Editing Benzoyl peroxide (section)

=== Mechanism of action ===
Classically, benzoyl peroxide is thought to have a three-fold activity in treating acne. It is sebostatic, comedolytic, and inhibits growth of  ''[[Cutibacterium acnes]]'', the main [[bacterium]] associated with acne.<ref name="Simonart2012"/><ref name=":0">{{cite journal | vauthors = Cotterill JA | title = Benzoyl peroxide | journal = Acta Dermato-Venereologica. Supplementum | volume = 89 | pages = 57–63 | date = 1 January 1980 | doi = 10.2340/00015555895763 | pmid = 6162349 | doi-access = free }}</ref>  In general, acne vulgaris is a hormone-mediated inflammation of sebaceous glands and hair follicles. Hormone changes cause an increase in keratin and sebum production, leading to blocked drainage. ''C. acnes'' has many lytic enzymes that break down the proteins and lipids in the sebum, leading to an inflammatory response. The free-radical reaction of benzoyl peroxide can break down the keratin, therefore unblocking the drainage of sebum (comedolytic). It can cause nonspecific peroxidation of ''C. acnes'', making it bactericidal,<ref name=Pl2012/> and it was thought to decrease sebum production, but  disagreement exists within the literature on this.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{cite journal | vauthors = Worret WI, Fluhr JW | title = [Acne therapy with topical benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics and azelaic acid] | language = German | journal = Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology | volume = 4 | issue = 4 | pages = 293–300 | date = April 2006 | pmid = 16638058 | doi = 10.1111/j.1610-0387.2006.05931.x | trans-title = Acne therapy with topical benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics and azelaic acid | s2cid = 6924764 }}</ref>

Some evidence suggests that benzoyl peroxide has an anti-inflammatory effect as well. In micromolar concentrations it prevents neutrophils from releasing reactive oxygen species, part of the inflammatory response in acne.<ref name=":1" />