Acne in mid forties benzoyl peroxide

[Spottyfourtysomething]

I’ve had acne around my chin and mouth and sometimes on cheeks since my early twenties. It’s not loads of spots all the time, but enough that if left untreated I always have one or two red angry spots ruining my complexion. I’ve used benzoyl peroxide cream daily for the last twenty years (I’m now mid forties) and that seems to keep it in check. I’ve stopped a few times over the years but the acne always comes back. I tried stopping it recently, reducing down to once a day and then stopping it altogether around a month ago. I just wanted to see if I still need it given I’m mid-forties now and shouldn’t be getting spots! Anyway now I’ve got a raging huge spot deep in the skin, like a cyst, so it seems I do need the benzoyl peroxide still. Does anyone know if it’s safe to use long-term and on mature skin? Has my skin basically got used to it and that’s why I get spots if I stop?

So long as you use it in combination with sunscreen there's no real risks with long term use. Assuming you're using OTC stuff and not by prescription, if the latter your prescriber is the best to ask. There is a myth floating around on the internet that BP causes premature ageing but that's not the case, or scientifically not proven anyhow.

Sinc you seem reluctant to use it, have you tried other common acne treatments, like BHA, retinoids, or blue LED therapy? Is BP the only thing that works for you, there's been some studies that showed a vitamin c derivative, SAP (Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate), that showed similar or better efficacy than BP in some studies but without all the side effects of BP. That focuses on eliminating the acne causing bacteria though, if something else is at the root of your acne (hormones, birth control, food intolerance, etc.) it won't treat that.

It’s the premature aging that concerns me as I’m very pale. I always use a moisturiser with sun screen every day and on holiday or very sunny hot days in uk I use factor 50 on my face. I used to take dianette and that in conjunction with benzoyl peroxide kept the spots at bay, and then 5 years ago stopped the dianette and just on benzoyl peroxide and that kept the worst of it at bay. I think I’m just going to go back on the benzoyl peroxide as I know it works. It’s good to know there’s no science to back up the premature aging claims!

I like your optimism that spots get better in mid 40s - mine got worse, presumable because of hormones in perimenopause.