New perspectives on benzoyl peroxide use in inflammatory and comedonal acne treatment. Introduction.

摘要

Benzoyl peroxide (BPO), an organic peroxide derived from a coal tar by-product, was first used in dermatology early in the 20th century for wound healing and antisepsis. Its earliest use as an acne treatment was by Pace and it was combined with precipitated sulfur in an oil-in-water emulsion. In his 1965 study of 286 patients who also were being treated with oral tetracycline, he noted prompt suppression of inflammatory acne lesions. Since then, BPO has become the most widely used topical acne treatment with proven antibacterial, keratolytic, comedolytic, and anti-inflammatory activity. There are more than 100 BPO products available in the United States in both over-the-counter and prescription formulations.