• Basic Info
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What is benzoyl peroxide topical?
Benzoyl peroxide has an antibacterial effect. It also has a mild drying effect, which allows excess oils and dirt to be easily washed away from the skin. Benzoyl peroxide topical is used to treat acne. Benzoyl peroxide topical may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

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What are the possible side effects of benzoyl peroxide topical?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using benzoyl peroxide and call your doctor at once if you have severe stinging or burning of your skin.

Less serious side effects may include:

• mild burning or stinging;

• itching or tingly feeling;

• dryness or peeling of treated skin; or

• redness or other irritation.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.

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How should I use benzoyl peroxide topical?
Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Wash your hands before and after applying this medication. Shake the lotion well just before each use. Clean and pat dry the skin to be treated. Apply benzoyl peroxide in a thin layer and rub in gently. Do not cover the treated skin area unless your doctor has told you to. Benzoyl peroxide topical is usually applied one to three times daily. Follow your doctor's instructions.

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What is the most important information I should know about benzoyl peroxide topical?
Do not use benzoyl peroxide topical while you are also using tretinoin (Altinac, Avita, Renova, Retin-A, Tretin-X). Using these medications together could cause severe skin irritation. Use this medication exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use it in larger amounts or for longer than recommended. Avoid getting this medication in your mouth or eyes. If it does get into any of these areas, rinse with water. Do not use benzoyl peroxide topical on sunburned, windburned, dry, chapped, irritated, or broken skin. Also avoid using benzoyl peroxide topical on wounds or on areas of eczema. Wait until these conditions have healed before using this medication.

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What happens if I miss a dose?
Apply the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to apply the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

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What other drugs will affect benzoyl peroxide topical?
It is not likely that other drugs you take orally or inject will have an effect on topically applied benzoyl peroxide. But many drugs can interact with each other. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

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Can I take this if I am pregnant or trying to get pregnant or if I am breastfeeding?

Benzoyl peroxide has been assigned to pregnancy category C by the FDA. Animal studies have not been reported. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. Benzoyl peroxide topical is only recommended for use during pregnancy when benefit outweighs risk.

There are no data on the excretion of benzoyl peroxide into human milk. The manufacturer recommends that caution be used when administering benzoyl peroxide topical to nursing women.

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What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. An overdose of benzoyl peroxide applied to the skin is not likely to cause life-threatening symptoms.

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What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using benzoyl peroxide topical?
Do not use benzoyl peroxide topical while you are also using tretinoin (Altinac, Avita, Renova, Retin-A, Tretin-X). Using these medications together could cause severe skin irritation. FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. It is not known whether benzoyl peroxide passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

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Can I stop taking the medication if I feel better?
As a general rule, you should always take your medications exactly as prescribed and do not change the dosage or stop taking the medication without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

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I am on so many medications; do I have to take them all?
This is called polypharmacy—many different medications being used at the same time by one person. Sometimes, being on multiple medications is acceptable and appropriate but at other times it may be problematic. If you are receiving your medications from multiple physicians you need to ensure that they all know what medications you are taking. The best way to do this is to make a list of all the medications you are currently using, including all nutritional supplements, homeopathic remedies, vitamins and over-the-counter drugs (if possible, also include all the diseases you have been diagnosed with). Give a copy to every doctor who takes care of you so they have it on file, this way they can avoid duplicating medications and perhaps even try to consolidate some. After every doctor's visit remember to update the list accordingly. Also, as much as you possibly can, try to use the same pharmacy to fill all your prescriptions, this way any potential drug interactions can be caught and averted.

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