Benzoyl peroxide

Benzoyl peroxide is often used as an adjunctive topical therapy for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) to help reduce bacterial colonization and inflammation. It has broad antimicrobial activity against Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus, which can contribute to secondary infection in HS lesions. Regular use, typically as a wash or gel, may also help prevent antibiotic resistance when combined with topical or oral antibiotics like clindamycin. It can cause mild skin irritation or dryness, so gradual introduction and use of moisturizers are recommended.

Treatment Type: Over the Counter Medication

Treatment Class: N/A

Treatment Modality: Topical

Benzoyl peroxide

Review Summary

4.0

1 Reviews

Preferred by 1 Reviewers

Based on the review by Dr. Curbside, benzoyl peroxide appears to be a helpful treatment for mild hidradenitis suppurativa. It offers broad antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, can be used as a wash or topical gel, and may help reduce bacterial colonization and prevent flare-ups when used in combination with other antibiotics.

This summary was generated by users' reviews

Breakdown by Category

Each categories are rated on a 1–5 scale, with 5 being the most favorable outcome and 1 being the least. These scores are averaged across all user reviews to provide a clear sense of how this treatment typically performs in each area.

Cost
5.0
1 = Very Expensive 5 = Very Affordable

5.0

Very Affordable
Relief Speed
2.0
1 = No Relief 5 = Immediate Relief

2.0

Slow Relief
Side Effects
4.0
1 = Intolerable Effect 5 = No Effect

4.0

Mild Effect
Treatment Line
5.0
1 = Third-line or more 5 = First-line

5.0

First-line

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4.0

1 Reviews
5
0%
4
100%
3
0%
2
0%
1
0%

AI Summary of User Experiences

Not medical advice.

Based on the review by Dr. Curbside, benzoyl peroxide appears to be a helpful treatment for mild hidradenitis suppurativa. It offers broad antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, can be used as a wash or topical gel, and may help reduce bacterial colonization and prevent flare-ups when used in combination with other antibiotics.

Reviews

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Cost
Very Expensive
$1000+
Expensive
$501 to $1000
Moderate Cost
$101 to $500
Affordable
$25 to $100
Very Affordable
$25
Relief Speed
No Relief
No noticeable improvement
Slow Relief
Several days to weeks
Moderate Relief
Within 1 - 3 days
Fast Relief
Within hours
Immediate Relief
Within minutes
Side Effect
Intolerable Side Effect
Caused treatment to stop or required hospitalization
Severe Side Effect
Difficult to tolerate, may require intervention
Moderate Side Effect
Noticeable, but manageable
Mild Side Effect
Minor, not bothersome
No Side Effect
Without any adverse effects
Treatment Line
Third-line or more
Used after second-line failed or multiple prior treatment
Second-line
Used after first-line treatment failed or was unsuitable
First-line
First treatment tried
Dr. Curbside

Dr. Curbside

Verified
Physician • Emergency Medicine • How doctors think about decisions — and what real-world experiences add
2 months ago
Benzoyl peroxide is a first-line and adjunctive therapy for mild hidradenitis suppurativa due to its broad antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Used as a wash or topical gel, it helps reduce bacterial colonization and prevent resistance when combined with topical or oral antibiotics. It is available over the counter and can be incorporated into daily skin care to decrease flare frequency.
#VeryAffordable #SlowRelief #MildEffect #First-line #Maintenance #Rescue/EmergencyUse #Preventative
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