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Benzoyl peroxide| Health Navigator NZ |
- Benzac ac back acne
Benzoyl peroxide. If you’ve ever had acne, there’s a fair chance you’ve heard of the stuff. Used all over the world for decades, it’s an absolute powerhouse ingredient that kicks acne bacteria’s butt. Loads of brands use it as a key ingredient, such as Acne.Org. Their ‘Treatment‘ is brilliant, and it works. If you need to slap a lot of BP all over your mug then it’s the way to go. Problem is… it’s online. Cue Benzac AC.
In Australia, you can quickly and easily grab this stuff off just about any Priceline shelf. Other retailers such as discount chemists and Chemist Warehouse are bound to stock it too. Produced by Galderma, a company which prides itself on skin care innovation (but not on an updated, functioning website apparently), Benzac AC is a brand I have used for years. The active ingredient is benzoyl peroxide, a tried and true method of killing off acne bacteria. Whether I’ve had a tiny little zit, or a huge blind pimple slowly building under my skin, this stuff has been my saviour.
The Benzac AC 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel is my go-to. I don’t know why it’s called a ‘gel’, because the consistency and appearance is far more like a cream. Regardless, this is the stuff I’ve used for years to wipe out my pesky spots. Using a 5% benzoyl peroxide solution is optimum – going lower may not be effective, and going higher is superfluous. The product design is great, as it’s easy to squeeze, and gravity will always drag the last drops to the end of the tube. Personally, I like to apply it to my skin using a cotton-tip (or q-tip, for my American friends), in order to avoid touching my skin as much as possible. The aim of the game is to reduce bacteria, after all!
A few extra points about this specific product:
- The price can range from around $15-$19 for only a 50g tube. While this is fine for mild acne, you may find yourself going through it at an insane pace for more moderate or severe spots. That’s ridiculous, and is the greatest negative of what is otherwise a fantastic product. So look out for sales, such as Priceline’s 40% off skincare sales and stock up!
- Avoid simply spot-treating. Topical acne treatments work best if you apply them not only to the spot, but to the wider area too. Again, you want to kill as much bacteria as possible, so keep working on getting that entire perimeter clean!
- You will likely bleach towels, pillow cases, clothing and possibly more while using this product. Be aware, and try not to use all the best linen in the house.
- It’s best used once a day, at night. And if you spend any time outside, remember to slip, slop and slap. Your skin can become extra sensitive to the sun when using benzoyl peroxide, and a good quality sunscreen can save your skin from getting damaged.
Now, let’s have a brief chat about another Benzac AC branded product: their 5% benzoyl peroxide wash.
Due to having so many feels from their ‘gel’, I naturally figured that their wash might be a decent method to ween myself off the nightly application routine, while still keeping my acne at bay. Hmmm… unfortunately, that just wasn’t the case.
I didn’t experience any kind of excessive redness or drying of my skin like they predict to happen, but this is likely due to my skin simply being used to benzoyl peroxide already. I mainly use acne washes during my morning skin care routine, so while you can use this twice a day if you want/if needed, I only used it during the morning, for about 3 weeks.
I followed the instructions, washing for 30 seconds before rinsing, and it felt just like a regular gentle cleanser. Sometimes cleansers can cause a mild tingly sensation, or make your skin feel tight. The Benzac AC wash doesn’t do that. It feels more like a smooth, gentle formula, similar to Cetaphil cleansers, and leaves no tightness in your sin afterwards.
After 3 weeks, I decided that while this thankfully didn’t cause me to have significantly more acne, it didn’t seem to be doing a crash hot job of stopping my spots, either. Now, I’m really not a fan of chopping and changing routines, but after 3 weeks of use, it’s pretty easy to determine whether something is working or not. Your skin has had time to become used to the new product, and it should be reacting favourably by this time. After many, many years of using acne-related products, I have a fairly good sense of when a product is, or isn’t working. In this case, my reaction was… neutral. Nothing much changed! And ultimately, at almost $20 a bottle, that’s just not good enough.
MY VERDICT:
My perspective on skin care has always been that using a mix of natural and man-made chemical products is perfectly fine. Some people may be turned off using benzoyl peroxide due to some of the side-effects (bleaching clothes and dry, red skin being the main ones); however, it’s undeniably one of the only ingredients that actually works. But, not every benzoyl peroxide product is going to be 100% effective, as I found out. Perhaps it’s my skin type, but I can’t deny my disappointment in the result from the Benzac AC face wash. It’s expensive, and I was hoping for way more bang for my buck. But… that gel? Yes! I give it two thumbs up and a big fat grin. It’s never let me down! It’s like my not-so-secret weapon, and it’s a major work horse. If you need something to get your acne under control quickly, then this is absolutely worth the price. It’s been a part of my skin care routine for years, and while I am using it less and less, I know it will always have my back.
Note: as far as I know, this is not a cruelty-free or vegan product line. As I am moving towards a full CF & V lifestyle, posts on products such as these will be rare.
Benzac AC Moderate Strength 5% Acne Wash 200mL, Body Wash
Size
200mL
Directions
Simply use in the shower as the first step in your three-step acne routine, washing your chest and back (but you can also use it on your face): wet the area you want to cleanse, work into a lather, apply then leave for 30 seconds before washing off and patting dry. Follow with your acne treatment of choice before finishing by applying a moisturiser.
Start off using Benzac AC Moderate Strength 5% Acne Wash once daily, before working up to twice-daily applications. During the first weeks of treatment, a sudden increase in peeling will occur in most people; this will normally subside within a day or two if treatment is temporarily stopped.
Active Ingredients
Active: Benzoyl Peroxide 50 mg/g; Inactive: Acrylate Copolymer, Glycerol, Carbomer 940, Sodium C14-C16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Hydroxide Q.S. Or Citric Acid Q.S. For pH Adjustment, Purified Water To 100 g.
Product Packaging Dimensions
Height: 160mm, Width: 80mm, Depth: 40mm
Brand
Benzac
Brand Messaging
Benzac kills acnes bacteria
Benzoyl peroxide is used to treat acne. Find out how to apply it safely and possible side effects. Benzoyl peroxide is commonly called Brevoxyl, Clean & Clear, Benzac AC or Panoxyl.
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What is benzoyl peroxide?
Benzoyl peroxide is used to treat acne (blackheads, whiteheads, pimples). It works by it killing the germs (bacteria) that cause acne, and softens and removes outer layers of the skin. It also reduces redness, soreness and inflammation and it helps to unplug blocked pores. Read more about acne.
Available products
You can buy benzoyl peroxide without a prescription at a pharmacy. It comes in different brand names and strengths – there are 2.5%, 4%, 5% and 10% strengths.
Benzoyl peroxide is available in a cream, gel or wash. The choice between gel, cream and wash is based on preference and skin type. Gels are more suited to oily skin. A wash is more convenient for treating acne affecting your back and chest and is more suitable if irritation occurs.
Ask your pharmacist for advice on the strength of product that is best for you. The following is a guide:
- The lower 2.5% strength is sufficient for most people and often work as well as the higher 10% strength preparations and causes less skin irritation.
- It is best to start treatment with the lower strength, especially if you have sensitive skin, then if necessary, you can increase the strength gradually.
How to apply benzoyl peroxide
- Washes can be used once or two times a day. Leave on the skin for 30 seconds before rinsing thoroughly.
- Apply gels and creams as a thin layer once daily.
- At the start, for the first 3 days when you begin treatment, apply the the cream or gel for a short time (about 2 hours), then wash it off.
If you tolerate this, with no irritation, then apply once daily, at night, and leave on the skin overnight, washing it off in the morning.
- Some people may tolerate twice daily applications.
- Make sure the skin is clean and dry before applying. It can be used on the face as well as the chest and back.
- As you apply benzoyl peroxide, try to avoid getting it on the sensitive areas of your skin in or around your nostrils, your eyes and your mouth. Do not apply it to any areas of skin that are irritated or sore.
- If your skin peels or becomes very dry, use an oil-free moisturiser.
- Acne responds very slowly to treatment, so it may take several weeks to months to notice improvement.
Note: Benzoyl peroxide bleaches clothing and hair. Make sure the benzoyl peroxide has completely dried before the treated skin touches clothes or bedding and wash your hands well after using.
Precautions before using benzoyl peroxide
- Do you have a skin problem other than acne, such as eczema?
- Are you are taking or using any other medicines? This includes any creams or medicated soaps you are using that are available to buy without a prescription.
- Have you ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine?
If so, it’s important that you tell your doctor or pharmacist before you start using benzoyl peroxide. Sometimes a medicine isn’t suitable for a person with certain conditions or it can only be used with extra care.
What are the side effects of benzoyl peroxide?
Like all medicines, benzoyl peroxide can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Often side effects improve as your body gets used to the new medicine.
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| Did you know that you can report a side effect to a medicine to CARM (Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring)? Report a side effect to a product | |
Learn more
Benzac AC Medsafe, NZ
Benzoyl peroxide Dermnet, NZ
References
- Benzoyl peroxide New Zealand Formulary
- Managing acne in primary care BPAC, NZ, 2013
- Benzac AC Medsafe, NZ
Additional resources for healthcare professionals
A topical issue - serious hypersensitivity and burning reactionsMedsafe, NZ, 2015
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