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:

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April 2, 2007

Pros:

None

Cons:

I had moderately bad cystic acne and ProActiv did nothing for me. Despite rinsing my face copiously, it still bleached our towels and ate away at the metal drain. If it does that to metal, what's it doing to your skin?

A complete waste of money. We canceled 3 times and they still sent me kits every 3 months. The only thing that ever worked for me was Mario Badescu drying lotion (the generic stuff found at any drugstore) and Accutane. If ProActive doesn't work, talk to your dermatologist about Accutane.
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March 24, 2007

Pros:

It truely works ya'll, it's just gone take a few weeks.

Cons:

I'm so 4 real, u people got 2 have faith in yourselves u know say a prayer or 2.I promise u if u believe in yourself this stuff will work.It's all up 2 u, can't no dermotologist, tell u like the lord can!! So please belive me when I say this yo!!

I had bad acne, but it's all leaving now and I look alot better than I did last week.Hell it looked like I had aids all over my face, or maybe I had fell in a ant bed. Thank u LORD 4 helping me
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March 19, 2007

Pros:

-skin is 90% clear

Cons:

-10% not clear

good product. if you started to break out, try this first without first trying a bunch of random stuff and have them not work.
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March 7, 2007

Pros:

Cleared my skin, better than it was before, but not for blackheads.

Cons:

Fragrance became an irritant to my skin and became allergic to benzoyl peroxide. I could also not take this on a trip out of the USA! Not on the list as approved drug in Europe (unless you have a doctors prescription!)

You MUST use it twice daily as recommended. It may or may not work for others, but for me, it was a waste of money and the shipping charges $6.95 per shipment were becomming terrible.
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February 26, 2007

Pros:

Cleanser leaves skin feeling very soft and clean. Toner is great for getting that extra pore cleansing; it also leaves skin soft

Cons:

Repairing lotion takes some getting used to: while using it twice a day, it dried out my skin terribly at first (flaky dry patches on cheeks), so I just backed off to once, and now I use it 2x/day again with no problems yet!

I've been using Proactiv for about a month and was VERY skeptical. I had a few friends that used it with great results, but I had also heard of others that said their skin got worse. I took a gamble, and so far so good! My acne was never THAT bad, but one or two annoying pimples would pop up every week or so in the absolute worst places. What's worse is I would get ugly scars afterwards - even without messing with them. I can already see a difference in the overall clarity and tone of my skin, and I have a natural glow! Give it a try; it's worth it :)
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February 1, 2007
Great stuff! Clear skin for the first time in 5 years.
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January 25, 2007

Pros:

In the beginning it worked.....

Cons:

....but after awhile my skin must have become what other people have said....immune....it no longer works!!!!!!!!!!

Don't buy the hype...more than likely none of these celebrities have ever had acne....it's called photoshop people...and the bigger issue is that they get paid for it. It'll get you too, it'll work for awhile and then stop...that's what lots of people are saying.
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January 13, 2007

Pros:

Really works well to dry those pimples out and prevents new ones from forming.

Cons:

Dries out skin a little bit too much

here's a cheap and easy way to get rid of pimples and prevent new ones from forming. A- product rating.
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January 11, 2007
I have always had beautiful skin, but lately, over the last three months have had major break-outs. My skin has always been dry, but it seemed a little oily due to the acne. My husband suggested acne free as one of his ex girlfriends had great success with it. It felt ok on my skin, although the lotion felt like it had little granules in it and did not rub in well. After two days of use my skin developed this scaley, itchy, red rash. So I have stopped using the product. I guess I have sensitive skin. My skin has since cleared up. Althoguh I get the occasional pimple then I use the clenser only on that area and apply a small amount of lotion as a spot treatment. This seems to work. I use a regular moisturizer on the rest of my skin. I guess if you are dry with pimples do not use it all the time and all over your face. Also it bleached my nice towels! Oh well!
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January 9, 2007

Pros:

Bought AcneFree Severe AND AcneFree ScarFade: low cost, timely results. followed all four steps am and pm the first week. 2nd week, washed with cleanser and followed with ScarFade lotion ONLY (not the sunscreen) in the am, all four steps in pm.

Cons:

extreme dryness/flakiness the first week. also appearance of more breakouts 3 or 4 day, but faded quickly (as the BP brings impurities to surface). ScarFade had to be used very lightly at first (1-2 tiny zits), but amazing results.

i have a history of cystic acne, but NOTHING like what ive been battling since July (ice cream season). B/C cystic acne eruptions are so deep, LIFESTYLE CHANGES MUST BE MADE. i had to get more sleep, reduce my stress, and STOP EATING SUGAR/FRIED FOODS. think about it: bacteria causes acne, and bacteria is fed by GLUCOSE. throw in that i was stressed all the time--my acne was a red flag (in the form of dozens of ugly cysts and pustules) that i needed to CHANGE my habits. not easy. but worth it. i only invested in ACNEFREE this past December to clean up the rest of what had been diminished by my lifestyle change. and after the first week, i could see a difference. my results probably would have been more dramatic if i cut out sugar altogether (a difficult thing to do over the holidays). i was faithful with the regimen, and also took 2 "Zinc For Acne"(found at Vitamin World) 3 times a day. my face looks awesome!! seriously, u gotta cut the sugar, though. good luck!!
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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.