roxy_gal6920 replied: "hydrogen peroxide is a colorless, unstable, oily liquid, H2O2, an aqueous solution of which is used chiefly as an antiseptic and a bleaching agent and benzoyl peroxide is a white, crystalline, water-insoluble, explosive solid, C7H5O4, used chiefly as a bleaching agent for flour, fats, oils, and waxes, and as a catalyst in polymerization reactions."

Alex B replied: "It is safe but read the following from a subject matter expert. "When you scrub your face, you're taking off some of the protective oils and barriers, which tends to lead to rashes and even burns," says Sandy Johnson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Johnson Dermatology Group in Fort Smith, Ark. Instead, she says, use a gentle cleanser followed by a moisturizer or sunscreen. Skin Care Myth No. 5: It's better to get the pus out of a pimple by popping it. "The truth is, even though it feels really good to release [the pus], a lot of it just goes in deeper," says Johnson. "When it goes in deeper, it causes more inflammation that can lead to scarring and spread under the skin. That's why you'll get another one a few days later, close to the first one." Johnson says it's crucial that people stop picking at their faces. But if you absolutely cannot resist, she says, be sure and do it right. Don't squeeze and pop the inflammation. Instead, use something called a comedone extractor -- an inexpensive tool that can be purchased at most beauty supply stores. Apply firm pressure with the extractor, then roll across the pimple to take it out. Skin Care Myth No. 6: Facials and microdermabrasion are good for your skin care routine. This is a popular myth, says Bauman, especially with the proliferation of day spas. But a recent study from India concluded that facials actually cause acne breakouts in 80% of people, Bauman tells WebMD. "They feel good but have no long-term skin benefit beyond relaxation," she says. "Like microdermabrasion, which merely sloughs off the top layer of skin, they are a "complete and total waste of money.""

replied: "yes, benzoyl peroxide can bleach clothing and sometimes hair. it can help to take some extra time to rinse your face after using the bp to minimize staining. there really isn't anything out there that would be the same as benzoyl peroxide minus the staining. salicylic acid is not a very good acne treatment because high levels of it are needed to be in contact with the skin for a long period of time to do anything other than dry out your skin. so, salicylic acid peels and things like that could be helpful, but cleansers, toners, and lotions containing it don't really do anything other than irritate the skin. retinoids can be effective in fighting acne, many are prescriptions. if you wanted, you could ask your doctor (you shouldn't need a dermatologist) about getting a retinoid such as retin-a micro, differin, epiduo, tazorac, etc."