Benzoyl Peroxide Information

What is Benzoyl Peroxide?

Benzoyl Peroxide is a very popular treatment for people who suffer from mild acne. Even though acne is curable, it can be treated with Benzoyl Peroxide.

Benzoyl peroxide usually comes in a cream, gel, lotion or cleaning liquid. This is to be used on the skin. It is a very popular ingredient in many of the over the counter acne treatments.  It is one of the first proven treatments for acne. It has been used for many years and it is still one of the most popular products to treat acne out there. Benzoyl peroxide is known to have a bleaching effect, so be careful when using it around your hair and clothes.

How Does Benzoyl Peroxide Work?

There are specific bacteria that are responsible for the development of acne. These bacteria cannot live in an oxygen rich environment. Benzoyl peroxide is effective in this case because it is an oxidizing agent and it is able to introduce oxygen into the pore, eventually killing P. acnes. Once the population of the bacteria is reduced, the number of breakouts on the skin is reduced as well. It is also able to reduce the numbers of yeast that reside on the surface of the skin.

Benzoyl peroxide is known as an oxidizing agent and it is also a very good anti-inflammatory. It is able to drain acne bumps, while reducing the irritation that it causes to the face. It reduces the swelling of the infected papules and pustules and since it is an oxidizing agent, it can dry out the liquid that is usually contained in the acne bumps. It is also able to unclog pores.

Benzoyl peroxide is also good at cleaning pores. These pores usually contain cellular debris and it being clean will reduce the opportunity for the pores to become blocked and eventually stopping a breakout. Another factor that makes benzoyl peroxide so effective is its ability to help rid the follicle of excess dead skin cells.

Usage of Benzoyl Peroxide

If you are using the Benzoyl peroxide cleansing liquid or bar, lotion, cream, and gel for use on the skin, treatment can be done once or twice daily. Usually people who are just using the product, usually uses it once a day to see how it reacts with the skin. You should use the medication as directed.

To effectively use benzoyl peroxide, the following directions are usually done:

• The cleansing liquid and bar are used to wash the affected area as directed.
  
• If using the gel, lotion or cream, you should first wash the affected are and dry it off properly
  
• Apply a small amount of benzoyl peroxide and rub it in gently into the skin.
  
• A small amount should be applied, not just to the outbreaks themselves, but also to the areas where outbreaks occur
  
• Use the product at least twice daily
  
• Avoid anything that may irritate your skin, such as alcohol-containing products, cosmetics or soaps that dry the skin, medicated cosmetics, sunlight and sunlamps.
  
• Benzoyl peroxide dries out the skin, so some redness and peeling should be expected.
  
• It may take up to a month to see the effects of this medication. If the acne does not get better during this time, you should call your doctor.
  
• Once treatments are stopped the bacteria can return and this can lead to the development of acne again. You should continue using the product, but this is determined by your dermatologist.  
  
• Do not allow medication to get into your eyes, mouth, and nose.
  
• Do not use benzoyl peroxide on children less than 12 years of age without talking to a doctor.