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
March 26, 2013

Pros:

none

Cons:

expensive
does not work
very harsh on skin
face broke out more

I used this product after using the Clinique 3-step system because it had broke me out really bad and made me get really bad skin. The worst I have very had in my life. The lady at the Clinique counter told me to use this in order to get rid of the breakouts, so I started using it and I broke out even more and she told me it was all apart of the regimen so I continued to use it for 2 months and my skin became worse and worse. I would definitely not recommend this acne system nor Clinique in general. It is way too expensive and it is not what people and advertisement make it out to be.
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February 7, 2013

Pros:

Cleared my daughters skin up so much better than other acne medications.

Cons:

Can be a bit drying so use with Olay lotion

Definitely give OXY a try for at least 2 weeks twice a day. The first dermatologist I took my daughter to wanted to put her on accutane. Being that she was 12 at the time, I had a BAD feeling about doing so. Got a 2nd opinion and the new Dr. said "Oxy 2 X per day. Give it 2 weeks and I'm sure you'll see an improvement." I'm so glad I trusted my instinct and got a 2nd opinion :)
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January 22, 2013

Pros:

works fast and is great

Cons:

drys out skin so use a moisturizer with it

its fantabulous!
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December 11, 2012

Pros:

It works fast

This is the only facial cleanser that got rid of my acne. In less than a week I saw a big difference. This product has had a huge impact on my self esteem, I finally feel beautiful with out the acne. This is a heaven sent.
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November 21, 2012

Pros:

Easy to use
Works fast - saw results within a few days
Smells good
Nice consistency - not thick and creamy
Lathers well
Rinses off easy

Cons:

Dries out skin - will need a moisturizer after each use

Definitely works. A friend of mine has been using it for awhile and I've noticed his skin getting clearer and he is pretty much completely clear now. I gave it a shot and after only using it for a week I already see results. It is drying (which is why I gave 4 stars and not 5), but not nearly as drying as the acne.org regimen if you are comparing to that. Will need to moisturize after each use, but this stuff works. I am now a big fan of Oxy. Wish I would have tried it sooner. It is the only brand available OTC that I hadn't tried I think. I definitely recommend this to anyone. You won't even need a spot treatment bp or SA if you use this wash so it saves you time as well. Not sure how it works for cysts and severe acne, but if you have light to moderate acne it should work well for you.
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September 14, 2012

Pros:

Clears marks over time
Skin noticeably clear after 3 weeks

Cons:

Bleached my skin to the max, i had a white face, i'm black.
Expensive
Customer Service is ridiculous
Doesn't get rid of all pimples.

Once you start using it there's no going back, you have to be persistant and once you stop using, expect your skin to get 10 times as bad as before. Bleaches skin, and does a bad job of getting rid of pimples.
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August 8, 2012

Pros:

Works quickly
Doesn't overdry
Reduced redness
Evens tone

Cons:

Smell of toner is horrible.
Freebie facial brush scrubber in the kit is a bit rough on the skin.

I'm 28 yrs old and my skin has gone crazy since having my last child. I have tried several washes including going sulfate free w/ little to no results. I got the Sensitive skin version of this (which says it's sulfate free, yay!) at Walmart that included a free facial cleansing brush like the Clarisonic type rotating brushes. This brush works ok and does feel soft to the touch, but on the face it feels pretty rough so I might invest in a better one in the future but for now, I'm trying to see if it's something I will get used to as I've not tried one before. The first day I used the system, I noticed less redness. The next morning, several spots had visibly shrunk and the scarring/darkness from old acne was improved. This blew my mind! I didn't expect it to work but I'm soo happy. The toner is gentle and doesn't burn at all but the smell is horrible. That does go away when it dries which is pretty quickly thank goodness! I do use the Simple brand Replenishing lotion after using the toner to prevent drying and then follow up w/ the spot treatment lotion. I will not likely need to use the spot stuff as a mask as it seems to be doing the trick using it sparingly. I've been using it for a week and my skin is clearing up, my skin tone has gotten dramatically better, and the old scarring is fading! No more blotchyness or redness. I'm SUPER impressed w/ this kit for doing all this! I really didn't expect it to work at all but I was getting desparate to find something and I though for the price and free brush, it was worth a try. SO glad I did!!!
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July 24, 2012
Product used: The Regimen

Pros:

i have been using these products for a little over a week, my skin is starting to clear up, my pore is getting smaller, my skin tone feels so much smoother. The cleanser is amazing, i never had a cleanser who actually remover all my make up away.

Cons:

The treatment makes my skin a little dry, i only use it once a day (at night time), i use two pump of the moisturizer and i add a few drop of jojoba oil to help with the dryness.

The bottom line these product work for me, and it's so important to follow the direction and be very gentle with your skin, use very light on the treatment first time start the products. Thank you Dan :)
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June 5, 2012

Pros:

-COMPLETELY clears acne
-significantly fades acne scars
-smooth skin
-works in a few days

Cons:

-quite a bit of drying

This product works!!! After a couple of days my skin was completely clear! I've used every other product out there and never seen results like this. I LOVE this product, it has honestly changed my life. I only use it at night (because it dries my skin out) But i'd MUCH rather have dry skin than acne. If you're sick of having acne, start using this product! It also significantly reduced the appearance of my acne scars. I have struggled with acne for almost 9 years. It has somewhat dictated my life and I'm finally acne free! (The name of this product fits perfectly!) I'd marry this product if I could, I LOVE YOU 'ACNE FREE'!!
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May 25, 2012

Pros:

prevents and treats some acne, doesn't dry out skin

Cons:

if I don't spend time making sure I've washed all the residue off, my skin gets very oily by afternoon.
doesn't work as well for me as other products with BP have.

More like 3.5/5. by no means miraculous results, but I'm allergic to salicyclic acid and can hardly find any other products without it! still, this works well enough and doesn't seem to make my acne worse. I switched to Oxy a while ago, which has been MUCH better. Both have the same amount of benzoyl peroxide so I'm not sure what the difference is. sensitive combination skin, cysts and whiteheads mostly.
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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.