The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Wendy (Small Town, NC) on 12/09/2008
★★★★★
Hydrogen Peroxide has worked great for my acne and periodic cold sores. Once or twice a day I swab my face with it after washing. I also rinse with it after brushing. I have not had a blemish or cold sore since!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Sandra (Jackson, KY/U.S.) on 11/11/2008
★★★★★
Thank God for hydrogen peroxide. I have had a lot of trouble lately with acne, worse than usual. Like a lot of the rest, I thought hey why wouldn't it work. My skin looks better!! It was overnight I noticed a difference. I have been using witch hazel and didn't understand why it wouldn't changing anything. I'll keep my witch hazel, but peroxide is definitely at the top of the list!! Hang in there everybody!!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Angela M (Atlanta, GA) on 10/12/2008
★★★★★
I decided to try hydrogen peroxide on my face to rid it of acne. Yes. It works my husband and a I could not believe it. My skin is very smooth. I thank God for this website. I apply hydrogen peroxide to my skin in the morning and at night. I actually saw these results in two days. Angela
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Linda (West Newfield, Maine) on 09/17/2008
★★★★★
To Julie:
09/16/2008: Julie from Boston, MA writes: "Adult Puberty Acne?
I am 32, never a zit or blemish to speak of until four months ago. I now have these horrible cyst like pimples around my mouth constantly. I have tried ACV, aspirin masks, coconut oil, and even tumeric, but nothing is helping. I am going to try the peroxide tonight as soon as get a chance to run to the store. I will let you all know how it works."
I feel your pain! I swear - within a week after my 40th b'day, I developed an acne cyst. Never had acne as a teen. You want to talk about being depressed! I've struggled over the years as it comes and goes but recently - I'm 50 this year - had the worst outbreak EVER and didn't want to leave the house. After much surfing of the 'net and MORE surfing of EarthClinic.com, I tried taking Vitamin C and after about a week of 2,000 mg daily have started to see a huge improvement. (I was determined to NOT take antibiotics.) I also tried dabbing peroxide which helped dry the blemishes that were threatening to ooze. Honestly, since taking the C I feel better overall and find that my pores are reduced a bit - my skin looks smoother. The acne, or rosacea, or whatever the heck this mess is was in a line, almost, from a spot in the center of my forehead...down my nose (big bump there!)...flared out under my eyes, on my cheeks...and was all around my mouth with a huge cyst in the center of my chine. Horrid! My eyes were terribly bothered - very bloodshot and a bit swollen - for about a week and I've read that rosacea can get into your eyes. When that happened, I mixed a drop or two of Colloidal Silver in about 1/8 cup of water and dropped it into my eyes. After a few days, I used the Silver straight and within a couple of days my eyes were 100% better - feeling and looking.
This site is amazing! I sometimes just peruse the testimonials for hours, one search leading to another - learning and enjoying what everyone has to say. Ted is a genius; Deirdre, the site looks terrific! Thanks to you and all who contribute and maintain this great resource. I am convinced that none of us need to surrender to synthetic "medications", that all we need to heal ourselves is at our fingertips.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Beth (Nashville, TN) on 08/24/2007
★★★★★
I use a toner consisting of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 3 parts water with a few drops of rosemary essential oil twice daily as a toner after cleansing and this has helped tremendously with my acne.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Deborah (Winston, GA) on 05/29/2008
Please note: DILUTE hydrogen peroxide before using as mouth rinse -- I used full strength and over time it severely damaged my teeth and gave a grayish tinge.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Lis (Paterson, New Jersey) on 06/01/2006
★★★★★
The hydrogen peroxide dried my pimple by the following morning. Although hydrogen peroxide helps externally, starting at the root of the problem by cleansing your internal system is a safer, more effective bet.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Sophie (Dayton, Ohio, Usa) on 04/02/2012
Trust me, the best way to get rid of acne is apple cider vinegar! It can even be the grocery store brand, it will still work. Before bed, use a cotton swab or cotton pad to apply apple cider vinegar to the affected area. You can even do your whole face to prevent new pimples. You may want to dilute it by half with water the first few times, it WILL sting and may irrate sensitive skin if used at full strength. Do not wash off the vinegar, let it dry and keep it on overnight. Do it every night.
Using abrasive material like salt or baking soda will only break the skin and spread the bacterial infection, making the acne worse! You need to only use gentle natural soap, like glycerin soap.
Also, examine your daughter's diet. I removed "white" food (processed carbs and sugars) from my diet and increased my intake of salmon, tuna and sardines. This helped my acne 100% Read "The Acne Solution" by Dr. Perricone. Excellent book that gives you a diet to follow to eliminate acne.
I wish someone had given me this advice in my teens! I was well into my 20's before I cured my acne problem!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Sarah (Tamarac FL) on 01/26/2006
★★★★★
I started using Hydrogen Peroxide on my acne ridden face and in just 3 days my acne just started to go away. I have been trying alot of those 'as seen on tv' products and nothing helped I even tried over the counter drugs, dermatologist recommended stuff and other natural remedies but nothing worked. Who know that a bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide was the answers to my problems all along!!!! Thank you!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Mike (Redf9rd, MI)
★★★★★
I read into some of these herbal remedies. None of them seemed to work for me. I tried toothpaste, and simply looked dumb. I tried some pills from the dermatologist. Nothing worked. I assumed I was doomed to have an acne infested complexion for the rest of my life. But then, I applied peroxide, with a cotton ball twice daily. It stings, it dried out my skin a bit, but after that, my face cleared up in a few days, and the redness went a way after a week. It's amazing, so for those without hope, try this it worked for me.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Doris (Chicago, IL)
★★★★★
I have used hydrogen peroxide, and yes it will clear the redness which is infection and dry up within an hour, depending how red it is, it may take longer, but it definitely works. I have found that the constant use of peroxide caused my pores to stay open. Any suggestions for closing up the pores?
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Makeup.saves.my.life (Houston, Tx) on 04/23/2010
It has gotten better.- But still
Acne, the bain of my existence. I got my first pimple in 5th grade and unlike many people here, have ALWAYS had issues with acne. I have used Retina, 4 diff types of antibods, Aczone, Differin, Tri- something, Benz Perox, etc, and was basically about to go on Accutane but just couldn't get myself to do it. I usually get the big pimples that are red and sore and hurt and you can't even pop them because they have no white head to pop.
I am just exhausted but have given HP a shot. I have done it for two weeks and it has helped the big/sore/jupiter pimples, however they are not completely gone. They are now like small asteroids but still present none of the less. Does anyone have any advice on how to get them completely off my face? I wipe my face with HP cotton swabs at night and press the swabs on the pimples for 10 mins. My face hasn't gotten dry at all but REALLY REALLY red around any pimple are, make up covers that up though.
Maybe I should do it longer... I don't know. But I wanted to see if I am missing another ingredient or something. I will keep this thing updated if there is improvement or if they just linger. I JUST want them off. I really want to change the feedback to a solid yea instead of a half hazard yea.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Eddie (Porter Ranch, California) on 12/17/2015
To Makeup from Houston, Texas:
[1] Wash your hands thoroughly with soap of your choice while singing the Happy Birthday song twice;
[2] Splash very warm water unto your face.
(as warm as you can handle without burning);
[3] Use a pad containing Salycic Acid on your
face;
[4] Wash your face with a cleanser with Salycic Acid
[5] Using a cotton pad, apply full-strenght
Apple Cider Vinegar to your face. Use ACV product with the word, "Mother, " on the label;
[6] Using a cotton pad, apply Hydrogen Peroxide
to your face, and then wait a full 2 minutes, then
pat dry;
[7] Apply any strength of Benzoyl Peroxide cream or lotion...let it dry;
[8] Morning session, apply non-comedogenic
oil-free sunscreen. Night session, apply non-comedogenic oil-free moisturizer.
[9] Wash your hands again as in [1].
[10] If you're not going out because of the weekend, off days, no-school days, vacation, etc. = Skip [8] entirely. For example, do not apply night session moisturizer on a Friday, if you're not going anywhere on the weekend.
The preceding 10-step acne skincare program had been tested with 5 different people with all clearing their acne breakout-prone faces within 2 weeks of adhering to all the steps, twice a day.
Thank you for reading... Please post your results.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Cured (Niceville, Fl) on 01/21/2010
Mike, glad you found something that worked. This is just a guess but I am guessing that you started the coconut oil about the same time or after starting Apple Cider Vinegar. What you were experiencing is most likely detox/candida die-off from the coconut oil. I experienced a get worse before you get better effect when I started using virgin coconut oil. I used as a moisturizer as well among other things. I have never found anything that you can put around your eyes like that with no problems. Anyways the first week I was fine. After that I broke out for the next few weeks. I continued maybe backing off a day or so. I couldn't help it though my body like craved it. After 2 months now, my skin is clear with only one here or there. My regimine--ACV as toner, coconut oil straight over ACV, then my makeup. I also make turmeric capsules that I take for anti-inflamitory but helps with acne as well.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) on 10/10/2008 392 posts
Linda:
Part of the cyst on the skin story is the circulating microscopic fats and calcium is circulated. What the vitamin C does is it prevents oxidation of the oils. When oils get oxidized what happens is that the oils becomes hard, and crusty. These get clogged into the capillaries near the surfaces of the skin, causing cysts. High microscopic free calcium can also lead to this form of cyst and ascorbic acid or vitamin C reacts with this to become calcium ascorbate and are rid off safely into the kidneys or the intestines as a waste. So lipid peroxidation maybe reduced with vitamin C and some extent with occasional vitamin E, It also helps to reduce diets high in potatoes (one of the highest in calcium), and vegetable oils. More fish oils will have a anti sticky platelets effect reducing the cyst by reducing the blood from being obstructed in the capillaries.
Ted
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Julie (Boston, MA) on 09/16/2008
Adult Puberty Acne?
I am 32, never a zit or blemish to speak of until four months ago. I now have these horrible cyst like pimples around my mouth constantly. I have tried ACV, aspirin masks, coconut oil, and even tumeric, but nothing is helping. I am going to try the peroxide tonight as soon as get a chance to run to the store. I will let you all know how it works.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Gayle (Winona, MN) on 02/12/2009
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Kelly (Nashville, TN) on 02/13/2009
If the acne is only around the mouth, it could be peri oral dematitis. If you are using a toothpaste that contains flouride, try switching to one without. Many times flouride is the culprit and just switching to a natural toothpaste could clear up the problem.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Sandi (Atlanta, GA) on 03/23/2009
To: Julie from Boston, MA re:"Adult Puberty Acne?
I don't want to be one to rain on anyone's parade, but might the cyst like pimples be oral herpes? That is what it honestly sounds like to me that it may be HSV 1 (the herpes virus that causes cold sores, etc.). Just to be on the safe side, if I were you I would get a blood test TO RULE OUT HSV 1.
If indeed you do have HSV 1, then olive leaf extract would be great to use to rid yourself of the cold sores, or to suppress them and keep your break-outs a lot less frequent.
Good luck!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Shannon (Blue Water Bay, Fl) on 01/22/2010
I agree with Sandi from Atlanta. As soon as I read your decription Julie that is the first thing I thought of. Either way, you have found the cure I am sure. Wendy from NC posted about rinsing with Hydrogen Peroxide to prevent. This works! Use as a mouth wash for 20 min or as long as you can stand as soon as you notice them coming up. This is a good one to add to your weekly and occasional daily routine as it also whitens teeth over time.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Joan (Chantilly, Va) on 04/15/2012
MOUTH RASH -- The rash around your mouth could be a reaction to tartar control toothpaste. That was the cause of my rash around my mouth, and a 10-year-old friend who had been to every kind of doctor. Good luck!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Danielle (Chicago, IL) on 07/19/2008
★★★★★
Acne Remedies: I tried hydrogen peroxide with the assumption that it was an antiseptic that would aid in killing bacteria, infection, etc. (essentially what pimples are when inflamed). It definitely works. As others recommended, soak a cotton ball and hold for several min. For spot treatment and to avoid overdrying & light eyebrows, I use a q-tip. I will do this 2-3x's a day. If you have already squeezed or picked, the peroxide will often cause drying, flaking, or scabbing on that pimple so I recommend using baby oil on that spot (overnight). For day, I recommend Eucerin since it heals very dry skin and is non-irritating. I never realized how much dirt is still on your face, even after you thought you washed it well. Witch Hazel is a great toner, after washing. This will remove all excess dirt without overdrying.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Zonia (Melbourne, AUZ) on 11/26/2007
★★★★★
Thank you for the amazing knowledge on this site!!! suffering with dry skin with acne (and especially bad flare up over the last 2 month?) I have struggled with what to do with my face - moisture, dry it out? differin, aspirin..... Hydrogen peroxide what can I say - i never knew i had that much bacteria in my skin, I put it on and all the pimples went white! and have defineatly reduced in size!!! WOW. Then I started reading other peoples succcess and Ted's responses so I have started B.S and lemon drink x3/day = good result. alkalizing diet = good result. ACV on face =????? my face is now red and scaly, very tight and feels like sand paper. I have to admit this maybe the baking soda or the ACV but I am a little scared to try them again - maybe I did something wrong, or is this a normal detox response? ?? so now for a moisturise what should I use????
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Jen B (Des Moines, IA) on 04/20/2009
I have never tried H2O2, but I have used ACV and I have normal to dry skin. I dilute it in a 1:1 ratio and them moisterize with jojoba oil. Jojoba oil is very moisterizing and its chemically very similar to our own natural moisterizers. It is also a small molecule so it doesnt clog pores.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Jules (Santa Monica, Ca) on 05/12/2010
Just thought I'd add this info: yes, it can mildly bleach facial hair...also, it will bleach/fade moles. I had a (nice) beauty mark on my face...not trying to get rid of it, right? But the HP faded it quite a bit. : ( Take care where u apply the HP, as it WILL fade moles!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Jules (Laguna Hills, CA) on 10/04/2006
★★★★★
i have these irritating pimples that appear on my chin and although herbal remedies helped overall, i really have to say that hydrogen peroxide gets rid of pimples. i used the suggestion of applying a cotton ball soaked in hydrogen peroxide on a pimple for several minutes, and it really worked. i noticed that if i get it when i first notice it, the red bump never flares up. if i get it when it's a whitehead, it burns it, but it takes a couple of days to clear up - which is better than it taking a week or two. i highly suggest hydrogen peroxide. now if i can only stop them from appearing at all!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Gina (Boston, MA) on 05/31/2006
★★★★★
I have a tendency to break out on my chin, nose and forehead when the weather heats up in June and the air becomes even more toxic to breathe. I find that if I hold a hydrogen peroxide saturated cotton ball for 10 minutes to the area prone to breaking out, it will literally dry everything up. I do not experience redness. If I have already broken out, the pimple will dry up overnight and completely disappear within 2 days. It is amazing! I am going to try peroxide on a mole now using the same technique.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Yuss (Chino Hills, Ca, USA) on 04/01/2012
Hi everyone, My daughter is 11 years old. She is suffering her first ever breakout on her forehead and it is massive. Before this, she had a few here and there, two or three around her chick, nose and forehead. It does hurt me when she said why only her in her class and school have this ugly pimples.
To be honest, I do stare at ther forehead and keep on looking at it because is spread everywhere. I am trying my best to console her. I tried wash it wil salt (with a bit water). But it doesn't get any result. 2 days ago, I found Earth Clinic and I tried washing it with baking soda. I haven't got any result either. My daughter said it looks like I spread even more now and worst. But I said, give it a chance, we will try for 2 weeks. After using the baking soda, we didn't wash with anything else, I only rinse it with water then I just ask her to wipe her face, and let it dry.
Do you guys have any advise to speed up the process? So she can feel better when the pimples is gone? Please, help. Thank you.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Jennifer (Sunrise, Fl) on 04/01/2012
Yuss, Poor kid! I started to have pimples at 13 and I'm 30 now and still have them. I feel her pain.
I have found that tea tree oil is the best thing to use for shrinking big pimples quickly. You can use it on its own or mix it with lavender oil (which is also another good oil for decreasing pimples). You can find tea tree oil "blemish control sticks" in Whole Foods, Vitamin Shoppe or other natural foods stores. It has a strong smell, but it's very effective, it usually shrinks the pimples overnight or in 1-3 days. Some people also have luck with applying ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar) - another really stinky substance, so just apply it overnight.
11 years old is pretty young for breakouts, I would check to make sure that she isn't using products or lotions that contain parabens, and check her diet to make sure she isn't consuming foods that contain hormones (milk, red meats, even vegetables have pesticides that contain estrogen compounds) or preservatives. My acne cleared up a lot after I went on a "clean" diet.
I hope this helps! Best of luck to you and your daughter.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Jen (Bozeman, Mt, Us) on 04/02/2012
I can understand how upsetting that must be for your daughter. I have a 14 year old who went through a similar situation. I started having her put a little apple cidar vinegar (with the mother) on a cotton swab at night and rubbing it all over her face like a toner. She puts extra virgin coconut oil on her face as a moisturizer afterwards (she doesn't use any other moisturizers). She has absolutely no pimples now and her skin looks beautiful and fresh always. She was so pleased with the results that she started doing it twice a day and when I found out and noticed that her face was drying out. I advised her to go back to just once a day. She did and the dryness is gone. She spread the word to all of her friends at school who think she is so smart for knowing about that cure since they all use it now too:)
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Traveler (North, Texas) on 04/03/2012
Hi--Your daughter would probably be better served getting a jar of unrefined cold-pressed virgin coconut oil, and applying some to her skin every day. She can clean with some soap, maybe swipe with some hydrogen peroxide, and then apply the coconut oil before bed. Put an old pillowcase on her pillow so you don't mind a few oily spots. You can add some tea tree oil, or some other essential oils after you research, though typically tea tree oil is the one most known for acne outbreaks.
If she has really deep painful zits, she can bring the bacteria up to the surface by putting a dab of mayonnaise on the zit and putting a bandaid over it. Anywhere from 3-8 hours later she or you can take the bandaid off and see if the pus has come to a head and lightly squeeze out the pus. This shouldn't cause any scarring because you're not using very much pressure, but you're getting rid of as much of the infection as you can.
Also, how is her digestion? If she's not eliminating regularly, her body will try to eliminate toxins through her skin and this, coupled with the hormonal changes she's going through, can be pretty bad. You might consider having her take 1-2 tablespoons of coconut a day (start off with a small amount and work up. ) A few ways to take it is on toast, or in a smoothie, or drinking it in some warm (not hot) tea.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Tracy (Tyndall, Mb) on 04/03/2012
My daughter is 13 and she has horrible breakouts on her forehead as well. What we found that works amazing is the oil cleansing method. We fill up the sink with very warm water. Take a wash cloth and wipe off any make-up and dirt. Microfiber cloths seem to work fantastic. Take some Castor oil or Coconut oil and rub into the skin for a few minutes. Wet the facecloth with the very warm water and lay it over the face to steam open the pores. Wet it again and repeat 5 or 6 times. In between steaming, gently rub the oil into the skin. After your last steam, wipe the excess oil off with the washcloth. We do this morning and night. This is the only thing that works for us, and it works within a day or 2 with outstanding results. I hope it works for your daughter too.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Volce (Imperial, MO) on 05/30/2006
★★★★★
I used to break out every other day or so with one or two pimple. My face always seem to have 3 zits on it. I've also have some red marks left around the cheek area. I've been using Hydrogen Peroxide after every shower and before bed. It would be lying if I said I've never broken out, but since I've started about 2 weeks ago. I've broken out once or twice and my face is looking clearer then ever. I'm using some make up now to cover up the redness, till it fades completely... Can't wait :)
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by JoAnne (NYC, NY)
★★★★★
I have been spending $36 every month on a product to help break-outs. It works, but that's a lot of $ to spend each month! I read Mike's remedy and decided to give it a try when I ran out. Sure enough, it works like a dream. I use a cotton ball soaked in peroxide 2x a day (morning and night) and if it's hot outside, once or twice more. I hold a soaked h2o2 cotton ball to any break-out areas and they have healed within a few hours. This is good stuff! Only suggestion I have is to invest in a good moisturizer as peroxide does dry out the skin. Thanks, Mike!
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Ravali (Telangana) on 07/14/2018
How much percent did u use on u r face and for how much time?
Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Doris (Los Angeles, CA)
★★★★★
Vitamin B3 is best for acne. Also tea tree oil, chamomile tea, and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide when put on a pimple helps reduce redness infection, and dries out the pimple then it just falls off, never pick at it though.
