Benzoyl Peroxide

One is a subtraction from a published trial; two are figures reported in the primary literature; four are computed from the tables lower on this page.

1. +2.3 / +2.4

   Going from 2.5% to 5% added 2.3 points of lesion clearance and 2.4 points of adverse-event incidence. ¹⁴

   Kawashima 2017, n=609, 12 weeks: inflammatory-lesion reduction 72.7% vs 75.0%; patients reporting any adverse event 56.4% vs 58.8%. Two different measures, so this is a comparison, not a ratio.

2. 2.13×

   In the pooled trials, patients on benzoyl peroxide were about twice as likely to withdraw because of side effects as patients on placebo. ²

   Reported in the Cochrane 2020 review (24 trials, 13,744 participants): RR 2.13, 95% CI 1.55–2.93. The efficacy figure usually quoted comes from the same review.

3. 0 of 16

   None of the 16 panel sources that state a strength puts a facial leave-on at 10%. The 10% recommendations are for washes or the body.

   Tabulated from the consensus panel below. Two sources list 10% without saying which form; the rest either start at 2.5% or reserve 4–10% for washes.

4. 0.00 vs 1.93 log

   In the only direct comparison, an 8% wash produced no measurable drop in follicular bacteria at one week; a 5.3% leave-on foam cut them by 1.93 log. ¹⁷

   Reported in Leyden et al. Small and non-randomized, with bacterial counts rather than lesion counts. It is the only head-to-head test of wash against leave-on.

5. 37×

   A gram of the active costs $0.65 in the cheapest wash and $23.92 in the priciest leave-on we priced.

   Listed Amazon price ÷ (listed size × label %). Cheapest: PanOxyl 10% Foaming Wash, $10.19 for 5.5 oz. Priciest: La Roche-Posay Effaclar BPO, 5.5% on its Drug Facts label, $24.99 for 0.67 oz. Fluid ounces are converted at 28.35 g, which treats the product as water; the error is a few percent.

6. 2 of 649

   Two of the 649 community comments that mention benzoyl peroxide mention benzene or the recall. 209 mention dryness, peeling or burning.

   Counted over comments and posts that themselves mention benzoyl peroxide, from 200 threads on three subreddits. The method and its limits are in the field-reports section.

7. 7 of 12

   Seven of the 12 benzoyl peroxide washes and bars we decoded carry a sulfonate or sulfate surfactant; none of the eight leave-ons does. Two of the 20 products contain fragrance.

   From the full ingredient lists of 20 products, read from DailyMed labels and brand pages. Table and classification rule below.

Benzoyl peroxide works only while it is on the skin, so a 10% wash rinsed off after ninety seconds and a 2.5% lotion worn all day are doing different jobs. The trials behind the "2.5% is enough" rule used leave-on gels. The form decides more than the percentage does.

• Study In vitro, 5% and 10% benzoyl peroxide killed C. acnes almost immediately on contact, while 1.25% and 2.5% needed longer contact time to reach the same bactericidal effect — the mechanism behind "short contact needs a higher %". ⁵
• Study In a small, non-randomized comparison, a 5.3% leave-on foam cut follicular P. acnes by 1.93 log after one week; an 8% wash produced no measurable reduction. These are bacterial counts; lesion counts were not measured. ¹⁷
• Study The 2.5% ≈ 5% ≈ 10% efficacy finding comes from leave-on gels. It does not extend to a 2.5% wash. ⁶

Benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria and loosens the keratin plug only mildly. Where it works and where it does not follows from that.

• Works Inflammatory acne (red papules, pustules) — The core use. Pooled across two 12-week trials (very low certainty evidence), patients on benzoyl peroxide ended with about 6 fewer inflammatory lesions than patients on placebo. In the largest single trial, 2.5% cleared a median 72.7% of them. ¹⁵
• Helps, not alone Comedonal acne (blackheads, whiteheads) — It helps: about 10 fewer non-inflammatory lesions than placebo in the same pooled data (very low certainty), a larger count because people start with more comedones than pustules. A retinoid such as adapalene is the drug built for comedones; the guidelines pair the two. ¹⁵
• Needs a prescription Nodular or cystic acne — Deep lesions need prescription treatment. Benzoyl peroxide stays in the routine alongside the antibiotic to keep bacteria from becoming resistant to it. ¹⁸
• Works Back, chest and shoulder acne — A 10% wash once a day in the shower, one to three minutes before rinsing. The body tolerates the full strength, and the three panel sources that address body acne all recommend this form. ²³
• Helps, not alone "Fungal acne" (Malassezia folliculitis) — Benzoyl peroxide is active against Malassezia species in vitro, which is why it sometimes helps the itchy, uniform bumps that antibiotics never touch. An antifungal is the direct treatment. ¹
• Wrong tool Rosacea — Rosacea is not driven by C. acnes, and benzoyl peroxide's irritation usually makes the redness worse. Azelaic acid is the over-the-counter option with evidence for it.

On the skin, benzoyl peroxide breaks down and releases reactive oxygen that kills Cutibacterium acnes, the bacterium behind inflammatory acne. It also loosens the keratin plug at the pore, mildly. It is not an exfoliant in the way salicylic acid is, and it is not a retinoid.

• Study Benzoyl peroxide kills C. acnes by damaging the cell wall directly; in vitro, viable bacteria fall significantly within an hour at 0.5–2 mmol/L. ¹
• Study C. acnes has never been shown to become resistant to benzoyl peroxide. Strains exposed repeatedly to clindamycin alone grew resistant; the same strains exposed to clindamycin plus benzoyl peroxide did not. ⁴
• Review It is bactericidal first; the comedolytic and anti-inflammatory effects are secondary. That is why it is strongest on papules and pustules and weakest on blackheads. ²

It assumes a 4% wash and a 2.5% leave-on, which is what the trials and the panel support for the face. Adjust down for sensitive skin and up for the body.

1. Week 0 4% wash, evenings. Wet the face, work the wash over the whole area, leave it on for one to two minutes, rinse until the water runs clear, pat dry with a white towel, moisturize within a minute.
2. Week 1 Add a 2.5% leave-on, mornings, every other day. A pea-sized amount over the areas that break out, then moisturizer, then sunscreen. If you see white residue, that was too much.
3. Week 3 Leave-on every morning, if there is no stinging. Peeling in weeks one to three is the adjustment period. Stinging or new red bumps mean too much, too fast: go back to alternate days.
4. Week 4 Add adapalene 0.1%, evenings, after the wash. Adapalene is stable next to benzoyl peroxide and treats the comedones benzoyl peroxide only half-treats. If you use tretinoin instead, keep it to the evening and the benzoyl peroxide to the morning.
5. Week 8 Judge it. Inflamed spots should be noticeably fewer. If nothing has changed, the form is more likely wrong than the percentage: a 10% wash used twice a day on a dry face is a common failure; so is a 2.5% wash that is rinsed off immediately.
6. Week 12 Maintain. This is the trial endpoint. Keep the wash, drop the leave-on to a few mornings a week, and keep the adapalene. On the face, 10% adds peeling; the equivalence trials found no extra clearance.

Benzoyl peroxide is an oxidizer, and most of the pairing rules follow from that: it breaks down ingredients that oxidize easily (tretinoin, L-ascorbic acid) and leaves alone the ones that do not (adapalene, niacinamide, salicylic acid).

"Different time" means morning and evening, not different weeks. The blanket rule that actives must never be combined comes almost entirely from the two oxidation rows in this table.

Bacterial counts fall within a day. Visible change takes two to four weeks. The trials measured at twelve. Most people who quit do so around week two, when peeling peaks and nothing has cleared yet.

1. Day 1 Bacteria fall within hours; the skin looks the same. 5% and 10% are bactericidal against C. acnes almost on contact in vitro; lower strengths need longer contact. ⁵
2. Weeks 1–3 Dryness and peeling peak. Dryness, irritation and redness are the most common adverse events across the trials, and they are dose-dependent: more frequent at 10% than at 2.5% or 5%. Starting every other day, with a moisturizer ready, gets most people through this window. ²
3. Weeks 2–4 First visible reduction in new red spots. The dermatologists in our panel put the first noticeable change at two to four weeks; existing lesions still have to run their course. ²³
4. Week 8 Roughly half of total lesions gone, in the one trial whose week-8 figure we have. Total lesion count was down a mean 56.9% at week 8 in the registration trials of a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide plus 0.5% salicylic acid system. That is a combination, so treat it as an upper bound for benzoyl peroxide alone. ¹⁶
5. Week 12 The trial endpoint: about three-quarters of inflammatory lesions cleared. Median reduction of 72.7% (2.5%) and 75.0% (5%) against 41.7% on placebo. ¹⁴
6. After week 12 Maintain. If 2.5–5% has plateaued, 10% adds peeling more reliably than it adds clearance; the equivalence data run that way. Try a different form, or add adapalene, before changing the number. ⁶

Each product is here because the trials, the panel and the community point at it; the ones we cut were the same thing at a worse price per gram, or carried a caveat we could not resolve. Prices are Amazon's on the day this page was built. Percentages are from each product's Drug Facts label.

1. 

   Best all-round wash — face and body

   PanOxyl 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Foaming Wash

   10% · foaming wash · 5.5 oz · $10.19 · $0.65/g active

   The product the community names most (32% of the 649 comments, though PanOxyl was one of our search terms), Dr Sadeghpour's pick for body acne on the NBC panel, and the cheapest gram of active on this page. Maximum strength in a wash that is rinsed off.

   Too strong for a dry or sensitive face twice a day. Start with the 4% creamy wash below.

   Check price on Amazon Full review →

2. 

   Gentler daily wash

   PanOxyl Antimicrobial Acne Creamy Wash, 4%

   4% · creamy wash · 6 oz · $10.19 · $1.50/g active

   Same brand and price, a cream base instead of a foam, and less than half the strength. The daily face wash when the 10% is for the back.

   Check price on Amazon

3. 

   Barrier-minded wash

   CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser, 4%

   4% · foaming cream cleanser · 5 oz · $14.97 · $2.64/g active

   The one mainstream benzoyl peroxide cleanser that carries ceramides, niacinamide and hyaluronate in the same bottle, NBC's best facial cleanser, and the choice for dry or combination skin that wants the active daily.

   Check price on Amazon Full review →

4. 

   Daytime leave-on, 2.5%

   Neutrogena Stubborn Acne AM Treatment, 2.5%

   2.5% · leave-on lotion · 2 oz · $12.97 · $9.14/g active

   The trial-strength leave-on: 2.5% micronized, in a vanishing base that goes under sunscreen. This is the form and dose behind the 72.7% clearance in the largest trial.

   Check price on Amazon

5. 

   Overnight spot treatment, 10%

   Neutrogena Rapid Clear Stubborn Acne Spot Treatment Gel, 10%

   10% · spot gel · 1 oz · $9.68 · $3.41/g active

   Maximum strength on one lesion overnight is the one place 10% belongs on the face. Apply a dot.

   Not a preventative, and not for skin that marks easily; use a 2.5% spot cream instead.

   Check price on Amazon

6. 

   The partner: adapalene 0.1%

   Differin Acne Retinoid Treatment Gel, 0.1% Adapalene

   0.1% · retinoid gel (not benzoyl peroxide) · 45 g · $23.97

   Not benzoyl peroxide. Adapalene is the retinoid that is chemically stable next to it and the drug built for comedones. Wash with benzoyl peroxide in the evening, rinse, then adapalene: the two-product routine the 2024 guideline describes.

   Check price on Amazon Full review →

Amazon prices on the day this page was built; they change. $ per gram of active = listed price ÷ (listed size × label %), with fluid ounces converted at 28.35 g. Affiliate links; we earn a commission at no cost to you.

Benzoyl peroxide can break down into benzene, a carcinogen, when it gets hot. Valisure, an independent lab, said this made the products dangerous; the FDA tested them and found most were fine. They tested different conditions.

FDA testing, 2025

95products tested; more than 90% had undetectable or extremely low benzene ¹³

Recalled

7product listings across 5 brands: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo, two Proactiv products, two Walgreens products, SLMD and Zapzyt ¹³

Valisure, baseline

94 / 99benzoyl peroxide products with detectable benzene straight off the shelf, before any heating ¹²

Valisure, 50 °C for 18 days

2products above 1,500 ppm; 17 above 100 ppm; 42 above 10 ppm — against a 2 ppm FDA limit ¹²

• Review Benzoyl peroxide is thermally unstable by design — the same property that makes it work is the one that lets it degrade to benzene, and the rate is temperature-dependent. ⁷
• Source The FDA's position is that the cancer risk from current products under normal use is very low, and that the gap between its results and Valisure's comes from test methods and incubation temperatures that do not reflect a bathroom shelf. ¹³

The front of the tube gives the percentage. The full ingredient list says whether it will sting. We read the list for each product below and flagged four things that affect tolerance: fragrance, sulfonate or sulfate surfactants, denatured alcohol, and whether the base carries anything to repair the barrier it is drying out.

Fragrance

10%2 of 20 products

Sulfonate / sulfate surfactant

35%7 of 20 products

Denatured alcohol

0%0 of 20 products

Barrier / soothing add-ins

30%6 of 20 products

• Fragrance is rare: 2 of 20 products list it, both drugstore washes (Proactiv Renewing Cleanser, Walgreens 10%).
• 7 of the 12 washes and bars carry a sulfonate or sulfate surfactant, in every case sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate. None of the eight leave-on or spot products does.
• 0 of 20 contain denatured alcohol.
• 6 of 20 carry a barrier or soothing agent next to the active: 5 of 12 washes, 1 of 8 leave-ons. Most leave-on gels are six- to eight-ingredient formulas of drug, water and thickener (Neutrogena, Persa-Gel, Acne.org), which is the practical reason every dermatologist says to moisturize over them.
• 10% does not mean a wash: of the nine 10% products, six are washes or bars and three are leave-on or spot gels (Neutrogena Rapid Clear, Persa-Gel 10, Clearasil).
• One Drug Facts panel disagrees with its Amazon listing: La Roche-Posay Effaclar BPO is 5.5% on the label and 5% on Amazon. Cetaphil Gentle Clear is 2.6%, the lowest strength of any wash in the table. This page uses the label.
• The ceramide, niacinamide and hyaluronate trio appears in one brand's benzoyl peroxide products: CeraVe, both strengths.

Classification rule. Surfactant flag: sodium C14-16 olefin sulfonate, sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate; the milder sulfosuccinates and hydroxypropylsulfonates in PanOxyl and CeraVe are not flagged. Barrier flag: ceramides, niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, allantoin, bisabolol, panthenol, aloe or licorice; glycerin alone does not count because it is in almost everything, and zinc salts are not counted. INCI = number of listed ingredients. Percentages are from the Drug Facts panel.

Two guidelines, two systematic reviews, four medically reviewed health publishers plus Cleveland Clinic, seven dermatologists and chemists, six editorial test labs. Sixteen state a strength; six describe the drug without recommending one.

We harvested the top-voted threads about benzoyl peroxide from three skincare subreddits and kept every comment or post that itself mentions benzoyl peroxide, PanOxyl, BP or BPO: 649 in all. The shares below are the proportion of those comments that raise each theme. Each quote is a top-voted first-person comment for that theme.

Method. 200 threads gathered 2026-09-12 from r/SkincareAddiction, r/tretinoin and r/SkincareAddicts through Reddit's public search, sorted by top and by relevance for six benzoyl peroxide queries; Reddit blocked about two-thirds of the thread fetches, so this is a sample of the top-voted discussion rather than a complete count. The unit of analysis is a comment or post that itself mentions benzoyl peroxide, PanOxyl, BP or BPO (649 of 2,472 harvested). Themes are keyword matches on that comment's text; a second column with r/tretinoin excluded is in the downloadable table. PanOxyl was a search term, which inflates its mention count. Quotes are trimmed for length and profanity, and a post's title is dropped when its body is quoted; nothing is reworded; scores are Reddit upvotes at harvest time.

• Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE et al. American Academy of Dermatology guideline work group, 2024
  For patients with acne, we recommend benzoyl peroxide. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris, JAAD · 2024 ↗
• Yang Z, Zhang Y, Lazic Mosler E et al. Cochrane Skin review authors
  Most reported adverse events were mild to moderate, and local dryness, irritation, dermatitis, erythema, application site pain, and pruritus were the most common. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD011154 · 2020 ↗
• Taraneh Matin, Preeti Patel, Marcus B. Goodman StatPearls authors (NCBI Bookshelf)
  Using formulations containing lower concentrations of benzoyl peroxide (2.5%) can minimize skin irritation. StatPearls: Benzoyl Peroxide · 2024 ↗
• Dr Amanda Oakley MBChB FRACP, dermatologist, Waikato Hospital; DermNet NZ
  It is safe for adults and children and can be used in pregnancy. DermNet NZ ↗
• Michelle Wong PhD chemistry, Lab Muffin Beauty Science
  2.5% benzoyl peroxide is as effective as higher concentrations Lab Muffin · 2016 ↗
• Dr Sam Bunting MD, consultant dermatologist, London
  bacterial resistance doesn't occur, so there's no limit to how long you can use it for and its effectiveness doesn't diminish over time drsambunting.com · 2024 ↗
• Dr Mona Sadeghpour MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist, Pennsylvania
  Lower percentages such as 2.5% can be as effective as higher ones with less irritation risk; cleansers and body washes are easier on skin because they are rinsed off. quoted in NBC Select · 2026 ↗
• Dr Christine Choi Kim MD, board-certified dermatologist, Los Angeles
  Start with a lower percentage like 2.5% or 5% to maximize effectiveness and minimize irritation; the back and chest tolerate 10% better than the face. quoted in Good Housekeeping · 2023 ↗
• Dr Kathryn Dempsey and Dr Kimberly Jerdan MD, board-certified dermatologists
  Rinse-off products can start at 4% and go up to 10%; leave-ons, spot treatments and masks start at 2.5% and go up to 5% (Dempsey). 3–5% is the sweet spot (Jerdan). quoted in Allure · 2021 ↗
• Dr Cula Svidzinski MD, dermatologist
  It is prudent to avoid or limit benzene exposure from all other sources if possible. quoted in The Strategist, on the 2025 FDA benzene findings · 2025 ↗

This page has not been medically reviewed. It cites the published positions of the people above and the trials and guidelines in the sources list, and it says where a claim is an opinion. A board-certified dermatologist who would review it can reach us through the corrections page.

Is 2.5%, 5% or 10% benzoyl peroxide best?

For a leave-on, 2.5%. In the largest placebo-controlled trial, 2.5% cleared a median 72.7% of inflammatory lesions and 5% cleared 75.0%, a 2-point difference bought with a matching rise in side effects, and the three-way comparison found 10% no more effective than either, only more irritating. For a wash that is rinsed off in a minute or two, go up to 4–10%: short contact needs a higher concentration to reach the same kill. ¹⁴⁶⁵

How long should I leave a benzoyl peroxide wash on?

One to two minutes before rinsing. In vitro, 5% and 10% kill C. acnes almost on contact but lower concentrations need longer; a wash rinsed off immediately gave no measurable bacterial reduction in the one comparison against a leave-on. Set a timer the first week. ⁵¹⁷

Can I use benzoyl peroxide with tretinoin?

Yes, but not at the same time. Mixed together and exposed to light, more than half the tretinoin degrades in about two hours and 95% within a day. Put tretinoin on at night and benzoyl peroxide on in the morning, or use benzoyl peroxide as a wash. Adapalene (Differin) is the exception: it is stable with benzoyl peroxide and the two are sold combined. ⁹¹⁹

Adapalene or benzoyl peroxide — which should I use?

Both, because they treat different lesions. Benzoyl peroxide is the bactericide for red, inflamed spots; adapalene is the retinoid for blackheads and whiteheads and for preventing new comedones. In head-to-head pooled data, patients rated the two about equally, and they are chemically stable together. Wash with benzoyl peroxide in the evening, rinse, then apply adapalene. ²¹⁹

Benzoyl peroxide vs salicylic acid for acne — which is better?

They do different jobs. Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria behind red, inflamed spots; salicylic acid dissolves the oil and dead cells that block pores, so it is the better tool for blackheads and whiteheads. Many people use both: salicylic acid to clear pores, benzoyl peroxide for inflamed spots. A 2.5% benzoyl peroxide plus 0.5% salicylic acid system cleared a mean 61.6% of total lesions at 12 weeks in its registration trials. ¹⁶²

Does benzoyl peroxide purge your skin?

No. Purging is a retinoid phenomenon: faster cell turnover pushes existing comedones out. Benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria and has no turnover mechanism. New breakouts with stinging and peeling in the first weeks are irritation, the most common adverse event in the trials, and the fix is a lower percentage and fewer applications. ²

Is benzoyl peroxide good for back acne?

It is the usual first step. Use a 10% wash in the shower once a day, one to three minutes before rinsing; the body tolerates full strength better than the face. Use white towels, since the bleaching is worst on the back. ²³

Does benzoyl peroxide cause antibiotic resistance?

No, and it prevents it. Because benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria by oxidation rather than by a mechanism bacteria can adapt to, C. acnes has never been shown to become resistant to it. Guidelines recommend using it alongside any topical or oral antibiotic for acne for exactly that reason. ³⁴²

Will benzoyl peroxide bleach my towels and pillowcases?

Yes. It is an oxidizer and will bleach dyed fabric, colored towels, pillowcases, hair and eyebrows on contact. Use white towels and pillowcases, let a leave-on dry fully before it touches fabric, and keep it away from hairlines and brows. It does not bleach skin. ²³²⁵

Is benzoyl peroxide safe — what about the benzene concern?

Under normal use, the FDA puts the risk as very low. Benzoyl peroxide can degrade to benzene when heated, which is what Valisure, an independent lab, reported in 2024 after incubating products at 50 °C and above. The FDA's own 2025 testing of 95 products found more than 90% had undetectable or extremely low benzene under normal conditions; seven listings from five brands were recalled. Store it at room temperature, away from heat and sunlight, and discard expired product. The point at which a warm bathroom becomes a problem has not been measured. ¹³¹²⁷

1. 1

   Broad spectrum in vitro microbicidal activity of benzoyl peroxide against microorganisms related to cutaneous diseases

   Okamoto K, Kanayama S, Ikeda F, Fujikawa K, Fujiwara S, Nozawa N, Mori S, Matsumoto T, Hayashi N, Oda M · The Journal of Dermatology · 2021

2. 2

   Topical benzoyl peroxide for acne

   Yang Z, Zhang Y, Lazic Mosler E, Hu J, Li H, Zhang Y, Liu J, Zhang Q · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2020(3):CD011154 · 2020

3. 3

   The role of benzoyl peroxide in the new treatment paradigm for acne

   Kircik LH · Journal of Drugs in Dermatology 12(6):s73-76 · 2013

4. 4

   Criticality of Benzoyl Peroxide and Antibiotic Fixed Combinations in Combating Rising Resistance in Cutibacterium acnes

   Ghannoum M, Gamal A, Kadry A, Del Rosso JQ, Stein Gold L, Kircik LH, Harper JC · Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology · 2025

5. 5

   Minimum Contact Time of 1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10% Benzoyl Peroxide for a Bactericidal Effect Against Cutibacterium acnes

   Boonchaya P, Rojhirunsakool S, Kamanamool N, Khunkhet S, Yooyongsatit S, Udompataikul M, Taweechotipatr M · Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology 15:403-409 · 2022

6. 6

   Comparing 2.5%, 5%, and 10% benzoyl peroxide on inflammatory acne vulgaris

   Mills OH Jr, Kligman AM, Pochi P, Comite H · International Journal of Dermatology 25(10):664-667 · 1986

7. 7

   Benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne: are there potential health concerns?

   Czyz S, Yang K, Jafarian F · Frontiers in Pediatrics 13:1599491 · 2025

8. 8

   Benzoyl Peroxide's Sensitisation Potential and Potency in Experimental Methods and Review of Contact Allergy and Allergic Contact Dermatitis

   Egele K, Drexler H, Fartasch M, van Kampen V, Merk HF, Nowak D, Schnuch A, Uter W, Kreis P, Blömeke B · Contact Dermatitis · 2025

9. 9

   Chemical stability of adapalene and tretinoin when combined with benzoyl peroxide in presence and in absence of visible light and ultraviolet radiation

   Martin B, Meunier C, Montels D, Watts O · British Journal of Dermatology 139(s52):8-11 · 1998

10. 10

    Topical Acne Treatments — MotherToBaby Fact Sheet

    Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) · NCBI Bookshelf · 2023

11. 11

    Classification of Benzoyl Peroxide as Safe and Effective and Revision of Labeling to Drug Facts Format; Topical Acne Drug Products for Over-The-Counter Human Use; Final Rule

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Federal Register 75 FR 9767 (March 4, 2010); codified at 21 CFR Part 333 Subpart D §333.310 · 2010

12. 12

    FDA Citizen Petition #8: Benzene in Benzoyl Peroxide Drug Products

    Valisure LLC · FDA Citizen Petition Docket Filed March 6, 2024 · 2024

13. 13

    Limited Number of Voluntary Recalls Initiated After FDA Testing of Acne Products; Benzene Findings Show More Than 90% of Products at Very Low or Undetectable Levels

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · FDA Drug Alerts and Statements Announced March 11, 2025 · 2025

14. 14

    Twelve-week, multicenter, placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, comparative phase II/III study of benzoyl peroxide gel in patients with acne vulgaris

    Kawashima M, Sato S, Furukawa F, et al. · The Journal of Dermatology · 2017

15. 15

    Topical treatments for acne (Cochrane overview; pooled benzoyl peroxide lesion-count effects from Yang 2020)

    Yuan C, et al. · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · 2024

16. 16

    Evaluation of the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of an over-the-counter acne regimen containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid in subjects with acne

    Kircik LH, Gwazdauskas J, Butners V, et al · J Drugs Dermatol 12(3):259-64 · 2013

17. 17

    Comparison of a benzoyl peroxide leave-on foam and a benzoyl peroxide wash on follicular P. acnes

    Leyden JJ, et al. · Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology · 2010

18. 18

    Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris

    Reynolds RV, Yeung H, Cheng CE, et al. (American Academy of Dermatology) · Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology · 2024

19. 19

    Compatibility of active pharmaceutical ingredient combinations compounded in Cleoderm (adapalene 0.1%/0.3% with benzoyl peroxide 1%/5% stable 180 days)

    Marianni B, Silva CCV, Polonini H · International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding · 2025

20. 20

    Efficacy of ceramides and niacinamide-containing moisturizer versus hydrophilic cream in combination with topical anti-acne treatment: a split-face, double-blinded RCT

    Tempark T, Shem A, Lueangarun S · Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology · 2024

21. 21

    Dapsone gel, 7.5% — Highlights of Prescribing Information, §7.2 Drug Interactions (benzoyl peroxide: temporary local yellow or orange discoloration of skin and facial hair, 7 of 95 subjects, resolving in 4–57 days)

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · FDA label · 2019

22. 22

    Benzoyl Peroxide cream, gel or lotion — drug interactions and warnings

    Cleveland Clinic · Cleveland Clinic Health Library · 2026

23. 23

    The 5 best benzoyl peroxide products, according to dermatologists (Dr. Mona Sadeghpour, Dr. Marguerite Germain)

    Alvarez B · NBC Select · 2026

24. 24

    Benzoyl Peroxide (StatPearls)

    Matin T, Patel P, Goodman MB · StatPearls, NCBI Bookshelf · 2024

25. 25

    21 CFR §333.350 — Labeling of acne drug products

    U.S. Food and Drug Administration · Code of Federal Regulations · 2010