Benzoyl peroxide is one of the hero compounds of the acne-control world and it’s used in a range of products created by the industry giant that is PanOxyl. Working as an effective antiseptic that cleans both the skin’s surface and the hair follicles further down, it’s able to break the acne cycle by eliminating that conditions that lead do pimples forming.
It’s a compound that has to be used carefully due to the potential of dryness and irritation being caused, however, most people have no problems once they’ve found their sweet spot in terms of frequency and product strength.
The Power Behind PanOxyl Products
So, what is benzoyl peroxide (BP)? Well, it’s a topically-applied chemical that’s found in a variety of toners, cleaners, gels and creams on the market. These over the counter options often feature BP – although some do use salicylic acid – and they work by cleaning out the pores.
Sold in a different strengths that range from 2.5% to 10%, products that contain BP are also often antimicrobial – meaning they can stop infection in its tracks.
Can Benzoyl Peroxide Hurt the Skin?
Actually, yes it can, although that’s when it isn’t used optimally. BP can hurt the skin by drying it out and causing inflammation, but that’s pretty much always because it’s been overused in quantity or frequency. So, how do you find the right level without causing damage?
The answer to that quandary is pretty simple in that it’s recommended that you start low and move up if you need to. Sure, you can try a patch test with your PanOxyl product, but if you start at 10% instead of 2.5%, the chances that you will get an adverse reaction go up by a factor of 4!
The wise move is to start by using a 2.5% and see what happens. Here are the two possible outcomes of taking this route:
- Possibility #1 – It works perfectly, with no reaction and your zits begin to clear up from week 3-4. Congratulations, you’ve found your level straight away! No further action needed!
- Possibility #2 – You use the product for several weeks and while your skin feels cleaner, your overall level of breakouts isn’t reducing. The reason? It’s probable that 2.5% may not be strong enough. Consider moving up to 5% or 10%.
You see, by starting low, you’ve found out what you need to know without risking the health of your skin. Compare that to starting high (which many do because they overestimate the severity of their acne) and suffering for a few days after because it wasn’t suitable.
Give Your PanOxyl Products Time to Work & They Will
Benzoyl peroxide is the compound that makes the magic happen, but if you haven’t used it before, it simply pays to be cautious. A patch test will tell you a lot, but even if it doesn’t result in a reaction (for 9 out of 10 people, it won’t), you should still be careful.
If a 10% product is required, it’s required, but find out the safe way by waiting to see how your skin reacts. Once you’ve found a frequency and product strength that suits your needs, you just need to stick your routine and you WILL start seeing results.
