Benzoyl peroxide is comedolytic, which means it actually breaks down the pimple. Benzoyl peroxide can be irritating to the skin, so you should wait 30 minutes after washing before you apply the medicine. It is also recommended to apply it once daily at first, and if no irritation develops, you can apply it up to three times daily. Benzoyl peroxide can cause bleaching of color fabrics, so some caution is needed when applying it. Salicylic acid works by increasing cell turnover, and causing the pores to unclog, but it will not break down the pimple as benzoyl peroxide does.
Salicylic acid is the active ingredient in most acne products on the market.
It is in face washes, cleansing pads, astringents and overnight pore treatments. Salicylic acid can also be irritating to skin, so application is started once daily and can be increased to three times a day as tolerated. There are several products on the market that contain sulfur and resorcinol in combination. When combined, they act like salicylic acid, but are less irritating. For that reason, these products are recommended for adults and for those with sensitive skin.