For sensitive skin, start with salicylic acid, since it's less likely to cause irritation. If you're already using an oral or topical treatment for acne, benzoyl peroxide might be a more effective option — but start with a lower concentration and gradually move up from there to see what your skin can tolerate.
'Salicylic acid is typically for people who have acne - if you don't have any indication of this then there is no point using an acid like this on your skin,' says Dr Emma Craythorne. 'Unless you're using it for the purpose previously mentioned then I would avoid it entirely.
Dr. Miller recommends using these two products on different days to avoid potential skin irritation. If you do not have sensitive skin or do not experience any skin irritation using benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid on alternate days, you may try to use salicylic acid in the morning and benzoyl peroxide at night.
Benzoyl peroxide will usually start to work within 4 weeks, but once your acne is under control you may want to keep using it to stop your acne coming back. You may find that using it less often, such as every other day, is enough to stop acne coming back.
Benzoyl peroxide targets acne-causing bacteria and works best on red, inflamed acne and whiteheads. Salicylic acid exfoliates to help shed dead cells that clog pores and is helpful for rough, bumpy breakouts with minimal redness.
Drugs that contain retinoic acids or tretinoin are often useful for moderate acne. These come as creams, gels and lotions. Examples include tretinoin (Avita, Retin-A, others), adapalene (Differin) and tazarotene (Tazorac, Avage, others).
Can Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid Be Used Together? In general, these two acne actives are best used on their own. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid aren't included in the same formulas and using them together may increase the risk for skin irritation.
Salicylic acid is one ingredient that may cause a temporary bout of acne.
Yes, potent ingredients such as salicylic acid can often result in a flare-up of irritation and negative skin reactions. This is normally due to the increase of the exfoliation of dead skin cells which can often cause dryness and discomfort.
It's good for all skin types and especially ideal if you have mild blackheads or pimples as well as bumpy, red skin. It's not strong enough to combat severe or cystic acne. You can find this active ingredient in topical acne spot treatments as well as cleansers, toners, and oil-free moisturizers.
Azelaic acid is often used as an alternative treatment for acne if the side effects of benzoyl peroxide or topical retinoids are particularly irritating or painful. Azelaic acid works by getting rid of dead skin and killing bacteria.
A: This depends on your preferences and the severity of your acne. Body washes with benzoyl peroxide are great for covering larger areas and rinsing away bacteria. Salicylic acid sprays or lotions can target specific areas more effectively and are ideal for leave-on treatments.
If your skin is oily or combination and prone to congestion or breakouts, you're really going to reap the benefits of Salicylic acid.
Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) has been an important component of topical therapy for acne vulgaris for more than five decades due to its ability to markedly reduce Propionibacterium acnes and inflammatory acne lesions and its ability to moderately reduce noninflammatory acne lesions.
Salicylic acid is particularly effective in treating comedonal acne, which includes blackheads and whiteheads. It works by penetrating the pores and dissolving the excess oil and debris trapped inside. This action helps to clear out blackheads and whiteheads and prevents new ones from forming.
“10 per cent strengths of benzoyl peroxide are often considered too irritating and might have side effects such as causing dry, flaky skin and possibly more breakouts. I recommend starting with a 2.5 per cent concentration applied twice daily and waiting a few weeks to see how your acne responds.”
Benzoyl peroxide.
This ingredient kills bacteria that cause acne, helps remove excess oil from the skin and removes dead skin cells, which can clog pores. Benzoyl peroxide products that you can buy without a prescription are available in strengths from 2.5% to 10%.
Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, it is especially important to avoid using the following skin products on the same area as benzoyl peroxide: Any other topical acne product or skin product containing a peeling agent (eg, resorcinol, salicylic acid, sulfur, or tretinoin);
You likely have mild hormonal acne if you experience the occasional breakout of blackheads and a few pimples. This grade of acne can usually be treated with skincare products containing active ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.
Cystic acne treatments include: Antibiotic creams, gels solutions and lotions to kill bacteria and decrease inflammation. Azelaic acid (Azelex®, Finacea®) or salicylic acid to kill bacteria and get rid of excess dead skin cells. Benzoyl peroxide to reduce the number of bacteria on the skin.
Acne is a common issue for many people, especially for teenagers and young adults in their 20s. Some have mild symptoms, while others can have very severe issues. Acne effects around 90% of adolescents with the prime age across all genders being the teenage years of 14-19 years old.
Your treatment plan could include salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide at the same time, but it is best to space them out to decrease your risk for peeling, redness, dermatitis and drying. Doctors suggests switching between products every night, or using one in the AM and the other in the night.