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
May 21, 2012

Pros:

works well for light to moderate acne
can see effects immediately
not expensive and works well
prevents new acne
makes skin smooth

Cons:

dries up skin initially...

i am 26 and have been suffering from acne for about 8 years now and it was getting worse.. also started having cystic ones which would stay below skin for months...!! I tried a lot of creams.. freederm gel, organic creams , sea salt, apple cider vinegar, lemon ...everything... until i started using this... it is a bit frustrating initially cause it dries up skin and makes it flaky ..but worry not..this is what i did to get clear skin in 2 weeks... start in the morning by washing face very gently with CHANDRIKA SOAP ( u can order it online or find it at some asian shop ).. this soap is lovely.. doesnt make skin oily and maintains ph balance..and smells great..pat ur face dry...and apply a thin layer of PANOXYL 2.5 gel over spots and then use FREEDERM OIL FREE MOISTURISER over it after 10 minutes.. this gel will prevent skin from overdrying... do the same before sleeping at night....just use panoxyl and not moisturiser.... Well thats it really ... let your skin be flaky and let it peel off .. what it does it is shed the outer skin and brings out new softer skin from below ,..also helps remove scars...better lock yourself in ur room for a week...after that u will see your spots disappearing...and getting fewer .. also it prevents new spots from coming... after following it for 2 weeks as you feel ur skin getting better reduce panoxyl to only once a day and use good amount of freederm moisturiser... i think people dont like this product cause it makes skin flaky but using less quantities and using a good moisturiser is the key...I only get a tiny spot every week cause my sugar intake is quite high...so cut that down too..dont worry too much about scars.. control new spots and scars will fade away soon ... i used panoxyl 2.5 cause it's mild and works well instead of 5 or 10 and stick to it for some months and not leave it after couple of weeks ...also please stay happy..!!!
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 21, 2012

Pros:

- Personally love the kind of herbal smell
- Worked so fast
- Not drying, but not oily either
- Way fewer steps than proactive and some other systems
- Exfoliating beads in cleanser
- Don't need a lot of each product/lasts a long time
- Pretty cheap

Cons:

- Cleanser doesn't foam or lather which makes it impossible to use with a washcloth, but it gets rid of acne so who cares? lol
- Doesn't clear old scars

First I think another reviewer described a different combination of products than my kit has for some reason. Mine came with a 1.5% salicylic acid cleanser, alcohol-free acne toner, and 3% benzoyl peroxide lotion that doubles as a spot treatment. I had some mild success with some of the Clean and Clear brand products and kits, but nothing to cheer about. I decided to try this when one of my cheeks was broken out for probably two months in that painful, swollen, zits on top of zits way that you just cannot hide and my Clean and Clear just wasn't cutting it. After starting this kit it was all gone in 3 days! I was practically screaming jumping up and down in my bathroom! My skin is touchable and soft now, and I'm not afraid I'll break out if I do touch it because I know this stuff has got my back. My face doesn't hurt anymore and isn't oily like it used to be. Also good to note, I switched to only using Physicians Formula makeup about the same time as I started this cleanser (because it is supposed to be good for acne prone skin). I'm honestly not sure how much that could have to do with the effectiveness this kit has had for me.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
May 14, 2012

Pros:

- Helped clear my neck/back

- Worked temporarily

Cons:

- Became extremely worse

- Would make my skin peel and become flaky during the middle of the day

I dont know what the f**k happened. I fought acne for several years but it was never bad because I always had it under control. It started annoying me, so being the perfectionist that I am I wanted to get rid of it once and for all. I started taking this product and it was a smooth ride at first, I was getting better day by day and then out of nowhere it went far south. I don't know if I got an allergic reaction or maybe it was going to get this bad either way (which I highly doubt) but it got severe. Like an idiot I kept on using it for another week or two because I convinced myself it was getting all the acne out and would then improve. Wrong. My acne was getting so red and painful that I actually couldn't even sleep or smile because I would feel the pain. I refused to look at myself in the mirror because I was disgusted with myself. Multiple zits would form on each other, I'm getting grossed out just talking about it. It's 6 months later and I'm still trying to recover, it's a lot better but my face has bad post-acne marks and I will probably have permanent scars from this horrible experience I've had. People have had success with this and I'm happy for them but I regret using this product everyday of my life. I wish I just battled teenage acne by just washing my face like I used to, because now I don't know what the f**k to do anymore. I can't believe I'm going to have acne scars on my face because of this.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 15, 2012

Pros:

None.

Cons:

You can use over the counter products.

This is a big scam. Do not send your credit card number. They will keep charging you and the price is only an initial price. I was disappointed in how it works and the fact that it is a big scam.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
April 10, 2012

Pros:

It leaves your skin soft
It will clear up dark acne scars
It will clear up acne instantly

Cons:

Dry feeling
burning sensation if you have a cut or something

This is an amazing product for those who have moderate acne, but also oily skin.Not for those who have dry skin because it can dry it up more. but if you have dry skin and acne as well, then give Proactiv a try:) Good Luck, i am in love with my results in just 10 days already!
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 26, 2012

Pros:

-immediate results
-makes skin smooth and soft
-easy to use

Cons:

price
drys out skin

I developed moderate to server acne after I had my first son and the age of 22. I'm now 30 and I finally found something that works! I've use everything on the market, from proactive to nutrogena, nothing seemed to help in fact in some cases it made it worse. Dealing with acne was an ongoing battle it really made my self confidence go down. My mom recommended this to me, she has been using Clinique products for over 30 years. I was a little sceptical at first (let's be honest nothing worked so far) but to my surprise it worked like magic. It instantly cleared up the little blemishes, then over the coarse of a week it cleared up the large under the skin painful cyst acne. I couldn't believe it!! My only warning is use the 3rd step (the clearing moisturizer) sparingly. If I use too much is stings my face and makes it dry. My face is smooth and soft, I actually get complements on my skin!!
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 24, 2012

Pros:

*Got rid of the red bumps and stuff on my face.
*Works fast
*Easy

Cons:

*Really drying
*Caused a lot of pain after a while
*Caused redness, puffiness, and burning

It worked really, but was way too harsh for my skin. I do admit that I have very pale and sensitive skin, and I expected some burning or something, but it was really out of the line. I do not recommend for those like me who need effective, gentle cleansers.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 24, 2012

Pros:

started noticing a difference in my acne within 24 hours! Used it at night only and within 3 days (72 hours) acne was gone. I have oily skin real bad especially at the end of a day and here in Alabama on our hot and humid days! But this product makes my skin feel clean and clear and it works quickly. I now use it just every other night to maintain the clear skin! Started using it on my chest and back now! And I use all three steps.

Cons:

nothing really. Yes, it does dry and slightly burn my/your skin but especially if I use it a lot. Like I said though, I use it just at night and not twice a day and not every night now and it doesn't affect my skin at all except to clear the acne! I think the whole drying out of the skin and the redness and burning is going to happen with most acne products that use benzoyl peroxide, but that is what works!

I tried Proactive, hated the price, and the smell was not pleasant. it was expensive and the way you had to get it was a pain. My niece used this and recommended it so I picked up my first pack and will use it till I die! I don't know what I would do if they ever stopped producing it or selling it over the counter and the price is exceptionally affordable for the product and the pocket book. Proactiv eat your heart out!
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 17, 2012

Pros:

-Minimizes the size of the pimples
-Dries out pimples really fast
-Reduces redness around the pimples
-Does not leave any scarrings

Cons:

-It might take awhile to heal the blemishes completely.

People, before reading this.. You need to know that Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Treatment is only effective on your pimples. So in order to achieve flawless results, here's a summary on my skin story/tips.. I've had pimples all around my chin and a few on my cheeks. And it really annoys me alot and least to say that i have no confidence to face people directly. So i gave myself a month to heal my acne, and it's been just 4 days. And i must say, my acne has been improving without additional pimples popping out. And my complexion has become real smooth and tighten. Here are some of the tips that i recommend for any skin types.. (Especially for people who has severe acne and wanting to heal more naturally without the need to spend loads.) 1) Use a suitable cleanser to cleanse your face thoroughly, ALWAYS wash your face with warm water as it opens up your pores and wash away the excess oils and dirts. 2) Make sure to GENTLY pad on your face with a clean towel. 3) Boil a pot of HOT water. You can use mint or green tea leaf to soak into the hot water. If you don't have any of those, just HOT water will be fine. Make sure it's extremely HOT so that you can use it to steam your face. Just find a comfortable positiong/place for you to steam your face and make sure you'd be careful not to burn yourself. Steam about 5 to 10mins. After that, wash your face with cold water. So that it closes your pore. 4) This is optional but i'd always find it pretty useful. Take ice cubes to rub over your face for about 3 to 5 mins. By using ice cubes on your face, it can reduce imflammations if you have pimples and tighten the face. And rmb to dry your face before toner & moisturizer. 5) After the basic skincare rountine, use NEUTROGENA ON-THE-SPOT ACNE TREATMENT. Rmb not touse for your whole face, just on the areas that needs to be treated like pimples or spots. So i hope these tips can help you guys! Good luck!
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
March 16, 2012

Pros:

Does help clear for some time. Leaves skin soft. The mask that comes with it minimized my pores.

Cons:

It leaves skin uber dry

Makes it really red

Burning sensation all over face

Created cystic acne

WAY too expensive for such teeny bottles

The polyethylene beads were far too rough

I didn't feel like my skin was truly clean

VERY bad customer service

I have been using it for quite a while, and I did see SOME results. The bumps on my forehead and chin were nearly gone. HOWEVER, it left my skin feeling burned, red (my cheeks looked like cherry tomatoes) I had to stop it for a little bit because I had gotten a mild cold sore around my mouth (painful and icky) and when I went back on it my face COMPLETELY broke out again. I got the bumps back on my chin and forehead AND I started to get cystic acne on my chin area (which I had NEVER EVER had in my all of my 18 years of living!). In addition, my cold sore acted up again after it was almost completely gone. The bottles (cleanser and toner) were the size of a finger and a half (index) and the treatment was the size of my finger. The toner (which is completely unnecessary for acne) burned up my skin. I'm never going back to it. They just sent me another one today, took $30 from my account, and I had no idea you had to cancel. I hate them very much. NEVER AGAIN. It may work for some, but sadly I am not one of them. However, the refining mask I did like. It minimized pores. But that's all.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report

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.