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Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cream

A quick look through the most popular acne creams on the shelves of any local retailer, and benzoyl peroxide is the active ingredient in about 80 percent of them. There’s no secret about benzoyl peroxide—it has been used as an acne treatment for decades, and can be quite effective. Unfortunately, for many who have tried benzoyl peroxide as an acne cream, they may not have enjoyed the results they hoped for. This begs the question: What is the best way to use benzoyl peroxide as an acne treatment?

Benzoyl Peroxide and Acne Cream

To best understand the effectiveness of benzoyl peroxide in fighting acne, it helps to understand what exactly benzoyl peroxide is, and how it can help as part of an acne treatment regimen.

For starters, benzoyl peroxide is a simple compound of the organic peroxide family. As everyone is familiar with hydrogen peroxide, benzoyl peroxide in acne creams actually performs a similar function. Benzoyl peroxide is used in many practical applications, as a cleanser, a bleaching agent and in a variety of acne face washes, skin exfoliants and acne creams.

Benzoyl peroxide is generally added to a cream or gel variation, and comes in concentrations of 2.5, 5 and 10 percent. For the treatment of acne, 2.5 percent generally does the trick, but many acne creams will advertise a 10 percent cream as a maximum strength spot treatment.

How Benzoyl Peroxide Fights Acne

In an acne cream, benzoyl peroxide can be beneficial in multiple capacities. When applied to the skin, benzoyl peroxide acne cream creates an oxidized environment–no bacteria can thrive in such an environment. It can also help to cleanse the skin of excess sebum, and balance the complexion as a mild bleaching agent. One of the additional benefits of benzoyl peroxide is the fact that it aids the skin in the shedding process. Because of this, it can help with mild surface scars and balancing out the complexion.

Using Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cream

Most people who implement benzoyl peroxide into their acne treatment do so by using it as a spot treatment. While spot treating pimples with an acne cream can help to reduce the life of a particular zit or problem area, it won’t help in the prevention of future breakouts.

Adding benzoyl peroxide to a skin care regimen that is geared toward prevention as well as a treatment will allow an acne cream to truly work to its potential. When used daily, or nightly before bed, a liberal application of benzoyl peroxide will help to fight acne that is present, while fighting some of the variables that cause acne before they can take root.

Preparing the skin before applying an acne cream can be easily done through a gentle cleansing and exfoliation, followed with a toner or astringent before adding the final step of the acne cream.

One of the few drawbacks in using benzoyl peroxide acne cream is its harsh nature—the reason why 2.5 percent of a concentration will generally do the trick. To combat dryness, an oil-free moisturizer can be used after applying an acne cream to the skin.