Got Acne? Zap Your Stubborn Zits Away With This Essential Skincare Ingredient

Want to overcome a breakout? You need to start by eliminating dead skin cells and unclogging oil-polluted pores. The key is benzoyl peroxide, which speeds up the process by using oxygen to detoxify pores and release sebum buildup.

"Benzoyl peroxide is the oldest and most trusted topical treatment for acne," says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hilary Baldwin. "It works as monotherapy in milder and moderate acne and is used in combination with topical and oral antibiotics in more severe acne. It is a part of my treatment in virtually every patient."

So, how exactly does this zit-zapping ingredient work? "Benzoyl peroxide kills the C. acnes bacterium that proliferates in the follicles of acne prone patients, causing the inflammatory response that we call acne," says Baldwin. "It is therefore also indirectly anti-inflammatory." She also notes that benzoyl peroxide is also great for blasting away blackheads.

"In addition to this, it is an important part of preventing the development of resistant bacteria to antibiotics," Baldwin says. "For an unknown reason, the concomitant use of benzoyl peroxide with antibiotics prevents the development of resistant strains. It therefore protects the ongoing efficacy of antibiotics."

Here's some good news: regardless of if you have white heads or cystic acne, Baldwin notes that all types of acne benefit from benzoyl peroxide, but it's especially great for inflammatory acne — red bumps and pustules. "Patients who have only blackheads and whiteheads would do better with a topical retinoid like La Roche Posay’s Adapalene .1% Acne Treatment," she says. "I would recommend it to be used in combination with a benzoyl peroxide as the two drugs complement each other."

If you're ready to say goodbye to your worst breakouts for good, keep reading to see some of the most powerful benzoyl peroxide acne treatments and washes on the market here!