The Basics On Benzoyl Peroxide
What is Benzoyl Peroxide?
Benzoyl peroxide is considered the most effective over-the-counter topical acne treatment.
What are other names for Benzoyl Peroxide?
BENZOYL PEROXIDE, DIBENZOYL PEROXIDE, and PEROXIDE, DIBENZOYL
What is Benzoyl Peroxide used for?
Benzoyl Peroxide is a peroxide with antibacterial, irritant, keratolytic, comedolytic, and anti-inflammatory activity. Upon topical application, benzoyl peroxide decomposes to release oxygen which is lethal to the bacteria Proprionibacterium acnes. Due to its irritant effect, benzoyl peroxide increases the turnover rate of epithelial cells, thereby peeling the skin and promoting the resolution of comedones4. Benzoyl peroxide is indicated for the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris and rosacea. Combined with other agents, it may be used in the treatment of more severe acne. Benzoyl peroxide is the most widely used active ingredient in topical acne preparations in the US5. BPO is considered the standard in topical acne treatment. It tends to clear acne lesions and comedones faster than other acne therapies. Its keratotic activity (i.e., ability to increase desquamation) may be one reason that the acne lesions clear more rapidly6. Anaerobic bacteria are reduced by oxidative mechanisms and the induction of resistant strains is reduced. Topical formulations are available at concentrations of 2.5, 5, 10 and 20 %2. BPO has been shown to more rapidly yield improvement of acne as compared to retinoids and other acne therapies7. BPO can be an irritant for people with dry skin and for individuals with an impaired skin barrier6. It is better suited for people with oily skin types6. The US FDA has concluded that BPO is recognized as safe at topical concentrations of 2.5 to 10%6.
How Benzoyl Peroxide is classified
Anti-Acne
Recommendations for using Benzoyl Peroxide during pregnancy and breastfeeding
Is benzoyl peroxide safe during pregnancy? Limited data on using benzoyl peroxide during pregnancy suggests no known risk.
Benzoyl Peroxide During Pregnancy
What we know about using Benzoyl Peroxide while pregnant or breastfeeding
Can you use benzoyl peroxide while pregnant? In low concentrations (5% or less), benzoyl peroxide is considered the best acne treatment safe for pregnancy.
When benzoyl peroxide is applied topically, only 5% is absorbed through the skin, and then it is completely metabolized to benzoic acid within the skin and excreted unchanged in the urine.2,3 No studies on the use of this preparation in pregnant patients have been published; however, systemic effects on a pregnant woman and her child would not be expected and therefore use of this product during pregnancy would not be of concern.
General safety info about Benzoyl Peroxide from CIR
No report found.
Use this, not that!
Products where you might find Benzoyl Peroxide
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cleanser; Paula’s Choice CLEAR Regular Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment; Kate Somerville Anti Bac Acne Clearing Lotion, Proactiv Proactiv Solution 3-Step Acne Treatment System
List of References
General sources: Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) [Internet]. Bethesda (MD): National Library of Medicine (US); 2006-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/
1. Benzoyl Peroxide ‚Äì Chemical and Physical Charatceristics. PubChem- Open Chemistry Database. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/benzoyl_peroxide#section=Solubility. Published 2017. Accessed September 2018. 2. Worret W, Fluhr J. [Acne therapy with topical benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics and azelaic acid]. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2006;4(4):293-300. [PubMed] 3. Dutil M. Benzoyl peroxide: enhancing antibiotic efficacy in acne management. Skin Therapy Lett. 2010;15(10):5-7. [PubMed] 4. Benzoic acid ‚Äì Pharmacology and Biochemistry. PubChem- Open Chemistry Database. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/benzoyl_peroxide#section=Pharmacology-and-Biochemistry. Published 2018. Accessed September 2018. 5. Benzoyl Peroxide ‚Äì Treatment of Acne Vulgaris & Acne Rosacae. PubChem- Open Chemistry Database. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/benzoyl_peroxide#section=Therapeutic-Uses. Published 1992. Accessed September 2018. 6. Baumann LS. Benzoyl Peroxide. In: Cosmeceuticals and Cosmetic Ingredients. USA: McGraw-Hill Education; 2015:293. 7. Tanghetti E. The evolution of benzoyl peroxide therapy. Cutis. 2008;82(5 Suppl):5-11. [PubMed] 8. Benzoyl peroxide. EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/700694/BENZOYL_PEROXIDE/#.W7B8ImgzZhE. Published 2018. Accessed October 2018. *. Nacht S, Yeung D, Beasley JN, Jr, Anjo MD, Maibach HI. Benzoyl peroxide: percutaneous penetration and metabolic disposition. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1981;4(1):31–7. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
^ Morsches B, Holzmann H. Studies on the percutaneous absorption of benzoyl peroxide (author’s transl) [article in German] Arzneimittelforschung. 1982;32(3):298–300. [PubMed] [Google Scholar] 10. Use of oral and topical agents for acne in pregnancy.
Rothman KF, Pochi PE
J Am Acad Dermatol. 1988 Sep; 19(3):431-42.
Disclaimer: This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your healthcare provider with any questions.
