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
August 9, 2010

Pros:

-EVERYTHING!!

Cons:

-dry face (not that bad)
-stings a little (if you wash your face with soap before usage of the product)

I love this product. I always wanted to try a three step system (considering individual face washes , and combining products has not been successful for me.) and this works soooo well. I absolutely love it, i am entering my 8th grade year and i wanted to be acne free! Keep in mind I don't have bad acne its like blackheads (I guess) and little bumps that dont have a head on it, but that should not be there. They are reallly annoying to get rid of. So basically I went on this website read a review on it and I was convinced I should try it. It works :) My face has never been so clear I have combination skin so maybe thats whyy it doesn't dry it out as bad or anything like that. Its perfect, just fine. I am going to continue to use it!! Thankss neutrogeennaaa!! :D
July 19, 2010

Pros:

Makes pimples less noticeable.
Shrinks pimple size.

Cons:

Dry white resedue.
Tingles my skin.

Its a good product I see so far. I've been using it for 3 days now and I see a huge diffrence.
July 13, 2010

Pros:

-cooling feeling that does last
-works for a little while
-no harsh smell
-10% benzyol peroxide treatment without drying out my skin if used even more than once a day

Cons:

-no immediate results acne seems worse actually

an okay product but a typical over the counter product with typical results.
July 7, 2010

Pros:

Gentle for a 7% benzoyl wash.
Large container & last a long time.

Cons:

Easy to get on lips
Even with green tea & aloe is a bit drying.
Requires prescription even though there's no ingredient in it that requires one.

I have folliculitis , not acne. My doctor suggested a benzoyl face wash and Oxy Maximum was too harsh so I used an old prescription of Pacnex. It much more gentle. I called Medimetricks(the make) to find out why it requires a prescription and they said so that they can track it's success/failure outcomes. It's not a 100% fix and sometimes I need Dan's treatment or go the doctor but it's definitely helping. I recommend it for sensitive skin.
June 12, 2010

Pros:

effective, helps maintain a clear complexion, you get a lot

Cons:

makes face dry and a little red the first couple weeks, pricey

I am really happy with the effectiveness of this product. I was using doxycycline hyclate and differin together for about a year, but I hated always being sunburnt and having a red face so I decided to change my routine. I chose to buy this product because of the good reviews and the amount you get. I slowly reduced my dosage of doxycycline hyclate and differin. Now i'm completely off of that stuff and i'm taking this product along with 100mg of zinc. My redness and sunburn has gone away and now I can spend more time in the sun. :) get it!
May 28, 2010

Pros:

Customer service was quick and responded to multiple emails with questions as to why my face was exploding. However, perhaps someone trying to push their product is a little biased.

Cons:

It ruined my face.

This product unfortunately ruined my face. I saw all the great reviews and hoped it would be a natural way to treat my face, but it made my skin worse that it ever was in my 29 years. I used it exactly as directed for 2 months until I could no longer bear the cystic acne it caused on my face - it hurt and was so unsightly. I had never had acne like that in my life. Prior to this I had used an acne skin care system that really made my skin flawlessly beautiful for about 2 years and it lost its effectiveness. So after reading about Carly's I thought it would be a good fit for me, as I wanted a cheap, natural way to cleanse my face - and all the stuff they say about BP and chemicals probably has truth. However, if BP and other treatments clear your skin and Carly's ruins it, I am inclined to go back to the stuff that works. I had to go to an esthnetician to treat my face. I have been using PCA skin line for about 2 months and am finally back to a great complexion, though I still have scaring that is slowly fading. I am using a BP face wash along with toner and I had to buy an expensive topical treatment of vitamin a & c to treat the scars, etc. This was an awful ordeal I went though on account of Carly's. I am not sure why it reacted so badly with my skin, but it did and I want other people to know. I've never posted anything like this before and know everyone's skin is different but I must encourage people to be weary. Or, if you try it and it doesn't work within a month stop using it. They kept telling me to be patient when I emailed..well I can't imagine what my face would look like now had I been MORE patient. Good luck to all!
May 27, 2010

Pros:

Nightime solution:Quick on the spot treatment
Cleanser: not harsh, doesn't sting or burn
Daytime Lotion: Light, not oily

Cons:

I ran out of the Daytime Lotion before the other two. I think because I had to use quite a bit to moisturize my skin.

Absolutely the only acne treatment I have loved & stuck with. It's really easy & I feel that I have come to better understand my skin & prevent major breakouts. Even though I ran out of the Daytime lotion early I picked up the Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture Lotion with SPF 15 which is a great moisturizer.
May 22, 2010

Pros:

does clear my acne!

Cons:

expensive - even when bought on ebay
drys out the skin like crazy

the only that that has worked for me!! I bought the U.S version on ebay & have been using the cleanser twice a day as recomended and in the last week I have seen a huge change! I have quite bad acne whith lots of scaring and nothing but nothing has worked. I seem to have tried everything from vitimins, acne medication, Chinese herbal treatments, and pretty much every ointment/ treatment that can be bought at a chemist. I decided to try Proactiv basically because Stephanie Seymour recomended it, which I know isn't a great reason but I was desperate! I find the Reparing Lotion way too harsh and drying for me to use everyday, so I alternate it with Dermelogica Bedtime for Breakouts - which seems to work well for me. I also use large amount of an industrial strength moisturiser lol, the best one I've found that doesnt break me out is Clinique's Dramatically Different Lotion for very dry skin. I'm currently feeling really possitive about this combo as i have already seen a 50% improvement in my skin in just a week & the star of the show HAS to be my Proactiv cleanser with BP :D oo as an after thought: I also use a honey mask in the evening and that has also really helped to stop my skin getting too dryed out :)
May 10, 2010

Pros:

-Fades some acne quickly
-Not too overdrying

Cons:

-Produced some new blemishes
-Burns and stings
-Does not really work

I've been using this system for about 1 week now. I expected to see some results by this point, but I am disappointed. I have moderate acne and I've been on prescriptions (Benzaclin., Tazorac, Retin-A) that kind of worked but hurt my face. About 6 months ago I stopped using all prescriptions and decided to try over the counter again. I've tried some other Neutrogena products that worked, but not for long. So, I decided to try this acne kit. The facewash and the acne lotion burn and make my skin red and irritated (even with oil free moisturizer). My skin seems less oily, which is good, but I still have some blemishes. I noticed that some little blemishes I had started to fade quickly with the treatment, but I also have noticed NEW BLEMISHES, including blackheads, which I did not really get many of before. I'm going to give this kit a few more days to see if anything changes, but I am not optimistic. Thankfully Neutrogena offers a 90 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE, which I plan to take advantage of. I do not recommend this product.
May 4, 2010

Pros:

it helps clear out some parts of skin.

Cons:

it didn't help much.
expensive.
you have to use it all the time even if your
skin is clear because if you stop using it your skin will break out.

I have used this for about 2/3 months i saw results like on my jaw line and chin and nose. But this really didn't help my cheeks at all.Well it did get rid of the pores but other than that it made it a bit worse.Honestly i hate it i saw no clearness and i hate the routine.I really had high hopes for this but it turned out to be a lie.But what i really like is the Refining Mask it does clear problem zits away and it makes my skin feel healthy.

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.