I’ve always preferred the natural alternative and religiously avoid chemicals in my food, body products and water, but when my acne was really bad and I was having trouble getting rid of it, I resorted to putting a strong chemical on my face - Benzoyl Peroxide (BP).
At the peak of my skin condition when I was at a complete loss as to what to do, I did hours and hours of research on acne treatments and BP just kept coming up. I even went to the library and read some journals written by dermatologists, and BP was written as the ‘gold’ of acne treatments. I wasn’t particularly comfortable about putting such a strong chemical on my face but all of these resources promised that it would give me beautiful clear skin so I decided to go for it. I just ignored the fact that it kept bleaching my towels even after I’d washed and rinsed my hands.
A couple of weeks into using the BP, my skin started to get dry. And then it got dryer and dryer until I had to greatly reduce the amount I was using and paste as much moisturiser and oil as I could onto my face to get rid of the flakiness and tight skin. It was really horrible. My acne was improving but my skin started looking tired and old because it was so dry. Even worse was that I couldn’t wear my makeup, because girls we all know what happens when you put makeup on dry skin …not a good look.
There is a very large and very successful website, acne.org, which is focused on Benzoyl Peroxide and its use to clear up acne prone skin. The videos and resources on the site are quite good and do an excellent job at convincing you that BP is the miracle acne cure. The message boards are also great and are packed full of acne sufferers. This is all good, however, I don’t think the creator of acne.org has the best interest of acne sufferers in mind. Yes, BP does clear up acne in a lot of cases, but the side effects just aren’t worth it, it’s not a good idea to use such a harsh chemical for such a long period of time, and most importantly - it is not solving the actual cause of the acne itself. You need to consider why you’re getting acne, then work on fixing that. If you just try and clear the spots, you’ll most likely continue to get the problem until you finally fix the cause.
Underneath the dry skin I started to develop cystic acne. I’d had a few cysts before but on the BP they were getting worse. I think all the dry skin must have started plugging up my pores really badly. The BP was doing a good job at keeping the acne under control but my pores kept plugging up so I think there was a bit of a battle going on with my clogged pores and the BP trying to fight them.
I persisted with the treatment for about two months until I’d just had enough. I realised that while the BP could clear my skin by a good 95%, I would always have that last little bit of acne simply because of the dry state of my skin, and my skin looked like $%^%$. Resources all over the net claimed that the dryness would eventually go away but there was no way I was waiting. I followed all of the tips and techniques that I found in resources and forums but none of them did a good enough job at getting rid of my dry skin. I’m 28 and I started to feel like I was looking somewhere in my 30’s. Dry, flakey and red skin looked worse than the actual acne that I had.
In addition, resources on the net also claimed that you shouldn’t go off the BP because your acne would come back. I didn’t like this at all. It was difficult for me to put such a strong chemical on my face in the first place, let alone use it for an indefinite period of time. I really feel sorry for people that have a need to apply peroxide onto their face every single day. Your skin is a massive living organ that soaks in everything you put onto it. My face is too close to my brain to consider putting peroxide onto it.
So, I went off the BP and now my skin has cleared and it wasn’t because of any harsh chemical that I put onto my face. It did take almost a week though to get rid of my dry skin. Quite honestly, I’m now of the opinion that using antibiotics is less harmful to your body because you don’t use them ‘forever’ nor does it appear to have the same side effects and possible permanent harm that BP has. Antibiotics are not that great for you but in comparison, I think BP is a lot worse. Here’s why …
Why Benzoyl Peroxide Is Really Bad
- Dries out most skin types, and in some cases excessive dryness and flaking.
- Stains your towels, even after you’ve washed and rinsed your face and hands.
- Can bleach your eyebrows and hair.
- Can cause increased redness and irritation.
- Removes the top layer of skin, which also decreases the sun protective effect (roughly SPF 3), making you more susceptible to sun damage.
- Benzoyl peroxide used to be labeled as a category 1 acne treatment product by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), then they changed it to a category 3 product which means the safety is unknown. At this point in time, it still remains under that category.
- Repeated sun exposure or BP use generates free radicals that damage the skin’s structure and cellular DNA, resulting in premature aging of the skin.
- Because BP generates free radicals it interferes with and slows the healing process. The red and brown marks that are a part of the acne healing process may last weeks longer when BP is a regular part of the daily regimen.
- The product is tested on animals.
And this is also quick shocking information …
BP has been linked to cancer for a number of years and many research journal entries state "benzoyl peroxide is a free radical-generating skin tumor promoting agent." Performing a word search of the words "benzoyl peroxide cancer" in PubMed in the National Library of Medicine produces 102 articles from medical publications dealing with research aspects of BP and cancer. About two-thirds of the research supports linkage between BP and skin cancer.
"In 1995 the FDA changed benzoyl peroxide from a Category I (safe) to a Category III (safety is uncertain) ingredient and stated this action (56 FR 37622) was based on new information that raised a safety concern regarding benzoyl peroxide as a tumor promoter in mice…" Additionally the FDA charged manufacturers with the responsibility of providing this information to consumers so they could make educated decisions. Many manufacturers and product marketers have not provided this information so consumers can be advised of the potential dangers.
Source: http://www.skintactix.com/benzoyl_peroxide_skin_damage.htm
Now that I’ve done research as to why Benzoyl Peroxide is so bad, I can’t believe I even considered putting it onto my face. I had a moment of desperation where diet and natural treatments didn’t seem to be working and I was getting really impatient. With the knowledge I have now, I would never have taken it, I would have resorted to the natural treatments I use now. Worst case, I’d go on a course of antibiotics.
Look out for Benzoyl Peroxide in any acne treatments or washes that you use. Proactiv solution contains a lot of BP and so do most over the counter acne treatments.
Not sure what else to do? You’re better off sticking to natural products, using the oil cleansing method, following a really healthy diet, exercising and doing relaxation techniques every day, and finding out the root cause of your acne and treating that with natural supplements. If your acne is severe, then consider taking antibiotics or the contraceptive pill if you’re female.
I hope this post has helped someone to consider not using Benzoyl Peroxide.
Fran
Fran Kerr is the founding editor of High on Health. To cure your acne, sign up to Fran's FREE acne cure mini-course or download her latest how to guide, Eat Away Your Acne.
61 responses ↓
[...] can read my previous blog posts about Benzoyl Peroxide and Proactiv for more [...]
nice article and i strongly agree too , i now use Murad , it is very expensive but it works and im wiling to pay if it works, skin has cleared up by 97percent and i rarely get whiteheads at all
BP was the bain of my life i got in sooo much trouble when my mum found out i had stained the marks and spencers towels (very expensive) LoL
dont use DP
Hi Jack, what is Murad? I agree, I don’t care how much stuff costs, if it works then I’ll buy it.
Oh, and what is DP?
Hi Fran, my name is Fran also, I don’t know if I filled in the leave a response section correctly.
I left your website highonhealth.org as the website don’t know if this is correct site to quote or not as I don’t have a website, only my email I have left for yourself.
Anyway, I have a 14 year old daughter and I have had pressure on, re her peers others, even mothers saying its wonderful etc, about her using proactiv, I nearly was going to purchase this product with her this afternoon after school, but my instincts are holding me back, as I have always preferred to use natural products in my life both household and personal.
My daughter has been using another product, a facewash called, Benzac AC Wash, 5% is written at the top of the bottle near the name. It warns of skin peeling in the first week of use in most patients, and this is not harmful and normally will subside ina day or two if treatment is temporarily discontinued.
I allowed her to buy this thinking it would be less harmful and a compromise, but it has bleached towels that she has used. So what is it doing to her skin.
I gave in to her as she was over her skin, not good.
Her skin is a moderate case and not severe. This is
whey I am so not wanting to go to a more heavier product.
I decided to look up websites/blogs etc to see if I could be informed of more about the ingredients used in proactiv etc. I have found a website
called (acnecuresrevealed.net), it informed of the top 5 products to use, that are natural and successful treatments etc, have you heard of this product called
Zyporex, company located in LA, USA, I am in Australia
and have not heard of it, the acnecuresrevealed.net website rank the products they have investigated by, safety, ingredient quality, side effects, acne fighting power, customer feedback, overall value, this product, Zyporex’s ingredients are all natural as I went on their website and looked at the list of ingredients and all natural, just what I want.
My daughter will be peeved to say the least when she comes home, and I will have to suffer grief but it will be worth it, when I demonstrate to her the value of investigating natural solutions versus chemical.
Would you please let me know if you have heard of these products, five in total that the acnecuresrevealed.net site have listed as their best
5 investigated products recommended to use,
I really like the sound of the number 1. Zyporex.
re its natural ingredients and of course the fact that they have rated it at number 1.
Here are the 5 top listed products that this site has investigated.
1. Zyporex
2. Acneticin
3. Orovo Acne Kit
4. Oxycerin
5. Asso Gold Cleansing Bar
Thanks, hope this isn’t the longest blog in the world I have never done one before and I can waffle,
looking forward to hearing from another sincere concerned and aware person as yourself,
Fran/Australia
Hi Fran, great name
The product your daughter was using most likely contains benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. BP works by destroying the bacteria and SA works by unclogging pores. Both CAN work, and are more likely to work in teenagers than adults. However, they can also have big side effects like drying the skin and worsening acne. I tried to use BP products on my adult acne for almost 2 months and the drying skin got worse not better.
Both BP and SA will bleach towels too.
The reason why teenagers have more success with BP is because their skin is usually a lot oilier (it works better on oily skin) and they’ll often grow out of their acne so they can then stop using the product.
Because she’s a teenager you could try her on Proactiv to see how it goes. The problem is however I believe it does damage the skin in the long term, and there’s big risk of when you stop using it your acne can come back, and sometimes worse…because it’s just fixing the symptom (acne) not the actual cause of it, which is likely hormonal. A lot of people also find that the Proactiv or BP product just stops working after a couple of years.
If she has very oily skin, then Proactiv may be okay, especially if she’s getting so many positive reviews from her peers. She might get the placebo effect. If her skin gets dry and irritated she should not continue to use it.
You could try those other natural products, I’ve never heard of them before. I had a look at that site and they sound good. I’d probably be tempted to try them before Proactiv like you said. But to be honest, unless the hormonal problem is addressed it may be difficult to treat the acne inflammations naturally. This is because the hormone imbalance is constantly producing excess sebum which is clogging the pores, which leads to acne inflammations.
I find the best natural way to treat acne is with supplements from a naturopath, along with a gentle skin care routine and a healthy diet. This could be REALLY difficult to get her eating well at age 14! And you don’t want her to get really picky about it either because she’s at that fragile age where you don’t want to send her into being worried or scared about what she’s eating.
What would I do if I was in your situation? It depends how bad her skin is. If she doesn’t have cysts or nodules then I’d take her to a naturopath to get her on some supplements to help with the hormones and use a natural face wash like the one you found. Cataphil that you can get from the chemist is really good too. …and maybe don’t keep too much refined sugar in the house if you can help it! Diet plays a big part at controlling hormones, so the better she eats the more her hormones will settle down.
If her acne doesn’t clear up significantly within three months, then take her to see a doctor.
Good luck, and let me know if you need any more help.
I’m 31 and was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma which was caught early. I have used benzoyl peroxide for many years to treat acne. I am going to stop.
Hi, I wish I had read this some time back! I applied BP once too because I was desperate. One night, after applying it, I exercised and the combination of sweat and BP was terrible!!!!
I had horribly dry skin after that which eventually recovered. The most horrible thing is that the use of BP left me with brown spots all over!
I am still having a tough time battling with these spots. So, I would discourage the use of BP.
Hi Michelle, I had no idea that BP could cause these brown spots. Yet another reason not to use it!
Have you seen a dermatologist about the spots?
Thanks for sharing
I used proactiv solution a few years back after developing whiteheads, within three days my skin had absolutely no moisture left, nad no matter what moisturisers i put on my face it stayed dried and cracked it was horrible. It took my skin over a month to recover.
Uggh my skin is so red raw and burning !! dont use this!!
Im 23 and have had pimples for years. I also have mild rosacea, which reacts to salycic acid and most pimple creams. Although my pimples aren’t bad, I have never not had several pimples on my face at any one time.
I was just getting fed up again, and looking into Proactiv, but am glad I saw this website. I dont want oily skin, but I dont think having really dry skin is a compromise.
So I will now start looking into natural alternatives.
Also, if anyone is using Zyporex, can they tell us if its working or not?
Hello,
this is in response to Fran’s inquiry about the Zyporex, Acneticin, etc. products advertised on acnecuresrevealed.net - I hate to be a downer for all of you looking for the miracle cure, but you should check out the posts at the following site: http://www.myacnereview.com/2008/01/31/zyporex-whats-all-this-about-finally-reviewed/
for the record, like others that posted at the above site, I did purchase Zyporex and Acneticin before doing the research- even the Bruunhause ($$$scam?!)
Despite the horrible reviews, I’ll give them a try since the transaction has already been made and I’m just not the kind of guy that does refunds or rebates (and deep down I want to be the one guy that this stuff works for: pathetic; mabey- desperate; yep
Like many of you I’ve tried it all, Proactiv, Triclear, the Thermaclear device, antibiotics, dariy free and sugar free diets. In all my trials it seems all I have done is identified an ever growing list of things that aggrivate my acne, you know the list; too much sun, too little sun, sadness, things that make me happy, etc. but avoiding everything on this list hasn’t been a successful cure.
My condition is mild cystic acne that is aggrivated by Seborrhea Dermatitis and Rosacea. I say this only to report to fellow Seborrhea sufferers that the product “Born to be Mild” from Dermadoctor.com has given me consistent control over that condition without irritating my skin whereas many other products failed to do so.
thanks to all of you that take the time to share your knowledge and experience- it is just as important to shine light on the scams as it is to share information of success stories.
I’ll visit back in a month or so with an update on my personal experiences with Zyporex and Acneticin (the staple of which is a huge amount of vitamin B-5, we’re talking up to 10,000% DV !! safe?? as with everything on the internet some sites say yes and some say no.
Good luck, don’t give up, and don’t take for granted all the things you do in life that aren’t in any way diminished by the condition of your acne!
Hi fran
I am 20 years old, and while i dont have much acne on my face, its my back that is the real problem which has been going on for about the last three years. i have only tried basic creams to get rid of the acne and the scarring which is pretty bad, but nothing like that seemed to work.
So i did some research and found out about BP, which i was going to consider. After what you say i am not so sure. But because i would be using it on a large area on my back and not my face, do you think it would be ok and safe to use?
Or do you know of anything that could help me in my situation? Any help would be much appreciated, as i dont want to take too drastic measures.
Thank a lot, and your site helped me heaps.
Hi Sue,
It really depends how bad it is. I used to get mild back acne when I was your age, and I completely cleared it up by exfoliating my back EVERY night in the shower. Sweat and wearing a backpack can contribute to getting acne in this area (especially if you do a lot of sport), so exfoliating is so important. I just had one of those little puff balls that you use with body wash in the shower, along with a loofa and that did the trick. My sister had the same problem and she bought a body exfoliant and would give herself a full body exfoliation in the shower one a week and it worked wonders.
So, try that first and give it a few weeks and see if it works.
If you have a LOT of acne on your back, then you could try BP …although what I don’t like about BP is that your acne can come back once you stop using it, so you’re kind of stuck using it for ages. I’d try first using a body wash or soap that has tea tree oil in it. Tea tree oil is almost as effective as BP but without the nasty side effects.
You can look for this kind of soap or wash at the grocery or health store. Banalasta also has a great one that’s really cheap AND proven to work for acne sufferers (and they ship overseas if you email them):
http://www.banalasta.com.au/Eucalyptus-Skin-Care-Soap-125g-boxed-p-16197.html
I hope this helps,
fran
This is not good news, i have been using BP for 18 mnths and have just come across this artcile. I’m 25 and didn’t have ance as a teenager however in the last 3 years it has been pretty much continuous…any advice…what would be the result if i were to completely stop using BP and is there any info about long term use and severity of effects on skin condition and structure???????
I have been using a Triaz body wash with 9% BP. It clears up my acne really well, but it makes my sweat bleach my clothes so much! I don’t even visibly sweat, but even a minimal amount ruins pretty shirts that were bought the day before!
Hi Vanessa, is the BP working? If it is, you could try to find something else that works at killing the acne bacteria, because essentially that’s what BP does. It also depends on what type of acne you have ..if you get a lot of comedonal acne (blackheads and whiteheads) or just the odd inflammation.
I’d consider switching to products that are guaranteed not to clog your pores. You could also look for tea tree oil products, because tea tree oil pretty much does the same thing as BP but without the side effects. You can find tea tree cleansers and moisturizers.
If you have a lot of clogged pores, you also might want to consider switching from BP to salicylic acid, in my opinion it’s not as harsh. Paula’s Choice has some great products.
As for more information, you could do an Internet search. There’s a lot out there on the topic.
Benzoyl Peroxide is wicked!!! I think that every skin type is different and will react a different way i have asked my GP as well as my doctor and skin specialist and they also think that it only works on specific skin types. Seriously not everything can work for you
I’m so glad I found this site, thanks Fran! I was one of those hopeful individuals that started the acne.org regimen to try to cure this adult onset acne i’ve got (i’m 26). I just went and washed off all that BP I applied about an hour ago… NEVER again will that stuff touch my face!
I’ve been doing the acne.org regiment for almost three weeks with not so good results… my skin is sooooooo dry, itchy and the blemishes aren’t clearing up at all! in fact, i seem to be getting more than I used to. not to mention the fact that I’ve ruined my duvet cover and my favourite comfy shirt to lounge in!
I’m not sure what my acne is caused by, hormonal maybe? it’s just in the “goatee” area, not even the tip of my chin, just the area straight down from the corners of my mouth. and I get the occasionl one between my eyes, and a few near the outer edge of my eyebrows. but mostly the goatee area. and it’s bad. at least 2-3 new ones a night- cystic, whiteheads and inflammatory. i’ve had perfectly clear skin my entire life and hardly ever left the house with any makeup on, until i moved to Australia (Sydney) 2 1/2 years ago. Now I can’t go anywhere without my mineral cover up! When I moved here I wasn’t able to get the same birth control and or facewash, and started breaking out. I’ve since quit all OC pills, gave up there, and have tried a billion different face washes. I’m over it, and that acne.org thing seemed like the solution… guess not!!!
Maybe it’s the fact that I’m in dental school, and that’s a high stress education, maybe it’s the fact that I eat like crap!! who knows but whatever it is, i’m swearing off chemicals and synthetic hormones (ie the pill) for good. I don’t want to become dependent on any “cure” that is not natural! I’m starting fresh with a good healthy diet, and I’m going to try to cut out sugars, and start taking a multi-vitamin… do you have any other suggestions? I don’t want to try too many things all at once, I’d like to figure out what it is exactly that helps me.
Thanks so much for putting together such an informative site, i can’t wait to read your mini-course!
re: Zyporex
might wanna check out this article and the comments below: http://www.myacnereview.com/2008/01/31/zyporex-whats-all-this-about-finally-reviewed/
it appears Zyporex, Acneticin et al are owned and promoted by the same company. basically, a scam.
avoid.
Well, it looks like I reached your blog a little too late. I’ve just started using BP, used it just twice actually, and my face is already red & brown & all sorts of shades of these two colours. While the BP does seem to have started to clear up my acne and pimples already, its made my face too dry & its peeling & now my face looks really bad, like its been burnt. I really don’t know what to do & am getting a bit desperate now. I can’t leave my house & I have work tomorrow. Can you please advice?
As I understand it, the BP causes my skin to loose a layer of the epidermis so that it may clear up the acne, get rid of the bad skin & cause a whole new fresh layer of skin to grow below it. This should probably explain the redness & peeling & the burnt look of new skin that hasn’t properly grown. The OCM that you have suggested sounds good, but can you also tell me how much time can the redness take to go & what is the best and fastest way to encourage it to go.
Thanks!
Hi Shirin,
BP should not make your skin peel, it’s designed to kill the bacteria, not to exfoliate the skin.
I would stop using it immediately, or just use it every other day. But from the reaction you’re getting I’d advise that you stop it. You skin will take a week or two to return back to normal.
To help speed up your recovery you can add a couple of drops of jojobar oil into your moisturizer. This will help add the moiture into your skin.
I would not do the OCM right now, because it can just rub all of that dead skin into your pores and clog them up. It’s better to just give it a little bit of time and your skin will get better.
Hi. I’ve been using Basiron WASH gel together with an Salicyd acid moisturizer and that have completely cleared up my skin. So I can’t agree with your article.
Perhaps you should use it different and not use the normal gel, use the wash gel instead. Apply a large amount, leave it on for 1-2 mins then rinse off, dry and apply your moisturizer. It will be enough, you don’t need to leave the BP on since, as you write, that makes your skin go dry.
There is a natural product that you can get from Health shops called Acne No More, its awesome, works like a charm. Treatment from both inside and out. After all the whole idea is to stop acne before you can see it.
I was so over always waking up in the morning to be greeted by a new facial disaster. Check it out though, only been using it for 2 weeks and no pimples
I tried proactive and hated it as well.
Hi I have a 13 year old son that has problem skin, I have given him a cleanser in the ella bache range to use. It works wonders and it is easy to purchase at beauticians. I am not sure if ella bache is available in other countries but it is really worth a try. Just ask for the problem skin range.
Bree- sorry I took so long to reply!!! It’s been difficult travelling.
Definitely try natural treatments first. Give it a good 3 months and see if it makes a difference. I’d start with eating well (a low GI diet is great), doing something relaxing every day even if it’s for just 1/2 hour, and using products that will not clog your pores.
What skin care products are you using at the moment?
You could also try taking supplements. I’ve found supplements to help me a lot. You can see a naturopath, or go to a health store and ask for advice. There are so many different supplements that you can use, it all depends on why you’re getting acne. But some kind of good fats are ALWAYS beneficial, so get some fish oil, or flax seed oil if you’re vegetarian.
It’s interesting that your problem developed when you moved. Maybe it was the stress, or maybe it’s the weather. I’m in Vancouver at the moment and I’m noticing that people here have fantastic skin, there is A LOT more acne in Brisbane. I’m trying to figure out why …all I can come up with at the moment is dry versus humid weather?
Fran I think you’re being a little bit of an alarmist when you say Benzoyl Peroxide causes cancer. Yes there was a study that concluded BP *might* promote tumours, but then there were several studies that put a lot of doubt on this claim (look on the faq at acne.org). Personally I think it’s propaganda that companies who promote ‘natural’ products use to sell their own stuff (which almost definitely won’t work or will work very poorly).
What my recommendation is for those who worry about this - simply assess how bad your acne really is and don’t compare to those perfect people you see at school/work. Remember, some people just have good genetics when it comes to their skin, you unfortunately aren’t one of those. My acne is localised around my nose and chin, so I’m generally quite well off when it comes to acne, but I occasionally apply a small amount of BP cream to these infected areas to keep them at bay. Otherwise, I just regularly wash my face and shave every three days. This might be more a solution for men, but I’ve found that shaving can really reduce the amount of pimples on my face without drying it.
Hi I live in the Gold Coast and my skin is terrible! I always had the odd spot but once I moved from a cooler climate to the humid Gold Coast my skin just went crazy!!!! I’ve been following the regimen on acne.org for 6 weeks and it hasn’t worked for me at all. I’ve been using benzac 2.5% but after reading all this helpful info I will no longer be using BP. I’ve brought some tea tree products and hopefully I will see some good results.
Fran, I think the weather thing could play a part, Colorado where I’m from is DRY DRY DRY. it’s insane. although everyone says Sydney is ‘dry’ they have no idea compared to what I grew up in. That said, I lived in Brissy for 6 months in 02 and while my skin was a bit more spotty, it was NEVER as bad as it is now. it’s the worst my skin has been in my whole life. It’s really starting to take it’s toll on me, I have never had to deal with the psychological aspect of acne until recently… it’s really starting to get to me.
I think I’ll go get some supplements this weekend, I really hope the diet change will work. bought some splenda tablets today for those odd occasions when i want a tea and must have something sweet in it, but i’m trying to cut back the caffeine too. Only problem i’m facing is that I’m a real sugar fiend. no really… i’ve got the biggest sweet tooth of ANYONE i’ve ever met (and I’m a dental student, with no cavities, go figure!). All i want are baked good… i don’t even really care for chocolate, i just want the bad things like cookies and brownies and cakes, oh my!! Certainly doesn’t do much for my face, or my waistline when i get into those craving modes, which is often. Low GI will definitely be a challenge. Any good resources you recommend? I have the South Beach Diet book and cookbooks, if I recall I think they follow a low GI recommendation?
oh, forgot about my products…
ATM, after no results with the Clinique system and acne.org regimen, I switched to Neutrogena Extra Gentle Clenser, but it doesn’t seem to get my Bare Minerals makeup off, so I sometimes use the original formula Neutrogena stuff… the orange stuff that smell aweful and stings your eyes. it is quite drying though.
I had even gone so far down the natural path that I tried UT (urine therapy- no joke) on my face, and while my skin was super duper soft, it was not preventing new break outs, and honestly i was peranoid that i smelled like wee, so i stopped after two weeks ( like to give things at least a little bit if time before i totally discount them). SO now I just use the Neut. Extra Gentle Cleanser, and that seems to keep my skin fairly moist. no moisturizer atm, but when i do i have Cetaphil, which i also just got.
I really like Dead Sea Mineral Masks, I find it’s amazing for my skin, but the stuff i’ve found that’s quite pure is also quite pricey. I do that every once in a while.
Also have one of those microdermabrasion cloths (basically a microfiber cloth for the face), and I use that every so often, usually once every few weeks b/c the instructions said not to use it more than every 10 days.
In general i think i need to be more consistent, but it’s hard when nothing seems to be working.
Hi Bree, have you been to see a doctor? I always think that when it gets to the point where it start affecting you physchologically then it’s time to consider taking medications. I think I waited way too long to do that personally. If you haven’t used antibiotics for your skin before, then this may clear it all up. It seems to work well for people ONCE in their lifetime.
If you eat a lot of sugar then cutting sugar out will definitely make a different with the number of inflammations and the redness in your skin. I know it’s hard, I have a SUPER sweet tooth too. I find that if you stick your mind to it, and give it …a month to start with, then you can do it. Stevia is a good option, you can bake with that too, or Xylitol. I also have honey, and fresh or dried fruit stops the cravings (although don’t eat a ton of dried fruit).
Wow, Urine Therapy ..you’re so brave! That did cross my mind a few times but I was never brave enough to do it
Your skin care routine is okay. Just check the first 8 ingredients and make sure their not comedognic, and look them up on http://www.makeupalley.com to see what others have to say about them.
This post is a load of crap. I’m a model and I’ve been using BP for years to treat pimples and prevent them and I have very clear skin 95% of the time. Yes, I did experience some redness, dryness and peeling. But I’d rather have dry skin than pimples anyday. Don’t bash BP, it does work for many people!
Hi Lina, yeah it does work for many …and maybe I was a little harsh
I think I was just cranky at the time because it actually made my skin worse, and it gave me cystic acne. I also worry about how many people seem to be on it forever, and are scared to stop using it because their acne comes back when they discontinue its use. Much like using antibiotics because both products work by killing the acne bacteria in the skin.
I think it’s okay to use if it works (and it will work better on oily, younger skin), as long as the root cause of the acne is looked at too, and worked on through natural methods so BP doesn’t need to be used forever.
Thanks again for your comment, it’s good to hear from people who do have success from it.
i used to use proactiv but buying it became too expensive ,especially for aussies its about $59.90+postage , and after i stopped using it, my acne got worse!!
Hi! This site is very interesting.. I am also one for using natural products wherever I can, ‘Melaleuca’ products fill my cupboards, but I decided about 6 months ago to give ProActiv a try. I saw the ads and was just so desperate to clear my acne after 12 years of it, so I ordered it, but then fell pregnant and didn’t want to risk harming the baby or anything. So I am now using it (baby is 4 months old) and it has done wonders for my skin. It is soft, silky smooth with no dryness at all, everyone comments. I am so pleased with the results, however I have always had my concsience telling me “don’t use it! It’s probably harming you on the inside” Should I stop using it is now my question. I think I will, because deep down I know it’s not ideal for my body. I have tried everything, I know it’s hormonal though.. eating well, exercising etc did help but never cleared it up. I was as healthy as a person could be but still had acne. I love my new skin SO much but I don’t think it’s worth the risk. I might discontinue use and see how I go without any BP products. Melaleuca Gold Bar soap and Anti’Bacterial handwash actually do wonders for skin too.. check it out http://www.melaleuca.com (I am only plugging them because the products are fabulous, I don’t benefit from sales or anything!!!)
Thanks for the interesting article.
Hi Nadine, if it’s working for you, you could stick with it. I agree that BP isn’t that great for your body though and it’s not good to rely on it forever.
Proactiv works best on oily skin so I’m guessing that’s your skin type, or at least was before you started using it. Any product that helps reduce oil will be great for your skin.
What you could try is tea tree oil, because it’s almost as good as BP but without the side effects. You could look for some products that contain TTO and give them a go. If they don’t work you can always go back to the Proactiv
Hi. Sorry to make you disappointed, but you’ve been using BP the wrong way (as acne.org promotes). You should be using a BP-wash instead, which means that you leave it on for 1-2 minutes on wet skin, then rinse it off. If you follow that, your skin won’t dry out or be irritated. You’re right about your criticism with BP with the method you’re talking about, but remember that there’s other ways to use it than the acne.org site promotes.
Thanks for the Johan, and don’t worry - you didn’t disappoint. I also tried Proactiv for a while (which uses BP as the active ingredient) and it also dried out my skin and made it worse. Then I tried using JUST the Proactiv cleanser along with my own gentle natural moisturizer, and it still dried out my skin. I think I just have super sensitive and of course very dry skin that doens’t like BP at all.
Hey Fran, I bought the Benzac AC wash today and used it once only, now after reading this, I dont know what to do cause Ive had acne for quite some time now, I’m 14 and I’ve been very desperate, my mates all have flawless skin and reading the other comments the pros and cons, its just made me more confused what to do with my skin. I’m planning to get rid of the product tomorrow.
What do you recommend?
Cheers
Hi Stell. You could try it ..BP works best on teenage, oily skin so you may have luck with it. You just need to stop it if your skin gets irritated, dry, or your acne gets worse.
Remember it’s normal to have acne at your age, your friends that have flawless skin are probably going to get pimples soon. And yours will most likely clear up with age.
I am 37 years old acne sufferer.
The problem with benzoyl peroxide being used on adults with acne is that adults begin to experience two things at various ages: wrinkles and thinner skin. Benzoyl peroxide, while somewhat useful as an acne treatment for adolescents, is too drying and too irritatin for adult skin.
gotta play devil’s advocate here…
i tried to avoid using BP for quite some time, and this thread kinda reinforced my pro organica/natural zeal.
while most of the au natural product i used actually really did do a good job of keeping my face relatively clear and moisturized, none of it was really able to keep blemishes from popping up around two at a time with fair regularity. as the rest of my face is generally reasonably well toned, they kinda stood out even more (at least to me).
about 10 days ago i decided ‘what the hell’ and got tube of benzac 2.5. i didn’t know whether to be disappointed or pleased that it pretty much halted breakouts almost immediately.
yeah, it’s very drying. i sort of remedied this by mixing it in with some A’kai moisturizing cream and keeping it down to a once a day application. with a solid regimen of cream + miessence facial cleanser i managed to stave off any peeling or ‘dustiness’.
i dunno, i guess its working alright for me, though i plan to stop using benzac after a few weeks. fyi, i’m 25 with pretty ‘normal’ skin in terms of oily vs dry.
p.s.
Fran, have you thought about adding a small forum to your site? i really enjoy reading it and keep tabs on replies to these comments, as i’m sure others do.
might facilitate some wider discussion!
Hi Brin,
Yeah I think the BP does work well for some. Sometimes chemicals seem to just work better than natural stuff too ~sigh~
I actually do have a forum! It kind of looks like a question and answer thing for me, but really it’s a forum so you can start whatever thread you want in there:
http://www.highonhealth.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2
I’m glad you’re liking the content!
Heyy! great article! i was seriously considering Benzoyl Peroxide. thanx 4 putting this up. i think i’ll look into more natural methods
Your article was very convincing, but i have a qu i’d like to ask. i have a combo skin type, my t-zone gets oily and causes zits, especially around the nose, upper lip and b/t eyebrows. i’mjust wondering, if it’s ok to apply BP only to the affected areas…if u can fill me in, that’ll be great!
sorry, also what about salicyclic acid?
Hi Tini, if you’re going to use BP, it’s best to use it as a spot treatment only. And it works best on oily skin. Salicylic acid seems to be a little less controversial, but it has its downside with long term use as well. I’m currently using a BHA salicylic acid product, but only every now and again.
Hello Fran,
I find this article funny, because your article is just in time. I was just simultaneously browsing your site, and I came over acne.org and was really planning on using benzoyl peroxide.. your article is somewhat answering my deepest questions too about that chemical, thank God you’ve cleared up my mind and reminded me to be simple and natural in treating acne..hehhe!
Thanks a mucho!
I’ve used BP pretty much all my life. I’m 25 now and it’s time to stop since it has made my skin thin and looking flushed all the time. Also, BP + Sun = basal-cell carcinoma. Yup, I’ve got them and just removed my third one. Ugh.. This sucks.
Hi Fran,
I use to have really good ‘normal’ skin, until i went on the pill last year and when that didn’t react well with my body i had to stop. After i stopped using the pill i started breaking out like crazy. So i started looking for solutions to my acne problem, my dermatologist put me on Clindoxyl get, which is Clindamyacin with BP. I’ve been using it for 8 months or so now and my face really hasn’t gotten any better and i’m actually getting more whiteheads and my skin is SO dry. In the last month or so my skin has become so dry that it’s overcompensating by producing more oil. Finally i’ve decided to stop using BP and my face is super oily. I’ve never had oily skin before and it’s so frustrating. Do you know anything about this? I haven’t come across anybody using BP and getting super oily skin after stopping the product.
Thanks!
Hi Bonnie,
Your skin might just be freaking out a little. My skin went SUPER dry from using BP too, then it took me a couple of weeks for it to balance out to normal again. Your skin may be overcompensating for the dryness of the skin and producing way too much oil than it should. I think the best thing you can do for your skin right now is to be as gentle as possible with it. So stay away from oily skin care products, and use products for ’sensitive skin’ instead.
I’m certain that your skin will balance out again soon. And since you didn’t have a skin problem before you went on the pill, as soon as your body sorts itself out again and your hormones go back to normal, you’ll find your skin will just clear up by itself too
So right now, you need to be gentle with both your skin and your body. Relax, be gentle, nourish and support ..and it may just do the work on its own.
Thanks for your encouraging words! I hope that my skin goes back to normal as well. Did you find that when you were on BP, your skin didn’t heal as well? I found my spots became darker and would be there for months. I’ve read that BP is suppose to regenerate your skin, but that didn’t happen and I still have the dark pigmented marks on my face, which actually makes the skin look worse than it is.
I wish I had read this article before using BP, I never knew it was such a strong chemical.
i have used a tea tree oil gel formular on my face. i apply it to my problem areas before i go to bed and i have noticed a visibly reduced appearance on my acne by morning. Only Caution - Tea Tree oil is a powerful ingredient. insure that it does not go near ur eyes or is swallowed.
Same caution to be reserved to lavender oil, and will burn the skin if it is too strong, ur skin is sensitive or left on ur skin too long. Just ensure it is the real oil not just a fragrence.
Im a 30 year old and have suffered with acne since i was 20, I have used proactive and it never worked for my skin. I have also been using Benzac ac wash, it too never worked. I used it for about 12 months and I still have acne plus bleached face washers and towels! I have started to take Yasmin today too see if that will help clear my skin. I also purchased flaxseed oil and Skin support tablets (Blackmores) to see if they will help with my skin. Im due to get married in a couple of months and I wanted to clear my skin prior to the wedding day, but it looks like I will be walking down the aisle with acne as nothing has worked on my skin! I too had a basal-cell carcinoma removed about 3 years ago. Im now left with a hole on my nose! So now im wondering if it is the benzoyl peroxide in these products that have contributed to me having this. I have always used sun screen so I couldnt work out how I got it! I need another removed but I will wait now as I dont need any more scaring on my face plus acne for my wedding! If anyone does know of any products to help please let me know. But I do know one thing- I WILL NEVER USE PRODUCTS WITH BENZOYL PEROXIDE AGAIN!!!!! Thank you sooo much for all your information regarding this dangerous product.
Hi Mariah,
The good news is, there’s a good chance the yasmin will clear up your skin for the wedding. How long it takes will depend on the severity of the acne. Most girls experience a small ‘getting worse’ period before it gets better, with a bit more of a breakout. This is because your hormones are balancing out while you’re putting these new artificial hormones in.
You should find that this passes after 1 month and by month 2 your skin is looking great.
Because your wedding is coming up, you may not want to experiment with products too much in case they make your skin worse. It may be a good idea to invest in some good quality products for sensitive skin. And look for something that is non-comedogenic. Have a read of the key articles listed at the top of this page, there are a couple in there which explain how to source a good natural product that will not clog your pores.
Cutting out refined sugar up until your wedding date will also help A LOT with your skin tone and help reduce the redness and inflammation. Sticking to a strict low GI diet will definitely also work wonders.
I started using a three step acne kit with benzoyl peroxide, and I agree with you. I think it might have worked if I would have kept using it from the start, but I took a break from it and then went back on it. From there, it’s just been downhill. I went outside weeding my mom’s garden for about an hour, and I got really sunburnt. That wouldn’t have happened before I started using the benzoyl peroxide– I don’t burn very easily. It also slowed down healing of any cuts or wounds on my face. And after I started using it for a while, I’d get a couple more zits like ones I’d never had before. It didn’t bleach any of my towels, but the rest was not worth it. I’m trying to stop using it now. Any tips on how to stop skin breaking out after you stop using it?
Hi Susan, follow the steps in my mini-course, they’ll help you out a lot
I used BP on my face, along with a Beta Hydroxy Acid Gel back in January… it’s now August and I’m still fighting dry skin (along with acne) which I had never had before!!! I hate this flaky dry skin so I’ve been putting some olive oil directly onto my face (just a little bit) and it seems to help in the short term…
I have been using benzoyl peroxide for about a month now. It’s made my skin look worse. When I was a teen, I used it with good results, but now it’s another story. I have big red bumps on both of my cheeks that are leaving brown spots. My face did not look this bad before I started using BP. Usually, I would get a few red pimples due to monthly hormonal changes. It seems like the BP is only exacerbating the problem, not making things better. I’ve recently switched to tea tree oil. Hopefully, I’ll see some results. I’m glad I found this blog entry. It’s surprising to read about how BP could cause cancer. I’ve never heard about that before.
please! don’t use bp.it is destructive. i had beautiful white skin. now, after using bp for 6 month i have a brown , extremely oily , ugly skin. every day i curse acne .org . it made my life a pure hell. i cry every day . i am sure my skin will never recover. so , please , do not use it.
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