Posts Tagged ‘benzoyl peroxide wash’
There are a wide variety of products to help you become acne free, benzoyl peroxide acne treatments are some of the most widely used. OTC treatments containing benzoyl peroxide include the Clearasil, Acne Free range and Proactiv. Though benzoyl peroxide does have side effects, they are generally very mild and it is a helpful treatment for the acne of most people. In this benzoyl peroxide examination we will look at some of the treatments that you can buy and see how effective they are.
How Do Benzoyl Peroxide Treatments Work?
Benzoyl peroxide is a preparation that causes the release of oxygen deep within the skin. The bacteria that causes acne, Propionibacteria acnes, can’t exist in oxygen rich surroundings so this product stops it from growing causing problems. The bacteria thrives in pores that are blocked by dirt, dust and dead skin cells which often happens as a result of surging hormones which are prone to produce too much sebum during the teenage years. Benzoyl peroxide can help to prevent more flareups and breakouts and must be used without a break, even when there are no outbreaks, rather than as a spot treatment.
What Types of Benzoyl Peroxide Preparations are Available?
Benzoyl peroxide is a good product to use if you suffer from mild to moderate acne and is available over the counter as a gel with a concentration of 2.5% and also in concentrations up to 10%. It is a good idea to start off with the 2.5 lotion or gel, which can be very effective, and use a higher concentration only as your skin has become accustomed to it and a lower concentration is not working well enough. You should wash your face carefully no more than twice a day with a benzoyl peroxide wash then put on the lotion or gel. Take care that you use it over the whole of the area affected to prevent flareups in in areas that are unaffected. For those who suffer from acne on the body, benzoyl peroxide body washes are available.
Some Precautions To Take When Using Benzoyl Peroxide Treatments
Take care while you are using an acne free benzoyl peroxide product as it can remove the color from your hair and clothes and your pillow case when you go to bed! When using a benzoyl peroxide body wash make sure you are completely dry before getting dressed or you will more than likely ruin your clothes!
Some Side Effects of Benzoyl Peroxide Preparations
In your aim to become acne free, benzoyl peroxide preparations are usually very successful but you need to be familiar with the existence of side effects that may be result from using this product. These include itching or burning of the skin, flaking, redness and dryness. While these are commonly very mild if you suffer from a more than a mild reaction immediately stop using it and consult a dermatologist who may recommend an alternative preparation. You should not choose a product with a high level of active ingredient to begin with as your skin may react, so buy a benzoyl peroxide 2.5% cream or gel first and use this until your skin gets used to it.
Does Benzoyl Peroxide Have Any Long-Term Side effects?
These types of acne preparations have to be applied for over the course of months or years to be useful and to stop the acne from coming back. It is known that benzoyl peroxide produces free radicals in the skin and it might be thought that skin cancer could be a result later on. Many studies have not shown that this is the case up to this date. Nevertheless if you are a pregnant woman or nursing, be aware that there are no studies to show that using benzoyl peroxide is safe for your baby so we recommend you not to use it during this time.
In Conclusion
Benzoyl Peroxide treatments are useful and typically well tolerated by the majority of people as a treatment for acne. These treatments are normally safe to use for an extended period of time.
For more information please visit us at Benzoyl Peroxide Products for Acne