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 17, 2007
I started this product around 6 months ago for mild acne. It took a couple of months to work, but I had clear skin for a while. Then, all of the sudden, my skin got REALLY dry, and I got red bumps on my forehead. I tried some other things, but eventually started using proactiv again...big mistake. I woke up the next morning with swollen eyes and itchy dry lips. Even though the product worked at first, I still developed an allergy. Use with caution!
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December 30, 2006

Pros:

its good use. it works great, but the thing is you have to get it doesnt get rid of acne it helps u from developing and haveing breakouts but its well worth it

Cons:

pricy, and it takes a while

i got that 5 pack thingy, cuz i have both dry and oily face haha, but anyways, its really worth it, people who say it didnt work for them, either dindt get a right package, applied wrong,or it just doesnt work for them, proactiv doenst work for everyone. i mean it wasnt guarenteed 100% to stop acne annd breakouts, taht would be like a miracle to stop hormones haha, but it was to help stop acne formation n breakouts, so its really worth it, jsut give it time to work, mine started working on the first week,m i have mild acne that is annoying becuz it only grows on the nose area, and its red almost like rudulf, anyways i used it on the second day my nose that was like always red now isnt even red, it stopped my occasional break outs which is raelly good
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October 31, 2017
Buying product is a hassle - Avoid.
The product does well enough but they hire 3rd parties to distribute it - causing a floodgate of issues and frustration to the customer as you can see from the other reviews - and when there is an issue, attempt at resolve includes long hold times and uninformed and at times impatient customer service reps who assume they know your issue and interrupt to go on unnecessary tangents (which we know is true of most customer service experiences). Bottom line: the buying process is a hassle and there are other great acne products out there. My review stems from an outrageous experience with their Kiosk 3rd party, Zoom Systems and a malfunction of their machine. I order one product kit on 10-18-17, received one, and was charged for two. In the refund process, I was told that Proactiv - without notice - stopped giving refunds and assigned Zoom Systems to start doing all the refunds. I happened to be caught in that transition. I have reached out to what I found to be Proactiv customer care only to find they are also a 3rd party and after 22 minutes I finally got Proactiv's corporate address. Proactiv is not a scam as others are saying, but they over complicate the buying process in their quest to trap people into ongoing autoship options. It is a setup for an unhappy buying experience and hours on the phone with miserable call center staff.
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July 10, 2017
Product used: The Regimen
so upset
when i started this product i was so excited because i had seen a youtubers video saying it changed her life. after one month nothing happened. after two months my skin was horrific. i had more acne scars then i had ever in my life, and i was so broken out i was embarrassed to go out in public... ever. i cried myself to sleep because i finally had hope for clear skin, and after the money i spent with no results, i am truly saddened and disappointed.
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September 4, 2017
you get acne scars after the acne
March 7, 2018
July 7, 2017
Not for me - their customer service is also horrible
I ordered a 30-day supply.... after 2 weeks, the product started to really dry my face out and make me break out even more. So I stopped using it. Then I weirdly received another package, much to my surprise. I was very busy that month and didn't get a chance to return the box, but thought I was just enrolled on another 30 day. So I was happy to take the hit because I couldn't get back to them earlier. Then I received a mail, saying my payment was overdue for a 90 day supply. I didn't event realise I was automatically enrolled to a 90 day supply, seeing as I never opened my box didn't get this notice... I tried to refund but their customer service was really unhelpful and completely understand its been 60 days after I received the box. They didn't email me to confirm my 90 days subscription... so I've had to grin and bear it - be carefull if you order any of their products.... I wouldn't recomend it because it includes so much more chemicals and dries your skin out... plus their customer service is dreadful.
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April 9, 2017
Acne be gone
I had a very bad skin for the past few years. I never thought that Benzac could clear up my skin! The 10% concentration can also remove acne marks magically!
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October 3, 2017
How long did you use Benzac for until your acne and acne marks disappeared?
April 5, 2017
Burnt my face big time
MUST READ!!!! Like a lot of people on this thread who didn't like this product, I didn't like it either. And for a lot of the same reasons I see here - when I put it on, I felt like my face was on fire. I read up on what to do and I did everything I could in order to make it bearable - I iced my face, I took ibuprofen but it was extremely painful. To the point where I couldn't even touch my face sometime. It was also extremely embarrassing because my face was so red and it just felt raw. I am a subscriber to 'it gets worse before it gets better' and I had read all of the good reviews on this site also so I was determined to make it work but I just couldn't handle the pain after about a week of suffering. So I stopped and almost immediately my face got better. It took about 2 days for the redness to go away and for my skin to stop feeling windburnt. And lovely, I still had acne after the redness went away. I guess the good news is that the redness hid some of my spots! I chose this because it was the cheaper solution to Proactive, but in the end I probably should have gone with Proactive - maybe they would have had better customer support. But after this experience, I was just done with the big brand solutions. When I called them, they were zero help. None, zilch. Just told me to return the product, which I guess was respectable but at the same time, they just told me to try their sensitive skin one. Without even knowing more about the issues I was going through. I almost did it but decided to do a little more research and called a couple of other companies including Exposed, Proactive and this small one called Ninja that a friend had told me about. The ONLY one that gave me decent advice and insight as to what on earth was happening to me was Ninja. Everyone else was just trying to sell me the same stuff that I had a problem with at AcneFree, Eg. Benzoyl. The lady I spoke with at Ninja really knew her stuff and told me that it seemed like I had a problem with Benzoyl which is super funny because I had tried a bunch of stuff in the past with benzoyl and had itching but never really thought it was because of the benzoyl. So, I went with them because they were the only ones that seemed like they knew what the heck they were talking about. Went with their benzoyl free option, it has sulfur in it instead, and honestly, I have never even experienced clearing like that before. I also use their sulfur mask now and there are no more spots, no more bump and AND the scars are fading. I am almost to the point where I don't think I will need to wear makeup soon. All I am saying is that if this product isn't working for you, you might have some issues with Benzoyl like I had. Everyone always talks about how benzoyl is the only way to clear acne but its not the case! There are other ways and you shouldn't try and make something work if your skin isn't having it!! I always had heard was to suck it up, that it will work but you never hear that you should listen to your skin, your body. Listen! Check out all your options '˜cause there are a lot out there.
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March 8, 2017
Only thing my skin seems to not break out from..mostly
Honestly, I'm not a fan of Clinique but I have used this before for my acne and it did an alright job. I switched off of it and after a long hard battle of trying to find cleansers and moisturizers that didn't break out me out, I gave up. (they all broke me out like crazy) So, I went back to this set in desperation. I went from using nothing to this and my face started clearing up on the first use. The toner burned like a mother though and it itched pretty bad. I guess I'll keep using this set. The drawbacks are the CC's it gives me on my forehead and small cystic pimples on the sides of my face every once in a while. But I'm going to try and find something that counters those effects. It's worth it because my skin hates everything else. :( I'll probably switch out the moisturizer but for now, this'll do.
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February 5, 2017
Life Changing
I had horrible acne issues about 2 years ago. I was a junior in high school and I was embarrassed to even talk to anyone at school because my acne was so bad. I had it along my jawline, my cheeks, and my chin. I had tried almost everything to get rid of it and NOTHING was working. I came across acne.org looking for treatments on youtube. I saw the success stories from the regimen and I thought I would give it a try. When it came in the mail and I used it for the first time, I followed the directions extremely carefully because I wanted the best results. Acne.org shows a chart of what to expect in weeks 1, 2, 3...etc. My face went through some drastic changes in the first month or so like the chart had predicted. My skin was so incredibly dry and flaky AND I still had my acne. But after about 2 months my skin had adjusted to the high BP % and my skin began to clear up. It is now 2 years later and I still order the treatment consistently. I am so strict about my skin routine and follow this regimen morning/night no matter what. I recommend this product 150% to anyone who is willing to put in the effort and follow a face routine very well. Acne.org changed my life. 2 years ago I never could have imagined I would be getting so many compliments on my clear skin.
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December 30, 2016
Very drying
I have severe acne and the product worked great for the first week but my skin dryed out horribly especially around my nose my skin was peeling and let me just say I AM AN OILY MESS. Other than drying my skin out my acne is still here I've been using the product for 1 month going on 2 and my acne on my cheeks is the worst. END OF STORY I DON'T RECOMMEND 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.