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
February 23, 2009

Pros:

It's efficient, has no smell, and it's cheap.

Cons:

For me it gives burning sensation.

This product is very affordable,and reliable for me. Really, there's no way a pimple is just going to disappear over night but, this product is about the fastest I used. It takes about 2 days rather than weeks to get rid of certain pimples.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 18, 2009

Pros:

Works better than any other product I have used. Clears acne within a few days. It definitely works!! :)

Cons:

May dry out your skin a little but as long as you use moisturiser, your skin will feel better. Can be addictive as well!

I have suffered from acne for about 5 years. I have been using this product for over a year now and it has reduced all irritations completely. I occaisonally get the odd spot, but a small amount would clear it up it no time. However, I have found that the cream is rather addictive...when the tube does run out, I find that, for a few days, a few spots and irritations do appear. If you cannot get hold of this cream for a while and your acne is appearing again, use facial washes and masks, these may not work as well as strong topical creams, but they do cleanse and tone your skin. I would strongly recommend this product!! :)
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 13, 2009

Pros:

kinda starts to work when you first start to use it.

Cons:

Skin got worse whenever I didn't use it!!

It was nothing like I expected it to be. It made my skin dry and more red. I thought that my over the counter neutrogena worked better than this.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
February 9, 2009

Pros:

Clears my skin almost completely in less than a week.

Cons:

If used too much (more than once a day) you're going to go from having an acne problem to a dry skin problem. I wouldnt use it more than every other day in the cold weather.

Try it. It works. I'm going to really stress the dry skin thing though, I personally would recommend using it for a few days, then go to using it once a week and use something more mild like proactiv or phisoderm creams to put on you're face for the rest of the days.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 27, 2009

Pros:

Worked for the first couple days

Cons:

Made me breakout worse than anything else and made my face itchy. Left me with pitted acne scars.

I have tried just about everything to have clear, nonoily skin including accutane(which worked great but was not worth the health risk). I had first tried ProActive about 6 years ago for a couple weeks and got a horrible breakout and rash. The CS rep told me, when I called to cancel the autodelivery, that it's supposed to do that and I needed to keep using for at least 30 days but I said no way. I then found a facialist who helped calm my skin but the ProActive experience left me with horrible pits and scars. It took thousands of $$, peels, 1 round of accutane and over 4 years to smooth my complexion. I still had super oily skin and an occasional pimple. Well my facialist moved to another state, back to square one. Tried several other facialists and product lines, started having about 3-5 daily pimples and the facials were getting too expensive. Fell for the infomercials again thinking maybe I need to use it longer. 3 mos, same reaction but even worse scars than before! Beware!
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 18, 2009

Pros:

* Less expensive than Proactiv
* Easy open bottles
* Potentially the same results as Proactiv

Cons:

* Toner burns sometimes when you put it on
* Lotion tends to have some small textural grains in it
* Cleanser does not have grains like Proactiv and is more liquidy

I have only been on this product for about a week and am seeing the same results I saw with Proactiv, which I was on for about a year. I have occasional flare-ups and one day hope that my skin will be perfect, especially for my wedding in about a year. The main reason why I stopped Proactiv was the cost and a friend recommended Klear Action to me. I am hoping that with continued use, this product will work better than Proactiv. The toner tends to burn when I put it on, so be cautious of this within your first few uses. This may change as I continue use. I also think that this product tends to bleach items more often than Proactiv, do take precautions when using towels/washcloths. Lastly, the reparing lotion has some grainy texture to it. This threw me off at first, but I guess this is just what it is supposed to be like. The overnight cream is wonderful. It does not dry out your skin overnight as the Proactiv overnight cream did and seems to work quite well. Recommended product so f
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 17, 2009

Pros:

They made it easy to get my money refunded.

Cons:

It burned my skin!

For the first 3 days, I noticed immediate, noticable improvement with my acne. I was feeling really positive about it until the fourth day when I woke up with a fire-engine red rash all over the bottom of my face. It looked like I had Yukon-style wind burn! It was sooooo sore, that within a couple of days I had to go to my doctor for some relief. He did say that in his opinion it's not a very good product, and that the problem was NOT that I was allergic to the Benzoyl Peroxide like how their representative had insisted. My advice is that if you start to feel a stinging at ANY point during the Proactiv treatment, STOP USING IT! In addition to avoiding the embarassment of a really awful looking/feeling rash, you could save yourself some money on prescription medicine to relieve the burn as well as a doctor's visit.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 7, 2009

Pros:

Great price - large bottle - last a long time!! WORKS!!

Cons:

Can be harsh - will / might break out your skin at first. Have to keep using.

I had horrible acne when I first tried this product! After 4 months I was nearly acne free. After 6 months I was completely acne free. I have been using this product for 8 years. I just placed my 5th re-order. That will also tell you how long it last. (I usually order 2 bottles sometimes 3 at a time) The one issue I have is I have tried to stop taking it and the acne comes back.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 4, 2009

Pros:

it smells good and smooths out my skin

Cons:

the bottles are way to little, it does not appear to work as fast as they say,

i have been using this for 1 1/2 weeks. it seems my breakouts are worse. it appears that i have more acne than what i did before using. this may work for the paid celebrities but for me no.
This Was Helpful

6 user(s) found this helpful

Report
January 3, 2009

Pros:

Smells good

Cons:

Breakouts start maybe it's normal, itchy and dry

I'm using it everyday twice a day, improve my face from first 6 weeks but not actually cleared it, now my skin is still ugly, worst than ever before, dryness flaking, bumps and scars, but it can help fade away dark spot i think, i decided to finish my last box and see a dermatologist again! my third time on a dermatologist
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.