Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment
Many of Proactiv’s acne treatments contain a powerful active ingredient called benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide is one of the most effective ways to eliminate pimples and prevent future outbreaks from developing. The reason that Proactiv chooses benzoyl peroxide as its main acne treatment is that it uses a three-pronged attack that destroys pimples quickly.
How Benzoyl Peroxide Eliminates Acne
Acne is caused by bacteria that get trapped inside your pores. In order for the bacteria to survive, they need something to eat. Unlucky for you, some bacteria get their nourishment from skin oil called sebum. When your skin’s pores get clogged with sebum and dead skin cells, it makes the perfect habitat for acne-causing bacteria. They move right in and have everything that they need. In return for your hospitality, the bacteria inflame your pores, creating the blemishes that we call acne.
Benzoyl peroxide has three qualities that make it an effective acne fighter. First, it has the ability to break up skin oil and wash it out of pores. If you have ever tried to wash an oily pan with soap, then you undoubtedly know that you need special detergents to do the job. The same is true of washing sebum out of pores. Benzoyl peroxide has the oil-fighting quality that regular soap lacks.
Once benzoyl peroxide has unclogged your pores, it can start attacking the acne at the source of the problem: bacteria. Benzoyl peroxide kills acne bacteria on contact. Depending on how much bacteria are inside the pore, this could mean that your acne starts to heal within days. Those with more advanced cases of acne, however, might not see benefits for a few weeks,
After eliminating the bacteria, benzoyl peroxide introduces a large amount of oxygen into your skin. This makes it more difficult for bacteria to move into your pores or multiply. Fewer bacteria mean fewer pimples in the future.
Choosing a Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatment
Proactiv includes benzoyl peroxide in many of its acne treatments, but not all of the products are exactly the same. The amount of benzoyl peroxide present in the lotions and creams, for instance, can vary.
Most people respond well to a small amount of benzoyl peroxide. The average person can get rid of acne with a 2.5 percent concentration. Anything less than that is usually ineffective. Proactiv, therefore, uses a 2.5 percent concentration in most of its products.
People with severe acne might not get the benefits that they need from a small concentration of benzoyl peroxide. If the regular Proactiv treatments do not work, then you might want to try a more advanced formula. The Extra-Strength 3-Step Kit, for instance, contains products with a 7 percent benzoyl peroxide concentration.
Why not just skip directly to the intense solution? Because benzoyl peroxide can cause side effects in some people. Starting with a low amount of benzoyl peroxide will help you determine how your skin reacts to Proactiv’s active ingredients. If you experience an allergic reaction such as excessive dryness, itchiness, swelling, or irritation, then you certainly do not want to move on to a more advanced product that contains even more benzoyl peroxide.