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Acne - Patient's guide

Benzoyl Peroxide

Clindoxyl® Gel
Diane-35®

Benzoyl peroxide has been used for acne skin care for over 30 years and is now available in a product that combines it with antibiotics. It is available in different forms including a skin cleanser (especially for your face), cream, gel, and a lotion.

How Do I Use This Medication?

You should apply it daily, initially to dry the skin. Use it in small quantities over all of the affected area.

How Well Does It Work?

It is the most commonly used anti-acne topical medication, and works well for mild to moderate acne. It is available in drying alcohol bases, or in the less drying water bases. It can be effectively combined with a topical antibiotic. The response is slow and takes several months, so you should not expect immediate improvement. It is antibacterial, and also reduces some sebum, resulting in fewer blackheads.

Will There Be Side Effects?

It may irritate your skin producing dryness, redness, and peeling.

To counteract these side effects:

  • Use small quantities every other day
  • Apply to dry skin (as opposed to wet skin - use your towel)
  • Use gentle facial cleansers
  • Use light moisturizers
  • The product may also bleach hair, and clothing

Can I Take Other Medications?

There are no known drug interactions. However, you should be careful when using this product together with other drying anti-acne medications.

Which Brands Are Available?

  • Benzoyl Peroxide - OTC Brands (5% or less)
  • BenOxyl® 5%, PanOxyl® Aquagel 2.5% and 5%, PanOxyl® Bar 5%, PanOxyl® 5% Gel, Panoxyl® 5% Wash, PanOxyl® 4% Creamy Wash, Solugel® 4% - Stiefel
  • BenzacAC®, BenzacW®, BenzacWwash® - Galderma
  • Benzagel® - Novartis
  • Clearasil® - Proctor & Gamble
  • Dermoxyl® - ICN
  • Desquam® - Westwood
  • Clean+Clear® - Johnson & Johnson
  • Oxy® - Glaxo Smith Kline Beechum
  • Acetoxyl® Gel (2.5% and 5%) - Valeo Pharma
Combinations:
  • Benzamycin® BP + erythromycin (Dermik)
  • BenzaClin® BP + clindamycin (Dermik)
  • CLINDOXYL® BP + clindamycin (Stiefel)

What Other Conditions Are Treated By This Medication?

HPB-approved:

  • Acne
Non HPB-approved:

Uses for which this drug has been found to be effective, but which have not been recognized by government regulatory agencies:
  • Pressure ulcers and stasis ulcers in some countries

Clindoxyl® Gel

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  • INTRODUCTION
    Clinical experience confirms what has been shown in clinical trials, that Clindoxyl Gel is effective and well tolerated Once daily application of topical that combines two active anti-acne agents may well increase patient compliance...   |   Read more ...


  • CLININCAL EXPERIENCE
    More than six international studies involving over 6,000 patients have shown reductions in the PASI (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index) of approximately 40% after one week of treatment and 70% after four weeks...   |   Read more ...


  • INDICATIONS
    Moderate comedonal and papulo-pustular acne Approved in Canada as a once daily topical for moderate Acne in December 2000...   |   Read more ...


  • PATIENT PROFILE
    Any patient who has inflammatory acne can be treated with Clindoxyl Gel Acne patients with comedones only are best treated by topical retinoids Patients with cystic acne usually require systemic therapy...   |   Read more ...


  • DOSING
    Once daily application of Clindoxyl Gel is recommended The product needs to be applied to the whole region of skin that is affected with acne. In other words...   |   Read more ...


  • EFFICACY
    The following figures show pooled data from randomized, controlled double-blind trials involving 673 patients with acne...   |   Read more ...


  • COMPLIANCE
    Three factors to consider for good compliance of Clindoxyl Gel are: Well tolerated by most patients, results are often seen within 2 weeks...   |   Read more ...


  • SIDE EFFECTS, SAFETY AND RISKS
    Overall tolerance was rated as excellent in 94% of patients. Potential side effects expected in some patients...   |   Read more ...


  • COST OF TREATMENT
    This is a cost effective product. Reducing inflammation can reduce the risks of scarring...   |   Read more ...

View the entire Clindoxyl® Gel presentation.

Diane-35®

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  • INTRODUCTION
    There are limitations for regulators, pharmaceutical companies and pharmaceutical sales representatives to present clinical evidence following development of product monograph and drug approval...   |   Read more ...


  • CLININCAL EXPERIENCE
    Diane-35® (2mg cyproterone acetate and 0.035mg ethinyl estradiol) is approved for use in Canada to treat women with severe acne who are unresponsive to other available treatments and who have associated symptoms of androgenization, such as seborrhea and mild hirsutism. In addition to treating acne, Diane-35® also provides reliable contraception...   |   Read more ...


  • INDICATIONS
    Used to treat women with severe* acne and its associated symptoms of androgenization, including seborrhea and mild hirsutism..   |   Read more ...


  • PATIENT PROFILE
    Women who have acne associated or not with signs of hyperandrogenism. Any woman who has acne that is not controlled with topical medication...   |   Read more ...


  • DOSING
    Diane-35® is sold in blister pack units containing 21 tablets. Each tablet contains 2mg of cyproterone acetate and 0.035mg of ethinyl estradiol. Each cycle consists of 21 days on the medication and a 7-day interval without it...   |   Read more ...


  • EFFICACY
    Improvements in seborrhea are generally seen after 2 to 3 months. Improvements to acne are generally seen after 3 to 4 months. Numerous studies have proven the efficacy of hormonal therapy in treating acne over 6 or more months of use...   |   Read more ...


  • COMPLIANCE
    Patients should take Diane-35® at the same time each day with liquid...   |   Read more ...


  • SIDE EFFECTS, SAFETY AND RISKS
    Side effects are typical of most oral contraceptives and can include breast tenderness, headache, nausea, breakthrough bleeding, ankle swelling and weight gain. These side effects are typically mild and tend to resolve by the second or third cycle of therapy...   |   Read more ...


  • COST OF TREATMENT
    Diane-35 is sold to pharmacy wholesalers at a cost of $19.00 per cycle...   |   Read more ...

View the entire Diane-35® presentation.