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
January 11, 2008

Pros:

it works

Cons:

none

IT WORKS AND ITS AWESOME
January 11, 2008

Pros:

works wonderful IF you happen to not be allergic to benzoyl peroxide!!! Which ofcourse I am. I used ths for a year in highschool and loved it. Then i woke up one morning with an itchy red rash on my chin and around my eyes.

Cons:

Alot of people are allergic to benzoyl peroxide

Before you buy this dtuff go to walmart and get a cheap benzoyl peroxide cleanser and lotion to see it you are allergic first. And if you arent then go and buy proactive of you arent but the cheap stoff shpuld wrk just as well.
January 10, 2008

Pros:

Works temporarily...other than that....NONE!!!

Cons:

Dried out my skin and caused acne and scars ( I DID NOT GET A REFUND SINCE I PURCHASED IT AT A MALL :( )

I tried Proactiv about a year ago and it did not work for me. Let me just say that my skin only broke out during that time of the month, and I would get a few pimples here and there...but I do not have bad acne. I would say that I have normal skin, but it is also sensitive. I did not like the fact that the cleanser had the micro beads because I was worried that it would irritate my face, but I was willing to try. I followed the Proactiv regimen like I was supposed to and after about 14 days I was loving my skin! I hadn't broke out and any previous pimples had gone away! Then, that's when the problems started. My skin became very dry and flaky. My face would hurt when I touched it and I started getting bad acne that turned into dark scars on my face! So I stopped using it. It literally took MONTHS to get my skin back to normal. So I went back to Neutrogena. I would probably only recommend Proactiv for people who already have bad acne to begin with because it didn't work for me!
January 7, 2008

Pros:

Really works! I use it in combination with Clean & Clear Daily Pore Toner and Clean & Clear Advantage Moisturizer and I get the same results as ProActiv for a cheaper price. Doesn't dry my skin at all like the salicylic acid products I've tried.

Cons:

Bleaches towels, can burn eyes if you're not careful.

It works for me but apparently not for some people - what works truly is an individual thing I guess. For $5 it's worth a try though.
January 7, 2008

Pros:

Smells nice but...this product sucks!

Cons:

More pimples, irritation and VERY dry skin.

Okay, I bought this product 2 months ago - It did NOTHING! I thought it was actually working the first few days, but I was totally wrong. About 2 weeks after using it, my face starting burning when I applied the cleanser (i thought it was part of the process) then I continued with the next step and so on....my face started getting dry and irritated. The last time I used it was last friday, Jan 4, 2008...I this stuff(PROACTIVE) and it was burning sooo bad that i took out a bar of soap and washed my face, again, just to wash off the Pro-active stuff. I couldn't take it anymore. Do not use this product. I think this whole thing is just a scam. If you wanna have clear skin, just take really good care of your skin. Use clean & clear, Nutrogena or St. Ives. I used st. Ives Apricot scrub and it worked well, now I'm gonna start using again. I'm not going put up with dry, red skin and have no results. There goes $50 DOWN THE DRAIN!!!
January 7, 2008

Pros:

Makes my skin feel great
It actually works!
Very cheap

Cons:

Dries out the skin

This is the best product I have ever used. I have been suffering from acne for a few years now and this is the only product that works! If you stop using this product for a day or two, your acne will come back, so you have to use it everyday. Try not to skip a day. Overall, it clears up my acne and makes me feel great!
January 6, 2008

Pros:

Cleared up my face completely! I had the worst acne anyone could imagine. I was on a antibiotic called Tetracycline but not anymore! Thanks to this Clinique system my face is completely acne-free (just a few scars still).

Cons:

I have nothing to complain about.

Anyone who has tried everything that didn't work, try Clinique Acne Solutions. You will see the difference right away. It keeps your skin feeling oil free like it's not going to break out. I've tried going to an estician for facials, pro-active, Tetracycline, Retina-Micro but nothing has worked as successfully as Clinique Acne Solutions. I'm telling you, this stuff works and this is coming from someone who had given up and figured nothing took away acne!!!!!! Try it! And it's only $50 bucks with tax I mean c'mon! I would literally pay over $100 for this stuff - that's how good it works! :)
January 5, 2008

Pros:

Not really sure anymore...

Cons:

My face just got incredibly worse.

I used this product a couple of years ago and it worked very well. AFter that i quit using it and used a cheap scrub that worked. All of a sudden I used the wrong scrub and started using proactive again. Well I've been using it for 3 weeks already and it only made my skin really really bad. I only had a bit of acne around my neck and using proactive only spread throughout my whole face. I am horrible. It hurts to go to bed at night since i'm the type of person that sleeps on my chest. I wake up with small amounts of blood from my pimples that pop. My face dries out and gets really flaky... I think i am going to quit and use something else.
January 5, 2008

Pros:

Reduced acne immediately, within first few days

Cons:

After a few weeks my skin got really flaky, and not even constant application of moisturizer would make the flakes disappear. The skin became very tight as well.

Proactiv worked as a quick fix, but was too harsh for my skin long-term.
January 1, 2008

Pros:

AWsome
Somehow, it works better than all the clean&clear stuff i have tried...

Cons:

little pricey and the second step stings quite a bit on your face

it works

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.