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benzoyl peroxide (Benzac AC Gel, Desquam-X, Benzac AC Wash, Benzac Acne Eliminating Cleanser, BenzEFoam, BPO Creamy Wash Complete Pack, BPO Foaming Cloth, BPO Gel, Clean and Clear Advantage 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser, Clean and Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser, Clean and Clear Gel, Clearasil Vanishing Acne Treatment Cream, Lavoclen-4 Creamy Wash, Lavoclen-8 Creamy Wash, NeoBenz Micro, NeoBenz Micro SD, NeoBenz Micro Wash, Neutrogena Benzoyl Peroxide Lotion, Neutrogena Clear Pore Acne Treatment, Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Treatment, Neutrogena Clear Pore Daily Scrub, Pacnex MX, PanOxyl Acne Cleansing Bar, PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash, PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash, Proactiv, Proactiv Advanced Blemish Treatment, Proactiv Renewing Cleanser, Proactiv Repairing, Riax, Zapzyt Acne Treatment Gel)

 

Classes: Acne Agents, Topical

Dosing and uses of Benzac AC Gel, Desquam-X (benzoyl peroxide)

 

Adult dosage forms and strengths

topical geL

  • 2.5% (Proactive Repairing)
  • 4% (BPO Gel)
  • 5% (Benzac AC Gel, Clean and Clear Gel)
  • 8% (BPO Gel)
  • 10% (Benzac AC Gel, Zapzyt Acne Treatment Gel)

topical lotion

  • 2.5% (Proactive Repairing)
  • 3.5% (Neutrogena Benzoyl Peroxide Lotion)
  • 7% (Proactiv)

bar

  • 10% (PanOxyl Acne Cleansing Bar)

topical cream

  • 2.5% (Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Treatment, Proactiv)
  • 5.5% (NeoBenz Micro, NeoBenz Micro SD)
  • 6% (Proactiv Advanced Blemish Treatment)
  • 7% (Proactiv)
  • 10% (Clearasil Vanishing Acne Treatment Cream, Neutrogena Clear Pore Acne Treatment)

topical foam

  • 5.3% (BenzEFoam)
  • 5.5% (Riax)
  • 9.5% (Riax)

topical wash

  • 2.5% (Proactiv Renewing Cleanser)
  • 3% (BPO Foaming Cloth)
  • 3.7% (Neutrogena Clear Pore Daily Scrub)
  • 4% (PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash, Lavoclen-4 Cream Wash)
  • 4.25% (Pacnex MX)
  • 5% (Benzac AC Wash, Clean and Clear Advantage 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser)
  • 6% (BPO Foaming Cloth)
  • 7% (NeoBenz Micro Wash)
  • 8% (Lavoclen-8 Creamy Wash)
  • 9% (BPO Foaming Cloth)
  • 10% (PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash, Clean and Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser)

topical gel cleanser

  • 2.6% (Benzac Acne Eliminating Cleanser)

 

Acne Vulgaris

Topical formulations: Apply sparingly to affected areas qDay after thoroughly washing skin; may gradually increase to BID/TID if needed

Topical cleansers: Wash qDay or BID; decrease frequency or product concentration if excessive dryness occurs

 

Pediatric dosage forms and strengths

topical geL

  • 2.5% (Proactive Repairing)
  • 4% (BPO Gel)
  • 5% (Benzac AC Gel, Clean and Clear Gel)
  • 8% (BPO Gel)
  • 10% (Benzac AC Gel, Zapzyt Acne Treatment Gel)

topical lotion

  • 2.5% (Proactive Repairing)
  • 3.5% (Neutrogena Benzoyl Peroxide Lotion)
  • 7% (Proactiv)

bar

  • 10% (PanOxyl Acne Cleansing Bar)

topical cream

  • 2.5% (Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Treatment, Proactiv)
  • 5.5% (NeoBenz Micro, NeoBenz Micro SD)
  • 6% (Proactiv Advanced Blemish Treatment)
  • 7% (Proactiv)
  • 10% (Clearasil Vanishing Acne Treatment Cream, Neutrogena Clear Pore Acne Treatment)

topical foam

  • 5.3% (BenzEFoam)

topical wash

  • 2.5% (Proactiv Renewing Cleanser)
  • 3% (BPO Foaming Cloth)
  • 3.7% (Neutrogena Clear Pore Daily Scrub)
  • 4% (PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash, Lavoclen-4 Cream Wash)
  • 4.25% (Pacnex MX)
  • 5% (Benzac AC Wash, Clean and Clear Advantage 3-in-1 Exfoliating Cleanser)
  • 6% (BPO Foaming Cloth)
  • 7% (NeoBenz Micro Wash)
  • 8% (Lavoclen-8 Creamy Wash)
  • 9% (BPO Foaming Cloth)
  • 10% (PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash, Clean and Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser)

topical gel cleanser

  • 2.6% (Benzac Acne Eliminating Cleanser)

 

Acne Vulgaris

Adolescents

Topical formulations: Apply sparingly to affected areas qDay after thoroughly washing skin; may gradually increase to BID/TID if needed

Topical cleansers: Wash qDay or BID; decrease frequency or product concentration if excessive dryness occurs

 

Benzac AC Gel, Desquam-X (benzoyl peroxide) adverse (side) effects

Frequency not defined

Contact dermatitis

Erythema

Peeling

Skin dryness

 

Warnings

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity

 

Cautions

For external use only; avoid contact with the eyes, lips, and mouth

Skin irritation may occur, characterized by redness, burning, itching, peeling, or possibly swelling; decrease frequency of use or use lower concentration product

Stop use if irritation becomes severe

Coadministration with other topical acne medications may increase skin irritation and dryness

Avoid excessive sun exposure and use sunscreen

Avoid contact with hair and dyed fabrics (eg, pillow cases, towels), which may be bleached by this product

Serious allergic reactions

  • Rare but serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions or severe irritation reported
  • Instruct patients to stop using their topical acne product and seek emergency medical attention immediately if they experience hypersensitivity reactions (eg, throat tightness, difficulty breathing, feeling fain, or swelling of the eyes, face, lips, or tongue)
  • Also instruct patients to stop using the product if they develop hives or itching
  • These serious hypersensitivity reactions differ from the local skin irritation that may occur at the product application site (eg, redness, burning, dryness, itching, peeling, or slight swelling)

 

Pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy category: C

Lactation: excretion in milk unknown; use with caution

 

Pregnancy categories

A: Generally acceptable. Controlled studies in pregnant women show no evidence of fetal risk.

B: May be acceptable. Either animal studies show no risk but human studies not available or animal studies showed minor risks and human studies done and showed no risk.

C: Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks. Animal studies show risk and human studies not available or neither animal nor human studies done.

D: Use in LIFE-THREATENING emergencies when no safer drug available. Positive evidence of human fetal risk.

X: Do not use in pregnancy. Risks involved outweigh potential benefits. Safer alternatives exist.

NA: Information not available.

 

Pharmacology of Benzac AC Gel, Desquam-X (benzoyl peroxide)

Mechanism of action

Elicits action by releasing active oxygen; effective in vitro against Propionibacterium acnes, an anaerobe found in sebaceous follicles and comedones; also elicits a keratolytic and desquamative effect which may also contribute to its efficacy

 

Pharmacokinetics

Benzoyl peroxide absorbed by the skin where it is converted to benzoic acid

 

Administration

Instructions

Before using a topical acne product for the first time, patients should apply a small amount to 1 or 2 small affected areas of the skin for 3 days, if no discomfort/allergy occurs, then the product can be used according to the directions