Frequently Asked Questions

When applying benzoyl peroxide, it will immediately get to work on treating the visible pimples on your skin’s surface, but it will also start to go to work underneath as well. Because of this, you need to allow 8-12 weeks to see the full effect that Benzac has had on your acne. Escaping the cycle of spots is a commitment. Due to the effects of benzoyl peroxide on your skin, your acne may sometimes appear worse before it gets better – but try not to give up. This is likely to happen in the first two weeks of treatment. Try and remember that once it gets worse it is actually closer to being better.

Benzac products work best on mild to moderate acne. Severe cases of acne may need different treatments so it’s best to consult your healthcare professional. If you’re unsure about whether or not your acne is severe, our article Acne and Pimples: Spot the Difference breaks down the different types of acne that exist.

Yes, you can! If you don’t suffer from acne then you can use our cleansers, scrubs and moisturiser products. These products don’t have the active ingredients that are specific to treating mild to moderate acne, but are effective for maintaining clear and hydrated skin. See our full line up of complementary skincare products to find out more.

Yes, you can. When you first start using Benzac AC treatment gels it’s recommended that for the first three days, you only leave the treatment on for a couple of hours and wash it off. This ensures that you are getting your skin used to benzoyl peroxide. After three days of no redness, you can then apply Benzac in the evening and leave it on overnight. Make sure that you are applying a moisturiser after the treatment product to prevent any dryness from occurring. To read more instructions on how to apply our Benzac AC treatment gel, visit our product page.

Everyone is different and so is their skin. When trying a new product, it’s always best to do a patch test first. We recommend that you try applying a little bit of the product on the area behind your ear. This will help determine if you are sensitive to the product and active ingredients before you use it on your face. If you have sensitive skin, we recommend that you consult your healthcare professional.

Yes, you can. However, it’s important to remember that benzoyl peroxide is naturally drying and can cause your dry skin to become even dryer. The best way to combat this is to ensure that you moisturise every time you use a treatment. It’s important that you use a moisturiser that won't clog your pores and boosts your skin's hydration. Our Redness Relief Moisturiser is an amazing product to help you reduce dryness and protect from sun UVA/UVB with SPF30. See our line of products designed for dry skin.

All of our treatment products in the Benzac range contain benzoyl peroxide. Unfortunately, if you’re allergic to benzoyl peroxide, you will not be able to use the Benzac treatment products. If you’re unable to use benzoyl peroxide, you can still benefit from our complementary skincare products. See our full line up of complementary skincare products  to find out more.

We are happy to inform you that all formulations within Benzac have not been tested on animals. However, it is important to understand that the active ingredient found in the Benzac AC range, benzoyl peroxide, has been used extensively in the pharmaceutical industry for over 30 years. During that time, it was mandatory to test human health products on animals and therefore the active ingredient benzoyl peroxide, would have been tested on animals to ensure its safety for use in humans.

When using benzoyl peroxide, we recommend that you start at 2.5% and build up over time as needed. Do not start at the 5% or 10% formulations. See our full line up of treatment strength options to find out more.

Slight tightness or mild redness may indicate that your skin is adjusting to the active ingredients in Benzac. This is a common occurrence and may last up to two weeks. If you experience dryness while using Benzac, ensure that you are using the Benzac Daily Facial Moisturiser after applying the Benzac AC treatment gels. This will help to reduce the drying nature of benzoyl peroxide on your skin.

Given the nature of benzoyl peroxide, you may experience some minor irritation or dryness. In most cases, this will go away as your skin becomes used to the treatment. If it doesn't, we recommend that you see your healthcare professional. A non-comedogenic moisturiser (one that won't clog your pores) is an effective way to help manage any dryness that may occur. See our range of moisturisers to help combat dry and irritated skin.

It’s important that if you are using a treatment product with an active ingredient, such as benzoyl peroxide, that you are also using a quality cleanser and moisturiser. Get into a routine and apply your cleanser, treatment and moisturiser morning and night for consistency and to help improve your results.

Exfoliating is an important part of your acne-fighting skincare routine. We recommend that you treat your skin gently and only exfoliate a maximum of twice a week as doing it more frequently can further irritate and inflame the skin. Get all the facts about exfoliation in our article Should I Exfoliate if I Have Acne-Prone Skin?

Use a moisturiser every single day, both morning and night. There are no two ways about it, benzoyl peroxide will dry your skin – even if it tends to be oily. The best way to counteract this is to use a non-comedogenic moisturiser every day. If you're just beginning with your benzoyl peroxide treatment, start using moisturiser now, even before you notice any uncomfortable dryness. See our range of moisturisers to help combat oily skin.

Pimples are generally seen as random spots that tend to settle after a while; by contract, acne refers to blemishes that occur more frequently and require some assistance (and time) to resolve. However, did you know pimples are just a type of acne? There are actually six types of acne, which you can read all about in our article Acne and Pimples: Spot the Difference.

Unfortunately, you can’t get rid of acne overnight. The process of controlling acne takes time, even for mild cases of acne. If you have mild or moderate acne, implement an anti-acne skincare routine as soon as possible. If you have severe acne or are just unsure about what will work best for your skin, speak to a healthcare professional to seek advice. To get the basic overview of what acne is and how to treat it, check out our article 10 Facts You Need to Know About Acne.

The treatment for these areas is the same as for facial acne. For mild acne on your chest, back or shoulders, you can use the Benzac AC Moderate Strength 5%  Acne Wash in the shower.

Acne scarring is caused by severe acne, but it can also be caused by picking, popping and/or over exfoliating. Although tempting, do not pick or pop your acne. This causes it to become a sore that can then leave a scar once healed. The best thing you can do to keep scarring at bay is to effectively treat any existing acne with a therapeutic treatment product, such as our Benzac AC treatment gels. If you are suffering from severe acne and are concerned about acne scarring, then please seek medical advice from a healthcare professional.

Benzoyl peroxide is a medication used to treat mild to moderate acne. When applied to the skin, it penetrates deeply, killing acne bacteria living inside the pore.

Yes, acne treatments containing benzoyl peroxide are effective in controlling mild acne. Because of its drying effects, it’s also important to use a complementary cleanser and moisturiser.

No, you can purchase Benzac products over the counter.

Find a store near you in the Where to buy Benzac page.

Benzoyl peroxide can stain or even “bleach” fabrics. Because of this, when you are using products that contain benzoyl peroxide, always wash your hands thoroughly after use.  If you are leaving benzoyl peroxide treatment gels on overnight, try sleeping with an old pillowcase slip to avoid staining your good linens. You can read more about this in our Tips for Parents article.