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Explore Classes. June 20, In This Article. What is hydrogen peroxide, and what does it do for acne? Hydrogen peroxide versus benzoyl peroxide. Is hydrogen peroxide safe to put on your skin? How to use it safely. First, wet a cotton ball with a diluted form of hydrogen peroxide.
Use the solution as a spot treatment by dabbing the cotton ball on the blemish. Follow with a hydrating moisturizer and sunscreen if using during the day. The bottom line. Jamie Schneider mbg Associate Editor. More On This Topic Home. This happens when a blood vessel becomes blocked by an air bubble.
People who have mild cases of non-inflammatory acne can try hydrogen peroxide without a high risk of making inflammation worse. People should also avoid getting hydrogen peroxide on clothing or fabrics, as it may bleach or stain them.
Acne — especially inflammatory acne — often causes damage to the deeper layers of skin, which can lead to scarring. Managing acne with the right treatment can help a person prevent these scars. In most cases, a healthcare provider will prescribe an acne treatment designed to minimize breakouts, inflammation, and scarring.
Unfortunately, hydrogen peroxide could actually make acne scarring worse for some people. An older study in the Journal of Trauma: Injury, Infection, and Critical Care states that hydrogen peroxide may interfere with the formation of fibroblasts.
Fibroblasts are cells that help form collagen, which is an important connective tissue in the skin. Without collagen, skin cannot heal properly and rebuild itself, which could increase the risk of scars. Benzoyl peroxide is a well-known acne treatment that kills bacteria and causes bleaching in the same way as hydrogen peroxide.
However, although they release oxygen to kill bacteria, the two chemicals have a few key differences. Benzoyl peroxide has skin-peeling and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help clear acne. These properties, combined with its antibacterial ability, can help prevent acne breakouts in multiple ways. Manufacturers typically stabilize benzoyl peroxide by combining it with other ingredients that stop it from breaking down on the skin.
An article in the Journal of Cosmetic Science states that exposure to light and air makes common hydrogen peroxide unstable, reducing its effectiveness. Once a person applies it to their skin, it starts to lose its ability to kill bacteria. However, using products that contain stabilized peroxide may have potential as an acne treatment. It is milder and keeps its effectiveness when exposed to light and air. Hydrogen peroxide kills certain types of germs and bacteria.
As such, it may be useful in disinfecting surfaces, utensils, and tools. There is no research advocating the safe use of hydrogen peroxide as an acne treatment. This is not good news for people dealing with acne scars. In the past, hydrogen peroxide was recommended by doctors to help clean out minor cuts and scrapes.
While hydrogen peroxide has been shown to kill many different types of bacteria in a petri dish , there is actually little evidence that it can effectively kill bacteria inside a wound. It may even irritate your healthy cells. Another study actually found a link between the hydrogen peroxide naturally produced by the body and acne inflammation.
In the study, people with acne inflammation had a significantly higher amount of hydrogen peroxide produced by neutrophils a type of white blood cells compared to healthy controls. When people with acne were given a drug that inhibits hydrogen peroxide production by neutrophils, there was actually a decrease in the inflammatory activity of their acne lesions.
If you decide to try using hydrogen peroxide, make sure to dilute it before putting it on your skin. Most domestic bottles of hydrogen peroxide contain a 3 percent concentration. Be sure to read the label carefully. Once your mixture is ready, apply a thin layer to your clean face using a cotton ball. Take care to avoid your eyes. Also try to avoid getting the solution on your eyebrows or your hair because it might bleach your hair.
Rinse your face after five minutes and pat dry. You can repeat the process a couple times a week. Use an oil-free moisturizer if your skin feels dry. The most common side effect of topical hydrogen peroxide is irritation of the skin at the site of contact. When injected into the body or an open wound, hydrogen peroxide can create oxygen bubbles that block flood flow and lead to embolisms.
This can be fatal. In reality, hydrogen peroxide may actually increase scarring on the skin by interfering with the wound-healing process.
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