| Benzoyl peroxide (B.P) is probably the most widely | | | | Save your money, and your skin, by using these |
| used topical acne treatment today, and has been | | | | milder products. |
| for forty years. As people have discovered that | | | | Forget about washes and cleansers that contain |
| acne is not really caused by bacteria, and benzoyl | | | | benzoyl peroxide. They don't stay on your face |
| peroxide is thought of as an antibacterial agent, | | | | long enough to have any effect. Stick to creams |
| shouldn't it have fallen out of favour by now? | | | | and gels. If you can tolerate alcohol-based |
| Haven't we found something better? Isn't it just a | | | | products, try them, as they may be even more |
| waste of time? And what about its undesirable | | | | effective but if you have sensitive skin stick to |
| side effects like peeling, irritated skin, and bleached | | | | creams and gels. Apply only a thin layer in the |
| clothing? In spite of all of these arguments | | | | morning after washing your face and at night |
| benzoyl peroxide acne treatments still dominate | | | | before you go to bed. Don't apply it just to spots, |
| the market because - here's the surprise - they | | | | cover the whole area where you get pimples for |
| work! Not for everybody - if you have moderate | | | | best results. |
| to severe acne or cystic acne, B.P. won't do much | | | | Here's something you might not know about |
| for you, but if you have light acne and want to | | | | benzoyl peroxide acne treatments: they are much |
| avoid your small breakouts, a B.P. topical acne | | | | more effective if you use them in combination |
| treatment can help. (But you do need to know | | | | with products containing salicylic acid. That's |
| the right way to use it!) | | | | because salicylic acid penetrates clogged pores |
| B.P. works by killing P.acnes bacteria that can | | | | and takes the B.P. deeper into your skin. In this |
| infect blackheads and whiteheads and turn them | | | | case, two products can actually help you more |
| into inflamed pimples. It can also help to clear out | | | | than one! The great thing is, these two products |
| your clogged pores. The problem is that it also | | | | tend to be very inexpensive when purchased |
| irritates your skin and that irritation can actually | | | | over the counter at your pharmacy or on the |
| make your acne worse (and it sure doesn't feel | | | | internet. No prescription required. |
| good!) Here's how to avoid that irritation: never | | | | If you have moderate to severe acne, a benzoyl |
| buy a B.P. product that is stronger than 2.5%. | | | | peroxide topical acne treatment won't help you. |
| Clinical studies have proven that stronger | | | | But if you are one of the millions who suffer |
| formulations are not more effective. | | | | from mild acne and the occasional breakout - |
| Dermatologists often prescribe creams that are | | | | benzoyl peroxide is still worth a look - even after |
| 10% in strength, but they work no better than | | | | all these years. |
| the 2.5% gels you can buy over the counter. | | | | |