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 12, 2010

Pros:

Price
Fast Shipping
Money Back Guarantee
Fast Refund

Cons:

It made my skin and acne worse! Customer Service wasn't that great!

I was so excited to receive my Carley's Clear & Smooth based on all of the positive reviews it has received. I felt based on the positive results of others, I had found my miracle system. I was also looking forward to saving money versus paying for expensive dermatologist visits and buying Proactiv. However, this product made my skin and acne worse! I followed the directions word for word. It seemed to work the first few days, but after that my skin was extremely oily, itchy, red and agitated. It also made my blackheads worse and my skin look dirty. After washing my face with the treatment, my face felt like it was on fire and about to burn off! My acne became very cystic around my nose and on my chin. I contacted Steve a number of times about the problems I was encountering in hopes of getting some good advice. Other reviews raved about his great customer service, when in fact he was very short in his answers with me and not very helpful. After about a month of trying to use the products faithfully and without success--not to mention the same problems, he told me to send it back. I wasn't satisfied with his response and wanted the product to work so bad that I continued to try an additional month. Unfortunately, I still experienced the burning, redness, itching, and even worse cystic acne than before. I sent everything back and on a positive note, Steve promptly refunded my money. I was disappointed Carley's didn't work for me, especially considering so many other people feel it works wonders for them. I am thankful for my Dermatologist and Proactiv! They do work!
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February 10, 2010

Pros:

My skin is soft and both pimple and blackhead free 99.99% of the time. It is easy to use and after 6 months of use still hasn't dried my skin out.

Cons:

The benzoil peroxide in the lotion bleached out my pillow case. A small sacrifice but well worth it for great skin. It took about 6 weeks for me to have clear skin all the time.

Without too much detail, I am in my 40's, suffer from hormonal acne, cysts and blackheads. Used daily both morning and night my skin is soft and completely clear. Anytime I hint at a spot coming up I just use the system. I read in the past that people advise you only buy the lotion. I have to disagree. If you also notice those folks also don't give the highest results for the product. I love the product and my new dermatologist made the remark that my face was clear and looked good without even knowing I have a problem. I often go without makeup now. Love Clearogen!
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February 8, 2010

Pros:

Reduces your acne withing a month.

Cons:

My skin gets dry after using proactiv for a while (and I use a small amount).
Still have dirt and black heads. The Strips makes my skin worse. You HAVE to use it 2x a day. Then you will have acne again. I still get a pimple or alil bit of acne at least once a week or two weeks.

Is only good for light to moderate acne.
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January 23, 2010

Pros:

Nice size bottles

Cons:

Unfortunately it did not work for me.
I did not like slathering on the cream :shudder: or waiting for it to dry before applying my makeup.

My face felt really dry after using this. I also did not like slathering on the cream. I hated waiting the 10-20 min for the cream to dry before being able to put my makeup on.
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January 18, 2010

Pros:

makes my skin so soft and smooth, have this glow look, feels good, clears acne/pimples

Cons:

none

I have had tried everything to get rid of my acne, especially the ones on my forehead. i tried from, neutrogena acne kit, clearasil, neutrogena acne wash, olay wash, to even going to see the doctor and nothing works! i wasn't seeing results because it wasn't helping me clearing acne. it made my face dried. so i decided to research some products and i came across this 'acne free' since it said it was better than proactiv. so i gave it a try adn within days, i started seeing results. actually results! it made my skin so smooth and i never experiences dryness. within days of using it as instructed, my acne started to disappear. this is what i call a acne wash miracle! love it! i will buy this forever and ever.!
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January 17, 2010

Pros:

If started before acne even appears it definately will prevent any acne from appearing. Strong prescription type BP in the wash and lotion/moisturizers which prevents bacteria from entering pores.

Cons:

Once you start Proactiv it's almost impossible to stop using it. Your skin becomes use to the ingredients (BP) and once stopped acne will be worse than when you started.

I started using Proactiv in 6th grade as recommended by a friend and initially was glad I started using it before I even had acne. I rarely had any pimples and if I did i just put the refining mask on it and it went away over night. It seemed like a miracle. Then i decided that I would stop using it because it was soooo expensive and it seemed like a didn't need it. BAD DECISON!!! About two weeks after I stopped using it my forehead was covered with blackheads and I was starting to get whiteheads on my cheeks. I figured I just had to get accustomed to my new face wash, but instead I was just setting myself up for worse acne to come. About a month later I had at least 10 huge painful zits a day all because I stopped using proactiv. I was still washing my face with an acne face wash yet I was still getting acne. I later bought proactiv again and after about 4 months of painful acne and hoping that it would get better my face is almost back to normal except for a few acne scars. Bottom line, don't stop proactiv once you start!!
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January 12, 2010

Pros:

-left my face feeling clean, refreshed
-shipped to my door
-helped with already present pimples

Cons:

-itchy dry skin (even with a ton of facial lotion!)
-didn't help to prevent future breakouts at all
-scammed into paying double the price (it's already expensive enough!)
-be prepared to wait 20+ minutes to speak to a customer service representative on the phone
-isn't the 'miracle worker' it is advertised over and over to be

Proactiv doesn't work any better than something that's half the price. It's very expensive, and incredibly scheming...I was told I would get the introductory rate for the first shipment ($19.95 like they advertise on TV).. What they didn't tell me was that it was TWO payments of $19.95. What a shock I received on my bank statement when I realized that I was lied to and charged $40.00! Customer Service was horrible and didn't do anything to help my situation but say 'Sorry!' I wouldn't ever recommend anyone use Proactiv.
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January 9, 2010

Pros:

- gets rid of bumps

Cons:

- extremely dry skin
- doesn't do anything for pores
- irritates horribly
- expensive

This product worked for a few months. then it took a drastic turn. My skin started to become very dry, especially around my mouth and chin. It made my face very itchy and irritated. It was becoming unbearable. I tried using the proactiv oil free moisturizer for the dryness but it made my face very oily (how ironic) and it didn't work. The only thing I like about this product was it got rid of bumps and made my skin somewhat even. But it is not worth it. its way too much money and it didn't work for me at all.
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December 28, 2009

Pros:

None

Cons:

EXTREMELY drying and irritating. Made acne much worse after using as directed for several months. Time consuming. Expensive.

I used as directed falsely believing it had to get worse before it got better. 3 months is way too long to wait for a product to work. I had never had a reaction to ANY over-the-counter product with benzoyl peroxide in the past (they just didn't work). Proactiv was the first product that caused unbelievable drying and irritation even though I moisturized daily. It is also the first product that made my acne MUCH worse. Even after I stopped using it, I had very bad, painful outbreaks on the side of my chin for almost a year. The steps are time consuming. If you do decide to use it, whatever you do USE WHITE TOWELS! I can't even count how many washcloths and towels were bleached and ruined because I used them after I thought my face was rinsed thoroughly. Also, when I ordered online I didn't realize I was signing up for future orders. When I called customer service I was told the only way to avoid that was if I had ordered by phone originally. I went to a dermatologist for the first time for an unrelated issue, and he noticed my acne scars and prescribed Clindamycin gel. That was over a year ago and I haven't had a breakout since. My skin has cleared up COMPLETELY. Just one thin layer once a day. I don't know if it works for everyone, but that is what I recommend. And with insurance it was much cheaper
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December 21, 2009

Pros:

spreads easily, does not burn, can't notice its on, does not interfere with other layers (moisturizer, makeup, etc), dries fast, does not overly dry skin, cheap for huge tube

Cons:

stains towels if you don't rinse your hands good enough

I've been on many benzoyl peroxide treatments and I've never had any that work quite like Dan's. It is so easy to put on and it doesn't irritate my skin or dry out my skin like other bp products have. I've personally been on the regimen for about a week, maybe a week and a half and I've noticed a 100% improvement. I've been coming to this site for years and refused to try Dan's treatment because I thought it was a scam, but it's really not. If only I hadn't been so stupid back then! lol
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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.