Salicylic Acid Vs Benzoyl Peroxide Which is Best For Your Acne?

Hey, lovelies, welcome or welcome back. So am continuing on my acne treatments series. Today’s post will be answering a common question amongst acne sufferers; salicylic acid vs benzoyl peroxide for acne, which is best for you?

Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are two of the most commonly used over-the-counter skincare ingredients for acne, and with the wealth of information out there, it can get confusing deciding which you should use on your journey to clearer skin. So If this is a topic you are interested in then…

Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or something… and let’s dive in

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Table of Contents

Salicylic Acid VS Benzoyl Peroxide For Acne

Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are acne treatments that come in over-the-counter and prescription strengths.

Over the counter, Salicylic acid comes in 0.5% – 2% strengths, with the 0.5% commonly found in leave-on salicylic acid products and 2% in rinse-off products.

Benzoyl peroxide can be found in cleansers, creams, gels, and lotions in 2.5%, 4%, 5%, and 10% strengths.

Both ingredients share a common side effect which is that they can both can leave your skin very dry and irritated if you deal with sensitivity.

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What Causes Acne?

Acne is arguably the most common skin condition. It is androgen driven and begins to rear its head in adolescence when the levels of androgens begin to increase. Acne however doesn’t just end in your teens, for some of us we still deal with them even as adults (very annoying).

Other factors can predispose you to acne, like wrong skincare practices, skincare products that can clog your pores, stress, and diets high in processed sugars.

Acne occurs when pores get clogged from either dead skin cells that haven’t been shed which eventually clog the pores, excessive sebum production, and when there is inflammation from acne forming bacteria known as Cutibacterium acnes.

The different types of acne and how they are formed

What is Salicylic acid?

Salicylic acid is a member of the class of skincare ingredients known as beta hydroxy acids(BHA). It is a chemical exfoliant derived from willow bark. It is a lipid-soluble ingredient that can penetrate the skin barrier into the pores to work its magic.

Salicylic acid works to unclog the pores by causing an increase in the rate at which skin cells slough off. It does this by loosening the glue that holds dead skin cells together. Its unique lipid-loving nature allows it to easily get into the pores and break down the sebum and it also has the added benefits of being also anti-inflammatory.

What is Benzoyl Peroxide?

Benzoyl peroxide is antibacterial and has been shown to effectively kill acne-forming bacteria on the skin. It can also unclog pores. It is very key in the treatment of acne because, in contrast to other bactericidal treatments for acne, benzoyl peroxide doesn’t induce bacterial resistance.

I made two detailed posts on salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. So if you are new to these skincare ingredients then check out the related post section below

Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide which should You Use?

While they can both be used in the treatment of mild to moderate acne, they work best for different types of acne.

Salicylic acid is primarily an exfoliant, and so is best suited for comedonal acne ( whiteheads and blackheads) while benzoyl peroxide works best for inflammatory acne( red, pus-filled bumps).

Salicylic acid is mostly used as a management for mild acne while benzoyl peroxide is more for mild to moderate acne

If you deal with acne like me then you know we experience all sorts. Using both in your skincare routine with help tackle the different types of acne. So whether your acne is mild, moderate, or severe, using a salicylic acid product in your skincare routine, helps to keep that exfoliation going, keeping your pores unclogged, and minimizing breakouts

Benzoyl peroxide on the other hand should be a main stay when you have predominately inflammatory acne. When you have your acne under control, you may reduce the frequency of application of benzoyl peroxide since this ingredient can be very drying and irritating. At this point you can keep a benzoyl peroxide gel handy to use as a spot treatment when you get that occasional breakout.

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Can Salicylic acid and Benzoyl Peroxide be used together?

Yes and No. Benzoyl peroxide is an oxidizer and so doesn’t play very nicely with many skincare ingredients. So you don’t want to be using these at the same time I.e in your morning routine, because benzoyl peroxide can deactivate salicylic acid.

A good way to make them work is to use them at different times, like using salicylic acid in the evenings and benzoyl peroxide in the mothings.

Can Salicylic Acid And Benzoyl Peroxide be Used on Sensitive Skin?

While both ingredients can cause irritation, benzoyl peroxide is the more irritating of the duo. If you deal with sensitivity ensure you do a patch test before using any product containing these ingredients.
With sensitive skin you should be doing a patch test before using any product. Your skin barrier is finicky

To minimize irritation from these ingredients, you want to start slowly, using low concentrations of the ingredients, using fewer times, and not combining them with other skin actives.

7 signs of skin sensitivity you should know about

Can You Use Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide When Pregnant?

Pregnancy is that period in your life when you need to take a breather and evaluate what you take in and apply to your skin. You are carrying a whole new human being in there, so putting into consideration what you eat and apply to your skin is important.

Before you use any products while pregnant have a chat with your doctor so you are not using anything you don’t need to be using.

Salicylic acid is similar to a group of compounds known as salicylates. Oral salicylates (aspirin) have been linked with bleeding in the brain in the third trimester. However, topical salicylic acid is safe in low doses. You could however, opt for AHA(alpha-hydroxy acids) such as glycolic acid and lactic acid instead which are safer to use in this period.

Benzoyl peroxide is safe to use in pregnancy in minimal amounts. Remember benzoyl peroxide can bleach your hair and fabric so if you work out or live in very hot climates this can transfer to your fabric when you sweat. If you use it at night as well, ensure it is absorbed, and then go over it with a moisturizer before you go to bed.

As usual I hope you found it his post helpful, see you around.