[gotseoul?]

Basically, I've noticed two main different types of spot acne treatment creams around stores: 8-10% Benzoyl Peroxide and 2-5% Salycic Acid.

Neutrogena has both types and Clean and Clear has both types (which I still don't get since their both under the same company. that could be a side question). So I'm not sure which one to buy/use since I've heard different things from different people.

Which one is better in general?

Which one would you recommend for my skin type?
-Clear face with time to time acne
-Normal skin; not dry, not oily
-When I do get pimples they get quite large and red
-Looking mainly for a quick treatment, not so much for prevention

Oh, and also how do you use? Can you use the creams after you pop the pimple and it's open?

Thanks!

[Carmen.]

Okay, well having acne for a while, I've pretty much used both these types of products before.

I've seen salicylic acid in cleansers as well as moisturizers.
From my experience, it stings more (since it is an acid) compared to benzoyl peroxide, but it didn't really do anything for my face.

However, I do use benzoyl peroxide, and I really like it.
The way I use it is in a gel called Clindoxyl Gel, where it has both clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide to help kill bacteria.
If you have sensitive skin, this gel may cause some peeling and dryness when you first start using it due to the BP.
But basically overnight, redness and pimples disappear for me.
I totally love this stuff.
Downside is that you need a prescription for it.

[icecreamsoda93]

I don't really know because I don't have acne problems, but I have a friend and I know her cream has that salycic acid stuff
and I use Neutrogena face wash and that has it too and it keeps my skin clear

[mineforkeeps.]

People respond to benzyl peroxide and salicylic acid differently. Some people can't tolerate BP at all (it makes their skin dry and flaky), some can't tolerate SA (drying, stinging) -- it really depends on your skin.

Putting that aside, most BP products I've seen start at 2.5% and can increase to 5% and 10%. I think I read somewhere that it's 'bacterial killing'. Most SA products I've seen are max. ~2-2.5%. SA is a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) which aids in exfoliation and kills bacteria beneath the skin.

Personally, as a spot treatment for pimples (not yet popped), I like using SA (particularly Clean&Clear's Advantage Spot Treatment). After I pop it, I use BP (PanOxyl Aquagel 5%).

If you use SA on broken skin, it will definitely sting.

[pencil_geeks*]

murad uses sulfuric acid..

[mineforkeeps.]

^ I think products that use sulfur are meant more for oily skin types 'cause sulfur is extremely drying (but for some people, it does work very well! i.e. Mario Badescu's Drying Cream works fairly well as a spot treatment, but it is drying). Most products that I've seen that use sulfur are masks.

[PDURRR]

i prefer BP because salylic acid doesn't do anything for me

i don't really feel anything either
the 10% BP i use is kinda cooling if i don't use it for awhile lol...which i think is a chemical burn haha
but yeah i put cream over after i pop it

depends on the person really

i have combo skin...when the weather flips and it gets hot i'm pretty oily..so the BP isn't really drying at all.
my acne is moderate i guess...lotsa small bumps and occasional monsters.

[김지은♥]

As a long time acne sufferer, I have to say- both worked well for me; initially, I started off with Salicylic Acid which at first, cleared me up completely, but once I stopped using it, I started breaking out massively.

I've been on BP for about two years now, though mine is prescription 5% BP. Look for a 2% BP, its the same as the 10% or 5% or anything higher and it won't dry your face out as much.

I think for your large, red pimples, a combination of both BP and Glycolic Acid (Try using the 12% Alpha Hydrox Souffle) will help out a lot. (:

[rice_rice]

it really depends on the individual.

salicylic acid works for me. moisturisers with salicylic acid unclogs my pores and if i use spot treatment with this acid in it, it dries it out from the inside, so my skin wont peel and get irritated.

BP on the other hand burns my skin!. it gets all red and flaky, and even after that, my pimple is still there! my skin really doesnt like it. it's way too harsh for me, even when i use one that has a very low %, like 2.5% or something.

[plumplum]

Salicylic acid works really well for me.

Benzoyl peroxide helps a little.

Clindamycin didn't do anything for me. I've tried it twice, and nothing.

It depends on the person.

[nanshi]

It depends on your skin. There is no general rule.

Salicylic Acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid that works to slough off dead skin and unclog pores. It's something of a mild chemical exfoliant.
Benzoyl Peroxide is something of an antibacterial agent so it works to kill the bacteria in your skin and pores that cause pimples.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids + Benzoyl Peroxide spot treatment are what's supposed to be generally most effective at keeping aggressive acne at bay. AHAs to keep dead skin from building up and clogging pores and causing whiteheads and blackheads and potential pimples, and benzoyl peroxide to treat active pimples to kill the bacteria that's causing them all to be inflamed.

[needlepeople]

BP gives me disgusting burns all over my face that are incredibly painful and unsightly. My skin reacts well with AHA's, and I sure use a lot of them - yogurt (lactic acid) masks, retinol moisturizers, aspirin mask, etc.

[~ BunnyliciouS ~]

10% BP burns and irritates my pimples.
It makes my pimples worse, VERY red, skin peeling.

the 2.5% BP works SOOOOOOOOOO much better
My pimples are cured in less than a week.

[ECCENTRIC?]

Basically , i've been trying BP for a long while now , and it hasn't worked that well for me.
when I switched to SA ( aspirin mask ) my skin got alot better , and now i'm in debt to SA . haha .

[TygrrLilly]

I'm actually slightly allergic to BP- my face gets red, itches and swells.

I like Salycic Acid much more as an acne spot treatment, but now I use products with things like sulfur, tea tree oil and charcoal to help.

[kuroimisa]

SA worked for me, thought I haven't tried BP.

Though the SA was in conjunction with triclosan (yeah not that good for you but when you're acne stricken, anything goes) and that worked a wonder for me. Any kind of product with a similar combination would probably be one of those products you grow "immune" to.

I think whatever you choose to go with, use it moderately. Once you're clear, switch to something else that won't clog your pores or cause breakouts, and alternate. Wouldn't want to see something that works suddenly stop working

I use Biotherm's Acnopur range. There are mixed reviews online, but personally I like it and it worked for me. It unclogs pores, disinfects the face, mattifies (absorbs oil) and has a good texture. The trick is to use the entire range, but it can get pricey especially if you don't see results. Since you have normal skin, I think of the Biopur range as being more suitable. That range balances skin and oil levels and perfects the texture.

The best way to kill pimples is to apply any spot treatments when you notice a part of your skin/ face looking red or feeling a slight bump/ soreness. More than often if you're wary you can prevent a pimple before it even comes out lol.

[chopstickss]

I like BP more. I use a gel from Galderma that has 5% BP

The pharmacist person who recommended the gel told me that most products like Clean and Clear etc use an ingredient called sulfuric acid that dries the oil from your skin.. but it dries it to the point that your body starts producing even more oil than before.

[sub.lime]

BP worked better for me used as a spot treatment. It does dry out skin a bit though, but hey better
than a red pimple..

[qkrcjdfla]

I think it depends on the person and his or her skin type. salicylic acid irritates my skin, though ><