When seeking out the proper acne treatment many people get stumped by all of the products which are available to them today and are not sure which treatment works best and what products they should be using. Two of the most talked about products are benzoyl peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. While these two have some things in common they are actually very different products and will produce drastically different result.
Benzoyl Peroxide: It has become one of the most well-known and commonly used ingredients in acne treatments. it is not only extremely safe for all skin types, it is also extremely effective in the treatment of acne and other skin problems and blemishes. One of things which makes benzoyl peroxide so effective is it puts oxygen into the skins pores, which helps to increase regeneration of the skin and skin turnover. It cleans deep down to the root of the problem and kills the bacteria which once lived in an oxygen rich zone and is now killed due to the benzoyl peroxide depleting the oxygen.
It can cause some slight skin irritations, but they should go away with time and are nothing to worry about. A lot of the time people with acne choose to over wash their skin not knowing it can actually lead to more breakouts and other skin irritations. Some of the more common irritations associated with are: slight redness of the skin, flaky skin and dry skin.
1. very affordable and sold at most drug stores
2. does not have an overwhelming smell
Hydrogen Peroxide: People may be surprised to hear hydrogen peroxide used by many people to help treat their acne. While hydrogen peroxide is not dermatologist recommended, it is a very old household remedy which many swear by to treat acne. Hydrogen peroxide has been known for its many cleaning uses, such as a mouth gargle or to clean out wounds or cuts. The same cleaning powers which help clean other areas of the body is often applied to the face using a cotton ball.
1. easy to apply
2. it does not over dry the skin
3. does not smell
4. very affordable and readily available
What Product Should I Use?
When determining which product you should use, benzoyl peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, one really needs to consider their skin as well as their skin condition. If a person suffers from mild acne and only has occasional flare ups, hydrogen peroxide should be sufficient to help clean the pores and reduce the sight and occurrence of acne. However, if a person has more sensitive skin and more moderate to severe acne, they should use a product which contains benzoyl peroxide. It can be found in a wide variety of over the counter products and comes in different strengths. It is recommended to start out with a product which contains a lower dosage of benzoyl peroxide and try that for a few weeks and if one’s acne has not cleared up, to then try a product which contains a higher amount of benzoyl peroxide.
