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 21, 2011

Pros:

Works Fast

Cons:

None yet

My pregnancy hormones caused my acne to reaapper after years of not having it. I tried many products and finally came across Zapzyt... It has been 3 weeks and my face is CLEAR. I use it twice a day to make sure nothing pops back up. So far I haven not had issues with it drying out my skin. I RECOMMEND THIS PRODUCT 100%!!!! :)
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September 6, 2011

Pros:

- It works
- Good quantity

Cons:

- Dries like crazy, specially at the beginning
- Takes time before seeing result, you have to
be patient!
- International shipping cost really expensive

My two first months with this treatment were really hard because of the dryness effect, my face was kind of peeling out and I had to moisturize it 3 or 4 times a day. Even harder, after 2 months I had only really small results, my face was still breaking out... but I was motivated and I stuck with it. This was probably the best decision I had because it finally worked after 3 months. It took a lot of time to work but now I'm totally clear. You should give it a try. I suppose this treatment could work faster for someone with moderate or light acne problems. Thank you Good luck and don't give up ! ps: its been more than 6 months and it is still working perfectly.
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September 6, 2011

Pros:

Nothing

Cons:

-too expensive
-ineffective
-only method of payment is charging your credit card

There is nothing special about Proactiv.You can buy any of it in the drug store at a fraction of the cost. Let's break it down: "Renewing Cleanser" - The active ingredient is triclosan, an antibacterial/antifungal agent. It's the same thing as in Clearasil face wash. Oh, and it has microbeads. Big deal. "Revitalizing Toner" - This is nothing but witch hazel! People have been getting this at the drug store since the 1800s. "Repairing Treatment" - This is nothing but 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. You can get a generic tube of this at Walmart for around $5. This stuff is a joke. Probably the only reason Proactiv still exists is their aggressive marketing campaign. They pay high profile celebs to hawk this stuff in their commercials. Years ago I used Proactiv for months and it did absolutely nothing. It was a complete waste of money. My advice: see a dermatologist for a real cure. Proactiv is useless.
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August 20, 2011

Pros:

None

Cons:

Smells
False advertising
Simply put: does NOT work!

I have tried literally every product on the market from over the counter to prescription meds from the dermatologist. I'll go ahead and get right to the point with this one. Worst acne product on the market that I've ever used! No matter how much they put into those false infomercials and no matter how much they pay those celebs to lie...guess what?! This stuff is worthless and it does NOT work!
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August 18, 2011

Pros:

*works in a few days
*see a change overnight
*no dry skin/rash
*cheap
*works exactly like proactive
*makes skin smooth and completely clear within a month
*can get it in almost any store

This stuff worked a MIRACLE on me. i used to have acne so bad that you couldnt even see my skin... it was just all acne. Now that ive been using Acnefree... my skin is COMPLETELY CLEAR. I cant find even one zit on my face! I encourage everyone to try it! Most acne products didnt work for me... but this one did completely! It works great!
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August 3, 2011

Pros:

Reduces cysts and pimples within days
Deminished my acne completely within a month.
No drying of skin or 'burning'
I use it if a pimple 'breaks out' and within days it is gone.

Cons:

None

It is the best product I have ever used and I struggled with 'adult acne' from the age of 26 to 36 until I discovered Benzac Well priced and easily accessible.
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July 28, 2011

Pros:

-Worked great in the short term
-Relatively affordable
-All products smell good

Cons:

-Stopped working after a few weeks

I used this back when I was a junior in high school. It took about 3 weeks to kick in and then I had the clearest skin since I started developing acne when I was 14 (I'm now 21). It then worked for 2 weeks, but after that I started getting more pimples and eventually it stopped working altogether.
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July 16, 2011

Pros:

cheap/not prescriptions
WORKS so much better than cleanser/sal. acid
makes pores smaller

Cons:

none

I used to use Tazorac but it made my pores HUGE permanently. So sad, because it worked otherwise. This works almost as well and is helping to shrink my gross large pores. Also, you dont need to waste time getting a prescription. I use the 5% because I'm in Canada, I think it's just as effective. I had moderate acne.
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June 30, 2011

Pros:

Toner is great...really gets the dirt off your face but left me feeling a bit sticky...

Cons:

No change whatsoever in my acne...
Expensive
Doesn't smell good or feel good on my skin

Hated it. I never really buy into the whole "infomercial" thing but I was out of options so I thought I would give this a try and um...let's just say I won't be trusting anymore infomercials. I'm extremely disappointed. I mean I wasn't expecting perfection, but I WAS expecting improvement which I got none of....so....My advice is don't waste your money.
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June 24, 2011

Pros:

-worked effectivly
-not expensive
-and i ♥♥♥ the cleanser

Cons:

-sometimes dries out

I a teenager and have been using this product for about 4.5 months now. I have had pretty good sucess with this product. By the end of my first set my skin was almost clear except for some small untoicable skin colored bumps by my nose , and some noticable skin colored bumps on my cheeks and forehead. Along with a 1-2 small zits... this may sound unsucessful but from where i started i was very happy. In other reviews i saw people mention drying out that is the repair lotion that has the benzoyl peroxide which dries the face, so what i recommend is cutting back the use of the repair lotion to just once a day or every other day or stoping with the RL until the dryness goes down. If that does not work just use the cleanser in the morning and maybe one of the other two at night. And if u expirence breaking out more in the begining, its normal and keep using the product. Anyway now I am on my second set, between buying sets i skipped a few days and my face totally broke out and i havent been able to get my skin back to how it use to be when i finished my first set, and that may be because i sometimes dont use the full set of 3 even when my face isnt dried out. What i also recommend using with this is burts bee acne spot treatment that helped alot too and quickly dried out the pimple. So anyway give the product a try and make sure to wash morning and night. ---btw im only giving 4 stars because i havent been able to get my skin back to the way it use to look with this product---
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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.