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
163 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.
I must respectfully disagree with this article. I do believe that BP is a strong chemical, but I believe if used with caution it can work very well for many people.
For starters, only a 2.5% BP solution should be used and never more than that. Only a small amount should be applied to the skin once per day when first using it until your skin gets used to it (a few weeks). Then more can be used on a twice-daily basis. It WILL dry your skin out but not nearly as badly as a 10% BP solution will. The trick is to apply VERY good moisturizer a few minutes after the BP solution dries. The “oil-free” moisturizers just won’t cut it. You need SERIOUS hydration. If after a half hour or so the skin is still dry, apply more moisturizer to the dry area. Often at night I will slather organic coconut oil all over my face too for extra moisturizing. It doesn’t stain pillowcases.
I had beautiful and clear skin my entire life….until I got into my 40s. My diet is ideal. I do not eat sugar in any form. I exercise vigorously (1.75 hours) five days per week. I am unbelievably healthy. I know what the problem is: It’s hormones. Menopause is approaching. And I REFUSE to take hormone therapy, which would include birth control pills–talk about a carcinogenic!
For me, BP works, and it works well. I’ve read the scant information about BP and cancer, and it doesn’t hold much credence. There simply aren’t enough studies to support this. The amount of chemicals used on lab animals in testing is phenomenal. No human being would use this much. And as for the FDA, all I can find about it changing BP from a category I drug to a category III drug is that this was a “proposed” change because of the mouse study, but I cannot find whether or not it was actually ever changed. But one mouse study does not a killer make. Also, the various internet sites that quote this “proposed” FDA change all seem to be selling something for acne, but it’s not BP.
In any event, nothing in life is risk free. I do my best to live my life as naturally as possible, and I take very good care of myself. For me, BP is a great solution right now. Thanks for letting me share.
Hi Mel, thanks for your input. Yeah, it does help a lot of people. I didn’t consider possibilities like menopause where letting the hormones take their course does possibly mean acne for some women. In your case I can see how BP is a better solution than taken synthetic hormones
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Fran,
I think i found this site a bit late.
I used BP 2.5% on some spots and it not only completely dried the skin but now i have reddish brown spots on the face where it was applied.
I have stopped using it immediately.Did anyone else face the same problem? will these brown/red spots clear by itself?
BP did actually clear up my acne. And as I have fairly oily skin, after my skin got used to it it did not get dry any more. I had 1.5 years of happy and acne-free life. But then it got worse than it had ever been before! There was virtually not an inch on my face that was not covered with whiteheads. And they refused to go away. Being an amazingly clever person, I decided to use BP again. Surprise: it did not change anything. So I ended up smearing a strong chemical on my face for 3 months with no results at all! Well, I’ll be sure not to do that again. In fact, I’m pretty sure that my current skin troubles are caused by BP. And I am still trying to find a solution that works for me.
Hi There
First of all, i’d just like to say i’m not here to argue the point either way, after reading all comments, it’s plain to see BP works differently for every individual user.
For myself, personally I did not realise the strength of this product until burnt (literally) recently.
I decided to cease use of Proactive after 6 months as needed all the $$$ I could gather to successfully move to Sunshine Coastal area. This proved to be terribly stressful on my skin. As per a lot of ppl above, I am cursed with bouts of cystic, red raw acne, not always visible to the public but sore enough under the skin to feel as though I had a massive bruise, not ony affecting the area the pimple had formed, but the whole side of my face its on.
Only within the past week I have turned to Pan Oxl cream to spot myself with and a facewash for daily use. After only a day of doing this I woke up with eyes so black and blue and puffy I could not open to see. I had a shower to soothe my eyes and made my way to the chemist where i bought the product, them telling me the only cure……moisturiser and a anti inflammatry which of course worked altho i wasleft with peeling eyes feeling like leather for the last week.
How did this happen…… after reading your post now i understand. After applying my PanOxl spot cream I have washed my hands and applied moisturiser to my ayelid area (to avoid exactly whats happened as proactive fashewash proved to be affecting my sensitive eyes even when avoiding use at all times in that area)!
The post is saying that this product does not easily wash off, I would not have known til now.
Altho this product may work for a large majority of ppl….including myself, it is so easily promoted and sold like just another product on the pharmacy shelf, not taken as seriously as it should be.
I have fotos of my face the morning I woke looking like I had been severely attacked , and looking back on it I feel a little stupid, but if I was to be a little more educated b4 using BP, maybe this could have been avoided.
xo
I have been using 2.5% benzoyl peroxide and it cleared my acne. I do not want to take antibiotics because your body will later become resistant to it. I might move onto just taking zinc everyday.
Good article. Because, benzoyl peroxide is such a commonly used active ingredient, most people don’t realize that there are better safer alternatives. For instance, salicylic acid is a much gentler treatments that is effective in treating acne, without the harsh side-effects of benzoyl peroxide.
Benzoyl peroxide causes excessive drying and irritation of the skin that cause acne treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide to create 3 and 4 step systems in order to compensate for the side-effects. They create a “mask” or some lotion to help the excessive drying.
Most people, such as myself a college student, don’t have time to spend on 3 and 4 step treatments.
Hi Fran,
Thanks for helping many of us to realize the side affects of BP. I am 35 and I have used BP recently for three days on an ad-hoc pimple. The skin underneath my left eye appeared very very dry, looked cracked and old. I feels that the eye cream I applied could only moisture my skin for one minute. I have to constantly supply more. I can’t even smile because I can feel the harsh stretch on my eye lid. I am desperate to find some tips to expedite the process for my skin to go back to normal. Pleeeease help!
Hi Anna, this is a very typical reaction for an adult using BP. You can try persisting through the dry period and see if it gets any better, but I did that and after a few weeks it just got worse.
The number one thing for adult acne is to treat it like sensitive skin. So be SUPER gentle on your skin, use very light products, and look after it from the inside out. Diet will also help a lot – so you could try following a low GI diet, eating mostly alkaline foods, doing a Candida cleanse or a liver cleanse ..or just a detox. Any of these eating plans will help out a lot.
Hi, I’m 18 years old and live in Australia. I’ve been researching on the net trying to find a product which will get rid of my acne and red blemishes and blackheads that I’ve had for several years. is this product/book/website legitimate? – http://www.acnefreein3days.com/c/index.html?hop=lalopajero
does it actually work? what is your opinion on it? I’ve done research and read through this page, but am still confused as to which product I SHOULD get, to get rid of my acne. I’m aware of diet and this and that and BP and acids and pills(which i wont take ever) and all the myths and side effects and causes etc etc, please just tell me which product WILL work, and if the link I provided is legitimate and reall works? cheers
so all in all, what is your advice for me? which product or thing should I buy? please help me decide! this book looks like it really works fast and permant and safe; http://www.acnefreein3days.com/c/index.html?hop=lalopajero
thats just a bunch of hype!! I guess it all depends on your skin type and the type of acne you have, but i am from the old school…and i used oxy10 for little problems, never had big problems. its an overnite healer!! and i just now posted to someone to use it and then stumbled in here.
you can not just pile it on your face like a lotion!! dang!
no…you simply DAB a very tiny tiny and i mean miniscual whte DAB on the spot ,,,not your entire face! and if you will keep it wet on that problem zit…say for the prom in two days, etc… beleive me you will have a lovely complexion the next day.
it does work!! and my daughters use it years later…like i said, the key is MINIMAL ,,dont put it on like a face lotion!!! this is MEdicinE!!!!
my 2 cents! AND …i am very glad to have stumbled on this site, because i had no idea that people suffer from this. thanx for opening my eyes. I do see how it could dry out skin, but …remember, only apply on each ZiT, not whole face
and btw, proactive is just an expensive version of it. ..you can get it anywhere, for 2.50 a bottle lasts FoREVEr! :0
Thans very much Flan. I realized that BP is too strong for me, at this age. Personally, I could not sit still without applying layers of eye cream with SPF. I spent more time in my office then going for meetings. After one week of struggle, I begin to see the light. My skin is on the way back to normal. I am very pleased about it. I am so glad that I stopped using BP.
I never heard of G.I. diet but I found this on the health.ninemsn.com.au regarding how to follow G.I. diet:
>>
The GI table
High — 70 or more, Medium — 56 to 69 inclusive, Low — 55 or less
Instead of …
Long-grain white Jasmine rice (109) Ricegrowers
Try: Doongara white rice (55), Mahatma long-grain white rice (50)
Buttercup Wonder White bread (80)
Try: Burgen Oat Bran and Honey bread (49), Tip Top 9 grain bread (43)
Ricegrowers, brown rice pasta (92)
Try: White capellini pasta (45), egg fettuccine (40)
Dried rice noodles (61)
Try: Fresh rice noodles (40), soba noodles (46)
Skippy cornflakes (93)
Try: All Bran Fruit and Oats (39), Kelloggs Guardian (37)
Uncle Tobys instant porridge (82)
Try: Regular porridge (58)
Boiled potato (Sebago 87, Desiree 101)
Try: Baked sweet potato (46)
White bagel (72)
Try: Salmon sushi (48)
Thanks.
Oskar – Have a read of this article: http://www.highonhealth.org/can-you-be-acne-free-in-3-days/
i used benzac ac 5% for about 2 months and my skin felt beautifully smooth. if it got too dry i’d just stop for 1 or 2 days to get some moisture back.
BUT now my forehead has broken out in heaps of little red spots. this also happened to my friend on benzac so i blame that!
we are both 31 and have tried heaps of different treatments. i’m about ready to give up…
I’m 18 and have been using BP in every product I’ve ever tried for my acne for about 4 years. It started with creams in department stores, then proactiv for about a year, and then finally a prescription from a dermatologist (BP being the active ingredient in all of them). BP has absolutely destroyed my face. My skin looks like it belongs to a 40 yr old. The discoloration, redness, dryness, and scars left are horrible. I still have persistent acne, especially cystic, even after using BP for so many years. I’m about to have cosmetic laser surgery to hopefully reverse these side effects (scars, uneven pigmentation, even spider veins in delicate areas of my face). I regret ever using BP but I still use it because I have for so many years. I wouldve been better off never touching that stuff. My skin will never forgive me. I believe after I have this laser peel I will look for other acne products that wont have these adverse effects. BP causes more grief in the long run
I have also read about the harmful effects of Benzoyl Peroxide. I would have to agree, when people say to avoid products that contain such a harmful ingredient. I recently found a product called CTRL. It uses Salicylic Acid, and natural lipid-rich Ceramides. If you are trying to find a better treatment option for your acne. CTRL might be the way to go.
Fran,
Good Lord, thank you. I had recently found the Acne.org website and its size and apparent effectiveness convinced me to start using BP each day. Like yours, my skin became tight and uncomfortable – I never agreed with putting it on my face in the first place but after your post I shall never consider it again!
From today I shall cease my use of BP and try something more natural. Just a quick question, does sleep affect spots and blemishes? I don’t get much because I have so much to do and am constantly stressed. I have recently started drinking 2L of water per day, hopefully that will help also.
While I am not vain, it does knock your confidence a little especially when your face is the first thing people see.
Thanks again for your magical post, it convinced me!
Tóm, England.
I’m 17. Using a salicylic acid cleanser then a benzoyl peroxide cream twice daily seem to be working wonders. i know these are harsh on my skin, but i have a face covered in comedonal acne and blackheads which makes me very self conscious. my doctor told me to use these products. my skins now a little dry, but for my acne it working wonders!
I TOTALLY agree with you on thsi one fran. i’ve used BP in the past, however on this certain occasion that i used it, my skin was AWFUL. for days it went tight and started to peel! it looked like i had burnt my skin and was suffering the aftermaths. i didn’t got out for days and i thought it would never get better. Thank god that it has.
I chucked the tube of BP in the bin and used tons on aloe vera gel to sooth the burns, which did help. Now 3 months later my skin is begining to get back to recover
Hey Fran,
in early November I started using Zyporex and unfortunately this was not the product for me. If anything my skin looked worse after using the product for less than two months. With Christmas coming up, I was due to see my family and wanted to look and feel good. One week before Christmas I started with Proactiv and noticed the difference withing two days and went on to a spotless Christmas. So happy with the results I have actually made a date for New Years.
Merry Xmas & Happy New Year.
Cheers Claudia
Hi Fran!
My name is Serena. I’m currently using Proactive and so I was until I found out that the the chemicals inside (BP and SA) is a health hazard. I used to use it all the time, day and night. Each day I would use it about 4 times and I’ve been using it for 6 months now. It really helped clear up my acne. However, I noticed that it made my skin feel very stiff and sometimes dry. I also noticed that it bleached a little part of my hair and eyebrows. However I ignored the fact because I was very desperate to get clear skin again. I was wondering if you knew how much damage it’s caused(I am very concerned), and if you had any other suggestions as to what other acne products I can use that don’t have these harmful substances in it. Thank you so much! Please write back!
Thanks Again and Happy Holidays!
-Serena
Hi Serena,
Using it 4 times each day is a lot, you could try cutting it down to twice a day, then once a day if your skin seems to be doing okay with that.
Please don’t be too concerned about the damage to your skin. As long as you’re not using it for the rest of your life you’ll be okay. You must however keep your skin hydrated, so use a gentle moisturizer to keep that dryness away – try jojobar oil or Bee Yummy Skinfood.
i have been using BP for 1 year now. my skin looks and feels so nice and smooth and i didnt see any signs of dryness. everyone at school is telling me that my skin looks more than great. i told my best friend about it and she used it. she saw the same results. no dry skin at all
Hey I am 16 years old and acne is the largest problem in my life. It makes me depressed and sometimes i dont even feel like living anymore. Recently I started to use Proactive and I have also noticed terribly dry skin. No moisturizer is actually healing it. Can u please tell me how to help it or if it will actually just go away over time. Also i have noticed that taking alot of showers doesn’t help. Besides the dryness most of my acne has actually went away but the part killing me the most are these red marks all over my cheeks that wont go away. They are mostly flat but they sort of look like scars or burns. I was wondering if these will go away on their own as well even though i have had them for a while now. I have been to the dermotologist a couple of times and it didn’t really help. I am recently about to visit another one soon and am hoping that they can do or tell me something useful. Please tell me if u know of a way to help recover these marks. I really need advice so please respond to me. Thanks.
Have you ever heard of a product called activclear because it looks like it might work well. And if you haven’t would you mind checking it out and telling me wut you think. Also there are so many videos of yours that I can’t really find direct answers to my questions. Can u please respond to this and the comment above directly. I would really appreciate it. Thanks.
Oh my- what a lot of info to take in! In desperation I have just started using BP, along with the BHA I began a month or so ago. I have serious reservations about putting chemicals on my face again, but even more serious ones about overloading my poor little body with drugs (oral antibiotics etc, which I’ve tried before with little success anyway). And really am at the point where i have to do SOMETHING – just ending up with more and more scarring. It’s great to read all these different opinions but somehow I end up even more at a loss of exactly what to do. And I’m one for getting so freaked out by all the possible consequences that I’m too afraid to try anything…
Just thought I would chime in with my own experiences with BP…
First off, I’m an identical twin in my late twenties. I used BP very often in my teen years and it was the only real effective product in treating my breakouts. Fast forward to today and I have discontinued using the product for the last couple of years to try and prevent the prospect of premature aging. However, my breakouts have returned!
Now, I would happily return to BP because it was so effective and my skin is so oily that it doesn’t really produce drying BUT… Being an identical twin I have the following observation / theory about BP. I think that BP may have reduced the ability of my skin to generate it’s own natural agents to fight the acne bacteria and has also forced my pores into oil production overdrive. I think this because my twin (who did not use BP and suffered through the acne) currently has very normal looking skin and rarely has a breakout!
So, factoring in identical genetics, I think we could all benefit from further studies regarding the long term damage caused by BP.
All that being said, I will admit that BP was/is by far the most effective tool I have ever used to fight acne. Maybe I need to try the tea tree oil…
Wow JC that’s really amazing!! Do you mind if I use this in an article? I’d love to write about your experience.
WOW! Fran you are completely useless in helping others out! I can’t believe you still haven’t answered my questions! Oh yea and by the way…Guess what I’m on right now. ACCUTANE!! Yea and it works better than any of the crap you’re talking so to everyone here suffering from acne save yourself even more depression and go on accutane. Fran’s a fool!!
Hi Chris, I’m sorry I didn’t respond to your questions, I get at least a dozen a day which is difficult when I have to create new content, maintain the blog and work to earn a living as well. It’s hard for me because answering questions every day does not earn me a living like dermatologists and doctors do.
I had also just broken up with my bf at the time stamp that you wrote your question and having a tough time just getting through the day so I did work a bit less on the blog.
Have you gone through my free mini-course? I have a lot of information in there which should help you out. And if you ask questions in the forum, there are other very knowledgeable people in there that support me with helping to answer questions. Unfortunately I haven’t heard of activclear but somebody in the forum probably has.
I’m sorry for the late reply, and have an awesome day
Hello Fran and everybody,
Ive been using BP for almost 2 weeks from now,(my doctor prescribed me to used this but i didnt ask whats the side effects).At first i felt that BP really works,but then later on after continue using,my face started to get dry,EWWW!!!!,and so flaky ever!And i noticed that theres some brown pigments appeard on my face and on my chest.Yes this is so horrible!I dont know what to do now.After reading this forum,i plan to stop it now,my concern is that,can anyone gives an advice what to do instead of using BP?What will happen if i will discontinue using this product,am i late or theres still a chance to recover?Help me please..response will be higly appreciated.
Hi Sally, the same thing happened to me. Unfortunately that dryness also ended up making my acne worse. Have you signed up to the mini-course? If you’re acne is not cystic then it’s definitely manageable with natural methods ..the right skin care, maybe a change in diet, relaxation etc.
You could also try a salicylic acid product (sparingly) ..because it’s a lot lighter than BP.
woah. i’ve been using this stuff for about…2 and a half years. i’m nearly 17 and it hasn’t done ANYTHING for me. I have no idea why I kept using it though… But anyway, I didn’t think it could be this dangerous! Plus it’s tested on animals?!
wow. just wow.
thanks for writing this. i’m never touching the stuff again.
Hi ,Fran
I am 27 yrs old male from india, my acne started at the age of 16 my face is oily and other body parts are dry at the age of 17 i have vistited a dermatologist and he prescribed BP i have used it for a 5-6 monts , i found that it controlling the acne , and noticed that my skin getting darker and aged and slightly wrinkled ,then i stopped using BP, everyone adviced the the acne will disappear after few years so i didnt go for any medicines ,i tried to keep my face clen. but still it is coming up . so i visited a doctor again in the last week he diagnosed this problem is Rosacea ,and prescribed to take an antibiotic tablet (doxycycline BP )and metronidazole (a cream ). i dont know this will help me . Do you have any suggestion to come back to my old face colour which is happened because of Benzoil Peroxide
Hey Fran and everyone,
I followed the acne.org regimen precisely for just over 2 years. I only used to apply BP to my nose and cheeks because that’s where I mainly had acne. While on it I stayed pretty clear, had some redness, and didn’t get to dry, therefor I didn’t use moisturizer every day, especially in the summer.
I’ve been off of the regimen for about 9 months now, and all I’ve been using is a cleanser in the shower and a moisturizer after the shower once a day.
My acne is pretty much clear, but the redness in my face has never gone down since I stopped using the BP, it seems like it’s just gotten worse. I eat extremely healthy, work out all the time, and still try to follow all the ground rules about not touching my face and changing pillow cases and towels often, etc, I just don’t use BP.
I’ve tried using only water, only soap without moisturizing, and many different cleansers/moisturizers, but my face continues to stay red ONLY on my cheeks and nose where I used to apply the BP. My family has no history of rosacea so I don’t believe that’s what it is.
It seems like there may be a correlation here, has anyone else had these same kind of results after using BP for a long period of time?
Just thought I would let people know; and also, if anyone knows of any remedies that might reduce the redness effects that the BP has caused, please let me know.
Thanks for reading, I appreciate it,
Ryan
Mahesh and Ryan- The best thing you can do is nurture your skin and allow it to heal on its own. So only use very natural products that will not strip the natural oils in your skin. Honey, aloe vera, cucumber and green tea are all good healing ingredients in skin care.
You could also start using a hydrating and healing mask 2-3 times per week. The Bee Yummy Facelift mask that I sellis great for this or you could try just using manuka honey (even thought it’ll be quite sticky!!). OR experiment with your own home made recipes using a combination of the healing ingredients I mentioned above.
Hey Fran,
If only I’d stumbled upon your site earlier! I just had the same experience as you . Turns out Retin-A+BP= skin burn!!! I’ve alternated between the 2 products and happened to use both on the same night. I guess I just forgot I’d used one already . It wasn’t until the week was up I realised there were a lot more cystic acne showing up ,my skin was dry and flaky , so much so that lines started showing up and I’m only 28 with not too bad skin except for the occasional bumps. But not any more..Its like my skin just suddenly took a turn for the worse and has aged. I firmly believe that the use of BP over time has just made my skin unresponsive to treatment of any sort. While the use of a La Roche Posay moisturiser is relieving me of my dry skin and somewhat restored the plumpness of my skin, the cystic acne , scars and burnt patches are so hard to get rid of. I have stopped using acne treatment for now hoping my skin recovers completely from the disaster and that the burn patches are not here to stay.
I used BP for the first time two days ago. After two applications of the gel, containing 10% BP my skin is red, tight and dry. It is flaky and I am deeply concerned at the damage I might have inflicted on my skin. I intend to visit my Doctor tomorrow in the hopes that he can offer me something that will quickly heal the ‘burn’. I feel very strongly now that more research should be done into the dangers and side effects of this product to provide us with FACTS. I also feel it should only be available on prescription as I bought mine in over the counter, without any advice. I have been shocked to read that this product has been linked to the promotion of skin cancer. How deeply concerning. Ban BP!
Hey Fran
I’m 15 years old and have been using BP for about a week now, My skin is usualy quite oily however it has now become dry on the areas on which I alplied the Benzoyl Peroxide 10% (Oxy 10). You have stated good reason to discontinue usage of the product however there has been some leeway on the matter as such, regarding younger oilier skin.
My question is would you advise me not to use BP any longer and if so what product could I use as a spot treatment in stead?
Hey Tom, it depends how dry your skin is when using the BP. If it’s just a little bit dry and your acne is clearing up then it’s not so bad. But if it’s very dry and/or irritated then stop using it. Personally I had no luck with BP – it just made my skin worse. But it’s best to see how your own skin responds and follow your gut feeling.
Hi Fran,
This is a really informative site – thank you so much!
I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit more about your experience with BP?
What strength were you using? How often – every morning and evening or only once a day?
Was this combined with any other topical products?
The reason I ask these questions is that, I, like yourself, aim to use only natural and chemical-free products ranging from my toothpaste, skincare to shampoo! However, over the past 6 months I have had a terrible outbreak of acne
It has been caused from coming off the contraceptive pill. I wouldn’t consider going back on it due to longer term health issues. I have tried various natural methods for controlling my acne but with no success as of yet….. I recently seen a herbalist and I am now taking B vitamins, agnus cactus (it is pretty certain that my acne is due to a hormonal imbalance), prebiotics, and lots of EFA. However, in desperation I have turned to bp and the results have been, well……..extremely positive so far. I haven’t gone crazy with it however – I only use it once a day, at night before I go to bed and the rest of my skincare regime is completely natural, with no harmful chemicals and is not aimed at reducing acne. I use the lowest amount as well, only 2.5% and (touch wood) I have not experienced any redness or burning.
I am not planning on using this long term as I will stop using it in 3 months when the Agnus Cactus has (hopefully) kicked in and balanced my hormones.
It would be great if you could let me know about the above questions as I am keen to stop using this product if the way in which I am using it is the same way you did.
Many thanks,
Julia
hiii fran i’d like to thank u about all this data.. i wanna tell my experience with BP.. i’ve been using it for more than 1 year for controlling acne.. i mean my skin’s oily so i use BP as anti sebum.i use it all over large areas of my face .it really helps me well and prevent new outbreaks.and the dryness-redness ‘re not too much or barely present..speaking of it’s side effect that the free radicals can i use vit E AND C as antioxidant with BP to prevent this harmful effect???.. or u advise me to quit it but tell me about the alternative.. i need anti sebum agent.. thanks alot
Hi Julia, I tried using just a little bit as a spot treatment at first, and then I used the acne.org regime. Both dried by skin out horribly.
Thirteen- Not sure what you mean about BP being an “anti-sebum” because that’s not what it does, it’s an anti-bacterial. The only things that I’m aware of that can reduce the amount of sebum is accutane, the contraceptive pill and high doses of vitamin B5. Alternatively you could use a deep pore exfoliant like Salyclic or Glyoclic acid to make sure the sebum your skin is producing is cleaned out of your pores.
fran thnx 4 answerin me..but now im’ out of ideas about which product to use? glycolic acid or salicylic acid ? iv’e heard about tea tree oil… plz tell me which one is eminently safe and the most effective ? i need ur guidance..
thirteen- SA is stronger so works better, but it can also dry our your skin. You can also find natural GA options so maybe start with that. If it doesn’t do the job then try a SA.
It is scary to hear of the cancer causing effects of BP, but I don’t know what other choice I have but to try it.
I eat healthy, I exercise, I do everything I can to try and achieve good all-round health for my body and my skin.
I have tried several different antibiotics and topical solutions prescribed by my doctor, none of which have had any effect.
I believe the cause is probably a hormone imbalance, but I am unable to take the pill.
I am now 21, I have had acne for 10 years, and if anything it seems to be getting even worse. I am totally at my wits end, I just wish there was something natural I could do!
Hey Fran,
I am fifteen and have been using BP ever since November, right when I first started to get acne.
I apply BP after I cleanse my face every morning.
I apply my BP to my cheeks, nose, and chin.
Those areas used to be even and not oily. However, since using the BP Those areas are constantly red, oily, and sometimes flaking.
I sometimes wonder if I only spot treated with BP if my oily skin in those areas would eventually go away, as they were not oily before I started using BP, (and Differin at night.)
Thanks for making this post.(:
I have been using BP on my face for about 5 years – my skin is great; it used to be really oly and uneven but now it’s much better. If I didn’t use BP I think I wouldhave really bad skin. I certainly have never had redness or flaking. I think people just need to be careful about using the right skin for your type. It obviously doesn’t work for everyone. I am a little concerned about the suggestion that it’s carcinogenic but just about everything is really – it’s been around for decades. All the other acne products are either hopelessly ineffective or they are ridiculously expensive.
I have been using BP on my face and yes my acne has really cleared up but as in the article above i started getting really dry, flaking skin.. Even though above is the supplied sources BP is a cause of cancer as well i have found a great solution for me… Vitamin E.. Many claims have been made about vitamin E’s potential to promote health and prevent and treat disease. The mechanisms by which vitamin E might provide this protection include its function as an antioxidant and its roles in anti-inflammatory processes, inhibition of platelet aggregation, and immune enhancement. It is also being researched in the protection against cancers. I have been using Vitamin E cream with BP for a while now and my skin has never looked or felt better. I know alot of people are different and different things promote different effects but if you are having difficulty with BP like dryness, try pure Vitamin E creams after washing off the BP… as directed… i used this regime.. As you know you put BP on for 2 hours then wash off.. after this rub pure vitamin E cream on your face and leave this for 2 hours and wash off.. if you have cronic acne like i had try this once daily then increase to twice daily if working. It really helped me and I’m super happy with my clear skin now. good luck!
I disagree with you in regards to benzoyl peroxide. For some people it doesn’t work like in your case but for many others it does. BP works well for me. I have extremely oily skin and acne prone skin. I use a regimen similar to the one on acne.org and have had very good results. The dryness effect of BP has been an additional benefit to my situation. As for the towels…yes, I had the same problem with the bleaching. My solution: buy white towels. All my towels are white and it makes me feel like I’m at a hotel!
Fran, I guess this is nnice to have a site like this to vent. Myself I have had acne since my early days of teen years. I have tried every solution, possible including proactiv which worked for me but the cost started to get extreme for me. No I am in my early 40’s and I had to result back to what my dermotologist prescribed me which was BP. I have to say for myself it really works great! You have to understand that everyone is different including the skin. Yes, there will be dryness but that all depends on the indiviual and are you akpplying the product properly. To keep at hand a good moisture lotion with SPF 15 sunscreen with you at all times. Apply as needed you should be fine. I even apply at night at times. My face looks good and I look younger than I am. Exercise, keep a well balanced diet and stay away from sugar also deep fried food and sodas you will be fine. But on the other hand like I said we all are different and it depends on the person. Another person can eat as much bad food and not exercise with wonderful skin. But it is what is good for you.
I used hydrogen peroxide for a spot in my face and it got better (white) but as soon as I had some sun on my face then it left me with a really black spot… don’t use it over your face , never , now I am like one year making masks to solve it
I used clindoxyl gel for the past four days and started to see increase in dryness and redness after I played outside for the whole day… in the sun. Now I’m wondering if I stop using it now, when will the side effects disperse? And… when will that protective layer of skin grow back on?
Hi there, yep ..please don’t worry about long term damage ..what matters is what you’re using and doing with your skin now
So if you’re worried, start using a natural moisturizer that’s packed full of healing nutrients.
Hi Fran, I hope your heart has mended, I hate breakups. I just wanted to say a couple things after reading all this. My theory about why those who move from dry to moist climate and break out is likely because they have Candida issues that need addressing, as fungus likes moisture.
As well, I am not keen on the recommendation of antibiotics or birth control as a means for acne control. Most family practitioners won’t let their family and friends take birth control because it is so very bad for you. Yasmin is undergoing a class action law suit as we speak, and I had a person story to contribute to the case. It is the worst pill ever invented. I was told by a natruopath, if you take the pill more than 5 years, you are guaranteed to get acne after, and it may never go away. This is what I am dealing with.
You can use things like oregano oil capsules or related oils instead of antibiotics and they really do help in that way, even for skin.
To the person how asked about using antioxidants to help with the harmful effects of BP, yes that would definitely help, like this girl who uses VE cream indicated. You have a vast multitude of options on the marked, in creams and in pills, with regard to antioxidants. It would be wise to take them no matter what you use on your skin as most of us are very deficient in them and same goes for VD.
For anyone undecided about putting BP on your skin, a good rule of thumb is: if you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin. It all gets in your body one way or another, so if you are not sure, ask yourself that question.
I have done a tonne of research on this topic and this is what I am trying right now: shower filter to get out chlorine and fluoride, organic body care products that are sulfate and paraben free, omega 3, probiotic, zinc, multivitamin+multimineral, acacia, B complex and Estrosense and an elimination diet.
I am slowly but surely seeing results, but I am not out of the woods yet. This is a year in the making and I imagine it may take another one. The pharmaceutic industry did a number on me.
I also wanted to point out that our friend Chris who just started taking Accutane, is exhibiting two clear signs it is effecting him negatively: it has increased his aggression and reduced his ability to control his impulses, which are well know side effects leading to other things like suicide. It’s a cancer drug, and it started being used offlable to treat acne. Rocha has stopped making it after several lawsuits and the generic companies will hopefully do the same very soon.
I forgot to mention, someone recommended I try digestive enzymes if the elimination diet doesn’t seem to help my skin. Sometimes it is really difficult to identify what you may be allergic to and a course of these enzymes may actually reverse these allergies.
If all else fails I was also told to try a water fast, but use electrolyte drinks instead of just plain water, for three days.
I wish i came across this site before i started using Proactiv. Its been a week that i’ve started using this and my skin is so tight and extremely dry. My face looks MORE horrible than before i was using this. How do i get rid of the dryness, i’m getting really worried that my skin will stay like this, i will NEVER use proactiv or any chemicals on my skin again. I have very sensitive skin and i’m just getting worried that i’ve damaged my skin/face all together. Please HELP!!
I fixed that with pure organic jojoba oil every morning and night.
thanks i will try that.
ok, so here is the deal..
i read this blog like 2 months ago or more i dont remember.
soo i stoped using all of my products that had BP and all other chemicals.(i used toothpaste too but quit)
like a rehab for my skin. and I only used oil-free acne wash from neutrogena (down it says that is salicylic acid acne treatment) and a gel formula against pimples and blackheads and the active ingredient is salicylic acid.
so i started and the gel ran out, because i had used it in the past, so i was like lazy to buy a new one, and later i forgot..
so i only used the acne wash..
then in a while, i didnt see results. like it was the same.
and i thought to do it old fashion way, to not put anything in my face ( acne treatments) (thought that everything was drying my skin, the redness didnt leave, i have it since more than TWO YEARS! i’m desperate) besides makeup, and i washed my face only with water.
and the acne got worse, there is new pimples where i never had! (like down of the inner corner of my eyes, in the sides of my nose bridge?) and the usual, like in the forhead, nose, under the nosee(i hate those because its like I have a mustache! haha) and in my chin.
i think it happened because of the bacteria of the water and air and makeup or i dont know.
so i again started with the wash..
but i do not know what to do.. i wanna eliminate the redness! so i dont use chemicals, but then it seems that i need those chemicals to eliminate my pimples and blackheads, and i wanna eliminate those too!
so what to do!!
im so tempted to use a blackhead t-zone peel off mask, but it has two kinds of alcohol, and those are bad. and many other ingredients.
i hate to wear makeup but i use it because i hate the acne!!
please help me. i dont know if i have to go to a doctor cause i think he’s(or she’s) gonna treat me with those chemicals.
any advice??
ok i’m sixteen
i have mixed skin, (like dry and oily in parts of my face)
HELP~!
Hi annaa, First, relax
It’s okay ..and it’s VERY normal to have acne at your age. If you’re got a lot of redness in he skin, and your skin is “mixed” then you might need to work on the health of your skin a little.
Start using a very hydrating moisturizer. Oil of Olay has a great one, Dove has some good ones too. You can also mix a little jojobar oil in there if your skin is really dry. Red splotches on the skin can also be a sign of eating too many processed sugars, so next time you have a sugar craving, try eating a piece of fruit instead.
Please also know that it’s OKAY to use chemicals to get your started, especially if the acne is causing you emotional discomfort or stress. Just remember to keep up with your holistic routine at the same time.
I hope this helps …
My friend gave me the link to your website because I have been so frutstated with my acne. I used to have lovely skin and recenly had somethign called a molar pregnancy which i had to have chemotherapy treatments for.. i suppose it made my hormones totally out of wack… I am fine now but for the last 6 months i have had the worst acne and someone suggested i try proactiv….your blog is really great it is so unbiased.
i noticed my sheets, and my towels getting bleached, and i thought it was so strange but although in the back of my head i knew it had to be the proactiv i just kept thinking ill try anything to get rid of this acne. … friends say to me oh dont pick your pimples, and i look at them with their smooth skin and think…yes that is easy for you to say…
now i feel like there are other options! thank you
to begin with, this site IS COMPLETELY biased. i really do believe fran thinks herself not to be so… but at the end of the day, this is her pay check. this is a really good source base for us acne-suffering folk but no means an end. the bias’ exist with natural products and diet. both these things are dangerous for the clear-skin-desperate. be careful of too much control over your regimen.
I don’t agree, I don’t find her bias towards the products she sells. I find she does the research and then found products that worked for her and then decided to sell them. Natural products and diet are the safest ways to deal with any health issue vs pharmaceuticals. Bezol peroxide causes free radical damage, and so do cell phones for that matter, and free radicals cause aging and cancer, but if you have a good amount of antioxidants in your system because you eat right and/or supplement, you should be ok. It is just information, and it is backed up by science by the way. By any chance are you on Accutane like Chris? Accutane makes people aggressive and impulsive. I was on it for 8 years so I know from experience. It almost ruined my life, and I almost lost my vision as well.
Hi Fran
I just read about the fact that I shouldn’t use benzoyl peroxide which I found to be very helpful. thank you. I’ve just recently stopped using my regular treatment of BP and gosh you are so right because my pimples just got worse after I stopped using it. OMG what should I do? I’m so tempted to go back to it since it does give fast results.
I think im quitre similar to chris, im 15 and acne is biggest problem life presents atm. I have some facial acne (probably about 10 pimples – which i acknoqledge is still minor). The problem for me is body acne. My back and chest are just covered in ;literally hundreds of spots and i am scared my face will go the same. Also i cant go swimming or do a lot of other things because my body is so covered in spots. Firstly will my face go like my body and also does accutane actually cure body acne, because many sites say its causes are slightly different from facial acne.
Accutane does not cure acne. It shortens the telomeres of stems cells throughout the body. AKA ages your cells. This means your skin won’t turn over as frequently as normal, so this clears the skin because a lot of acne is caused by uneven turn over of the skin. This usually has more to do with nutritional deficiencies, toxins and eating processed foods. Accutane is a tumor suppressing drug, as was originally used to treat cancer until it was discovered that it has this effect. So go ahead, treat your acne with chemotherapy drugs, just don’t be surprised when the rest of your heath suffers including eyes, bones and bowels.
whatever it comes down to the same thing accutane is the only cure, embrace it for the wonder it is. Also fran why did you delte my earlier posts but failed to answer my questions.
Which, in your opinion, is the more desirable option BP treatment or, to use your wordingm, chemotherapy drugs.
I’m a 14-year-old male, and BP has been working wonders on my skin. I have experienced extremely little dryness and irritation.
I think anyone who has acne and has not tried BP yet, should do so, since BP isn’t at all that bad if you use a 2.5% solution of it and a good moisturizer with a sunscreen. You can always switch to tea tree oil if it irritates your skin too much. Tea tree oil works just as good as BP, it just works a little slower.
I ran out of Proactiv and since it was a half hour journey on the train to buy a new supply of Proactiv, I decided to visit my local chemist in search of a new product. I found Benzac AC wash 5% and have decided to use it.
I know benzoyl peroxide dries your skin out a lot so I use Lucas’ Papaw Ointment afterwards (both morning and night). The past few days have been very pleasant thus far.
Most of my pimples have disappeared and the papaw ointment does well in moisturising my skin – which was a problem I encountered when I was using Proactiv.
However, I have marks all over my forehead. I do believe that the papaw ointment assists in its healing but I’ve yet to see more results.
Daniel Kern- the founder of acne.org is pretty much my savior, it’s been 7 years and I haven’t broken out once after I started the Daniel Kern regimen, when I had cystic acne. He’s such a great man, and he had severe acne himself, found the regimen after trial and error and thought he’d share it with people. And it’s amazing how many people have cleared up beautifully and regained confidence because of him. So I really don’t think it’s fair for you to be sharing your own view that: “I don’t think the creator of acne.org has the best interest of acne sufferers in mind” because he sure does.
BP doesn’t work for everyone.
BP works for most people ! You are wrong when you say that it doesn’t worth it. I’ve tried everything else including silicic acid (which is used in Murad) but it doesn’t work for me. Every skin is different and for me only BP cleaned my skin on 99%
I have had acne since I was 16 (I’m now 24). The contraceptive pills Dianette and Marvelon are the only thing that has worked for me. I had to stop taking the pill last summer as I had high blood pressure (despite being young and active with a very healthy diet). For the past 3 months I have not been able to look at my face in the mirror without wanting to cry, I find it hard to get out of bed in the morning as I know what follows is a daily regime of trying miserably to cover up what I believe is a disgusting face and I have stopped seeing old friends as I know the first thing they will think when they see me is – what happened to her face!
At the start of this week I begun using BP, well aware of all the health problems. For the first time in a long time I have been able to look at my face without feeling disgusted. I have dryness and I look old and haggered, but the worst spots have gone – it cleared up some very persistant cheek acne that was causing scaring. After reading this I will cut down on the BP and use just every other day. Yes I know it is not affecting the root of the problem – this is hormonal – which i told the doctor and still i was perscribed with antibiotics – but if it is clearing up spots faster, I am not picking them, it is not causing scaring … therefore… surely this is good.
Hi. I really appreciate you posting this article. I am very serious when it comes to using natural or organic products on my body (My family has a history of cancer). I recently saw a dermatologist regarding some long-term skin problems that I was unhappy with. They are not at all serious, but I just wanted to finally have beautiful-looking skin. They prescribed Benzoyl peroxide. I read the ingredients and saw that it had parabens in it which can be linked to breast cancer. That alone made me uncomfortable, not to mention the other things that you listed. I used it twice and am thinking that it is not worth the clear skin. Have you found any natural products that have helped you get clearer skin? Thanks again for the info. People should research any questionable product before using it long-term.
fRAN YOU SAY BENZOYL PEROXIDE MAKES ANTIBODIES LOOK FAVOURABLE. bUT DONT YOU THINK THAT BP LOOKS FAVOURABLE WHEN COMPARED TO ACCUTANE. AND ACCUTANE LOOKS FAVOURABLE WHEN COMPARED TO CYROSURGICAL DESTRUCTION OR ELETRO-REPLATING CONSIDERING ACNE IS HARMLESS THERE ARE SOME FOUL TREATMENTS/ “CURES” FOR IT. i AGREE BP (WITH THE BENEZENE RING) ISNT THE NICEST CHEMICAL IN THE WORLD), BUT IT`S ONLY THE THIN END OF THE WEDGE.
ANTIBODIES I MEANT ANTIBIOTICS
ok first of all your not supposed to use it as a mask u just have to apply it on the target. what matters is if u know and how u know to apply it on your face. my skin is SUPER sensative but i know how to use it and my face is clear and its always relialble. but everyones skin is different but benzoyl peroxide happened to work for me. reality is there is no magical product that works for everyone. we all have different skin and sumtimes we have to just keep using different products. so benzoyl might work for some people and then it just wont sometimes. im jus saying :]
The actual research on the link between BPO and cancer is actually far different from what is described in the above article.
1. Currently, no research has found a link between benzoyl peroxide use and skin cancer in humans. Two studies that investigated the link between benzoyl peroxide and skin cancer in people found no increased risk of skin cancer in people who had used benzoyl peroxide to treat acne.1 2
2. After conducting a series of studies and a doing a comprehensive review of the existing research on the link between benzoyl peroxide and skin cancer, one researcher concluded that “no epidemiological evidence exists of a carcinogenic effect of skin treatment with BPO containing gels or ointments in 5 or 10% concentrations.3 Other experts have concluded that topical benzoyl peroxide is considered to be a safe treatment for acne and that there is no current evidence to indicate that it poses a carcinogenic or toxicological risk to humans.4 5
3. Research studies have used cancer-sensitive strains of mice to study the effects of benzoyl peroxide on tumor growth. The mice in these studies are generally pre-exposed to UV radiation or a chemical that causes the development of the tumors; then the benzoyl peroxide is applied to the mouse skin. Some of these studies have found that benzoyl peroxide caused existing tumors on the skin to grow larger, but did not cause the development of new tumors.6 In the vast majority of studies, benzoyl peroxide was not found to cause new tumors to develop. These mouse studies are often cited on websites that are trying to sell alternatives to benzoyl peroxide as evidence that benzoyl peroxide is a carcinogen. The results of the studies and their implications may be overstated and misinterpreted by these companies.
4. One article highlights the limitations of this line of research in mice for the application to safety assessment for humans:7
* The mice used in the research are of a particularly sensitive strain–mice specifically bred to be susceptible to developing tumors.
* There are significant physiological differences between mouse and human skin.
* Other substances that are tumor promoters in mice are not linked to cancer in humans, even with long-term exposure.
* The tumor promotion is only seen under certain specific experimental conditions.
* How benzoyl peroxide is used in these studies differs considerably from how it is used in the treatment of acne and very strong BPO concentrations are often used. Studies using commercial formulations of benzoyl peroxide do not generally find the same tumor promoting effect in mice.8
5. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lists benzoyl peroxide as a category III substance (safety uncertain). However, the FDA concerns were not so extreme as to lead them to recommend discontinuing the use of benzoyl peroxide medications.9 The FDA has called for additional research on the carcinogenic potential of benzoyl peroxide. According to the FDA, this research is currently being conducted.
6. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which classifies substances based on carcinogenicity, has concluded that there is inadequate evidence for the carcinogenicity of benzoyl peroxide in humans and limited evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of benzoyl peroxide. The IARC does not categorize benzoyl peroxide as being carcinogenic; its carcinogenicity is labeled as being unknown.10
References:
1. Cartwright, R.A., Hughes, B.R., Cunliffe WJ (1988). Malignant melanoma, benzoyl peroxide and acne: a pilot epidemiological case-control investigation. Br J Dermatol, 118(2):239-42.
2. Hogan, D.J., To, T., Wilson, E.R., Miller, A.B., Robson, D., Holfeld, K., Lane, P. (1991). A study of acne treatments as risk factors for skin cancer of the head and neck. Br J Dermatol. 125(4):343-8.
3. Iverson, O.H. (1994). Benzoyl peroxide and possible skin cancer risks in mice and humans. In Skin Cancer: Mechanisms and Human Relevance, CrC Series in Dermatology, (Mukhtar, H., Ed.) pgs 13-20.
4. Zbinden, G. (1988). Scientific opinion on the carcinogenic risk due to topical administration of benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Pharmacol Toxicol, 63: 307.
5. Liden, S., Lindelof,B.,& Sparen, P. (1990). Is benzoyl peroxide carcinogenic? Br J Dermatol., 123(1):129-30.
6. O’Connell, J.F., Klein-Szanto, A.J., DiGiovanni, D.M., Fries, J.W., Slaga, T.J. (1986). Enhanced malignant progression of mouse skin tumors by the free-radical generator benzoyl peroxide. Cancer Res. 46(6): 2863-2865.
7. Kraus, A.L., Munro, I.C., Orr, J.C., Binder, R.L., LeBoeuf, R.A., Williams, G.M. (1995). Benzoyl peroxide: an integrated human safety assessment for carcinogenicity. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 21(1):87-107.
8. Iverson, O.H. (1988). Skin tumorigenesis and carcinogenesis studies with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, ultraviolet light, benzoyl peroxide (Panoxyl gel 5%) and ointment gel. Carcinogenesis. 9(5):803-9.
9. http://www.fda.gov/cder/otcmonographs/Acne…PR_19950217.pdf
10. http://www.inchem.org/documents/iarc/vol71…nzoylperox.html
Hi Fran,
Thank you so much for this post. I have been using benzoyl peroxide from acne.org for nearly two months now. My skin has been so dry. My neck especially has been flaky as, it’s quite disgusting some days. My acne has only improved slightly and now it is just staying the same and I keep getting new breakouts. Also my skin has been quite inflamed which looks awful. I kept telling myself that it would get better and that I just had to be patient but after reading this, I’m never going to use it again. I have my recent order of acne.org products ready to be sent back for a refund. Also, it’s been awful to my towels, sheets and pillowcases and has ruined a couple of my t-shirts >( Now I realise that it is one of the worst things I could be doing for my skin so thank you. Btw, I used proactiv and it was awful for drying and redness too, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
Guyz i agree with fran Benzoyl peroxide is not the answer. In my opinion the only way to rid oneself of acne is hoffman la roche`s: accutabne (isotretinoin).
I recently bought after seeing on tv a commericial for clearasil’s new product called Clearasil Ultra Rapid Acne Treatment Cream Vanishing 4 hours or something like that. I only put it on for about 3 days. On 2 spots on side my face and a few spots on my nose or near nose. And now where I put the product on my nose and by my nose are broken out… skin texture looks a lil like orange peel, skin is various shade of pink, few sores or blemishes appeared after using, dry skin etc. And its spread a lil beyond the spots put product on. I followed directions to a T and did not put more than directed. Whats odd is where i put the product on side face didnt react. Only by and on nose did. This product was not nearly as bad as the neutrogena on the spot that made my face burn peel dry up bubble n more. My question is what can I put on the areas where had reaction to help clear up reaction sooner? Any home remedies? Will aloe help or lotion?
The acne.org regimen has worked really well for me. BP has cleared up my skin and kept it from being irritated.
“”Guyz i agree with fran Benzoyl peroxide is not the answer. “”"
————-
uhm I’ve used Benzoyl peroxide for 12 straight years every single day and never had any problems with it and it always keeps my skin crystal clear. In fact my skin is not only pimple free but also wrinkle free and I look like I am still in my early 20’s while I am really 32…
Great post and I completely agree with you. Benzoyl Peroxide should never be used as it is a harsh chemical. and can cause severe problems over time, some that may not even manifest until later in life. Not only that, but it is not treating the underlying cause of the acne, it is just treating the symptoms. The best way to cure acne is to treat it holistically.
I would treat my acne organically – if it were possible – but its not.I have severe nodulo cystic acne – which even BP and Retin A failed to clear – therefore accutane was my only option. Being a guy i cannot take spironolactone – but i dont know even if i was a girl whether i would want to use this drug – some say its more damaging internally to your body than roaccutane.
BTW fran – have you any experience with spironolactone just out of curiosity?
the side effects of BP will disappear with time. BP is very effective but safety in term of being carcinogenic is what concerns me (FDA category III)
be fair with product it’s realy effective for a topical agent.
beside most of the side effects will not happen even if you use it correctly
Okay…I have been suffering with a face full of acne since I turned 12. I am currently 22 years old, and if I don’t use a 5% benzoyl peroxide cream every night, I would probably suffer a face full of acne again. Recently, many articles online say that benzoyl peroxide is bad for your skin this and that–it can cause irritated skin, dry skin, premature aging, skin damage, unexposed sun exposure, and even cancer. I agree that all of the symptoms besides cancer can happen to many people. But have anyone found a case in which a person has skin cancer because they use benzoyl peroxide on their skin?..If so, does that person happens to play volleyball at the beach everyday and never use sunblock whatsoever?…Yes, benzoyl peroxide will probably dry out your skin. The highest concentration right now in the market is probably 10%. If your skin dries out dramatically and irritates or whatever, use a lower concentration, such as 5% or 2.5%, or leave it on for lesser time that when you first noticed irritation. To sum it up, benzoyl peroxide will probably dry out some people’s skin, but will probably get rid of some acne for most. You can always apply a moisturizer( with spf) on after the bp dries. Use sunblock when going out in the sun. Moisturize often if your skin is dry; it’s probably dry because that’s how your skin is. It can’t only be benzoyl peroxide right? Scientific researches are usually manipulated, so you probably shouldn’t believe everything they say–use your brain, think of things that can go wrong with their study. Benzoyl peroxide is NOT bad for everyone. Believe me, it can clear up acne (or some) for many people. Just take good care of your skin when using it (you should be taking good care of your skin at all times, not just if your using benzoyl peroxide).
–If you read the article, do you notice that whoever wrote this article spelled the word “realized” with “realiSed?”…You sure they got their facts right?
Sometimes the natural methods are best. Who knows what the long term effects of some commercially available products might be?
YES use benzoyl peroxide if it works for you… but it is not exclusively the cure.
Acne.org’s regimen works great for me. I’ve been almost compltely clear for 2 months, after starting it 3 months ago. I am 23-years-old, and have suffered from pretty bad acne my whole life, trying retinoids like the one pictured, clindamycin, proactiv, benzaclin, etc.
Benzoyl peroxide doesn’t work by itself. I realized a lot of my acne was coming from touching my face a lot, picking, poor shaving technique/implements, and most especially, dryness.
The low conc. of bp, combined with good moisturizers did the trick for me. Combined with my improvement in diet, exercise, carefulness with my face, and treatment, along with an aggressive attitude, I overcame acne.
It’s easy to say to cure the source of acne, but tell that to the millions who have tried and still suffer. I think it’s a combo of finding a treatment that works, AND lifestyle/diet changes. I think we’re far away from finding a silver bullet because there are so many factors.
Hi Guys,
I personally do not think that Benzoyl Peroxide is the problem, I think it’s because you do not exfiolate hence why your skin becomes dry, flaky and clogged. I bet if you exfoliate atleast 3 times a week it’d make a huge difference. I have been using this stuff for about a year now and I have never had a problem and the reason being is because I exfoliate!!
I started using BP 3 months back.. yes undeniably it helped to cleared up most of my acnes but i still get one or two occassionally. Btw, im 19 this year. I duno if it is the hormonal changes that are fooling around. I even resorted to taking antibiotics.. I am very aware of the fact that taking antiobiotics could cause liver damage but on the other hand, im also very afraid of the cystic acnes popping up ruining my day.. and also also i think BP helps to clear acnes popping up by suppressing it. Since the acnes are unable to come out, they remained beneath the skin and now there are brown spots on my skin. I dont know what to do. and also for the past few days, i went for my camp and i stopped using BP for few days. and now when i start using it again, my skin becomes burning red.. why is it so? I have no problem with BP at all before this. What can I do? Im lost.. Should I discontinue antibiotics and the use of BP?
Hi Fran and Everybody,
Im 19 and I’ve had mild acne for the past 3 years. 11 months ago I started using Proactiv. My skin became very dry and started to peel – I looked like i had wrinkles all over my face. It look 1 month for my skin to adjust to the product and become smooth and moisturised again. It took six months for the Proactiv to clear all the pimples and bumps from my face. My skin looked great and I felt good about myself. Like many people had told me, you just had to wait it out with Proactiv until you get over the initial pain to see the effectiveness of the product.
I’m a pretty ‘natural’ person’. I eat well, exercise regularly and live away from the city. I hate eating, breathing in and putting on my body, wierd chemicals. The fact that BP is in Proactiv has been playing in the back of my mind since the first time I used it and I just keep putting off cancelling my subscription.
However, I know that perhaps looking ‘ugly’ to other people and having a painful face is x10000000000000000 times better that letting your body absorb harmful chemicals in the name of ‘beauty’.
I encourage all of you out there who have mild acne and who don’t really need acne treatment to give it up. I know how tempting it is – especially if the product works! But people, you are treating your acne with harsh chemicals only to ‘look good’. It’s just not worth it. If someone doesn’t accept you because of the pimples on your face, it isn’t worth having their acceptance. Really, it isn’t. In the end we are all going to be wrinkled and ugly, any person you want to be close with is eventually going to see you that way – if they can’t handle it now, then ta ta!
In Sierra Leone, 1 out of 5 children die before the age of five. In Afghanistan, 1 out of 6 women die giving birth (WHO Statistics 2010, Table 2. pg 62 and pg 68*). Why do I care about my acne?
I cancelled my Proactiv subscription today.
Good luck everybody.
*http://www.who.int/whosis/whostat/2010/en/index.html
Hi Fran,
Im 18 and I know it might be due to my hormones but my acne is severe. I have tried Epiduo, Retin-A, and BP and nothing works!!! I have acne on my face, back, and chest, and I can’t get rid of it. I wash my face with the Neutrogena Acne Wash and it does not help. I’m very frustrated I’m self concious at all times, especially when I wear tanks cause my back looks disgusting!
I dont know what to do. Please help me, I’m open to any suggestions!
Thanks.
Drea try taking a vitamin supplement. B5 and vitamin a will he4lp get rid of it. If this fails you might want to consider roaccutane, if you are suffering from extensive acne.
i am so glad ive stumbled accross this page. ive been using BP for 3 days and already Fran i have the skin you described, Tight and dry and seriously flakey..!
i am not going to continue using it, i cant even smile without feeling my skin pull on my face….i am 28, and my skin is already dry, now this BP makes me feel like i have the face of a 60 year old. thanks for this info my skin owes you one…!
if its only the first few days of acne you may use potato and ice, ice works on minimizing the acne.. then the potato will do the rest.. it’s very cheap, you should try it.. than buying those expensive products that have side effects
ive had terrible acne since i was 12 (i hit puberty young) and for four years ive experimented with every single product, vegan and chemical, under the sun. my dermatologist got me onto using the benzoyl peroxide and my skin did the same as yours!! but if you had have just waited another two months longer it would have worked. ive got great clear skin now and ive only been using it for 6 months! waiting is worth it trust me.
I am 35 years old and never really had acne as a teen. My acne came as an adult in college. I tried tetracycline and many OTC treatments. Nothing worked. My dermatologist finally prescribed accutane. I took it for a few months and never knew it was a chemotherapy drug until recently (about 15 years later!). It worked and I was acne free for a few years. Then the acne returned and I have now been using Proactive for about 10 years. After reading the research on BP I am now concerned about the damage I may have done to my skin!!! I recently stopped using Proactive b/c I began having frequent breakouts and there were alot of red places on my face where I had had pimples. These always seemed more irritated after I washed with the proactive! I have just begun using an organic product called Lerosett. So far it seems to be fine but it is probably too early to tell. Have you heard anything (positive or negative) about this product? As a side note, about 3 years ago I had a ruptured appendix and wonder if the accutane I took in college could have contributed to this. I know a girl who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease after takig accutane! Stay away from this stuff…is it still being used to treat acne?
Where in the world are the sources linked to the credibility of this post? The reasons “not” to use BP are absolutely ridiculous. There are ways to combat the irritation and flakiness. Jojoba oil mixed with a good moisturizer will work wonders. It won’t clog pores and it’s very helpful with redness. I’m on the acne.org regiment and I’ve seen amazing improvements in the last almost 2 months. I’m not completely clear, since the worst has to come out before it gets better, but my forehead acne has cleared and my blackheads I’ve battled on my nose and chin for years have disappeared. I’m very glad that one person up there was able to debunk many of these claims WITH sources.
What works for one person may not work for another. SA doesn’t work for me. Sulfur face wash from my dermatologist didn’t work for me. Murad, Proactiv, and Maxclarity didn’t work for me. I’m going to a new dermatologist soon, just to see if this BP regiment is a good idea or not, or see what better options she can offer. I’m so tired and frustrated with acne. I’m ready to find out what works.
Have you never heard of moisturizer?
All BP does is kill bacteria and dry sebum to keep it from clogging your pores. Of course it will dry your skin, but that’s why you use a moisturizer.
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