Benzoyl Peroxide

My UC has been worse the last year where the Lialda has been just keeping my UC at bay rather than completely under control. I thought it was just because my colon just was still badly inflamed and I was just having worse symptoms. Well, it just hit me that the Benzoyl Peroxide wash I've been using on my back could be the culprit to my worse symptoms. I've been using it for about a year (every other day). I informed the dermatologist about my UC and she never mentioned the Benzoyl Peroxide wash could be worse for stomach conditions. I also never really thought it would affect my stomach. After reading online, I found some info. that it could and you should maybe not use it if you have inflammation of the intestines and UC.

Well, needless to say I'm not gonna be using that for a long while and maybe never again.  Here's to hoping that stopping this Benzoyl Peroxide wash will make my sympotms better and under control like they used to be. Anyone else experience worse symtpoms due to Benzoyl Peroxide?

I have never heard of that-interesting.

I used to use benzoyl peroxide, but as I got older my skin must have changed and I react to it now with swollen, red, itchy skin. That was all pre-UC, so I have not had any experience with it since my diagnosis.

I'll be interested to hear if you notice any change to your UC after stopping the body wash.

http://drugs.webmd.boots.com/drugs/drug-49-BENZOYL+PEROXIDE.aspx?drugid=49&drugname=BENZOYL%2BPEROXIDE&source=2&isTicTac=false

Songlady let us know pls..cause I use proactive almost daily as well..

Very interesting! good research Krissy.

Maybe using a lower % is better....what % is in Proactive?

q

I have to check tonight..my skin is ok now its just outta habit i guess but if i stop that and get off the pill OMG

I've been using a 10% Benzoyl Peroxide wash. I'm definitely stopping and I also asked my Brother (who has a normal intestinal system/no issues) who used to use Benzoyl Peroxide cream or gel and he said after a few months of using it, he had stomach pain and diarreah - so he of course stopped and then his stomach was fine/back to normal. This, along with the info. online makes me think this may have something to do with my UC symptoms becoming worse. Actually, I hope so, as then they should get better when stopping the use of this and I can get my UC under control. I wonder how long the Benzoyl Peroxide stays in your system?

I never even thought of Benzoyl Peroxide as harmful to my stomach and I did recall checking side effects and saw nothing about stomach issues. On a whim, I decided to check more in to it and saw it as a warning/precaution. The link KrissyUC provided has the same caution/warning as the place I had read it. It has a section that says "What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using benzoyl peroxide and clindamycin topical?" Here it is:

http://health.yahoo.com/skinconditions-medications/benzoyl-peroxide-and-clindamycin-topical/healthwise--d04742a1.html

Post Edited (UCmusicguy28) : 3/31/2010 3:25:47 PM (GMT-6)

Probably that referred to the clindamycin...

If you get subcutaneaous folliculitis on your back try head and shoulders. My dad got stuff like that, and I have something similar on my scalp and face. As I've beat to death around here, mine improved 90% since using Head and Shoulders Shampoo. Try it. Rub some on your back in the shower for a couple months and see if it works.

Quite clearly there is some link for many of us with the UC and these "skin problems."  Not going to call it acne because it's probably NOT acne.  I think it has to do with our messed up immune systems.  If science ever grew a pair, it might look into this and find a cure for UC.  Or it can just go on cashing our checks for the monthly antiinflammatory medications.  Cash flow cow!

I have skin problems too. I have what to me and my dermatolgist described as eczema on my face. I treat that by rubbing hydrocortisone 1% on my face twice a week (2 days in a row and then not again until around several days later; sometimes sooner; I only wash my face with purpose soap once a week; if I do any more than that my face gets the dry, raised, red patches and I'd have to put the cortisone cream on everyday which is not good). With my current cortisone treatment my face looks nice, clear, and normal. I get those dry, red, itchy patches on my legs too in a few spots and the cortisione clears it up if really itchy, if not regular moisturizing lotion (gold bond ultimate healing) daily keeps it mildy away/good enough so I don't have to use the steroid/cortisone cream.

I also have what can best be described to me as acne covering almost my entire back. It used to be real bad when I was younger. Now, it's a lot better but I just have little red spots and they are fading and really not raised at all. Just little red patches I guess you could say. To me my back looks pretty good but to someone who never had this and has a clear/normal back, it probably looks bad lol. I've seen 2 dermatologists and they treated it as acne. I was putting the 10% benzoyl peroxide on my back but now I'm obviously stopping. I'll just wash my back a couple times a week with purpose soap as I did before(my back seemed a little worse but oh well; well worth it for better UC condition).

Maybe I'll try the head and shoulders on my back and face? I already use it daily for my hair and scalp. I also use nizoral shampoo 1% on my scalp every 3 days or so. I tried that on my face but I actually get a pimple or two when I did so I stopped using on my face. I wouldn't be surprised if UC and skin problems are directly related. I only felt what it was like to be normal (with skin and stomach) when I was really young (up until my early teens); the skin problems and then the UC came on after that. I'm not going to get in to my spontaneous CSF leaks that I currently have - I'll just say between the UC, skin problems, and the CSF leaks, I'm a medical mess!! But I stay strong; I have to. This site is a good resource and venting place.

my benzoyl is only 2.5 and i dont use it every day..i dont believe it can upset uc..its a cream for gods sake..

i used to use it, no problem. I do find good luck with just toner or an Aveeno bar. Or maybe you could try dandruff shampoo like someone else suggested once, or I bet teatree soap would help.

subdued said...

Terrapin said...
Doubt the Retin-A benefits. I've been using retin-a for about 20 years...trust my, my uc in not benefiting from it at all. lol

Oh. I didn't mean it would help a lot--just that it wouldn't make it worse like other acne medications. I've been using Retin-A for the past 30 years now. I would probably have horrible acne scars and scars from skin inflammations if I hadn't been using it all these years. I don't think it's hurt my colon, nor my digestive system. I know antibiotics have. I've really abused those.

Oh yah. And now I can't even use my Retin-A, because it is a combo Retin-A, Benzoyl Peroxide cream.

Yeah, I hear you. I used antibiotics for acne for many years, both oral and topical. I'm sure they've done their damage! Really? a retin-a combo w/ Benzoyl? Is it still branded under retin-a? Interesting...never heard of that.

Well, here I am 5 days later after stopping the use of the 10% Benzoyl Peroxide wash. I have to say my symptoms have improved a little already. My stools went from being soft and not fully formed to now being a little harder and ALL are fully formed (also a little larger and closer to being normal looking). My tenderness/pain on my left side has also improved. Still there but not as much and not nearly annoying like before (seems it's on its way out). My urgency has also improved. I was having around 2 bowel movements a day (at times a little more)with good urgency where I had to really hurry to the bathroom. I had no bowel movement yesterday and today I had one and I had a little urgency but nothing like before and I actually could almost get to the bathroom like normal.

So it seems I am improving since stopping the 10% Benzoyl Peroxide wash. That is the only thing I did differently the last 5 days. I hope to have continued improvement until my flare/symptoms are completely under control (I am mentally keeping my fingers crossed). I will post here again soon (maybe around a week or so) with another update - hopefully a good one like this one.