Archive for August, 2009

Is Benzoyl Peroxide The Best Treatment For Acne?

One of the most frequently-recommended treatments for acne is benzoyl peroxide. For many people this is the best acne treatment. It is a topical medicine which is applied to the affected areas of skin. It is found in creams, gels and lotions. Benzoyl peroxide is known to have antimicrobial properties, this means that it can help to reduce the number of acne-causing bacteria on the treated areas of the skin. As with some other acne treatments, it can cause dryness of the skin and also peeling. It may make your skin a little more sensitive to the effects of the sun, therefore you should wear sunscreen when necessary to prevent sun damage in sunny weather.

How often should benzoyl peroxide be used?

Benzoyl peroxide is normally used either once or twice daily. It’s usually recommended to start with just one daily application to check how your skin will react to the medication. It’s best to check the directions on the package and to follow them carefully. 
Creative Commons License photo credit: fidophoto

If there is anything you are not sure about, you should consult your doctor or a pharmacist who will explain anything which  you don’t understand. Do not be tempted to use a different amount than recommended or to use it more frequently than you were told to by your doctor.  If you don’t follow the correct amount and number of daily applications, the treatment may fail to work.

Dry Skin Or Oily Skin?

Whichever benzoyl peroxide acne treatment you choose, it needs to suit your particular type of skin. For people who have dry skin, it is normally better to use treatments with a low percentage of benzoyl peroxide to combat the acne and at also to regularly use mild cleansing facial washes to ensure that the skin is clean. Since benzoyl peroxide can cause skin dryness,  if you have skin which is dry it is better to make sure that you avoid using too much of any treatments containing it. People with oily skin need to choose a different type of acne cream. The appropriate acne cream for people who have an oily skin type is one which won’t block the skin’s pores. This could potentially make the acne worse. When you are buying acne treatment creams, it is a good idea to look for products which are described as non-comedogenic. Treatments which are sold as being oil-free or which are described as being water-based are also recommended for the treatment of oily skin.

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