If you’re struggling with breakouts, you’ve likely seen the two most popular active ingredients in over-the-counter acne treatments: salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Both are powerhouse products, but how do you decide which one is right for you?
Let’s break it down and help you find the best fit for your skin.
What is Salicylic Acid?
Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) originally derived from willow bark. It’s a gentle exfoliant that works by penetrating the pores and dissolving the excess oil and dead skin cells that can lead to pimples.
Benefits of Salicylic Acid
When our skin produces too much sebum, it can mix with dead skin cells that naturally shed from the skin’s surface and form a sticky plug within the pore. This plug, or comedone, blocks the opening of the pore and traps sebum inside.
One of the key benefits of salicylic acid is its ability to deep cleanse your pores, effectively unclogging them from the inside out. It also exfoliates the skin’s surface, promoting cell turnover which helps prevent future breakouts, making it an excellent choice for those of us prone to blackheads and whiteheads. Additionally, salicylic acid has some anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce redness and swelling, leaving your skin looking calmer and clearer. It’s particularly suited for oily skin types and can even be gentle enough for sensitive skin when used in lower concentrations.
Side Effects of Salicylic Acid
The exfoliation process from salicylic acid, which helps shed the outer layer of the skin, can disrupt the skin barrier and be irritating, especially if your skin is already sensitive. Salicylic acid also reduces sebum production which can sometimes strip away too much of your skin’s natural oils, causing dryness and peeling. It’s important to introduce salicylic acid products gradually and focus on using gentle products and a good moisturizer.
How to Use Salicylic Acid for Acne
Salicylic acid is widely available over the counter in 0.5-2% strength in cleansers, toners, or spot treatments. Start with a cleanser and leave it on for a couple of minutes in the shower, or try a lower concentration leave-on treatment to see how your skin reacts before using a stronger treatment.
CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser 2% Salicylic Acid and Clay
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Triple-Action Acne Serum with 0.5% Salicylic Acid
Farmacy Deep Sweep 2% BHA Toner for Face with Salicylic Acid
What is Benzoyl Peroxide?
Benzoyl peroxide is an antimicrobial medication that targets the specific type of bacteria, Cutibacterium acnes, responsible for inflamed breakouts. When benzoyl peroxide comes in contact with our skin it releases oxygen into the pores, which kills this bacteria on the skin’s surface.
Benefits of Benzoyl Peroxide
When our sebaceous glands produce too much oil that mixes with dead skin cells to clog our pores, it makes the perfect environment for acne-causing bacteria to thrive, which then prompts our immune system to respond. The resulting inflammation leads to redness, swelling, and pain of inflamed pimples, such as pustules and cysts.
Benzoyl peroxide works to clear inflammatory acne by releasing oxygen into your skin, creating an inhospitable environment for C. acnes. By reducing the bacterial population, benzoyl peroxide calms the inflammation that contributes to acne. It’s a fast-acting ingredient, known for quickly reducing the size and severity of pimples.
Benzoyl peroxide also has an exfoliating effect that helps to remove dead skin cells and excess oil from your skin’s surface, preventing future clogged pores and comedones. This combined action not only reduces existing acne lesions but also helps to prevent new ones from forming, making benzoyl peroxide a widely used and effective treatment for inflammatory acne.
Side Effects of Benzoyl Peroxide
Common side effects of benzoyl peroxide include dryness, redness, and peeling, as the medication can strip the skin of natural oils and disrupt the skin barrier. If you have sensitive skin you may experience a burning or itching sensation upon application, which can be more noticeable with higher concentrations of benzoyl peroxide.
Keep in mind that benzoyl peroxide can bleach fabrics, so it’s important to rinse well and use it with caution around clothing and towels. To minimize these side effects, make sure to keep the rest of your skincare routine gentle and moisturizing.
How to Use Benzoyl Peroxide for Acne
Benzoyl peroxide is available in many acne treatments in various concentrations (2.5-10%). To minimize irritation, start with a lower concentration benzoyl peroxide face cleanser in the shower and make sure to fully rinse it off to prevent bleaching your towel and clothes. If needed, gradually increase to a leave-on product like a gel or cream. Because benzoyl peroxide can act quickly, it is also a great option for a spot treatment when you break out.
Cetaphil Gentle Clear Acne Cleanser with 2.6% Benzoyl Peroxide
CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser with 4% Benzoyl Peroxide
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Spot Treatment with 5.5% Benzoyl Peroxide
Comparing the Two: Salicylic Acid vs. Benzoyl Peroxide
Salicylic acid excels at preventing acne by keeping pores clear, making it ideal for mild to moderate acne, especially blackheads and whiteheads. Benzoyl peroxide, however, is more effective for severe and inflammatory acne by killing the bacteria in existing breakouts. While salicylic acid can be gentle enough for sensitive skin, benzoyl peroxide can be drying and is better suited for normal to oily skin types. Both ingredients can cause side effects, such as dryness and irritation, but benzoyl peroxide has the added potential to bleach fabrics and hair.
So, Is Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide Better for Acne?
While it is possible to use both salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide products in your skincare routine, it can be very irritating so you should generally choose one or the other. When deciding between salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, it’s important to consider your skin type and the kind of acne you are experiencing.
If you’re prone to blackheads, whiteheads, and general oiliness, salicylic acid is your first choice. It is also a good option if your acne is mild and you are looking to add something to your routine to help prevent future breakouts. Additionally, if you have sensitive skin you might want to start with a low concentration of salicylic acid first to see if it helps before trying benzoyl peroxide.
On the other hand, if you’re currently dealing with red, painful inflammatory acne and your skin is not sensitive, starting with a benzoyl peroxide product and finding the appropriate strength that stops the breakouts would probably be the better choice for you.
If you mostly deal with clogged pores and oiliness but occasionally get the rare inflamed pimple, you can use salicylic acid daily and also keep a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment on hand to use at the first sign of redness. Remember, everyone’s skin is different, and what works for one person might not work for another. It’s always a good idea to patch test new products and consult with a dermatologist if you’re unsure or if your acne is severe and at risk for scarring.
Ultimately, the best acne care routine is one that fits seamlessly into your lifestyle and addresses your specific acne concerns. Whether you opt for salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, consistency and patience along with a gentle moisturizer will help you see results while keeping your skin healthy.
