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
January 7, 2011

Pros:

Makes skin soft
Skin looks clear at night and a little in the morning

Cons:

Redness
Dry skin
Too long of a process

this product did not work for me it may work on other people but i have not found a person that has had success with it.
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January 6, 2011

Pros:

it works
gives a glow
makes skin soft
cleanser is the best part

Cons:

sometimes causes irritation to skin(toner)
refining mask dries out skin

When i started using proacitv i got the same results as most people on this page. It sucked! However for some reason i continued to use it and it began to clear up my face. It is a good product just continue to use it dont let a little setback cause you to stop using it. Rather than using all three products three times a day i like to use only the cleanser in the morning and use the oil free moisturizer over it. Its a fine product try it out .
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December 19, 2010

Pros:

Today I called and actually got a representative who spoke proper english. Other than that, NONE!

Cons:

This product turned a small problem into a very large problem. After using this product, I had more acne than I have ever had in my life. I called to cancel after my first shipment, it is now 3 months later and this company is STILL charging my account! They tell me my account has been cancel, and yet they continue to charge me for a product that I am not receiving! This company is such a rip off. Don't expect to get anywhere with customer service.

Don't expect them to cancel your account when asked. Don't expect them to tell you they received the package you sent back, even 3 months after you sent it back! Get proof from the post office when you send it back!
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December 18, 2010

Pros:

Well its cheap and otc which is 2 pros

Cons:

leaves skin dry but unless u dry up the skin u will never clear the acne

I have used almost everything over the years and nothing seems to touch it..i was using freederm before and it really makes your skin red. Moring and night i use Clearsil Ultra..not the face scrub and Quinoderm. I must say i have suffered acne now for 21 years and my new comibination i have seen a really amazing differance..give it a go..nothing to lose..the differnce is better than when i have isolaze last year at skin UK..That cost me 800 GBP but for under a tenner total the differnce is better.
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December 18, 2010

Pros:

None

Cons:

Dried out my skin
Didn't cure pimples or scares
If pimples went away, they'd just come back from dryness clogging pores.

I've used ProActive for about a year now. Last year when I first started using it, it worked tremendously for about a few months. I loved it and recommended it to everyone to give it a try. When summer came around it started to not work so well because of drying and pimples started showing so I stopped using it for a while to try another product called Arbonne Clear Advantage (it's a 3-step solution also) and it worked for quite a while because of no dryness, it kept my skin nice and moist, but didn't cure all the pimples, just the occasional so I kept using it. I wanted no pimples of course and that wasn't 100% working so towards the end of summer i started using ProActive again and same results to why I stopped using it till this day I am using it to hopefully see some results but NO still the same. I came to a conclusion that mid-year they changed the formula or something that maybe irritates my skin more. I don't know. It just wasn't the same ProActive that I first used. Everybody is different of course, but majority of the people posting reviews that I seen say that it does dry out the skin.
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December 16, 2010

Pros:

gentlest BP I've ever used.

Cons:

created cysts
made face break out worse

Well...I have been using this product for 4 months, and have been following the regimen to a T. Gentle, waiting between applications, etc.. The only positive I can come away with is the ease of applying a gel BP. Very smooth. I only really broke out in my chin area, so I started only applying there. It never made my acne better. Just consistently stayed the same, and there were new breakouts everyday. I have little flesh colored bumps on my forehead so about 4 weeks in I started applying the BP there as well hoping to get rid of them. Oh boy. I never break out on my forehead. Massive eruption. Everything from whiteheads, to red bumps, cysts, blackheads, you name it, my forehead's got it. And now both of my temples have these strange cysts, they are not painful, just about 5 huuuge bumps. I can deal with the flakiness, but the texture of my skin is horrendous. My pores look huge and I just kind of look aged. Ugh. I really wanted this regimen to work and I do believe Dan is a great guy for sharing his success with the world. I have no doubt that this works for alot of people, just look at the logs. I suppose this just wasn't meant for me. Le sigh. :/
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December 2, 2010

Pros:

Hmm...the commercials made it look good.

Cons:

Dried out skin so bad, no matter how much moisterizer I used, my skin was still so dry to the point where I can't smile, I have a hard time opening my mouth to eat. It seemed to improve my acne a little, but then it got SO much worse. I started to get more acne, but not just normal pimples...these were cystic.

I tried Proactiv years ago and after having a bad reaction with a Burts Bees acne line, I thought I'd give Proactiv another try to help clean up the mess that Burts Bees caused. It made it SO much worse! With any new acne regimine, your skin is going to get dry to a point...although its SO dry that I haven't smiled in 3 weeks, I won't eat in public because stretching the skin around my mouth makes it all flakey and gross. Sometimes I'd eat my lunch in my car at work and have to pick off the dead skin after I'm dead eating...it's just been a horrific experience. It worked NOTHING like it did for me years ago. The cleanser seems nice at first, but after 3 weeks of using it, I stopped because of the horrible cystic acne it gave me and because I couldn't go through putting the cleanser on the cystic acne with the little scrubby beads in it. It just seemed to irritate things. I went back to my dermatologist today, and told him that I tried Proactive and he told me that that wasn't a good decision to make at all, that the stuff in Proactive is not good for your skin. I know that it works for some people, although this time around it just made it so bad for me. I called off of work today because it's so bad, and I've NEVER done that before. I can't say that I would or would not recommend it to someone, because everyones skin is so different. It all depends, unfortunately it may come down to trail and error as far as finding something that works for you. Personally I've given up the battle, and I'm resting my skin in the hands of a doctor. It's a little more expensive, but clear beautiful skin is more than priceless to me.
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December 1, 2010

Pros:

feels good on face

Cons:

did nothing to help acne
acne got worse

I was on Proactiv for around 5 months and nothing happened for me. I did like the way it felt on my skin and the smell but thats nothing. The acne did not get better it got a little worse and just kept getting worse even when i was off of it. i would only tell someone to use this if there acne was light because it might help for someone with light acne. good luck for everyone i have not found anything that helps well yet.
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November 29, 2010

Pros:

It works for me! Been clear for over a month.

Cons:

Makes skin dry.
Orange bottles are unattractive. Orange is not the new pink.

I use the AcneFree Severe 4-part kit that I got at CVS. It comes in orange bottles. The only part of this kit that I really use is the Benzoyl Peroxide lotion. I used to use 10% BP cream as a spot treatment on affected areas and it would help some, but it would never be a final solution. I used this 10% BP lotion all over my face, and my face has been CLEAR for about a month now. I even weathered my most recent period without issue, even though I usually get hormonal breakouts. I used to pick a lot too, which I am working on stopping. I used to say that "I wouldn't have to pick if there was nothing to pick at," which is a fallacy, because picking can clog pores, and definitely damages skin, making it more susceptible to future breakouts. However, for the first time in a long time, there really is nothing to pick! My skin is clear and smooth, and there are no blemishes, not even little ones. I put the lotion on every night, and after a few nights (especially because its winter) the skin around my mouth and on my cheeks will get dry. When that happens I just use a light moisturizer on the dry areas (non-medicated) and continue to put the BP lotion on my forehead.
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November 24, 2010

Pros:

None.

Cons:

During the summer I was using the new clean & clear face wash and it worked wonderfully for me until my skin got use to it. Every couple of months I have to switch cleansers in order to regain clear skin. One month ago I bought proactive, which I believed could absolutely cure my acne. However, proactive did the exact opposite and totally made me break out in red pimples and acne everywhere. I am still in the process of using it because my sister believes it can help my skin, as it did for her.

If you have experienced the same results, give me some advice because my skin was never this bad. Now I'm just sad and I wake up everyday hoping my skin is clearer. I hate going out in public because my bad skin gives out attention. Someone help me!
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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.