Can I Leave Benzoyl Peroxide Face Wash Overnight?

No. A benzoyl peroxide face wash should generally not be left on your face overnight. Unlike a leave-on benzoyl peroxide treatment, a cleanser is designed to be applied, briefly worked into the skin and then rinsed away.

For a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide cleanser, wet your face, gently massage the cleanser over acne-prone areas, then rinse thoroughly according to the product instructions. Leaving it on for hours does not necessarily make it more effective.

Keeping benzoyl peroxide on your skin overnight can increase the likelihood of dryness, peeling, redness, burning and irritation. This can be particularly frustrating if you’re already dealing with acne marks or sensitive skin.

For Kenyan skin, where acne and post-inflammatory dark marks can be concerns, avoiding unnecessary irritation is important. Use the cleanser consistently rather than trying to make it work faster by leaving it on longer.

After cleansing, apply a gentle, non-comedogenic moisturiser. During the day, sunscreen can also help protect your skin and prevent acne marks from becoming more noticeable.

If you are using other acne treatments such as adapalene, salicylic acid or exfoliating acids, introduce them carefully to avoid overwhelming your skin.