my skin this much (and trust me I have tried almost everything). I was on Proactiv before I started using this and I don't know why it gets such a bad reputation cause it cleared me up a lot but I still had about 5 pimples on my forehead so I switched hoping I would get completely clear, but this did the complete opposite. My acne is way worse then it was before I started using Proactiv, and not only that, my chin and under my nose is extremely dry and its like peeling. I would NOT recommend this to anyone and I don't know why it has such good ratings cause I would have been better off just using soap and water. And it looks cheap and works worse then the cheapest OTC products but its more expensive then most things I've tried, I got the 2-4 month big kit or whatever and it came out to $80 with shipping and handling. So I say don't even waste your time and money with this stuff its some of the worst stuff out there (well for me it is). I don't know why I trusted Dan Kern, hes not a doctor or a famous skin care person, hes just a normal person. I never even heard of him before this stuff, I shouldn't have trusted him :/
April 16, 2010

Pros:

Good Price

Cons:

Everything

I tried al their line, following all the instructions. May be it does make the pimples smaller, but nt disapear and always getting more and more and does not get read of them
November 11, 2009

Pros:

Refining mask for spot treatment

Cons:

Made my face feel tight DRY and whenever I smiled it felt like my face was going to crack off!!!

I purchased this about a week ago. I do not have bad acne, a zit every here and there but I figured I would try it anyway. OMG!! After 2 days my skin started to dry out so bad that I couldn't even wear makeup! Right now it is flaky and my face feels so tight that I feel like it could crack into pieces at any second! Proactiv is def NOT for me...maybe if you have lots of acne and very oily skin it could work but for me...not so much! I am going back to my skinlogics by beauticontrol...that, I KNOW works for me...no more experimenting :)
October 16, 2009

Pros:

It works at first but not later...

Cons:

well if you stop it doesn't work. also it doesn't work for some people. it doesn't help me anyore.

70 dollars

I have been using proactive for a month and a half, and it started working at first. My skin was tight and clearing up. But then after two weeks it was the same. I don't know maybe if i am applying it wrong but it doesn't work anymore. I have been using it 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.