Is benzoyl peroxide the answer to our summer scent woes?

When it comes to tackling summer skin problems, there are a few that are particularly high on the priority list, the issue of excess sweating, for one, and benzoyl peroxide. Warmer temperatures and more time outside = warmer bodies, more sweat, and therefore more intense body odour. For some, the problem ends with a good deodorant and linen clothing. For others, excessive sweating poses a bigger challenge. Which seems to be why people on social media are slathering on benzoyl peroxide, an over-the-counter ingredient traditionally used for treating acne.

But does it work? We asked aesthetic doctor, and founder of Illuminate Skin Clinics, Dr Sophie Shotter, to set the record straight.

What is benzoyl peroxide?

“Benzoyl peroxide (BPO) is a well-established, over-the-counter and prescription-strength topical antimicrobial and keratolytic agent, primarily used in the treatment of acne,” Dr Shotter explains. Keratolytic is a substance that helps break down upper layers of the skin, slough away dead skin cells, unclog pores and reduce the formation of comedones (the technical name for blackheads).

“It is known to kill the cutibacterium acnes bacteria, a key driver of inflammatory acne,” says Dr Shotter. In addition to reducing redness and swelling. In some cases, it can be used to treat mild folliculitis, when the hair follicles become inflamed and small pus-filled bumps form.

Can benzoyl peroxide help reduce body odour caused by sweating?

The main draw of using a face wash with benzoyl peroxide is not to eliminate sweating, it’s a vital part of the body’s excretion system, but to nix the smell of sweat, something Shotter says, in certain cases, actually checks out.

“Using benzoyl peroxide on sweaty areas like the underarms, chest, or lower back can make sense in specific contexts, but not for excess sweating itself,” she clarifies. “It can be helpful for body odour and acne-prone areas, but it’s not an antiperspirant, and misuse can lead to irritation or barrier damage.” The reason it works, she tells British Vogue, is because body odour is caused by the bacterial breakdown of sweat. Benzoyl peroxide’s antibacterial properties can reduce the bacterial “load” (‘amount’ in layman’s terms), and therefore reduce odour.

How to pick the right benzoyl peroxide strength

While benzoyl peroxide is generally safe to use on the skin at concentrations ranging from 2.5% to 10%, lower strengths are just as effective, advises Dr Shotter. They’re also “significantly better tolerated, especially when used on the face or sensitive areas like the underarms”, she says. Higher strengths could cause irritation, inflammation and dryness, especially in those with sensitive or reactive skin.