Benzoyl Peroxide
Pronunciation
(BEN zoe il peer OKS ide)
U.S. Brand Names
Benzac®; Benzac® AC; Benzac® AC Wash; Benzac® W; Benzac® W Wash; Benzagel®; Benzagel® Wash; Benzashave®; Brevoxyl®; Brevoxyl® Cleansing; Brevoxyl® Wash; Clearplex [OTC]; Clinac™ BPO; Del Aqua®; Desquam-E™; Desquam-X®; Exact® Acne Medication [OTC]; Fostex® 10% BPO [OTC]; Loroxide® [OTC]; Neutrogena® Acne Mask [OTC]; Neutrogena® On The Spot® Acne Treatment [OTC]; Oxy 10® Balanced Medicated Face Wash [OTC]; Oxy 10® Balance Spot Treatment [OTC]; Palmer's® Skin Success Acne [OTC]; PanOxyl®; PanOxyl®-AQ; PanOxyl® Aqua Gel; PanOxyl® Bar [OTC]; Seba-Gel™; Triaz®; Triaz® Cleanser; Zapzyt® [OTC]
Generic Available
Yes: Excludes cream and soap
Canadian Brand Names
Acetoxyl®; Benoxyl®; Benzac AC®; Benzac W® Gel; Benzac W® Wash; Desquam-X®; Oxyderm™; PanOxyl®; PanOxyl®-AQ; Solugel®
Use
Adjunctive treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris and acne rosacea
Pregnancy Risk Factor
C
Adverse Reactions
1% to 10%: Dermatologic: Irritation, contact dermatitis, dryness, erythema, peeling, stinging
Drug Interactions
Increased toxicity: Benzoyl peroxide potentiates adverse reactions seen with tretinoin
Mechanism of Action
Releases free-radical oxygen which oxidizes bacterial proteins in the sebaceous follicles decreasing the number of anaerobic bacteria and decreasing irritating-type free fatty acids
Pharmacodynamics/Kinetics
Absorption: ~5% via skin; gel more penetrating than cream
Metabolism: Converted to benzoic acid in skin
Dosage
Children and Adults:
Cleansers: Wash once or twice daily; control amount of drying or peeling by modifying dose frequency or concentration
Topical: Apply sparingly once daily; gradually increase to 2-3 times/day if needed. If excessive dryness or peeling occurs, reduce dose frequency or concentration; if excessive stinging or burning occurs, remove with mild soap and water; resume use the next day.
Patient Education
Shake lotion before using; cleanse and make sure skin is dry before applying; may bleach color from fabrics; may be worn under make-up; improvement should occur within 2 weeks; keep away from eyes, mouth, mucous membranes; expect dryness and peeling; if excessive redness or irritation occurs, discontinue use; avoid excessive sunlight, sun lamps, or other topical medication unless directed by a physician
Nursing Implications
Watch for signs of systemic infection; granulation may indicate effectiveness
Dental Health: Effects on Dental Treatment
No significant effects or complications reported
Dental Health: Vasoconstrictor/Local Anesthetic Precautions
No information available to require special precautions
Mental Health: Effects on Mental Status
None reported
Mental Health: Effects on Psychiatric Treatment
None reported
Dosage Forms
[DSC] = Discontinued product
Cream, topical:
Benzashave®: 5% (120 g); 10% (120 g)
Exact® Acne Medication: 5% (18 g)
Neutrogena® Acne Mask: 5% (60 g)
Neutrogena® On The Spot® Acne Treatment: 2.5% (22.5 g)
Gel, topical: 2.5% (60 g); 5% (45 g, 60 g, 90 g); 10% (45 g, 60 g, 90 g)
Benzac® [alcohol based]: 5% (60 g); 10% (60 g) [contains alcohol 12%]
Benzac® AC [water based]: 2.5% (60 g); 5% (60 g); 10% (60 g)
Benzac® W [water based]: 2.5% (60 g); 5% (60 g); 10% (60 g)
Benzagel®: 5% (45 g); 10% (45 g)
Benzagel® Wash [water based]: 10% (60 g)
Brevoxyl®: 4% (43 g, 90 g); 8% (43 g, 90 g)
Clearplex: 5% (45 g); 10% (45 g)
Clinac™ BPO: 7% (45 g, 90 g) [90 g DSC]
Desquam-E™ [water based]: 2.5% (42.5 g); 5% (42.5 g); 10% (42.5 g) [emollient gel]
Desquam-X®: 5% (42.5 g, 90 g); 10% (42.5 g, 90 g)
Fostex® 10% BPO: 10% (45 g)
Oxy 10® Balance Spot Treatment: 5% (30 g); 10% (30 g)
PanOxyl® [alcohol based]: 5% (57 g, 113 g); 10% (57 g, 113 g)
PanOxyl® AQ [water based]: 2.5% (57 g, 113 g); 5% (57 g, 113 g); 10% (57 g, 113 g)
PanOxyl® Aqua Gel [water based]: 10% (42.5 g)
Seba-Gel™: 5% (60 g, 90 g); 10% (60 g, 90 g)
Triaz®: 3% (42.5 g); 6% (42.5 g); 10% (42.5 g)
Triaz® Cleanser: 3% (170 g, 340 g); 6% (170 g, 340 g); 10% (170 g, 340 g)
Zapzyt®: 10% (30 g)
Liquid, topical: 2.5% (240 mL); 5% (120 mL, 150 mL, 240 mL); 10% (150 mL, 240 mL)
Benzac® AC Wash [water based]: 2.5% (240 mL); 5% (240 mL); 10% (240 mL)
Benzac® W Wash [water based]: 5% (240 mL); 10% (240 mL)
Del-Aqua®: 5% (45 mL); 10% (45 mL)
Desquam-X®: 5% (150 mL)
Oxy-10® Balance Medicated Face Wash: 10% (240 mL)
Lotion, topical: 5% (30 mL); 10% (30 mL)
Brevoxyl® Cleansing: 4% (297 g); 8% (297 g) [in a lathering vehicle]
Brevoxyl® Wash: 4% (170 g); 8% (170 g) [in a lathering vehicle]
Fostex® 10% BPO: 10% (150 mL)
Loroxide®: 5.5% (26 mL)
Palmer's® Skin Success Acne: 10% (30 mL) [contains vitamin E and aloe]
Soap, topical [bar]:
Desquam-X®: 10% (113 g)
Fostex® 10% BPO: 10% (113 g)
PanOxyl® Bar: 5% (113 g); 10% (113 g)
International Brand Names
Acetoxyl® (CA); Acnacyl® (HK, SG); Acnase® (BR); Acnecide® (GB, IE); Acne Derm® (IL); Acne Mask® (IL); Acne-Med® (HU); Acnesan® (AR); Acnetick®-10 (CO); Acnexyl® (TH); Aknefug BP® (CH, TR); Aknefug-oxid® (CZ, DE, HU, PL); Akneroxid® (BE, CH, CZ, DE, HU, LU, NL, PL, SG); Aknex® (CH); Aksil® (TR); Ambix® (PL); Antopar® (CZ, HK, SI); Basiron AC® (FI, SE); Basiron® (CH, FI, NO); Benacne® (PT); Benoxid® (IT); Benoxygel® (ES, PT); Benoxyl® (BR, CA, EG, JO, KW, LB, MX, NZ, SY, ZA); Benzac AC® (BR, CA, CL, DO, GT, IL, SG, SV, TH, ZA); Benzac AC wash® (BR, CL); Benzac® (AU, BE, BR, CH, IT, LU, MX, NL, PT, TR); Benzacne® (PL); Benzac W® (CL); Benzac W® Gel (CA); Benzac W® Wash (CA); Benzaderm® (MX); Benzagel® (BR); Benzaknen® (AT, DE); Benzapur® (PL); Benzihex® (AR); Benzoile Perossido® (IT); Benzolac® (ID); Benzoylperoxide-Galderma® (LU); Benzoyt® (DE); Benzperox® (DE); Bexid® (SE); B.P.O. Combustin® (DE); Brevoxyl® (AU, DE, FI, FR, GB, IE, NO, PL, SE, SG, TH); Clearamed® (ES); Clearasil Benzoyl P® (ZA); Clearasil Ultra® (PL); Clearex Gel® (IL); Cordes BPO® (DE); Cutacnyl® (FR); Dercome® (DE); Dermoxyl® (BR); Desquam-X® (CA); Dry and Clear® (ZA); Eclaran® (BG, CZ, FR, LU, PT); Ecnagel P.B.® (AR); Ecuaderm® (VE); Effacne® (CH, FR, LU); Execut® (AR); Inoxitan® (CZ); Keratoxy Gel® (AR); Klinoxid® (DE); Lubexyl® (CH, HU, PL); Marduk® (DE); Oxiderma® (ES); Oxy 10 Cover Up® (PL); OXY-10 Lotion® (PL); Oxy® (AU, HU, IL, PL); Oxyderm™ (CA); Pangel® (BE); Pannogel® (BE, FR); PanOxyl®-AQ (CA); Panoxyl® (AT, AU, BE, BR); PanOxyl® (CA); Panoxyl® (CH, CO, CR, DE, DO, EG, ES, FR, GB, GT, HN, IE, IL, IT, JO, KW, LB, LU, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PT, SG, SV, SY, TH, ZA); Pansulfox® (CL); PB Gel® (AR); Peroxacne® (ES); Peroxiben® (CL, ES); Persol Gel® (IN); Pimplex® (ID); Pirobac Gel® (CL); Polybenza AQ® (ID); Reloxyl® (IT); Sanoxit® (DE); Scherogel® (AT, BE, LU); Solucel® (ES); Solugel® (AR, BR, CA, CL, DO, GT, HN, MX, PA, SV); Stioxyl® (SE); Stop Espinilla Normaderm® (ES); Tiltis® (AR); Tinagel® (BE, LU, NL); Ultra Clearasil® (PL); Vixiderm® (AR)