Benzoyl peroxide is one of the best acne treatments that consumers can buy over-the-counter without a prescription, and we recommend it for anyone with mild to moderate acne.
However, you may have noticed that benzoyl peroxide products are available in different strengths. Most of the products you’ll find in stores are 10% strength, but it can also be found in 2.5% and 5% varieties.
Many people will assume that the higher concentration must be better at fighting acne, but is this really true? Contrary to popular belief, no it isn’t!
Let’s take a look at why this is the case, and what strength of benzoyl peroxide you should actually be using.
What Science Has To Say
In our research we could only find one scientific study comparing the effectiveness of different benzoyl peroxide strengths, but the results were quite conclusive.
2.5%, 5%, and 10% concentrations of benzoyl peroxide are all equally effective at reducing acne lesions and killing the P. acnes bacteria which causes acne.
So then it doesn’t matter which strength you use if they all treat acne with the same effectiveness, right? Well, no. Actually it matters quite a lot.
The study also found that desquamation (skin peeling), erythema (skin redness) and symptoms of burning from a 2.5% concentration were less frequent than with a 10% concentration, and equal to a 5% concentration.
Bottom line: 2.5% is just as effective as higher concentrations at treating acne, but is less irritating to the skin.
The “Maximum Strength” Marketing Gimmick
Now that you know the what science has to say about the different benzoyl peroxide concentrations, you may be wondering why 10% is the most common strength sold in stores.
The answer is actually quite simple: 10% is the highest concentration that is allowed to be sold without a prescription, so this allows manufacturers to label the product as “Maximum Strength”. This marketing gimmick works very well, and consumers genuinely believe that they are buying a product that is more effective. Fortunately, after reading this article, you know the truth that 10% benzoyl peroxide is not more effective at all.
Where To Find 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide
It can be hard to find 2.5% benzoyl peroxide in stores, since 10% is much more common, but here are some of the best 2.5% benzoyl peroxide products that are on the market today.
Acne.org Treatment
This is the most economically priced benzoyl peroxide available, if you do the math and see how much you’re paying per ounce. It’s available in larger sizes than any other benzoyl peroxide (8 oz. And 16 oz.) and is very high quality. The only drawback is that it’s not available in retail stores, only online.
Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Treatment
This one can be found in most stores that sell skin care products, however the major drawback is that it only comes in rather small 0.75 oz tubes that run out very quickly. Still, it’s a decent product if you’re new to benzoyl peroxide and aren’t sure if it’s right for you. It will allow you to test it without having to spend a lot of money on a large tube.
Proactive Solution Repairing Lotion
The acne fighting ingredient in the popular Proactive line of products is actually a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide lotion, which is probably why Proactive has been effective for so many people. Unfortunately, you’ll be paying a little more because it’s a well known brand but it’s still a quality product.
