Benzoyl Peroxide
Acne may be a very common skin problem that is not life threatening, but if you just take a good look at it, its damage is more than skin deep. If you think about it, when a person has acne, he will end up having low self esteem. As a result, how he lives his life as well as how he functions will be greatly affected. It's a good thing that nowadays, there are now a lot of different treatments available that can help anybody get rid of pimples. One of the most sought after and popularly used acne treatment is benzoyl peroxide.
What It Is and What It Does
Benzoyl peroxide is a compound that acts against the bacteria that primarily causes acne. This bacteria is called Propionibacteria acnes. This specific bacterium is characterized as being an anaerobe meaning that it cannot live with oxygen present. The compound then acts by introducing oxygen into the area where the bacteria is thereby killing it.
Another mode of action of benzoyl peroxide is that it is able to help remove the dead skin cells. When these are taken away, there will be reduced chances of blocking the pores which could then develop into a pimple.
Just How Popular Has It Become?
Because of its mode of action, benzoyl peroxide is popularly used, aside from salicylic acid, in skin creams, lotions, and the likes that are used to treat acne. Nowadays, it is rare to see anti-pimple products that do not contain this specific compound.
What It Is Mainly Used For
Today, the compound is used to treat mild to moderate acne. Usually, it is used in various strengths depending on the severity of the acne. It should be noted that the milder the acne, the lower the strength of the compound that should be used.
Why Use It Safely
This compound should always be used with a dermatologist's supervision. This is because it can cause certain reactions that could damage the skin or even worsen the acne. If you have a known allergy to it, then you must refrain from using it. Tell the dermatologist about it so that he will give you a different medication to treat your acne with. Never self medicate since you could end up using a strength level that is not right for your acne situation. For example, you could be using a low strength of benzoyl peroxide when you are currently experiencing moderate acne. This would then lead to its inability to produce satisfactory effects that would only make the bacteria build resistance against it.