Benzoylperoxide
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Skeletal formula (top) Ball-and-stick model (bottom)
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| Trade names | Benzac, Clearasil, PanOxyl, others |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Multum Consumer Information |
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| Synonyms | benzoperoxide, dibenzoyl peroxide (DBPO) |
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| E number | E928 (glazing agents, ...) |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.002.116 |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C14H10O4 |
| Molar mass | 242.23 g·mol−1 |
| 3D model (Jmol) | |
| Density | 1.334 g/cm3 |
| Melting point | 103 to 105 °C (217 to 221 °F) decomposes |
| Solubility in water | poor mg/mL (20 °C) |
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| See also: data page | |
Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is a medication and industrial chemical. As a medication it is used to treat mild to moderate acne. For more severe cases it may be used together with other treatments. Some versions come mixed with antibiotics such as clindamycin. Other uses include bleaching flour, hair bleaching, teeth whitening, and textile bleaching. It is also used in the plastic industry.
Common side effects are skin irritation, dryness, or peeling. Use in pregnancy is of unclear safety. Benzoyl peroxide is in the peroxide family of chemicals. In acne it works by killing bacteria.
Benzoyl peroxide was first made in 1905 and came into medical use in the 1930s. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. Benzoyl peroxide is available as a generic medication and over the counter. In the United Kingdom 150 ml of a 10% solution costs the NHS about £4. In the United States a month of treatment costs less than 25 USD.
Most benzoyl peroxide is used as a radical initiator to induce polymerizations. Other major applications include its antiseptic and bleaching properties.
Benzoyl peroxide is effective for reducing the number and severity of acne lesions. BPO has a bactericidal effect on Propionibacterium acnes bacteria associated with acne and does not induce antibiotic resistance. It may be combined with salicylic acid, sulfur, erythromycin or clindamycin (antibiotics), or adapalene (a synthetic retinoid). Two common combination drugs include benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin and adapalene/benzoyl peroxide, an unusual formulation considering most retinoids are deactivated by peroxides. Combination products such as benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin and benzoyl peroxide/salicylic acid appear to be slightly more effective than benzoyl peroxide alone for the treatment of acne lesions.
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