Skin Care Topicals & Vitamin B5
Another popular question lately has been: What cleansers and topical skin care treatments are safe to use with vitamin B5 acne treatment?
Plain and simple, all of the typical over-the-counter creams and cleansers are “safe” to use with B5. It’s merely that those which dry you out can leave your skin agitated and more susceptible to future acne, thus working against your progress. How sensitive your skin is to such treatments varies greatly from person to person, so I’m not going to rule out any specific brands. Generally cleansers with a higher percent of benzoyl peroxide (above 2.5%) or salicylic acid (above 1%) are more likely to leave your skin dry, but again some people with less sensitive skin may be fine even with high-concentration formulas of these drugs.
If you’re preventing excess oil buildup with vitamin B5, you’re naturally going to be less dependent on topical cleansers (or not need them at all), but if you want a safety net or are just starting out, I’d recommend erring on the side of caution and going with a more gentle formula. One of the gentle cleansers I recommend on our acne products reviews page is Clean & Clear’s Foaming Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin.
An acne spot treatment is also fine to use alongside B5 while first starting out. A 2.5% BP cream such as On-The-Spot is a popular and fairly safe choice, but I’m finding Tea Tree Oil to be a better alternative for many users, since it appears to work just as well and is usually less drying. Tea Tree Oil is also a much better value for your money, since a 1 oz bottle can easily last you for months - plus it’s all natural.
