Benzoyl peroxide / erythromycin topical and Burning: What Users Say

• Ama...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2019

Benzoyl peroxide / erythromycin topical for Acne "I’m 31, and I’ve used Aktipak once a day for four days, and my skin immediately cleared up, and scarring had gone down significantly! Any new pimple I had went away almost immediately after putting it on. I was told to use it in the morning and use another medication I got at night, but because of the side effects (white residue, redness), I switched and use this at night, and I’ve had no problems. I didn’t give it a 10 because the burning is somewhat intolerable, and it really hurts. I push through because it doesn’t last too long (an hour or two), and the results are immediate. I don’t have flaking as some have described, but I also put a really strong moisturizer on after the medicine and put Vaseline around my eyes and lips. I would not recommend stopping any medication flat, as some have described, as you will have acne come back. You have to slowly wean yourself off. Great product if you can handle the stinging and irritation. I’d take it over the acne any day."

• Ala...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 25, 2019

For Acne "I was prescribed this generic benzoyl peroxide/erythromycin by a chemist after they ran out of the med my dermatologist had prescribed me. Yes, it burns like heck until your skin gets used to it, but it worked for me. I put it on fairly thickly morning and evening and rub it in well. It becomes very sticky at first, but as you keep rubbing it in, the white disappears, and the skin feels smooth. It doesn’t dry my skin, but I do also use factor 30 tinted moisturizer (Uriage). I’m very happy with this and will keep using it. You must keep refrigerated, and my tub lasts about 5-6 weeks."

• Sco...
• January 4, 2017

Benzoyl peroxide / erythromycin topical for Acne "Well, if you use it properly, you should be okay. I'm just an example of improper use and severe side effects. I was a stupid 18/19-year-old who mentally freaked out, used way too much. I've had severely burnt skin and redness the last 17 years now. Quite the cross to carry. Wish I never came across it (only had minor acne anyway), but to the medicine's credit, I did misuse it."

• irr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2018

For Acne "Moderate but constant acne since age 9. Currently 18. Only been using benzoyl peroxide/erythromycin topical for 8 days. Severely drying out my skin. Couldn't sleep some nights because my skin burned/itched so bad. Struggling even with moisturizer applied before applying this. Tried putting face sunscreen on, but I don't think the medication works as well on top of it. Kind of stuck and don't know what to do or think. Just gonna try to be patient and stick it out."

• ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 31, 2020

Benzoyl peroxide / erythromycin topical for Acne "Benzamycin is not for rosacea-prone/sensitive skin. My derm put me on it, ignoring that irritation is no good for sensitive skin. Although it seemed to work for my acne whenever I used it, it made my rosacea and skin sensitivity worse in a very short amount of time, and I only used it at night. Applied over skin for 1-2 hours and then rinsed it off because the burning and irritation was too much for my skin. However, I give it 4 stars because even just 1 hour of exposure to it was able to shrink forming and existing pimples. I couldn't use it as a long-term acne treatment though because my skin became so inflamed after using it intermittently over several weeks, my cheeks turned purple, and the texture was what I can only describe as raw. Just kept it as a spot treatment, which was effective."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2018

For Acne "I started breaking out when I started college, little by little it started with very small bumps. Thought it was a heat rash, but no, it wasn’t a heat rash. They started getting bigger every day. Turned out to be cystic acne. Went to my primary doctor, he prescribed me a few topical gels/creams. Thought they were working, but they weren’t. The last topical gel my primary doctor prescribed was tretinoin 0.01%, that was working, but it was burning my face so bad. My face was very irritated (great for acne scars). I know it’s supposed to make your face red, but I couldn’t take it anymore. Finally, they referred me to a derm. The derm doctor prescribed me AKTIPAK. Oh my gosh, I’m only on my second day, and I can’t believe the results already! I’m also taking sulfameth/trimeth twice daily! I am so thankful, and I hope this gets rid of my cystic acne soon! Good luck to all of us that suffer with any type of acne."

• San...
• August 7, 2021

For Acne "This will work wonders on your acne, however, do NOT use the recommended (at least for me) 2 times a day. I would say once every three days is even stretching it. On the first day, I used it twice and almost cried the next day because my face was swollen and extremely itchy. The second day was a bit better, still very itchy but bearable. The third day was horrible, extreme burning woke me up multiple times at night, and my face was the most itchy and red it had ever been. I looked like a boiled lobster. Perhaps the worst part is I could barely sleep with all of the pain and burning. I can’t even count the number of times I woke up because of itchiness or pain. However, I can count the number of hours of sleep I got in those three days-9. The recommended sleep for one day. Needless to say, this acne medication wasn't for me, but it was very good. I recommend if you have no pain receptors or have tough skin."

• per...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2018

For Acne "I hate this product. I'm not sure if the instructions were clear, but it was not effective. In fact, I got an allergic reaction to it. I read over the labels and instructions, but it didn't help. I used that product, and it gave me burns and dry skin, and on top of it, my face was swollen and puffy. I personally disliked this, my face looks disgusting. I was extremely insecure, so I wore a mask the whole day. I felt repulsive and hid myself from the public. I understand that this product might've worked for some people, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 17, 2020

For Acne "So upset! Was prescribed this benzoyl peroxide/erythromycin after having a severe reaction to an acne pill. I didn’t have any problems the first two weeks of using this and seemed to be at least doing something. A month later, and my face looks like it has sunburns all over and itches. The burns hurt so bad I can’t even wash my face now. I just want to cry. This stuff is causing me to have severe anxiety attacks thanks to what it did to me. I’m already dealing with multiple chronic illnesses. I should have never tried this and just kept the acne."