It would be accurate to say that benzoyl peroxide is something of a powerhouse ingredient in acne face washes. It’s used by millions of people every day to control zit breakouts and it has been for many years. Have you ever wondered how the magic happens? If so, you’re in the right place, as here we’re going to look at what happens at the microscopic level when benzoyl peroxide face wash is used.
Essentially, benzoyl peroxide (or BP for short) is an organic compound that’s able to break into two separate components: benzoic acid and oxygen. When a product containing it is applied to the skin, these components are involved in a series of chemical reactions that help to treat acne. Stick around as we give you the lowdown.
Why Is Benzoyl Peroxide Face Wash So Effective?
The reason why BP washes are so popular is because of the results they can help you achieve. Why are they so effective? Well, it’s because benzoyl peroxide face wash releases oxygen while also tackling the growth of bacteria. This kind of bacteria simply adores low-oxygen environments, such as clogged pores, and BP is effective in adding oxygen to the equation.
The oxygen is released to disrupt this haven of bacteria and reduce the likelihood that you’ll get future breakouts. It’s this antibacterial action that gives products like this such potency and makes it ideal for anyone suffering from moderate to severe acne.
Clearing Pores Deep Beneath the Skin
Also happening at the microscopic level is a clearing of the pores. This happens due to BP washes also acting as a compound that breaks down keratin while also removing dead skin that can cause blockages. All this allows your pores to stay clean, unblocked and healthy, so you don’t then have to deal with the annoyance and irritation of blackheads, whiteheads and other forms of acne.
Also, while BP is not strictly an oil-reducing product, it does serve to reduce the skin’s tendency to over-produce oil through its other effects mentioned above. As such, using it for an extended period will lead to less oily skin in general.
Reducing Swelling & Redness
The body’s natural response when an acne lesion forms is inflammation, swelling and redness, which is what makes your zits hurt as much as they do. Another nice side effect of using benzoyl peroxide is it helps to reduce it, leading to a calmer complexion.
Also, bacteria do not easily develop any kind of resistance to BP washes – as they can with antibiotics – so you can rely on them to stay effective for as long as you need them to be.
Why Not Add Benzoyl Peroxide Face Wash to Your Bathroom Cabinet?
At the microscopic level, BP washes can keep acne at bay firstly by flooding the area with oxygen. At the same time as doing that, these products reduce inflammation, clear the pores and keep your skin blemish-free – so long as you use the right strength for your complexion and use a consistent routine.
So, with all this on offer, you might be wondering why you haven’t added this to your bathroom cabinet yet. Try it out for yourself and you’ll see that it’s every bit as effective as it’s claimed to be.
Dariel Campbell is currently an English instructor at a university. She has experience in teaching and assessing English tests including TOEFL, IELTS, BULATS, FCE, CAE, and PTEG. With over a decade of teaching expertise, Dariel Campbell utilizes his knowledge to develop English lessons for her audience on English Overview.
