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 13, 2011

Pros:

* Deeps cleans really well
* Keeps my face oil-free all day
* Skin is continuously improving

Cons:

* Drys out the skin
* Can cause itching and redness

PanOxyl is the first acne cleanser I can say worked for me. I've been using it for about a week and the majority of my acne is gone, which has never been the case with all of the other products I used. You can really feel it clearing out that bacteria in your skin, and it kept my face oil-free all day. However, this is NOT a miracle cure, and I definitely wouldn't recommend it to everyone. I believe it worked so well for me because extremely oily skin runs in my family and my skin is very acne-prone. I needed a really strong cleanser for it to be effective on my face, and PanOxyl had 10% benzoyl peroxide (the highest amount over the counter w/o a prescription). It does dry out my skin and irritates it a bit, but I can handle because of my skin type. People with dry or very sensitive skin should stay away from *this* specific product, but they should check out the other PanOxyl products with less benzoyl peroxide in them. Not every product is right for every person, and this product is a bit harsh, so that's why I gave it a 4/5. However, it worked for me, and if your skin is similar to mine (stubborn acne/ oily skin), try it! I hope it gives you similar results. I'm glad I came across it!
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July 9, 2011

Pros:

- Cheap (yes, in fact, very cheap for the size compared to what you get in australia - even with shipping included)
- The 2.5% works better than the 10% Panoxyl gel, because it didnt flake off everywhere, it felt very smooth and moisturising, went deeper into my skin, could see improvements faster
- Can't tell I have BP on after it dries
- Doesn't like a flaky white mask on my face at all. I looked like a pale white ghost with Benzac gels and Clearasil.
- Works really well against

Cons:

none.

I LOVE THIS STUFFFFFFF

PLEASE keep selling this! I will be devastated if you guys ever discontinue this! Anyone thinking about getting this... don't wait any longer... not kidding... buy it, you wont regret it. But start slowly + follow the regimen precisely :) + I actually look normal with this pimple/acne gel on my face! hehehe BUY IT BUY IT BUY IT :D
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July 5, 2011

Pros:

Works for the first few months
The over-night mask is great (I still use it sometimes)

Cons:

The skin improvement stops after a few months
Smells Horrible
Dry skin after cleansing

The product only works for the first months then everything goes downhill after that. The overnight mask is the only product I liked from the pack, but even the mask is not always reliable.
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May 24, 2011

Pros:

a note from the Carley's Clear & smooth.
since this is a .org site we appreciate an opportunity to respond.

Cons:

none

we understand that nothing works for everyone. we also know that we have competitors who love to trash our product pretending to be buyers. any product on the internet is subject to fake reviews. good or bad. but if this product is a fake how do you explain the 30,000 99.9% positive reviews on ebay? those reviews have to match up to a sale. every feedback HAS to be from a real buyer. so no one can post fake good or bad reviews. so why doesn't this work on everyone? some people have used stay on the skin ointments for years(many well over 10 years). day and night constantly. they have so damaged their skin with these harsh chemicals that no product is going to help them. at least not right away. in fact go back in history and you will find adult acne is only a recent occurrence. right about the time (30 years ago) that benzoyl peroxide was introduced as a stay on the skin ointment. before then acne was just about only a teen issue. today millions of adults suffer. in our opinion, acids and benzoyl peroxide should never be left on the skin for extended periods of time. they damage the natural balance of the skin. if we can get you in time we can usually help you. but if you are using a 10% benzoyl peroxide wash and a salycic acid or BP ointment constantly for a long time, likely you are seeing less and less results. eventually you could lay that stuff on an inch thick and you're still going to be dealing with acne the rest of your life. the big acne companies are destroying your skin.
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May 18, 2011

Pros:

It got rid of my insanely painful cystic acne
Great customer service, super fast!
It is the only thing that has ever worked for me
Pretty inexpensive when compared to other brands that cost over $60 and don't work
Skin is waaaaay smoother

Cons:

That I didn't find out about it sooner

I had moderately severe acne and found Carley's. Within 6 months my face looked amazing and everyone complimented me. For some stupid reason, I figured my face looked better so I didn't need to use it anymore. I was so wrong! My face was back to horrible in no time. I will never stray again, and I don't know what I would do if they stopped making it. It is really embarrassing to be 26 and have the face of a 13 year old. My face is not completely clear yet, but it is well on it's way. I used to be embarrassed for anyone to see me without make up. Now I'm a little less afraid, and don't rush to put on my make up in the morning in fear someone will drop by. Even though I'm an adult I use the Kick ass formula for teens because my acne was so bad. I had really painful cystic acne that would not go away for months it seems. No acne treatment works for everyone, so ignore the really bad reviews that seem to be popping up on this site. I am sooo happy to have found this product.
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May 9, 2011

Pros:

A FEW of their products work okay. Not the actual 3 step system tho

Cons:

Dries your skin terribly, makes it red and flakey, burns, leaves your skin red for hours

I would not use his product unless you have very tough leather skin. I used it for about 4 months. It cleared up pimples that you have but it doesn't prevent them. It does not stop acne you always always get more. You continue to get them. It made my face so red And dry. And I realized that the proactiv made your skin more prone to scars and marks. Even if I had a little tiny pimple and I didn't pop it or touch it it woils leave a scar that will not go away. It's terrible. But their refining mask and their oil free moisture with SPF 15 are good products though.
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April 21, 2011

Pros:

clears some acne

Cons:

makes skin super dry

dont waste your money on this
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April 19, 2011

Pros:

Dried my skin out.

Cons:

Allergic reaction

I saw all these proactiv commercials on TV and decided to try it, after one or two uses i thought to myself this really works, but then it started to dry out my skin and leave it red with a stinging pain. At first I thought it was a sun burn, but it lasted to long to be one. I just spent hours crying about how bad and dry my skin looks. It makes me look older! Not younger.
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April 17, 2011

Pros:

- comes with toner and moisturizer

Cons:

- I dont really see any result
- skin would get really dry or really oily at times

I have light/moderate acne and every now and then I get a few new whiteheads here and there. I started using proactive in middle school because I had very slight acne. In high school, I still used proactive but I would still get acne on my chin and around the nose area. Towards the end of high school and into the beginning of my college year, my acne got even worse. I even started to break out on my forehead. I don't know if proactive really did any thing for my acne because it only got progressively worse as I grew. Also after using it for so long my skin has gotten very dry even after I use the moisturizer. I recently switched my face wash to cetaphil because my skin was getting to dry from using proactive. But after using cetaphil for one month, I began to get worse breakouts then I ever got with proactive. So now I switched back to proactive. I'm still searching for a different product because I feel as though proactive really doesnt really help with my acne I never saw my skin clear up. With proactive I saw my face get better, then get worse, then get better, then get worse again. At the end of the day my acne is worse then when I started to use proactive. Also occasionally my skin would get really skin or oily.
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April 14, 2011

Pros:

Very effective
Fairly cheap for the benefits it brings.
Prevents new acne / spots forming.

Cons:

Flaky skin
Time-consuming
Bleaches clothes
Might be causing wrinkles. MIGHT.

Dan's BP is a great product. Despite having to pay a lot in shipping charges (due to living outside of US, no fault of acne.org), the value of the product is immense when considering the emotional benefits it brings. I've tried many products in the past that work for a few weeks, and then become ineffective, but this one just gets better over time. Needs patience, stick with it if you try it, you might need a few consistent months to really get the benefits like i did. I bought this BP so i could have the best skin i could have for my graduation day, for photos etc, and i'm so glad I started using it.
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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.