Failure of benzoyl peroxide to decrease sebaceous gland secretion in acne.

Abstract

10 male patients with inflammatory facial acne were treated for 6 weeks with a 10% benzoyl peroxide gel (PanOxyl-10) applied to the forehead. There was no significant mean change in sebaceous gland secretion after 4, 5, and 6 weeks of treatment. These findings are at variance with a previously published study which showed that 5% benzoyl peroxide gel inhibited sebaceous gland secretion. Conflicting results from the two studies may be due to differences in patient populations or, more likely, in technical factors, such as the methods used for sebum production, collection, and analysis.