Natural Alternatives for Benzoyl Peroxide (Acne Treatment)

Welcome to my shower.

What you see up there is until about three months ago what I was depending on to keep my face free of zits (or at least keep them under control). I used it for yeeeeears. I’m keeping its identity a secret to protect it. ;)

Want to see what problems it has caused? Look at these sheets…..

Exhibit A.

Exhibit B and C.
(And the two pillowcases of gold/tan are different sets.)

I wondered for years what was causing my sheets to get “bleached” because I rarely then and now never use bleach. It was quite befuddling. Plus, I found that several of my pajama shirts had a similar look.

But then one night it clicked while in the shower washing my face. Light bulb moment!

My facial wash containing 10% benzoyl peroxide was doing the damage. I researched and found sure enough, others had had the same problem. I did not want to keep ruining my sheets. BUT….BUT….BUT….I had to use that chemical to keep my acne in check. Surely, I could find a way to get the benefits but keep my sheets from being damaged.

Turning to my trusty researcher friend, Mr. (or Mrs. – you decide for yourself) Google, I typed in “natural alternative for benzyl peroxide.” Mr. Google did not disappoint. I proceeded to spend several hours over the course of a few weeks reading and researching and have condensed the best I could what I learned.

We must FIRST realize that as with most modern medicine they are designed to TREAT the symptoms not PREVENT the symptoms. We do not get zits, pimples, bumps, or those nasty "underground" cysts for no apparent reason. It could be hormones, diet, certain medications, or just that you need to wash your skin and clean out those pores.

I honestly was not surprised to learn that like almost all the other chemicals in our health and beauty supplies (deodorant, shampoo, make-up, etc), benzoyl peroxide is really BAD for your skin. What I learned was sort of scary.

We are about to get into some technical stuff here so buckle down and put on your thinking caps, you NEED to know this….

Scientific Research
Think about this passage I read:

We share our planet with well over 75,000 different chemicals and at least 5,000 of these identified harmful chemicals are used in the cosmetic industry alone. Why is this so important? Our skin absorbs up to 60% of what it comes in contact with, allowing harmful chemicals to more freely move past the outside layer of the skin. These chemicals can then circulate throughout our bodies damaging our skin and putting us at risk for developing serious health concerns. source

In 1995, the FDA reclassified benzoyl peroxide from a category 1 (safe) to a category 3 (more data needed, safety uncertain). Why? Because they found it was “a tumor promoter” in lab mice and also “has tumor initiation potential.” (Link)

Click on picture above to see larger.

Not many of our readers know this, but I have a significant history of melanoma. I have had five melanomas removed (two just in the last year). I praise the Lord they have been found in early stages not requiring any treatment, but I have some large scars and have to go to Duke twice a year to see a melanoma specialist plus see my local dermatologist twice a year to keep check. So please tell me WHY I would use something that could PROMOTE tumors? No, it does not say “melanoma” but it does not specify what kind of tumors. I want to go with the side of caution in this.

The use of benzoyl peroxide also causes sensitivity to light increasing risks to being sunburned. I also read that it can damage DNA by producing "strand breaks". It can also lead to the formation of free radicals which causes free radical damage (aging of the skin).

The FDA decided in 2010 that even though “genotoxicity, tumor promotion with chemical/ultraviolet initiation, animal carcinogenicity, and photocarcinogenicity, as well as the related epidemiological data” was found with the use of benzoyl peroxide, their group of doctors decided it was still safe to use. Sellers would have specific labeling for distributing benzoyl peroxide which is all in this document but none of the new (and current) labeling say anything about what I cited (i,e., the risks found in their research).

I could go on but I may have lost you and you would rather just skip the specifics and get to the essentials. “Benzoyl Peroxide” will further be referred to as BP to shorten things and because I’m tired of thinking through the word every time I type “benzoyl.”

Natural Substitutes
Before we can decide what a “natural substitute” is for BP, we need to know why it is used. It clears the pores and reduces bacteria count by creating an environment where bacteria cannot survive. It also dries the skin from its sebum production and works as a peeling agent to rid your skin of dead skin. The items I list have these properties (though not all).

Melaleuca (aka, Tea Tree) Essential Oil – I probably did not shock our usual readers when I started with an essential oil. Melaleuca is renowned for its cleansing and rejuvenating
effect on the skin and shares similar properties with BP. Applying a 5 percent tea tree oil solution to the face has been shown to be as effective as applying a 5 percent BP solution, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, this does come with some precautions. Melaleuca can aggravate rosacea and can cause contact dermatitis in some individuals. I suggest mixing essential oils with a carrier oil (such as fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, or even olive oil) when you first start using them (1:1 ratio) to dilute them.

Lavender Essential Oil – This oil helps soothe irritated skin. It is a wonderful ingredient to add to acne treatment and any natural acne recipes you create. Many use it for its skin healing properties for acne and other scars. It is not as potent as melaleuca essential oil but many may prefer it for its more pleasing smell.

Aloe Vera – This plant’s healing properties have been used for thousands of years. It is one of the few herbal plants that has been used widespread in the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries. It helps to heal acne and soothe acne-related inflammation, redness, and swelling. More than 75 potentially active constituents have been identified in the plant including vitamins, minerals, saccharides, amino acids, anthraquinones, enzymes, lignin, saponins, and salicylic acids. Salicylic acid is a common acne-fighting ingredient used topically in medications to help fight acne outbreaks. The only precaution I have found for aloe vera is that those who are allergic to plants in the Liliaceae family (garlic, onions, and tulips) should avoid it. For more information read here.

Turmeric Powder – Turmeric powder is naturally antibacterial and is high in antioxidants that slow down cell damage. Turmeric is widely used as a skin exfoliate. Some recipes online suggest mixing with yogurt and a bit of honey or just mix it with a bit of honey and use as a spot treatment. It helps inflammatory skin conditions other than acne such as dry skin, psoriasis and eczema. Another benefit is to reduce pigmentation, even out skin tone and diminish wrinkles. A precaution to using turmeric includes that it can stain your skin temporarily but I have read some use it for a natural self-tanner (if it matches your skin tone).

Calendula – This is an herb that is commonly known as “pot marigold” although it is not a true marigold flower. Its bright orange flowers can be made into tinctures, lotions, and creams so that users can benefit from its immunostimulant and anti-inflammatory properties. Still personally learning about herbs, this is one of the first I have researched because of an herbal magazine subscription I have. Making a simple tea using dried calendula, use it to wash your face. You can find it here which is a fair-trade, organic online store where you can find all kinds of herbs, tinctures, etc. Mountain Rose Herbs

Green Tea – Topical use of green tea reduces sebum production (oily substance that your sebaceous glands secrete). Plus, since it is high in antioxidants – the reason many drink it for their health – it helps with inflammation as well as protects against acne-causing bacteria. Like the calendula, make a tea by adding 2 tablespoons of loose green tea leaves to one cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes and use as a daily wash.

Additional Healthy Treatments For Your Skin:

White Willow Bark – This is another amazing plant I came across when researching for natural acne-fighting substances. It contains 98% salicin (related to salicylic acid as you can maybe tell by the name) will decrease inflammation, increase skin cell turnover, prevent pore clogging, and kill Propionibacterium acnes (which is a relatively slow-growing bacteria that does not require air to grow). White willow bark is high on my list of cool, herbal ingredients I want to buy as I am learning more about natural health and healing. Its use dates back to Hippocrates (400 BC) when patients would be advised to chew on the actual bark to reduce fever and inflammation. Mix it with distilled water and witch hazel to use as a tonic for your acne. (This can also be found at Mountain Rose Herbs.)

Vitamin C – Applying Vitamin C topically to your skin is 20 times more effective than oral ingestion. Once a topical antioxidant is absorbed into the skin, did you know it cannot be washed or rubbed off? Centuries ago, Native Americans made a vitamin C-rich paste out of rose petals to moisten and heal their skin. In fact, cold cream was originally known as “ointment of rose water” because of its two main ingredients: rose oil and rose water.

Other safe and effective ingredients for masks and spot treatments: coconut oil, oatmeal, green clay, sea salt (or Epsom salts – both used in pastes to treat spots), and let us not forget HONEY! Many people use honey on its own as a facial wash because of its naturally antimicrobial and antibiotic properties plus its ability to soothe and heal skin.

Closing
Think on this:
These "natural alternatives are not only safer, they are often more effective. For example, several clinical studies have clearly confirmed that natural Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopherol) is more effective than synthetic Vitamin E (dl-alpha tocopherol). That’s because the body only recognizes the natural form; it views the synthetic form as foreign." The same is true for the ingredients used in many acne controlling cleaners you and your teen (and I was) are using. "These are foreign substances to the body and cannot be easily metabolized. The body then accumulates these toxic substances and health problems can occur. Though used as treatments, these toxic ingredients may be the exact cause of your skin irritation, inflammation, or dryness. However, the fact that they can contribute to cancer and other serious illnesses should be more than enough reason to avoid them." (quote)

I want to do what I can to protect myself and my family's health as much as possible even in the case of ZITS. We all live busy lives and we all have only so much money we can spend each month so I know that limits abilities. Our skin is our biggest organ and it absorbs what is put on it and even can absorb some external chemicals and pollutants. Let's make sure we're putting safe ingredients on it. I think with the list I have armed you with above, you can find safe, natural alternatives that you can afford to help fight acne whether it's for you, your spouse, or your child.

A bit of healthy advice I came across in an herbal book the other night:

"If you wouldn't eat it, then don't put it on your skin. That sure eliminates a lot of 'beauty aids'!"

I really enjoyed researching and learning about all this. I started out doing it for my own benefit but knew I had to share it with our readers. I want to know – have any of you experienced the bleached bed linens or clothing from your acne cleaner? Do you use any of these alternatives already for your acne treatment? Or maybe there's one I didn't mention that you use? There are more out there, I know, so tell me your experiences!

For a list of links I used for my reading and research on this post, click here.