The Lipstick Party

Benzoyl peroxide is a chemical name that is familiar to those who have, or currently suffer from acne. It is the main component of essentially every acne topical and cleanser found on the market. It’s beneficial mechanism allows the skin to shed dead skills more efficiently and also attacks p. acnes bacteria. Since this medication can prove to be quite effective, some sufferers seem hesitant to stop usage after they are prescribed other products by their dermatologist.

While it may not completely clear the skin alone, it sure does help the situation. So, many acne sufferers are convinced that it will help matters once they start their new treatment. After all, they are warned that they should expect an initial breakout after embarking on the new regimen. As some have unfortunately learned, mixing benozyl peroxide with the topical retinoids most often prescribed by dermatologists can have catastrophic effects when done incorrectly.

The topicals which your dermatologist prescribes to you, most notably retinoids, differ in function when compared to BP. There medications are designed to improve desquamation, a fancy word for skin shedding. This prevents pores from becoming clogged. The latter is more tailored towards eradicating acne bacteria. Both medications can constitute an effective regimen when used properly. It is a different story altogether when they are mixed.

People who have made the mistake of mixing these two medications, despite their physician?s warnings, have largely reported troublesome symptoms. A period of severely dehydrated skin is among the most common symptoms, leading to flakiness and itching. If you find that you have unintentionally used both products at once, a moisturizer should be your first instinctive treatment. It should help calm the irritation. Continue using it throughout the day to alleviate the dryness.

Evidently, it is not a good idea to tamper with your skin in the days after your accidental mix up so that you allow it to heal. Adding more irritation into the equation by using either the benzoyl peroxide to tretinoin will render the situation more unbearable. Instead, let everything return to normal and then slowly ease back into your usual acne treatment routine.