Topical Antibiotic / Topical Antibacterial
Efficacy
58%
Based on All Available Studies
Strength of Evidence
Topical Antibiotic / Topical Antibacterial
Side Effects
Low-Medium
Topical Antibiotic / Topical Antibacterial
Acne.org’s Real World Take
A more dangerous way of using benzoyl peroxide that studies show works a bit better than benzoyl peroxide alone. However, when used properly, benzoyl peroxide on its own can completely clear the skin without the addition of antibiotics.
Topical Antibiotic / Topical Antibacterial
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this medication. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Erythromycin / Benzoyl Peroxide (Benzamycin®)? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
February 5, 2010
Cons:
Takes a good 5-6 weeks at minimum to see real results
Drying/Leaves residue behind
Expensive without insurance
Sooo...I definitely jumped the gun on writing a review for this stuff the first time around. I wrote my last review on day 3 after I was amazed at the rate my face was clearing up. I spoke too soon though because for the entire month of January I experienced breakouts. It was frustrating, and I considered trying other options, but even then the breakouts were clearing quicker than usual and were becoming less and less frequent. I'm now on week 6 and I haven't gotten a breakout in over a week (FINGERS CROSSED). My face has generally cleared up and now I can focus on getting rid of a few nasty red marks left behind. Bottom Line: don't get discouraged when you first start taking this if you don't see quick or immediate results. The idea of a quick-fix for acne is a fantasy. Any topical or pill you take is going to take at least a month in order to see improvement. Having said that, if you plan on taking benzamycin....USE MOISTURIZER.
January 9, 2010
Pros:
Clears out acne really good!!!
Cons:
After application, once it dries out, it does leave a white smears... but that's if you blend it well enough to make it invisible. In the night, it shouldn't really matter if your going to sleep.
It is a must have, for those of you who tried every product and it seems that there is no hope in healing. During my junior high school years, I had very bad acne, and I went to a regular doctor and he prescribed me this. Let me tell you, people were asking me "how you got your face so clean?" - this was miracle cream. I have used this cream for three years straight, and I loved the results. I have stopped using this product when I was in my second year of High School... I had acne here and there... Proactiv wasn't helping - I tried everything. Once I got into college - BOOM... I was breaking out like crazy due to all the stress from exams, finals, & etc. I went to see a dermatologist, because it was really bad.. Redness & all. She prescribe me a medicine, and what you know! It was the same medicine my old doctor had given me... And I would never will abandon this medicine ever again! It is definitely, my life saver!
January 4, 2010
Pros:
Dries up acne.
Cons:
Dries up face and lips, a few hours later my face is extreamly oily (have to wash an reapply again), stains clothes, rubs off on other objects(children,clothes etc.) long after applying.doesn't prevent acne
The dermatologist said to apply all over face as a fast action+prevention product. Not the case at all. I feel like the my skin just produces more oil because this stuff is so drying And yes I use a gel base fragrance free moisturizer. Would just use for onspot. Treatment.
November 22, 2009
Pros:
Clears up skin very nicely.
Cons:
It was difficult to initially switch to using this medication, because of how much it dried up my skin and made it red/flaky. Do not begin using it right away twice a day. It is a good idea "ramp up."
Definitely try this medication if you have acne. Ramp up to your doctor's recommendation. I think that it took me less time to ramp up because I had used benzoyl peroxide for a while previously.
November 4, 2009
Pros:
Benzamycin has reduced my whiteheads (I still have some), and no other product has ever reduced my whiteheads before. However, I don't know if it has this effect on other people.
Cons:
The instructions say to apply the product 2x daily, but it leaves flaky, white residue behind, so I only use it at night. It doesn't absorb into the skin and flakes off onto your clothing and sheets.
A bit expensive even with my insurance ($2
The bottom line is that I still have acne after about 6 weeks of use. My whiteheads have been reduced, which no other product has done for me before. I would like to say my skin has gotten better, but my mom says it looks worse. This will probably work if you have light to mild acne. The application of Benzamycin is not practical at all. It's flaky and looks as if Elmer's glue has dried on your skin. It'll leave your skin dry, but pretty much all acne medications do. Since the cream comes in little packets, there isn't enough to put on your neck/back/chest if you have body acne. Plus, the cream kind of drys up so you have to apply it rather quickly. Sometimes I wonder if they actually tested this stuff out on real people. Who wants to go out with a face that looks like milk dried on it? This works only a little bit better than benzoyl peroxide and other drugstore creams. My doctor wants me to stick to it for at least two months. I really hope it gets better!
November 3, 2009
Pros:
Breakouts healed faster, breakouts less severe and often, skin tone has improved.
Cons:
Takes awhile before improvement is seen, feels slimy, hard to wear under makeup, bleaches clothing and sheets, does not help with blackheads or whiteheads
My doctor gave me two separate scripts for benzoyl peroxide 2.5% and Erythromycin topical gel which he told me to mix and then apply 2x per day. When you mix them together it creates a slime that just flakes off my skin. I applied the benzoyl peroxide then waited until i was absorbed and applied the Erythromycin on top in a 'patting' or 'tapping' motion to prevents the BP from becoming slimy. It dried out my existing pimples within a day or so but I saw no other improvement for about 3 weeks-except that my breakouts were healing faster. I am at the start of week 5 and my skin is much clearer-the breakouts have subsided. My whiteheads and blackheads have not been affected at all and my skin is still 'bumpy' in the areas it has been for a couple of years now. This treatment works well if you mostly have pimples but I will be seeking other treatment options for my whiteheads and blackheads since this has had no effect on them.
September 29, 2009
Pros:
Works quickly. A small amount does a lot of work. The coolness of the creme feels nice when applying. Attacks pimples and prevents acne from appearing at problematic spots.
Cons:
Can turn your face red from irritation (caused by dryness). If you don't wait enough time after washing the face, and applying the medication, you risk getting very white flaky spots on face. Increase sun sensitivity. Bleaches fabrics and hair.
Very good product. I don't know how long it works for, or if my skin will become immune to the medication. It dried out some ugly spots within 4 days. I was in a bad state and used it in conjunction with Bactrim DS (known is Israel as Depsyl Forte and is not at all supposed to be used for acne, but it works VERY well), which is also a great drug, but again I don't known it's long-term implications. This regimine is keeping me so clear, its amazing, but for me it is just buying me time before I decide to go on Racutane.
September 29, 2009
Pros:
It helps clear break up sooner. If used regularly it also prevents break ups. It works better than any over the counter productI have ever used.
Cons:
There are occasional breakthough breakouts. Also as everyone else mentioned it leaves chalky white later sometimes, and stains fabric (such as pillow cases).
It is a good product that works well. Like everything else it has a downside, but if you have chronic acne it is a very useful product in fighting it.
September 18, 2009
Pros:
Speeds up the clearing of breakouts. It takes a little while to kick in, but once it does, breakouts get cleared in a matter of days.
Cons:
Sometimes leaves white, chalk-like remnants on the face after application, despite how well it was mixed. Dries out skin a bit and bleaches fabric (ahh my pillow cases!)
I initially tried using this last year- once in the morning and once at night, but I found that it dried out my skin too much and gave up. A few months later, I found myself breaking out due to stress, and found the paks that I had left untouched. Within a day my acne was reduced, and was gone by the end of the week. I've been using this ever since, but only at night. However: 1. I still break out, though not as badly- and it does go away quickly
2. Any redness/irritation left from previous breakouts remain for a while
3. Skin texture doesn't improve much
4. I use it at night, and I guess it bleached my pillow case =/ Overall, it does its job but I wouldn't go as far as to say it's God's gift to those who suffer from acne. In all fairness though, it's a pretty good product and tackles those pimples.
September 3, 2009
Pros:
Clears/prevents acne. its started working within a week for me, cleared my cysitc acne,smally whiteheads and blackheads, my skin is baby smooth after 2 months of continous usage [i apply this product in a thin layer all over face at night]
Cons:
Taste bad/drys skin a bit. when i stop using it for some time i start getting little ones.
I love this product, the ONLY thing that worked on my moderate acne, i went through a period of time where m skin was HORRIBLE i mean cystic acne and little tiny pimples all over my cheeks, i would cry sometimes ;(, until i went to my GP and she prescribed me this. it started working within a week, definite improvement, my skin is baby smooth for the most part, expect for that time of the month when i get 1 or 2 pimples but is no big deal. def. worth it, the thing to remember is to give products like this up to 4 months of try.
Pros:
Cleared my skin (I only have moderate acne, so I can't say how well it would work on someone whose condition is worse)