Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are both designed to treat acne and almost any product designed for blemished skin is going to feature one or the other; but it's important to know the difference between them so that you're putting up the best defence against your type of acne.
Benzoyl peroxide
When you use benzoyl peroxide, what you're actually getting is benzoic acid and oxygen because the product breaks down upon contact with your skin. The oxygen helps kill P. acnes, the bacteria that contributes to acne. Benzoic acid causes skin to peel and dry, exfoliating out the plugs of dead skin and sebum that inflame follicles and cause bumps.
Benzoyl is a powerful product that can penetrate deeply into pores, but it can also be very drying. If the spots you're seeing are deep under the skin, red and/or pus-filled, benzoyl is probably a safe bet because you need both bacteria killing and deep-down exfoliation. Try Dermalogica Clean Start Hit The Spot ($40), Proactiv Solution Renewing Cleanser ($34.95) or Dr. LeWinn’s Medic Spot-Clear Gel ($19.95). However if your acne is on the light side or your skin is sensitive, salicylic acid is probably better suited to you.
Salicylic acid
For those with sensitive skin and people plagued by blackheads, salicylic can be a life saver. Salicylic acid, like benzoic acid, is a good peeling agent, but it's gentler and lacks the oxygen that helps to kill acne bacteria.
If you have lots of blackheads and spots but no deep, closed comedones (pustules), salicylic is the best choice for you as it won't be as sensitising and is less likely to dry you out. Again, don't overuse it—doing too much actually makes things much worse. Try Aveda Outer Peace Blemish Relief Pads ($59.95), Dr. Brandt Pores No More Cleanser ($58) or PuraSkin Deep Derma Cleanser, which is sold as part of the PuraSkin Total Acne Solution ($79.95).
Stockists: Aveda (1300 300 054), Dr. LeWinn’s Medic (1800 033 122).
salicilyc acid for sure for me. ive tried both as well as natural arrowroot and out of everything salicylic acid worked the best
1Neither worked to treat the type of acne I get - which is typically cystic and runs along my jawline
in fact, the best treatment I've used to date is diluted Dettol (which will eliminate a pimple right.then.and.there, literally!) and oil of evening primrose capsules, which have done
a great deal in regulating the hormonal causes of my cystic acne; otherwise I hear salicylic acid is milder on the skin
2Bella, what about treatments that are sulfur based like the Murad spot treatment?
3Both are horrible for me! I get severe chemical burns/reactions to them, every time I use them.
4I just use the Zeno. No chemicals, just straight heat to the little sucker!
Thanks Bella...I was wondering about the diff...now I know to use BP for my deep pimples!!
5BP will bleach your bath towels - so any logical person would not use it on their face - it is also an oxidant so the damage starts the moment you apply it - even the COSMETICS COP is now an opponent to this ingredient. SA is the better alternative by far. I am also with ITSONLYFAIR - any treatments that contain natural suplhur and zinc are brilliant for acne - this is a well known fact.
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