Benzoyl peroxide
On the label: Benzoyl Peroxide · Active · regulated as a drug in some uses
What it is
An over-the-counter acne drug ingredient in the US, 2.5 to 10 percent. Bleaches fabric and can oxidise retinoids applied at the same time.
Actives: Actives are the ingredients a product is built around: acids, retinoids, vitamins and the like.
Wikidata: Organic chemical compound. Q411424 →
In the research
793 PubMed papers mention it with skin, cosmetics or hair; the three most recent:
- Innovative Approaches in the Treatment of Acne Vulgaris: A Comprehensive Review of Current and Emerging Therapies · Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery, 2026
- Current and Emerging Drug Therapy for Acne Vulgaris: A Comprehensive Review · Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery, 2026
- Localized comedones and perifollicular hyperpigmentation during tapinarof cream therapy: a case series · Skin health and disease, 2026
A paper is a paper, not a verdict: titles are listed so you can read them, and a study on cells or mice says little about a cream on a face.
Other actives
Dew & Balm describes ingredients from the public record and makes no claim about what a product will do for you. Statements about dietary supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA. If a product causes a reaction, stop using it; a reaction that spreads or affects breathing is a call to a doctor or 911.