STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

sfclinevandy · Coach

Benzoyl Peroxide vs. Salicylic Acid

janey831 · Kate Spade

I don't really know what the difference is, but my sister is allergic to benzoyl peroxide, she gets red, itchy, swollen bumps on her face when she uses it.

deadlyjane · BCBG

I know that salicylic acid eats away dead skin and benzoyl peroxide fights the accual zit. or the other way around.

sorry not too helpfull

Aurora · Marc Jacobs

I don't really know what the difference between the two are but I do know that bp will get rid of my zits where as sa doesn't really do anything for me.

jaymiek · Coach

benzoyl peroxide gets rid of the bacteria that causes pimples, and salicylic acid is more of an exfoliant. I think you need to use a combo of both to effectively fight acne. My derm has me on a regimen of bp cleanser and tazorac.

-- Edited by jaymiek at 22:46, 2006-01-31

JoceyBaby23 · Gucci

I'm pretty sure BP is the stronger of the two. I think it attacks the zit that already developed.

I know that SA is VERY drying.. and can be used more as a preventative measure for breakouts.

Elle · Hermes

jaymiek wrote:

benzoyl peroxide gets rid of the bacteria that causes pimples, and salicylic acid is more of an exfoliant.

One isn't necessarily better than the other. They treat different problems (BP works best on larger 'pimples' and SA is better at whiteheads/blackheads), and everyone responds differently to stuff so you never know.

That being said SA does pretty much nothing for me. I think if your skin is rough it might help exfoliate and therefore clear you up a bit, but if you're already exfoliating manually IMO it doesn't do much.

Seashells · Dooney & Bourke

I use both. Salicylic acid helps prevent breakouts and cleans up your pores, because it has bacteria riding properties.

The benzoyl peroxide is a drying agent.

halleybird · Hermes

SA works much better for me. I have gotten very, very few big pimples since I started using it daily.

daiz519 · Dooney & Bourke

I was using both because a Sephora sales associate told me to. She said that SA is an exfoliant and that BP is a disinfectant.

That being said, once I started using both my skin was not looking so hot. It was very very dry and not cleared up at all. While visiting in New York, I stopped by Henri Bendel for fun and talked to a Mario Badescu rep there. She told me that I only needed one (either BP or SA) but not both because it was too harsh on my skin. I started using some of the products she recommended and my skin does look better than it did back then. Still, it is not what it used to be which I blame on my hormones (I've switched birth control a few times which is when my skin problems started).

So I'm not really sure who is right but using both was definitely too much for my skin. I'm still searching for a "cure" to my acne :(

I do notice that my Mario Badescu Drying mask and Healing and Soothing mask help a lot.

HeatherLynn · Gucci

What brands of each do you use, for those of you who use one or both?

daiz519 · Dooney & Bourke

I use Dermalogica 2% SA (medicated clearing gel)

When I used BP I used Neutrogena 2.5%

I've also tried PTR 10% BP with sulfur but that dried my skin out way too much so I stopped

Lilykind · Hermes

I believe in the clearing power of BP. I use Peter Thomas Roth's 10% BPO gel with sulfur because my cystic acne has been moderate to severe for years now. This is the only product that keeps the acne at bay.

SA is too gentle for me...it doesn't do very much at all.

esquiress · Marc Jacobs

jaymiek wrote:

benzoyl peroxide gets rid of the bacteria that causes pimples, and salicylic acid is more of an exfoliant. I think you need to use a combo of both to effectively fight acne. My derm has me on a regimen of bp cleanser and tazorac.-- Edited by jaymiek at 22:46, 2006-01-31

jaymiek, who's your derm? my best friend's looking for one and for some reason i remember you living around pasadena too? is your derm local?

ETA: jaymiek, sending you a pm just in case you don't see this...

-- Edited by esquiress at 14:49, 2006-02-07

Drew · Gucci

I use SA on my chest and back with slight success. I don't use BP on those areas because it WILL bleach clothes. I use BP in a 2.5% solution (which is just as effective, by the way, as 10% but not as irritating) on my face and within four months of using a particular program (On a side note I found a good program on acne.org -highly reccommend this cheap, yet really, really good system that you can get at the drugstore. I used to use Department store products, but switched reluctantly to try the "regimine" and was/am thrilled with it). I should say that I was on two rounds (ten years apart) of Accutane so that had something to do with it, because when I originally used BP before my first round of Accutane, and before my second round of Accutane it was effective at first but my skin became immune to it. I have been on this program for almost a year and have the clearest skin of my life. Maybe more than you asked, but I couldn't help myself.

Bottom line: SA works ok, but not as well as BP for more persistent acne.