Is Benzoyl Peroxide the Spot Treatment We've Been Looking For? Experts Weigh In

If you've been using acne treatments for a while you're likely already familiar with benzoyl peroxide. It's an oldie and a goodie— it's considered a hero ingredient in many drugstore skincare products, especially those marketed toward first-time users like teens. Depending on your personal experience, you may have found the ingredient to be totally up to par or, frankly, completely ineffective. Why? As it turns out, benzoyl peroxide can eliminate existing acne symptoms and prevent more from popping up on your skin. But there's a bit more to it than just slathering on the first benzoyl peroxide formula you can find. The caveat is that it's only effective at treating certain types of acne.

To learn more about benzoyl peroxide, we reached out to dermatologists, Hadley King and Ava Shamban, to find out what it is, why it works, and how to tell if it may be the right solution for your skincare concerns.

What Is Benzoyl Peroxide?

“Benzoyl peroxide is an organic acid in the peroxide family that has been used to treat acne for more than sixty years,” explains Dr. King. “It is an effective treatment for acne because of its keratolytic [removes excess skin], moderate comedolytic [prevents the formation of comedones], and antibacterial properties, which include the reduction of P. acnes and Staph. aureus on the skin.” As such, benzoyl peroxide may be effective on many types of acne.

Benefits of Benzoyl Peroxide

• Kills acne-causing bacteria: Benzoyl peroxide treats breakouts by killing the bacteria that causes acne.
• Removes excess oil: If excess shine is a concern for you, you may benefit from a benzoyl peroxide cleanser, which some have claimed has a mattifying effect on the skin.
• Removes dead skin cells: Benzoyl peroxide may help improve the efficacy of other products by reducing the buildup of dead skin cells, allowing for your serums and moisturizers to more easily penetrate.

Potential Side Effects of Benzoyl Peroxide

Users might find that benzoyl peroxide can be drying and/or irritating, leaving patches of extreme dryness and redness. For most people, it's recommended to only use benzoyl peroxide in one form, up to twice a day. So, if you use a benzoyl peroxide cleanser in the morning, you shouldn't also use a BP spot treatment. (As always, you should consult your dermatologist about how to best integrate this ingredient into your routine.) Users have reported that benzoyl peroxide may also decrease the efficacy of your vitamin C serum when used in the same routine—so if you use a vitamin C product in the morning, use your benzoyl peroxide product at night.

Benzoyl Peroxide vs BHAs

When it comes to skincare, or chemistry in general, all acids are not the same. Beta hydroxy acids, more commonly known as BHAs are well-known heavyweights when it comes to acne-busting feats, but they differ considerably from Benzoyl Peroxide. BHAs, like salicylic acid, treat acne by diving deep into the skin and eradicating any buildup that could be clogging the pore. Benzoyl peroxide, on the other hand, has antibacterial properties that eliminate the acne-causing bacteria.

“General gold star ingredients, either or both can work wonders on your skin but there are some main differences — benzoyl peroxide is the bacteria killer, while salicylic acid does more of the heavy lifting to remove oil or cell build-up within the pores that cause blockages which ultimately lead to acne development,” explains Dr. Shamban. So, while salicylic acid exfoliates certain components that can lead to the formation of bacteria, benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria which has already begun to form. This means that while both are effective in treating acne, the success of each acid greatly depends on the type of acne. Blackheads and whiteheads are an easy cleanup for BHAs, but anything that appears red, irritated, or carrying pus may be better suited for benzoyl peroxide.

How to Use It

Whether you can pinpoint exactly what causes your acne or not, the bottom line is this: Breakouts occur on our skin when bacteria forms within a clogged pore. This is what makes benzoyl peroxide the preferred pimple preventative or treatment for many people—it makes a beeline for bacteria and works hard to get rid of it. “The general over-the-counter skin care market is flooded with products for acne, most of which have one or the other if not both— benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid,” Dr. Shamban says of the ingredients commonly found in acne-fighting products.

As a Face Wash

“After years of testing products on clients, I created a great wash with both benzoyl peroxide and aloe vera — Benzaderm Wash 10% which, I often recommend for both face and body,” says Dr. Shamban. Because acne doesn’t only exist on the face, this wash is safe for use all over the body, where it works just as effectively. “Even for any arm, back, or bottom acne, this gets the job done,” she adds.

As a Spot Treatment

Benzoyl peroxide works by banishing bacteria from clogged pores. These affected pores are where acne symptoms like pimples and cysts show up, so what better way to treat existing pimples than hitting the exact spot they reside with a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment. “AcneFree's Terminator 10 Acne Spot Treatment contains 10% micro-benzoyl peroxide for its acne-fighting properties, combined with calming ingredients like chamomile, ginger, and sea whip,” Dr. King says. “Anti-inflammatory ingredients are helpful to decrease the inflammation in the active pimple. They can also be helpful to soothe the skin because the other active acne-fighting ingredients can be irritating.”

As a Lotion

Want an allover product that will help prevent pimples from forming? A mild lotion may be a good option for you. “Since bacteria on the skin surface is a universal contributor to acne formation this is why there is such popularity of benzoyl peroxide products in the market,” Dr. Shamban explains. “Most acne-fighting products have either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic as its active ingredient, and some have both combined.” When using a lotion that contains benzoyl peroxide, it’s often suggested to do so after washing your face before bed, where it will work while you sleep.

As a Toner

“There are many benzoyl peroxide products available in the market. Some are higher strength through a prescription and need to be monitored by your dermatologist, but most are over the counter,” explains Dr. Shamban. One such type of product often found on drugstore shelves is a toner, which is applied to the skin and works as a topical treatment. Using benzoyl peroxide in toner form can provide a little more control over where you apply it, which can be ideal for anyone who experiences dryness when using this ingredient. To apply toner safely, simply add a small amount to a cotton ball or square, gently press it onto the affected area, and allow it to dry.

The Takeaway

Depending on your skin and the severity of your acne, benzoyl peroxide may be a good ingredient option to look for. Whether you opt for over-the-counter or prescription-grade products, benzoyl peroxide can work to fight acne-causing bacteria, reduce oil production, deep-clean clogged pores, and eliminate symptoms like pimples. If you experience any adverse reactions or don't get the results that you desire, it's smart to consult with your derm to figure out whether it's the right ingredient to treat the type of breakouts you're having.