What's on this Page
Benzoyl Peroxide Brand Names
Acne Medication | Acne-10 | Acneclear | Benprox | Benzac | Benzac AC | Benzac W | Benzagel | BenzaShave | BenzEFoam | BenzEFoam Ultra | BenzePrO | Benziq | Benziq LS | BP Cleanser | BP Cleansing Lotion | BP Foaming Wash | BP Gel | BP Topical | BP Wash | BP Wash Kit | BPO | BPO Creamy Wash | BPO Foaming Cloth | Brevoxyl-4 | Brevoxyl-8 | Clearasil | Clearasil Ultra | Clearasil Vanishing | Clearplex | Clearplex X | Clearskin | Clinac BPO | Del Aqua | Delos | Desquam-E | Desquam-X | EFFACLAR | Ethexderm BPW | Inova Easy Pad | Lavoclen-4 | Lavoclen-8 | NeoBenz | NeoBenz Micro | NeoBenz Micro Cream Plus Pack | NeoBenz Micro SD | NeoBenz Micro Wash Plus Pack | OC8 | Oscion | Pacnex | Pacnex HP | Pacnex LP | Pacnex MX | PanOxyl | PanOxyl AQ | PanOxyl Aqua | Peroderm | RE Benzoyl Peroxide | Riax | SE BPO | Seba | Seba-Gel | Soluclenz Rx | Theroxide | TL BPO MX | Triaz | Zaclir | Zoderm | Zoderm Redi-Pads
What is Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is a topical acne product.
Benzoyl peroxide exhibits antibacterial activity. It also has drying actions, sebostatic effects, and causes mild skin desquamation. Benzoyl peroxide improves both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne lesions.
Benzoyl peroxide is effective as monotherapy in mild cases of acne and is used as an adjuvant in moderate to severe cases of acne.
A study in the United Kingdom showed that an OTC 5% benzoyl peroxide topical formulation (Panoxyl Aquagel) was as effective as topical benzoyl peroxide/erythromycin combination and the oral tetracyclines minocycline and oxytetracycline for treatment of mild to moderate acne.
Topical benzoyl peroxide and benzoyl peroxide/erythromycin combinations were not associated with propionibacterial antibiotic resistance which occurs with the tetracyclines.
Benzoyl peroxide has also been used in the off-label treatment of decubitus ulcers.
Benzoyl peroxide is available as prescription and non-prescription products and is available in combination with erythromycin, hydrocortisone, and sulfur (see separate monographs for each of the combination products).
The FDA has revised labeling requirements for all non-prescription (over-the-counter) topical acne products, including benzoyl peroxide, to ensure consistency with the standardized ‘Drug Facts’ formatting.
Benzoyl peroxide is a generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) active ingredient in over-the-counter topical acne drug products.
Indications
- acne vulgaris
- decubitus ulcer
- Propionibacterium acnes
- varicose ulcer
- wound management
Side Effects
- anaphylactoid reactions
- contact dermatitis
- erythema
- pruritus
- rash
- skin irritation
- xerosis
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- accidental exposure
- breast-feeding
- children
- ocular exposure
- pregnancy
- skin abrasion
- skin disease
- sunburn
- sunlight (UV) exposure
Interactions
- Clindamycin; Tretinoin
- Dapsone
- Fluocinolone; Hydroquinone; Tretinoin
- Halobetasol; Tazarotene
- Hydroquinone
- Isotretinoin
- Mequinol; Tretinoin
- Porfimer
- Salicylic Acid
- Sodium Thiosulfate; Salicylic Acid
- Tazarotene
- Topical Local Anesthetics
- Tretinoin, ATRA
- Trifarotene
- Verteporfin