Benzoyl Peroxide is a topical medication that is used to treat acne. It is available over the counter and by prescription ranging from 2.5%-10% concentrations in a cream or gel form.
How does it work? Benzoyl Peroxide is antibacterial and kills the Propionibacterium acnes, or P. acne for short, which is the bacteria that causes acne. Almost all of the bacteria in a pore will die within 48 hours of exposure to Benzoyl Peroxide!
What should you know before using Benzoyl Peroxide?
Start with the lowest concentration available of Benzoyl Peroxide and you may increase overtime as your skin builds up tolerance.
Benzoyl Peroxide commonly causes skin dryness and sometimes irritation, itching and peeling skin. (Although, Corrective Skincare shows clients how to avoid this and how to apply it correctly to be most effective!)
A rare and small percentage of people are actually allergic to Benzoyl Peroxide which may result in facial swelling. However, most people who believe they have a Benzoyl Peroxide allergy have experienced redness, irritation and burning from using too much product, too often and in the wrong areas of the face.
Benzoyl Peroxide may bleach material such as clothing and pillowcases if it has not completely dried before contact.
Studies show that Benzoyl peroxide works most effectively when paired with salicylic acid and less effectively when paired with most retinoids (a form of vitamin-A). Talk to your Corrective Skincare Esthetician about how to use the two medications correctly.
The medication loses it potency after 4-6 months and should be replaced accordingly.
Sun protection daily is advised when using this product.
Corrective Skincare has a chemist that formulates our 5% and 10% Benzoyl Peroxide to make sure our clients are getting the most effective product. We don’t allow fillers or buffers in our products which makes them more potent than over the counter/ store bought brands. If you have any questions on how to correctly apply Benzoyl Peroxide, please contact us! Santa Monica 310.566.0858 or Encino 818.981.6130