Many users report that benzoyl peroxide use for acne increases scarring and produces lumpy bumps in their skin.

Benzoyl peroxide generates free radicals in the skin in a manner to similar to unprotected sun exposure. The redness of the skin (erythema), caused by sun exposure and benzoyl peroxide, is the result of free radicals acting upon the skin. This can slowly damage the skin's structure and cause premature aging of the skin.

Benzoyl peroxide slows the healing process. The red-brown marks that after acne outbreaks last longer when benzoyl peroxide is a part of the acne treatment.

Benzoyl peroxide is linked to cancer genesis and is considered a free radical-generating skin tumor promoting agent. Many published articles support a linkage between benzoyl peroxide and skin cancer.

In 1995 the FDA changed benzoyl peroxide from a Category I (safe) to a Category III (safety is uncertain) based on information that benzoyl peroxide was a tumor promoter in mice.

I am thrilled to see that Dr. Pickart has included this in his list of "DO NOT USE"!

Hopefully here, it will get a lot more attention for everyone who may be currently using or has used them in the past...

...Please, spread the Word!!!

Thanks Dr. Pickart!!!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: stoney,

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=&DbFrom=pub...les&logdbfrom=pubmed

If that link works, it will take you to search results on benzoyl peroxide from Pubmed. If it doesn't work, just got to pubmed.com and type in benzoyl peroxide. Some very interesting stuff there.

Wow.....this is HUGE in terms of information! When I think back to all of the products I used that touted this as the prized main ingredient, I just want to scream!! And it's still sold OTC.

Dr. Pickart...My theory????

I've been playing "cowardly lion", but do you think you can incorporate this into your site somehow about Benzoyl Peroxide & its "nasty" side effects?

I think people spend a lot of time researching there before even considering coming onto the forums...

I mean, I think I'm exhausting myself... & I think a lot of people will able to put 2 & 2 together on their own if the read something regarding BP & the trapped bumps they cause under their skin.

This really is HUGE & if you can do it in a very gentle way so "You Know Who" doesn't notice, I think you can reach & help a lot more people...

I spent over a year reseaching on your site & dabbling with your products before everything started to come together for me...I think others can do the same thing, but they may "give up" to soon...

Yes, but remind me about it again in about a month or two with an email to me.

Right now we are working on a new unified website and this is a huge project. We are also in the final editing of the 2nd Edition of Reverse Skin Aging.

Yes, oaky...This IS IMPOTARTANT!!! I may be gone by then if my house sells & I'm in a transitonal state, better known as "A State of Turmoil"...up the DHEA!!...

I know that I've been saying that I have been "suspect" for 15 yrs., but looking back now it's more like 25...

You can only know this if you've "USED" any BP products, you probably haven't...LUCKY YOU...

...but for those of us who have, epecially those who are 50ish, this explain why we always felt like we were "plagued" by chronic acne at worst & "not so perfect skin" at best!!!

It was not acne at all...most of the scars & white bumps where from the abnormal healing under the skin caused by the BPs which formed "Alien-like" plugs in perfectly healthy tissue. Most of the scarring wasn't "Actual Acne Scars" but was also a by-product of this abnormal healing & "calcium-like formations" that never went away...they only got deeper & worse over time!!!

People need to know... & the desperate ones, like myself all make their way to your "Masterfully-crafted website"...

Need a Partner??? lol

This message has been edited. Last edited by: stoney,

I'm reading on acne.org to see what people have to say about using the BP regimen, and sure enough, I'm running across posts about chronically red skin, bumps and lumps under the skin, etc.

Oh Summerwave...Totally been there!...I want to cry...

quote:

Originally posted by Dr. Pickart:
Yes, but remind me about it again in about a month or two with an email to me.

Right now we are working on a new unified website and this is a huge project. We are also in the final editing of the 2nd Edition of Reverse Skin Aging.

I can't wait to see the new website. I hope you can include many more testimonials you have received. Those are fun to read.

Using BP is banned in my country, I ordered BP from acne.org one month ago. I found it worked for acnes. but it was terrible experience cause i had to suffer from allegy.

Do not use this, if you do not have serious acens. .

Hello. New to the site. Found many of the threads enjoyable.
With this thread I must defend BP. I am middle aged and my acne had flared up SO BAD that I was almost in tears. I had been a long time user of Proactiv and hadn't used it in 8 mos. So I found acne.org and they said to use more of BP not less and it has stopped all of my acne. In fact people remark about my face however that could be because it's acne free and before it looked like chicken pox. However I am so sensitive to other products so I can see how some could had negative reactions. I have tried plenty of products with no results. Just my 2 cents.

Most people believe benzoyl peroxide can stop acne outbreaks but it may also produce long term scarring.

I used a topical prescription called Clindoxyl Gel all through highschool, and it was the only thing that could control my acne. The active ingredients were 1% Clindamycin (I don't know what it does), and 5% BP. I'm now skeptical about it since reading this, and also since the most recent tube I've gotten suddenly has additional cautionary stickers on it (i.e. don't spend long in the sun while taking this). However, in all the time I used Clindoxyl, I had hardly any scarring at all, while when I stopped using it for only a few months when I started uni, I got major acne followed by major major scarring. I started using it again after a few months, and the acne went away again, but the scars remain When I get my CPs I may stop using it though, in case BP really does make things worse.

I found a pic that I added to the friend's album taken 3 yrs. ago with my BBB Stoney...As you can see, after close to 30 yrs of BP use my skin actually looked pretty good...

It was shortly after this XMAS that my laser scar & MANY, MANY, MANY Bumps became more prominent on my face.

The damage under my skin from BP use turned out to extremely severe... ...I truly would NOT recommend BP use in ANY form as the the "BP Revenge" is NASTY!

So does this mean that Proactiv is not safe to use?

Hopeful,

Long-term use of BP products causes "severely scarred pored" deep under the surface of the skin. The surface may look smooth & clear, but the damage is deep within & very difficult to deal with.

I really noticed the MANY, MANY bumps under my skin when I turned 47 after nearly 30 yrs of use. Perhaps to my skin thinning a little from age??? It has turned out to be a NIGHTMARE to deal with!...

I would suggest trying Retin-A if your acne is still active. It will save you a lot of grief later...

If I say it is not safe, then Proactiv's lawyers will sue me.

But the FDA has removed benzoyl peroxide from the GRAS list of ingredients considered Generally Recognized As Safe.

Thank you, Dr Pickart & Stoney.

I am thinking my skin probably wouldn't have looked this scarred if I hadn't used that bp.I used to use the Oxy 5.
A young guy told me not to use benzoyle per.back in the 80's.I didn't really believe him
but I did notice red=brown marks.I didn't want the huge embarrassing bumps though.
Then with the new stuff,they say it's finely milled so you think it's better.I didn't use it consistantly due to that nagging little voice in my head saying,"wow,that bleached the pillow white!How good can that be for the face?"