What is Benzac and when is it used?

Benzac is an acne treatment for external use. As an active ingredient it contains benzoyl peroxide, which plays an important role in the topical treatment of acne. Benzoyl peroxide has an antimicrobial effect against bacteria, especially against Propionibacterium acnes, which is significantly involved in acne. In addition, benzoyl peroxide inhibits the formation of blackheads (comedones) and leads to a reduction and reduction in the size of the horny cells ("peeling effect"). This results in fewer pimples and pustules.

Benzac 5 is suitable for treating mild to moderate forms of acne.

What should be considered?

It should always be ensured that Benzac is used regularly according to the package leaflet or the doctor's instructions.

The doctor can also prescribe other acne medication (e.g. tablets, local antibiotics, etc.) and recommend further measures.

When must Benzac not be used?

Benzac must not be used if there is a known hypersensitivity to the ingredients.

When should you be careful when using Benzac?

Benzac is for external use only.

Talk to your doctor before using Benzac if you are prone to hay fever, allergic asthma or neurodermatitis (atopy) and your skin is dry and produces little sebum (sebostasis). At the beginning of the treatment, sensitive patients may experience slight skin reddening and burning. These side effects usually subside after a few days. Peeling of the skin is desirable during therapy with Benzac and promotes healing ("peeling effect"). Long-term treatment can lead to drying out of the skin in particularly predisposed patients.

If the symptoms of treatment, such as tightness or drying out of the skin, redness and burning, become too severe or last longer than a week or allergic reactions such as redness, itching or burning occur, consult a doctor and discontinue the preparation if necessary. After the acute symptoms have subsided, treatment can be continued in most cases with less frequent application. If in doubt, please consult your doctor or doctor up.

Benzac can cause swelling and blistering of the skin. If such symptoms occur, you must stop treatment with Benzac and contact your doctor.

Benzac must not be applied to mucous membranes or in the area of ​​the corners of the mouth, nose and eyes; accidental contact with the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth or nose can cause reddening and burning. In this case, the affected area should be rinsed with plenty of water.

Benzac should not be used on broken skin.

The simultaneous use of skin-irritating agents and intensive exposure to the sun or UV light (sunbathing, solariums) is not recommended, as this can lead to increased skin irritation.

Contact with colored materials including hair and colored clothing may result in bleaching or discoloration.

Tell your doctor, pharmacist or druggist if you

-suffering from other diseases,

have allergies or

–Take other medicines (including those you bought yourself!) or use them externally!

Can Benzac be used during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?

As a precaution, you should avoid taking medicines during pregnancy and breastfeeding, or consult a doctor, pharmacist or nurse Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

No data are available on human pregnancy.

Benzac should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding unless specifically prescribed by your doctor.

Breastfeeding mothers should not apply the preparation to the breast area to avoid direct contact with Benzac by the infant.

How do you use Benzac?

Adults and adolescents aged 12 and over

Benzac 5 is applied to the affected skin areas once or twice a day. If you have sensitive skin, it is recommended to use it once a day before going to bed.

Before applying Benzac, the skin should be cleaned – preferably with a medical detergent – ​​and dried carefully.

It is advisable to check the compatibility of the preparation on one or two small areas of skin before starting therapy. Unless otherwise prescribed by the doctor, the treatment should be started with a 1× daily application. Treatment with Benzac 5 should be started if the skin is sensitive. If well tolerated, this can be increased to twice a day.

The treatment duration is 4-12 weeks on average.

Benzac is intended exclusively for use on the skin!

If the product is used in excess, the results will not be faster or better and serious skin irritation may occur.

Stick to the dosage given in the package leaflet or as prescribed by your doctor. If you think the medicine is too weak or too strong, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Children under the age of 12

The use and safety of Benzac in children under the age of 12 has not been established as acne vulgaris is uncommon in this age group.

What side effects can Benzac have?

The following side effects can occur when using Benzac:

Very common (affects more than 1 in 10 people)

dry skin, redness, burning sensation or peeling skin

Common (affects 1 to 10 users in 100)

Itching, pain on the skin (tugging, stinging) or skin irritation (contact dermatitis)

Uncommon (affects 1 to 10 users in 1000)

allergic contact dermatitis

Some cases of facial swelling and allergic reactions, including application site allergic reactions and whole body hypersensitivity (allergy) reactions, have been observed.

Signs of an allergic reaction may include:

-Raised and itchy rash (hives)

-Swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue and mouth (angioedema), difficulty breathing

-Fainting spells

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or druggist. This also applies in particular to side effects that are not listed in this leaflet.

What else should be considered?

Due to the bleaching effect of benzoyl peroxide, which persists even after application to the skin, Benzac should not come into contact with hair or colored textiles .

Keep the preparation out of the reach of children.

Benzac may only be used up to the date marked «EXP» on the container.

Store at room temperature (15-25°C).

Your doctor, pharmacist or druggist can provide you with further information. These people have the detailed information for specialists.

What does Benzac contain?

1 g of gel contains

Active ingredients

50 mg benzoyl peroxide

Excipients

Propylene glycol and other additives

Approval number

45185 (Swissmedic).

Where can you get Benzac? What packs are available?

In pharmacies and drugstores, without a doctor's prescription.

60g tube.

Authorization holder

Galderma SA, CH-6300 Zug

This leaflet was last checked by the Medicines Agency (Swissmedic) in January 2018.