17 replies to this topic

[Ben]

Hi there, so I applied some benzoyl peroxide in a 10% strength last night. I am aware that this is a fairly high concentration of the active ingredient and am now a little concerned as to the damage I have done.

Does anyone here know how much damage could be caused by one application of this drug? What kind of permanent damage am I looking at here.

[Shepard]

You're worried about permanent damage from one application?

[Ben]

You're worried about permanent damage from one application?

Yes, well, not so much worried but desirous to know just how much damage I caused.

[Eva Victoria]

Hi there, so I applied some benzoyl peroxide in a 10% strength last night. I am aware that this is a fairly high concentration of the active ingredient and am now a little concerned as to the damage I have done.

Does anyone here know how much damage could be caused by one application of this drug? What kind of permanent damage am I looking at here.

NONE!
Come on, our skin is stronger than that!
Remember our body is full of strong anti-oxidants (naturally) esp. when young.
Damage is not done so easily to any of our organs. (We also have the repair mechanism that can repair damage).
Oxidative damage is accumulated throughout a longer period of time.

Even if you used Benxoyl Peroxide for 14 days you would not damage your skin.

(There are still some doctors who prescribe Hydrogen Peroxide 3-10% for acne for patients for years!)

[Ben]

Hi there, so I applied some benzoyl peroxide in a 10% strength last night. I am aware that this is a fairly high concentration of the active ingredient and am now a little concerned as to the damage I have done.

Does anyone here know how much damage could be caused by one application of this drug? What kind of permanent damage am I looking at here.

NONE!
Come on, our skin is stronger than that!
Remember our body is full of strong anti-oxidants (naturally) esp. when young.
Damage is not done so easily to any of our organs. (We also have the repair mechanism that can repair damage).
Oxidative damage is accumulated throughout a longer period of time.

Even if you used Benxoyl Peroxide for 14 days you would not damage your skin.

(There are still some doctors who prescribe Hydrogen Peroxide 3-10% for acne for patients for years!)

Hi there Eva thanks for the reply. Look it has been two days now since I applied the BP and I could swear that I've developed some mild hyper pigmentation in the areas that I applied the cream.

[Eva Victoria]

Hi there, so I applied some benzoyl peroxide in a 10% strength last night. I am aware that this is a fairly high concentration of the active ingredient and am now a little concerned as to the damage I have done.

Does anyone here know how much damage could be caused by one application of this drug? What kind of permanent damage am I looking at here.

NONE!
Come on, our skin is stronger than that!
Remember our body is full of strong anti-oxidants (naturally) esp. when young.
Damage is not done so easily to any of our organs. (We also have the repair mechanism that can repair damage).
Oxidative damage is accumulated throughout a longer period of time.

Even if you used Benxoyl Peroxide for 14 days you would not damage your skin.

(There are still some doctors who prescribe Hydrogen Peroxide 3-10% for acne for patients for years!)

Hi there Eva thanks for the reply. Look it has been two days now since I applied the BP and I could swear that I've developed some mild hyper pigmentation in the areas that I applied the cream.

Hi Ben!

Are you sure about the hyper pigmentation or you just believe it?

It is hard to believe that one application of BP would make a difference! It is like saying I used a sunscreen yesterday (first and only time in my life) and my lines are disappearing

[Ben]

Hi Ben!

Are you sure about the hyper pigmentation or you just believe it?

It is hard to believe that one application of BP would make a difference! It is like saying I used a sunscreen yesterday (first and only time in my life) and my lines are disappearing

I may have been a little hasty in coming to the conclusion that the BP had given me a hyperpigmentation X). I think it was actually just a patch of dry skin. It's cleared up now and looks fine.

I reapplied the BP yesterday as it seems to be working. I plan on doing a max of four applications. What do you reckon?

[Shepard]

I think all this worrying is a lot worse than any concentration of benzoyl peroxide.

[Ben]

I think all this worrying is a lot worse than any concentration of benzoyl peroxide.

Not really worrying that much considering how prissy and neurotic I am about my skin. This is more a place to discuss the damage potential of Benzoyl Peroxide versus any positive effects that I can post on observation.

[Ben]

Well I can post one thing. I washed my face after applying the BP. This meant that the product migrated my eye area. The skin there burned, and now around both eyes is very thin and crinkles like cellophane every time I squint.

[Eva Victoria]

Hi Ben!

Are you sure about the hyper pigmentation or you just believe it?

It is hard to believe that one application of BP would make a difference! It is like saying I used a sunscreen yesterday (first and only time in my life) and my lines are disappearing

I may have been a little hasty in coming to the conclusion that the BP had given me a hyperpigmentation X). I think it was actually just a patch of dry skin. It's cleared up now and looks fine.

I reapplied the BP yesterday as it seems to be working. I plan on doing a max of four applications. What do you reckon?

I think you could us it for 5 days (AM and/ or PM) to have the best clearing effect on your skin.
I would also recommend avoiding products containing any form of Silicone oils! (They can stop pores and produce acne esp. on acne prone skin).

[Ben]

Hi Ben!

Are you sure about the hyper pigmentation or you just believe it?

It is hard to believe that one application of BP would make a difference! It is like saying I used a sunscreen yesterday (first and only time in my life) and my lines are disappearing

I may have been a little hasty in coming to the conclusion that the BP had given me a hyperpigmentation X). I think it was actually just a patch of dry skin. It's cleared up now and looks fine.

I reapplied the BP yesterday as it seems to be working. I plan on doing a max of four applications. What do you reckon?

I think you could us it for 5 days (AM and/ or PM) to have the best clearing effect on your skin.
I would also recommend avoiding products containing any form of Silicone oils! (They can stop pores and produce acne esp. on acne prone skin).

Interesting that you should mention silicon now. I recently stopped using a hair product containing a silicon derivative. So far there have been no new comedones that I can see.

[Eva Victoria]

Hi Ben!

Are you sure about the hyper pigmentation or you just believe it?

It is hard to believe that one application of BP would make a difference! It is like saying I used a sunscreen yesterday (first and only time in my life) and my lines are disappearing

I may have been a little hasty in coming to the conclusion that the BP had given me a hyperpigmentation X). I think it was actually just a patch of dry skin. It's cleared up now and looks fine.

I reapplied the BP yesterday as it seems to be working. I plan on doing a max of four applications. What do you reckon?

I think you could us it for 5 days (AM and/ or PM) to have the best clearing effect on your skin.
I would also recommend avoiding products containing any form of Silicone oils! (They can stop pores and produce acne esp. on acne prone skin).

Interesting that you should mention silicon now. I recently stopped using a hair product containing a silicon derivative. So far there have been no new comedones that I can see.

Maybe that was the reason for what you have experienced lately :(
Hope your skin gets back to as beautiful as it was before very soon.

[Natascha]

Hi there, so I applied some benzoyl peroxide in a 10% strength last night. I am aware that this is a fairly high concentration of the active ingredient and am now a little concerned as to the damage I have done.

Does anyone here know how much damage could be caused by one application of this drug? What kind of permanent damage am I looking at here.

That is indeed a high concentration of BP. I would use it sparingly, in my experience it can really irritate the skin and cause more breakouts which is the last thing you want. In my opinion, use a lower concentration, or switch to Glycolic Acid 4%. I believe GA is more expensive, but is a better investment.

Side effects aside, I found GA to be far more effective than BP in eliminating mild to moderate acne.

[Ben]

Hi there, so I applied some benzoyl peroxide in a 10% strength last night. I am aware that this is a fairly high concentration of the active ingredient and am now a little concerned as to the damage I have done.

Does anyone here know how much damage could be caused by one application of this drug? What kind of permanent damage am I looking at here.

That is indeed a high concentration of BP. I would use it sparingly, in my experience it can really irritate the skin and cause more breakouts which is the last thing you want. In my opinion, use a lower concentration, or switch to Glycolic Acid 4%. I believe GA is more expensive, but is a better investment.

Side effects aside, I found GA to be far more effective than BP in eliminating mild to moderate acne.

Are you sure you mean glycolic acid? I have glycolic acid in a 12% w/w concentration. I think you mean salicylic acid. I'm using that as well, diluted to 2% w/w.

[Natascha]

Hi there, so I applied some benzoyl peroxide in a 10% strength last night. I am aware that this is a fairly high concentration of the active ingredient and am now a little concerned as to the damage I have done.

Does anyone here know how much damage could be caused by one application of this drug? What kind of permanent damage am I looking at here.

That is indeed a high concentration of BP. I would use it sparingly, in my experience it can really irritate the skin and cause more breakouts which is the last thing you want. In my opinion, use a lower concentration, or switch to Glycolic Acid 4%. I believe GA is more expensive, but is a better investment.

Side effects aside, I found GA to be far more effective than BP in eliminating mild to moderate acne.

Are you sure you mean glycolic acid? I have glycolic acid in a 12% w/w concentration. I think you mean salicylic acid. I'm using that as well, diluted to 2% w/w.

Aye I mean glycolic acid. I use it for acne + prevention of wrinkles. 12%, I have never seen that high in a commercial product, highest I've seen is 10% (and I've tried it...ouch, it hurts). Did you get that concentration from your derma?

[Ben]

Hi there, so I applied some benzoyl peroxide in a 10% strength last night. I am aware that this is a fairly high concentration of the active ingredient and am now a little concerned as to the damage I have done.

Does anyone here know how much damage could be caused by one application of this drug? What kind of permanent damage am I looking at here.

That is indeed a high concentration of BP. I would use it sparingly, in my experience it can really irritate the skin and cause more breakouts which is the last thing you want. In my opinion, use a lower concentration, or switch to Glycolic Acid 4%. I believe GA is more expensive, but is a better investment.

Side effects aside, I found GA to be far more effective than BP in eliminating mild to moderate acne.

Are you sure you mean glycolic acid? I have glycolic acid in a 12% w/w concentration. I think you mean salicylic acid. I'm using that as well, diluted to 2% w/w.

Aye I mean glycolic acid. I use it for acne + prevention of wrinkles. 12%, I have never seen that high in a commercial product, highest I've seen is 10% (and I've tried it...ouch, it hurts). Did you get that concentration from your derma?

Not from a derma, MD Formulations make an OTC product that you can get pretty cheaply on ebay. Best I've used so far.

I'm not too sure if I've read anything recommending glycolic acid for acne. I know it stimulates collagen formation in certain concentrations (yours may be too low to be having this effect, look it up) and helps dead skin cells to slough off, which I guess is a good thing.

[Mouser]

For glycolic acid try this product: Walgreens brand - Nature's Finest Alpha Hydroxy Face Cream. It is listed as 8% AHA of 70% solution. Should be around $5. Found it on the bottom shelf of the skin care aisle at Walgreens. The container makes it look like an iffy generic brand. But I've read on various internet sites, and it mentions on the label, that the formulation is under liscence from Tri Strata, which is a subsidiary of Neo Strata, a brand sold through many dermatology offices. Take that at whatever value you want. Most importantly for me it works and it's cheap.


Also, if you want to stick with benzoyl and a prescription is something you'd consider, consider Duac Gel. It is a combination of clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide. Worked better for me than just benzoyl. In the end, it didn't work well enough and I switched to Differin cream .01%. Differin works amazingly well for me and I'm sticking with it.

Edited by Mouser, 20 December 2008 - 04:59 PM.