benzoyl peroxide: clinical use

Prescribing considerations

• Confirm that acne distribution and morphology match the selected product's licensed indication.
• Counsel that excessive application increases irritation without improving efficacy.
• Avoid unsupervised combination with other acne treatments or irritating skincare.
• Advise avoiding deliberate or prolonged UV exposure and warn about bleaching of hair and fabrics.
• Review deterioration, persistent non-response, severe irritation or suspected sensitisation.

Contraindications and cautions

• Hypersensitivity to benzoyl peroxide or any excipient.

Monitoring

• Monitor local tolerability, including erythema, peeling, burning, dermatitis, swelling and blistering.
• Assess clinical response and reconsider the diagnosis or treatment approach if acne worsens or persistently fails to respond.

Clinical pharmacology

A topical anti-acne agent with antibacterial, exfoliative and comedolytic activity. Percutaneous penetration is low; absorbed material is predominantly converted to benzoic acid and rapidly eliminated by the kidneys without evidence of tissue accumulation.

Formulation and product differences

• The selected preparation is a white to off-white rinse-off gel for wet skin, rather than a leave-on gel.
• Its wash base contains acrylates copolymer, glycerol, carbomer, sodium olefin sulfonate, sodium hydroxide and purified water.

Gel

Route: Cutaneous

Strengths: 2.5% w/w, 5% w/w, 10% w/w