Topical Antibacterial
Efficacy
54%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Note: Benzoyl peroxide clears the skin completely when applied correctly.
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.
Used Benzoyl Peroxide? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
November 15, 2006
Product used: Proactiv Solution (Acne Treatment System)
Cons:
It doesn't really do anything at all
I have tried everything for my skin. My acne isn't too bad, just occasionally on my chin and forehead. I thought it might be working for a little bit, but reality is, TWO years later, my skin is as bad or worse than it was before. I switched to noxema and it's the best it's been in years. It's just a gimic.
November 13, 2006
Product used: Proactiv Solution (Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
None!!
Cons:
Waste of Money, dry/peeling skin, acne gets worse
I used proactiv dilligently for a month, and my acne just got worse. It's one of those products where you see a durastic improvement the first night you use it, but then it just gets worse then it was originally. It claims to be a miracle product, but it's just the opposite. I have moderate acne and highly reccomend Jojoba Oil to anyone suffering from acne like me! DON'T BUY PROACTIV, IT'S A WASTE!
November 13, 2006
Product used: Klear Action (Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
cheap, can buy it in a store
Cons:
irritating formula
I was using proactiv, but it was expensive, so I tried this instead. Big mistake. waste of money. the cleanser is too runny, and it spills out of the container. it also has no scubbies like proactiv. the toner bottle leaks and leaked all over my things when travelling. and even though it was alcohol free, it burned and irritated the heck out of my face, and turned it red. ouch. the lotion was too heavy feeling and didnt dry fast, felt sticky. I never had any of these problems with Proactiv. Its not worth the $$ you save, proactiv is so much better and worth the extra money. the cleanser is the only thing OK about this set, but like I said, I like some exfoliation.
November 12, 2006
Product used: Proactiv Solution (Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
Ok, I'm seeing a slight improvement in my skin's texture.
Cons:
It's not the miracle cure they make it out to be. I'm still getting pimples, and it overdries my skin. And I'm afraid that if i stop using it, my pimples will be worse than before (I have moderate acne)
I have been using it only for 6 weeks though, so maybe I should give it more time. But I'm at my wit's end here, I don't know if my skin is getting better or worse, whether I should keep using it or stop. I have heard a lot about the beneficial effects of chamomile tea on the skin. Can someone give me some pointers on how to use chamomile tea and how I can incorporate it into my daily skin care routine?
November 11, 2006
Product used: Clean & Clear (Persa-Gel 10, Maximum Strength)
Caused burning, redness and stinging within the first few hours of application. I appear to be allergic to 10% BP but not 2.5%. If you begin having any of these symptoms, I recommend discontinuing use!
November 7, 2006
Product used: Proactiv Solution (Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
It will make you wiser about listening to infomircials.
Cons:
Everything. The products are very costly, and so are the effects on your skin. I used this product system faithfully for the last six weeks and my skin has become worse every day. I kept waiting for my skin to clear and boy was I foolish.
The commercials are very misleading. They make it seem like a miracle in a bottle for your face. It wasn't a miracle for me but a disaster. I just pray that my skin will be okay after ruining it with this awful stuff. I have really bad inflamation and acne "welts" on both sides of my face from my temples to my chin. I never had acne this bad in all my life.
I warn anyone who really cares about how they look to STAY AWAY from Proactiv Solution. Not miracle but NIGHTMARE in a bottle!!!
November 7, 2006
Product used: Proactiv Solution (Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
It does really clear the skin at first.
Cons:
*It dries up the skin too much.
*I started seeing more wrinkles.
*After discontinuing my forehead got covered with tiny red pimples I've never had before.
Horrible product. I think it's a pure scam. It does seem to work at first, and yes, your skin looks more clear and less red. But the negative side effects are much worse than what we should pay for acne-free skin. My skin is very oily and only after 3 days of Proactiv it became extremely dry and flaky. It also became sensitive, that it hurt when I scratched my face. My face would also get very red and itchy after only a couple of hours in the sun
I also noticed that some wrinkles had appeared around my mouth, and I never had any thanks to oily skin and the humidity in NYC.
The worst came after I discontinued using it. It's been two weeks now and I still get rashes on my forehead, not really acne but tiny red pimples that just won't go away.
All in all, it's not worth to damage your skin so much just get rid of acne (and mine is not mild). You will enjoy clear skin now, but in a few years it will be as dry as newspaper and wrinkled. Not to mention the sun damage.
November 7, 2006
Product used: Proactiv Solution (Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
Initially it seems to help stop breakouts, and it smells nice.
Cons:
After a certain period my skin became "immune" to it. Not only that, it does nothing in terms of unclogging your pores. In fact it made my pores worse and I have countless and endless blackheads.
This is the second and FINAL time I will use Proactiv. The only thing it really does is kill bacteria, but it won't help to get rid of the dead skin on your face, where breakouts really begin. I'm really frustrated because I'm an adult, and feel like theres no end in sight. Prior to proactiv I used neutrogena, which did help to clear pores, I still broke-out occasionally, but at least my skin looked clean and my pores felt clear. Whether I'm going back to neutrogena or taking the plunge in the form of prescription meds I don't know. I will tell this to anyone who will listen though: save yourself the $50 every two months. This stuff is crap!
November 7, 2006
Product used: Proactiv Solution (Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
My face was much less shiny and oily on the surface.
Cons:
My breakouts got much, much worse, and my face was more irritated.
I tried Proactiv after a myriad of other products and treatments. In the end, my face was much more broken out and inflamed. The cleanser, with its exfoliating grains, is too irritating. The toner doesn't seem to do much, however, it does contain aloe, which can actually be an irritant to those with rather sensitive skin. The mask, which contains sulfur, smells awful, and I've read that sulfur can actually make acne worse. The Daily Oil Control did a good job of controlling oil, but it's made in a silicone base, which can actually plug up one's pores. It did MUCH more harm to my skin than good.
November 7, 2006
Pros:
None really. I guess the sunscreen wasn't terrible, but wasn't anything at all special.
Cons:
Very harsh, very drying, and has an awful chemical-tainted odor.
This was one of the worst acne treatment products I've used. The facewash was VERY harsh and had a very unpleasant chemical odor. It dried out my skin, made it blotchy, and together with the benzoyl peroxide lotion, dried it out and turned it red. My skin tone was awful, and my acne got much worse while using this.
Pros:
It makes you think it's working