Using Benzoyl Peroxide For Acne

It was sometime in the 1920s that a scientist of Revlon laboratories discovered the use of benzoyl peroxide as a potent cure for acne. Since then, this organic compound has found its way in to numerous products that are marketed all around the world as agents that remove acne and make your skin healthy once more.

If you are thinking of applying benzoyl peroxide solutions or benzoyl peroxide based products on your skin, it is always advisable that you learn about benzoyl peroxide first. This compound dissociates into benzoic acid and oxygen on coming into contact with skin in a mild reaction that does not harm your skin. In fact, it is this property of oxygen release that makes it so potent. Well, the reason is that – although the underlying cause for acne might be hormonal, once a pore on your skin is clogged due to follicles, the actual acne are brought about by a bacteria called Propionibacteria acnes, P. acnes, that cannot live in an oxygen rich environment. Introduction of benzoyl peroxide in the pores results in the release of oxygen and the death of P. acnes. The net outcome is that the pore starts to recede and your skin becomes healthier.

However it is standard procedure to use a 2.5% (or less) solution of benzoyl peroxide as it has been shown that increasing the concentration beyond that does not significantly increase its effectiveness. Rather, it begins to harm your skin. Benzoyl peroxide has a common side effect of making the skin dry and inducing flaking. Apart from this, some people have skin that is highly sensitive to benzoyl peroxide. The y can have other side effects such as increased sensitivity to sun, redness of skin, itching, peeling, or even rashes.

It is therefore, always recommended that you start with a very low concentration solution and first check if your skin responds well to benzoyl peroxide and is not sensitive to it. Once you make sure of that, ensure that you always wash your face and dry it before applying benzoyl peroxide solution on it. Then, apply the solution on the pores and leave it on – so not touch your skin after that. Lastly, after several hours, wash your face and apply a good moisturizer to tackle the dryness that is going to occur.