Benzoyl peroxide or Salicylic acid?

[TragicMagic]

Hey, I'm looking for a product to banish acne from my face and I heard either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid are great for doing the job. Which would you prefer and can you recommend any products?

[Jamie D]

I used both when I was younger.  Stri-dex pads contain salicylic acid.   In fact several products combine the chemicals (Inova; Cleanse & Treat).

[tomthom]

wash you rface 3 or 4 times day, drink a lot of water, and eat healthy first. yes benzoyl and salacylic are fine, but the others are good for you all around and will help prevent it from happening in the first place.

oh, and moisturize. if you don't pores overreact and produce too much sebum to compensate.

[ashley_thomas]

Depends on your skin type, combo or oily then salicylic acid if you have dry skin (many women have dry skin) then a much more gentle cleanser.  Exfoliating wash is useful too and in all cases moisturize daily.  Even with oily skin the cleansers shouldn't be harsh and a dry face or a cleanser that feels harsh is unhealthy

I have combo skin and use two cleansers (one in the am and one in the pm) and a daily moisturizer with SPF protection in the morning and a heavy duty regenerative cream at night.

Been doing this for 2 yrs (pre HRT) and I look years younger.

[ashley_thomas]

As for acne, in many cases it requires medicine, change in diet or other alterations.  Clogged pores causing pimples is one thing, systemic acne is entirely different.  If you are not in your teens/twenties, it can usually be well controlled or eliminated (not always) but not just with a proper cleaning regimen

[spooky]

benzoyl peroxide works for me to prevent acne.  i buy the 10% solution of whichever drug store brand and use it every night after washing my face.  i also use an exfoliant with salicylc acid in it, though i don't use it specifically for acne.

check out this information on salicylic acid:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/anti-irritants/salicylic-acid

and this on benzoyl peroxide:
http://www.paulaschoice.com/cosmetic-ingredient-dictionary/definition/antibacterial-anti-acne/benzoyl-peroxide