Bensoyl peroxide

Additional information

Pharmacokinetics and dosing

No studies with a clinically relevant sex analysis regarding pharmacokinetics or dosing of bensoyl peroxide have been found. Transdermal absorption seems to be similar in men and women [6].

Effects

The efficacy of clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/ bensoyl peroxide 3.75% gel was found to be greater than vehicle in both men and women but with a more pronounced effect in women [7].In a post hoc analysis (including 797 men and women) of two studies evaluating efficacy and tolerability of clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/ bensoyl peroxide 2.5% gel (in all 2813 persons included) adolescent girls had better effect than adolescent boys [8].

Adverse effects

In the post hoc analysis mentioned above, bensoyl peroxide tolerability was reported to be comparable in males and females [8].A retrospective study of patch tests (12 087 men, 17 671 women) found positive reactions to be rather common (7.8%). Logistic regression showed female sex to be one of the factors associated with a higher risk of a strong positive reaction. However, the authors caution that as sensitization to the substance is rare, a positive patch test for bensoyl peroxide has unclear significance and needs to be assessed carefully [9].

Reproductive health issues

Regarding teratogenic aspects, please consult the Drugs and Birth Defects Database (in Swedish, Janusmed fosterpåverkan).

Other information

Acne is very common in teenagers, affecting 80-90% to some degree [1]. In a study of volunteers above the age of 25 years (322 men, 427 women) clinical facial acne was recorded in 3% and 12% of men and women, respectively [2].

A prospective study of quality of life and choice of therapy in acne (143 females, 68 males) found the quality of life to improve after treatment at a group level. Women had a lower quality of life score not correlated to severity of acne at start of the study. After six months of treatment with acne preparations the quality of life score correlated to clinical grading and also to treatment with isoretinoin [3].

Age and sex-matched acne patients (270 men, 270 women) with a mean age of 20 years had their skin pH measured, showing the pH of the female face to be slightly higher than that of the male one. Skin pH is affected by age, anatomical site, genetic factors, sebum, skin moisture, sweat, detergents, cosmetics, soaps, washing patterns, and occlusive dressing [4].

Healthy volunteers (30 men, 30 women) were studied to determined influencing factors for facial pores. Factors increasing pores were male sex, increased sebum and decreased skin elasticity [5].In a drug utilization study from the US prescription of acne treatments were followed from 1990 to 2002. Bensoyl peroxide prescriptions were equally common in male and female patients and declined over the time studied in a similar way [10].