Benzoyl Peroxide vs Salicylic Acid: Their Role In Men's Skin Care

If you're prone to acne or irritated skin, you've probably spent some time looking for a treatment that's safe and effective. 

Additionally, you want to heal, not further damage, your face's sensitive skin.

Two of the most common ingredients in topical treatments for acne are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. 

These two ingredients can sometimes be found together, particularly in cleansers for severe acne, but they have different chemical structures and purposes. Used in combination for too long they can lead, at least momentarily, to dry skin.

Here's a handy breakdown so you can make the right choice in keeping your skin care top-notch, and breakouts to a minimum.

The Purpose of Benzoyl Peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is a topical antiseptic often used to fight acne. It is an organic acid with antimicrobial properties. The activity of benzoyl peroxide on the skin is such that it kills bacteria as well as helps strip back the dead skin cells that can block pores and trap sebum, which are the cause of acne and much skin inflammation. 

Benzoyl peroxide (usually in the form of a benzoyl peroxide wash) is typically recommended for inflammatory acne, but can also be used to treat other skin conditions, such as rosacea.

Benzoyl peroxide also has a mild bleaching quality which can make the skin look less troubled and inflamed.

Salicylic acid is also known as aspirin and is derived from natural sources such as white willow bark. Salicylic acid is a powerful exfoliant that's been used for over two millennia. It's especially useful for clearing away the dead skin cells that can cause blackheads and whiteheads. It also tends to be mild on the skin and decreases inflammation and redness. 

Interestingly, as a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), salicylic acid is oil-soluble, allowing it to penetrate into the skin and remove dead skin cells, without triggering any negative reaction.

When considering Benzoyl Peroxide vs Salicylic Acid, it's really about what you're looking for.

The Effects of Benzoyl Peroxide Products on Men's Skin

1. Treats Mild to Moderate Acne

Benzoyl peroxide is effective at treating mild to moderate acne. In fact, it can work as fast as overnight to minimize skin swelling and redness. 

Topical antibiotics like benzoyl peroxide (which turns to the antibacterial benzoic acid once absorbed by the skin) work extremely well as a spot-treatment for mild to moderate acne breakouts. 

If you find yourself facing a sudden unsightly blemish on your face right before a big job interview, date, or some other important event, it's a handy ingredient to have on hand. 

Benzoyl peroxide is proven to inhibit the growth of cutibacterium acnes, the main bacterium that causes acne. 

That's distinct from salicylic acid, which simply clears out any blockages hampering your pores, which makes benzoyl peroxide for acne is a popular choice.

2. Sheds Dead Skin Cells

Benzoyl peroxide works in part by exfoliating the dead skin cells that can block pores and lead to inflammation.

So the application of benzoyl peroxide alone can provide you with a cleansing, refreshing feeling, as well as making future outbreaks less likely, given that your pores are no longer blocked. It increases the rapidity of cell turnover, leading to fresher, newer skin.

3. Gets Rid of Excess Sebum

Benzoyl peroxide targets the formation of comedones, the blemishes like mild acne that form from blockages of pores. Benzoyl peroxide, as a mild acid, removes the plug formed by bacteria, dirt, and sebum that's built up under the skin. 

If your skin type is oily or combination, you can feel refreshed and cleansed after applying it, and you'll improve your skin's appearance.

Invest in Quality Acne Treatment Products From Tiege Hanley

If you want the best treatment for acne, you should know it's best to have a wide-ranging action plan to keep your skin healthy. It's not enough to just have one or two acne products on their own, without considering the bigger picture, too.

The Tiege Hanley Acne System is composed of Wash, Scrub, AM, and Acne, four products carefully formulated for you to apply over the course of the day. They work in sync, including while you're sleeping, to keep your skin looking handsome and breakout-free.

Made from natural and proven ingredients, the Tiege Hanley Acne System works magic against mild to moderate acne and provides your skin with moisturizer and nourishment. 

The Tiege Hanley Acne System keeps your skin healthy, busting bacteria, while also exfoliating and protecting against sun damage. It helps you fight acne while still paying mind to all the other factors that could dim the luster of your skin.