Benzoyl Peroxide for Acne (Acne Vulgaris)

Kills the bacteria that cause inflammatory acne. The first thing to reach for when you have red, painful pimples.

Why it works for Acne (Acne Vulgaris)

Kills the acne bacteria (C. acnes) on contact inside the pore. The bacteria cannot become resistant to it, so it is the key partner that keeps topical antibiotics working. It also helps clear clogged pores a little. The AAD 2016 guidelines give it their top (Grade A) recommendation for both pimples and blackheads/whiteheads at 2.5-10%. The lower strength (2.5%) works just as well with less dryness and less bleaching of fabric.

How Benzoyl Peroxide works

Releases free oxygen radicals in the follicle that are bactericidal to C. acnes.

Evidence

4 citations from our ingredient database. Full citation list on the Benzoyl Peroxide ingredient page.

systematic review2023

Huang CY et al., Comparative Efficacy of Pharmacological Treatments for Acne Vulgaris: A Network Meta-Analysis of 221 Randomized Controlled Trials, Annals of Family Medicine 2023;21(4):358-369 — BPO combinations among most effective topical regimens for acne

journal2022

Stein Gold L et al., Efficacy and Safety of a Fixed-Dose Clindamycin Phosphate 1.2%, Benzoyl Peroxide 3.1%, and Adapalene 0.15% Gel for Moderate-to-Severe Acne: A Randomized Phase II Study of the First Triple-Combination Drug, American Journal of Clinical Dermatology 2022;23(1):93-104 — triple-combination gel superior to vehicle and dyad comparators

systematic review2020

Yang Z et al., Topical benzoyl peroxide for acne, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020;3:CD011154 — BPO modestly more effective than placebo, low-certainty evidence

systematic review2014

Effects of adapalene-benzoyl peroxide combination gel in treatment or maintenance therapy of moderate or severe acne vulgaris: a meta-analysis, Annals of Dermatology 2014;26(1):43-52 — A-BPO combination yields better clinical outcomes vs vehicle gel

Products with Benzoyl Peroxide in our catalog

These are the catalog products that list Benzoyl Peroxide as a tracked ingredient.

La Roche-Posay

Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Spot Treatment

$33 · Treatment

Full Benzoyl Peroxide guide →Acne (Acne Vulgaris) overview →