Eva asks…. just read about a skin care regimen that advises using benzoyl peroxide in very large (3x packaging directions) quantity twice a day. It also advises a gentle cleanser and moisterizer (also in large quantity). They recommended Cetaphil and Neutrogena on the spot acne treatment. Waddaya think?
The Right Brain replies:
Whadda we think? We think if you’ll follow this regimen you’ll be writing back to ask us how to soothe your irritated skin.
Benzoyl peroxide dose
Benzoyl peroxide is effective against acne but increasing the dosage and the frequency of use probably won’t make it more effective. In fact, it’s more likely that it will make your skin dry and irritated. Unless you’ve had a dermatologist advise you to do otherwise, you should stick to the manufacturer’s recommended use directions. Read the label and you’ll see that acne products warn against over use. (One other thing: Remember that BP is available in different concentrations. Large doses of a low concentration won’t be as drying as large doses of a high concentration.)
Here’s a good place to go for more details on using benzoyl peroxide.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Another reason to be careful of using excess concentrations of benzoyl peroxide is that it can cause skin discolorations in darker skinned people if used incorrectly.
We recently published an article about skin discolorations caused by the sun, but harsh ingredients can be another skin trap.
Personally, I got better results using 2% OTC benzoyl peroxide than using 5% prescription benzoyl peroxide. The prescription did nothing, whereas the OTC drastically reduced the size of my acne.
Just happened to stumble on this site today and been spending my Friday off reading your articles. I love you guys
I actually do follow this routine (or what I assume is the routine… Acne.org) and have been for going on 4 years. It does recommend using lots of BP, yes, but at a low concentration (2.5%), and only after you’ve been gradually increasing from a very small amount over a period of weeks. You are supposed to use tons of moisturizer and be otherwise very gentle to minimize complications from the harsh drying effects of BP. After doing this for a few months, my skin grew accustomed to the BP, and using lots of it was no problem.
Oh and yes…over about two months, it did clear up my moderate inflamed acne! My skin looks great now. Using BP at the label-recommended “thin layer on affected areas 1-3 times a day” did nothing for my acne, even at 10% concentrations, but slathering on a lot of 2.5% BP has been a godsend for my skin. Who would have thought?
i used to use 10% bp and my face was so RAW even with moisturizer.
This was great info. More is not always better and it helps me to be up to date so that I can advise my clients. Thank you, Tony.
I also use this regimen, and yes, it does specify a larger dose of a lower concentration. So it is less irritating to a degree. It has been effective for me, since I began breaking out at the age of 22. At first I tried using a higher concentration of BP (10%), but it also made my skin peel and flake, and it left visible residue on top of my skin. I personally don’t experience this with the lower concentration. But that’s just me.
Brains, is that true that 2.5% bp is as same as effectivity as 10% bp but with less irritation?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzoyl_peroxide
“Research suggests that 5 and 10% concentrations are not significantly more effective than 2.5% and 2.5% is usually better tolerated.”
I saw a similar regimen, and after trying everything from diferin to tetracyclin, I gave it a try. I use large amounts of 2.5% BP and an oil free moisturizer twice a day.My skin is clear for the first time since I was 11, though it does get a little dry sometimes.
I suffer from acne myself but from experience this would NOT work! Your skin would be so dry you wouldn’t want to go out in public! My friend Allison forwarded me an article she found on BeautyBlitz.com for a new moisturizing mask that helps acne prone skin. I haven’t tried it yet but I plan to!
I’m going to do some uncharacteristic rambling on this old post, to concur from my experience that less-is-more — I’ve stepped down my BP concentration, finding that application of the 5% solution to spots-and-patches of troubled skin works *better* to gradually/healthfully dry up such problems, rather than desiccate and injure them (leading to secondary, scrapey-sore irritations). Never mind applying BP all over the whole skin (geeze… only even consider trying anything like that if you have acne on otherwise-really-strong-and-quickly-renewing skin!) Personally, I have combination skin, that’s troublesome enough that I have bought my next tube of BP already, to prevent being without it for any time. Along with some healthfood-store quality cleanser, olive oil and moisturiser, BP has been my skin’s saving grace — but it’s a tube of 2.5% that awaits me next. Good luck, fellow healthy skin seekers! BONUS: using the lower concentration, none of the laundry has been bleached by accidental BP contamination! My significant other appreciates this, too. ^_^
I used to use a 2% of benzoyl peroxide spot treatment, but I now use Citrus Clear Grapefruit Spot Treatment which has 5% salicylic acid.
Every time when i breakout I just put Citrus Clear on the spot over day and night. Its gone the next day. I could not live without it. It seem like my home medicine for my breakout.
no bleaching or anything, if you just put a very thin layer.