FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You can purchase our larger Acnecide Face Gel and Face Wash for acne of the face, chest and back over the pharmacy counter.  

No, you don't. Our Acnecide Face Gel and Face Wash  treatments for mild acne can be purchased off the skincare shelf. We also offer over-the-counter options which you can ask your pharmacist about.

When you first start using Acnecide Face Gel it’s recommended that for the first three days, you only use the treatment once a day in the evening before going to bed and leave it on overnight. This ensures that you are getting your skin used to Benzoyl Peroxide.  

If after three days it is well tolerated, you can then increase Acnecide to twice daily. Make sure that you are applying a moisturiser after the treatment product to prevent dryness from occurring. To read more instructions on how to apply our Acnecide Face Gel, visit our product page.

You need to allow roughly 4 weeks to see the effects that our Acnecide treatments have on your acne. Remember to introduce the treatment slowly to allow your skin time to get used to the effects of the active ingredient, Benzoyl Peroxide. Using more product or introducing it too quickly won't clear your acne faster but may be more likely to irritate your skin.  

If you have any concerns, or your acne does not improve within 12 weeks, consult your pharmacist or doctor for advice.

Acnecide is stocked in a range of retailers and pharmacists online and offline, so it’s easier than ever to start tackling acne. Find a store near you on the Where to Buy page.

Slight tightness or mild redness may indicate that your skin is getting used to Benzoyl Peroxide, the active ingredient in Acnecide. This is a common experience, which you may notice in the first days or weeks of treatment. It will normally subside if treatment is reduced back to once daily or temporarily paused. Also, check that you are not applying too much. Applying more product per application won't speed up its effect on spots. You can also use a hydrating moisturiser after application, such as our Purifide Daily Moisturiser SPF30 or Purifide Microbiome Equalizer Moisturiser, to help counter the drying nature of benzoyl peroxide. 

Acne on the chest, back and shoulders can be treated with our over-the-counter range, Acnecide Treatment Gel 30g and Wash 100g. These are larger versions of our Acnecide range that are indicated for use on the face. We always recommend you should speak to your GP or a dermatologist first.

Acnecide's Face Gel and Face Wash 5% BPO treatments are legally classified as 'Medicines'. The formulations do not contain any animal-derived ingredients. Animal testing must only take place when absolutely necessary to demonstrate the safety of medicines as part of the regulatory authorisation process to commercialise new medicines, or to develop innovative medicines that will benefit human beings. When Acnecide medicines were originally developed, given the state of scientific knowledge at that time, testing on animals was part of its evaluation and was required by regulatory authorities worldwide to ensure the quality, efficacy and safety of medicines placed in their markets. However, Acnecide medicines are not new medicines now, and as such, do not need to undergo animal testing anymore. 

Acnecide products do not contain tree nut or peanut ingredients. In case of allergies, when using new products for the first time, it is recommended to do a small patch test on the inside of the forearm to check for suitability. 

Yes, of course you can! If you don’t currently suffer from acne, but your skin is oily or spot-prone then you can use any of our Purifide products as part of a healthy skincare routine. Our Purifide products help to gently cleanse oiliness, maintain clear skin and lock in moisture to prevent future outbreaks. Our range includes our, Purifide Microbiome Equalizer, Purifide Daily Cleanser, Purifide Daily Moisturiser, Purifide pH Control Cleansing Face Wash, and Purifide Oil Control Moisturiser.

You can find Purifide products on your skincare aisle or in a range of online retailers. You can either search for Purifide products online or find a store near you on our Where to Buy page.

No, you don’t need a prescription for our Purifide range - they are cosmetic skin products designed to be used as part of a healthy skincare routine for oily or acne-prone skin.

Animal testing is forbidden for cosmetic products sold in Europe according to Article 18, Regulation 1223/2009 of the European Council. As a result, Galderma does not test Purifide products or ingredients used in these products on animals at any stage of our product innovation, development or manufacturing processes. Galderma had already been utilizing industry-recognized, non-animal testing methodologies even before regulations prohibiting animal testing on cosmetics came into force. Purifide products do not contain any animal-derived ingredients.

These efforts are part of our commitment to ensuring the safety of our products, the well-being of our consumers and our contribution to society at large.

Nevertheless, some health authorities may conduct animal testing for certain cosmetic products prior to approval for sale on the market, as is still the case in some non-European countries.

Galderma is deeply committed to promoting alternatives to animal testing on cosmetics and has partnered with IIVS (Institute for In Vitro Sciences), a non-profit research and testing laboratory, to help drive alternatives to animal testing for cosmetic products globally.

The IIVS has an active program in some non-European countries, the goal of which is to promote the use and regulatory acceptance of non-animal testing methods for assessing the safety of cosmetics. Through this collaborative approach with regulators and industry bodies, we hope to contribute to the elimination of animal testing in the cosmetics industry worldwide. 

Purifide products not contain tree nut or peanut ingredients. In case of allergies, when using new products for the first time, it is recommended to do a small patch test on the inside of the forearm to check for suitability. 

Benzoyl Peroxide is a medication used to treat acne. When applied to the skin, it can penetrate deeply, helping kill acne bacteria living inside the pore. 

Benzoyl Peroxide kills up to 95% of spot-causing bacteria when applied as part of acne treatment. It attacks spots by killing bacteria on and under the skin, as well as helping you clear out dead skin cells and oil that can clog up your skin’s pores. 

While Benzoyl Peroxide is a strong antiseptic, Acnecide’s range of products have been formulated to allow you to leave the product on overnight and throughout treatment. We do recommend, however, that when you first start using Acnecide that you only use the treatment once a day, in the evening. This will help your skin get used to Benzoyl Peroxide before you move to two applications a day after around 2 weeks.  

Yes, our Acnecide range containing benzoyl peroxide has been tested for use on the skin. However, because of its drying effects, it’s also important to use a complementary non-comedogenic moisturiser like that from our Purifide range. 

All of our Acencide treatment products contain Benzoyl Peroxide. Unfortunately, if you have a Benzoyl Peroxide allergy, you will not be able to use Acnecide. If you’re unable to use Benzoyl Peroxide, you can still benefit from our Purifide products which can form part of a healthy skincare routine for acne-prone skin. 

This product may bleach hair and coloured fabrics including clothing, towels and bed linen. Benzoyl Peroxide bleaching is common so be careful to avoid contact of the gel with these materials. Please make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly after you have used it. Always read the label before use. 

No, there are no microplastics or plastic microbeads in our Acnecide treatments or our range of Purifide skincare products. 

The cartons we use in packaging are cardboard which is widely recycled. The tubes of Acnecide and the Purifide Daily Moisturiser SPF30 are LDPE. The screw caps/flip caps are HDPE or PP. The bottle of Purifide Daily Cleanser is HDPE. You'll need to separate the pump from the bottle to recycle it. The pump is mixed materials, so is unrecyclable, but we are working on changing this to something recyclable (We'll let you know when this changes). PP, LDPE and HDPE plastics and cardboard are widely recycled in UK domestic recycling.