Pernex AC Gel (benzoyl peroxide) is a topical treatment for moderate acne. It is often used with other medications, sometimes to treat severe acne. Treatment typically lasts 8 to 12 weeks, with acne being resolved for years, sometimes permanently.

Pernex AC Gel should not be used in patients under age 12. Mothers who are pregnant or breastfeeding should use the product only with explicit doctor approval.

How It Works

Pernex AC Gel relies on benzoyl peroxide, widely used to treat acne. In lower dosage strengths it is available over-the-counter, and is found in many skincare products. A prescription is typically required for strengths of 4 percent or higher.

The medication works by killing the bacteria associated with acne, and by causing the skin to dry and peel. Skin that dries and flakes off is replaced with new, blemish-free skin. Note that acne may worsen for the first month of treatment with Pernex AC Gel, as lesions below the skin are brought to the surface.

Who Should Use It

Patients with acne are often impatient to resolve the problem, and may overestimate acne's severity. While this is understandable, patients are cautioned to not use products designed for severe acne unless severe acne has been diagnosed by a doctor.

Pernex AC Gel is designed for moderate acne. It does not produce all of the same effects as more serious products, which often also limit oil production, shrink pore size, and cause more severe drying and flaking of skin, among other functions. These products typically work well, but can also produce a range of significantly more serious side effects.

Patients who haven't been formally diagnosed with severe acne are encouraged to start with Pernex AC Gel or a similar moderate-acne treatment. Some improvements should be noticeable between the three and five week mark; if no results are seen by then, more serious products can be considered. Note that treatments for severe acne also take several months to produce results, as does Pernex AC Gel.

Using Pernex AC Gel

Pernex AC Gel comes in a gel, as the name suggests. A small amount of gel is applied directly to the affected area once or twice per day. Patients new to the product will want to start with relatively low strengths of 4 percent or 5 percent; it does come in higher strengths up to 8 percent but this is rarely needed.

Note that applying more than a thin layer of medication or more frequent administration will not produce better or faster results; it may cause even more skin drying, however, which can be detrimental if severe enough.

Treatment typically consists of:

• Gently wash and dry affected area.
• Apply a small amount of Pernex AC Gel to affected area.
• If applying once per day most patients prefer to do it before bed; if twice per day, morning and evening.
• Continue treatment for up to twelve weeks if needed.
• If no improvements are seen after five weeks alternative treatments should be considered.

Improvements should start to be visible after 3 to 4 weeks of use, though some patients need a week or two longer. It takes around 8 to 12 weeks for maximum benefit to be seen, in which acne is completely gone, often for years or even permanently. If acne does return in the future, treatment can be repeated.

Some other tips to ensure treatment is simple and hassle-free:

• If the medication hasn't been used before, apply a small dab on the skin to ensure no extreme sensitivity or allergic reaction develops.
• Start treatment by applying the medication just once per day for several days to prevent excessive skin drying.
• If skin becomes very dry, rough, flaky, or starts to peel---all normal side effects---applying a moisturizer several times per day will help.
• New breakouts can happen several times during the course of treatment as lesions are surfaced. This is normal during the first few weeks.
• After about one month of treatment drying skin, peeling, breakouts, and similar effects will begin to diminish.

In other words, treatment with Pernex AC Gel---like the majority of acne treatments---will take a bit of patience. Those who stick with it for 4 to 5 weeks should start seeing significant improvements, and by the end of treatment are usually completely acne free.

Like any medication, however, Pernex AC Gel doesn't work for everyone. If no improvement at all is noticed after five weeks of treatment alternative products, that don't contain benzoyl peroxide, should be considered. Rarely some patients have significant improvements by week 12, but some acne still persists. In these cases a doctor will likely approve continued treatment for a week or two.

Side Effects

Most patients using Pernex AC Gel will experience some side effects, though usually mild and not cause for concern. Most commonly reported are:

• Mild tingling or burning when the gel is applied
• Reddening of skin at application site
• Itching at application site
• Very dry skin at application site
• Rough, flaky, or peeling skin at application site
• Tenderness or other mild irritation at application site

The above are normal side effects, and most will diminish significantly after several days or weeks of treatment.

Severe or persistant side effects indicate sensitivity or allergy to the medication. Depending on severity treatment should generally be restricted to just one application per day or every other day, if it continues at all. Serious side effects include:

• Severe reddening or swelling of skin
• Blistering of skin
• Severe itching or rash
• Swelling of face, tongue or throat
• Dizziness
• Difficulty breathing
• Erratic heartbeat

Depending on severity, the above may call for medical attention. Ending treatment should completely resolve side effects.

Some individuals find skin becomes more photosensitive while using Pernex AC Gel. Patients should use caution with regard to sun exposure or tanning beds until effects are known.