Patient leaflet - Acnecide 5% w/w gel
1. What Acnecide is and what it is used for
- Acnecide contains the active ingredient benzoyl peroxide which attacks the bacteria (germs) known as Cutibacterium acnes, one of the main causes of acne.
- Your doctor or pharmacist has recommended this medicine to treat your acne. Acne appears as blackheads and whiteheads which people often refer to as pimples or spots.
- Acne of the face, chest or back may be treated with this medicine.
2. What you need to know before you use Acnecide
Do not use Acnecide if you are:
- Allergic (hypersensitive) to benzoyl peroxide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6). An allergic reaction may include a rash or itching.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before using Acnecide.
- Avoid contact with the eyes, mouth, angles of the nose and other mucous surfaces such as the lining of your nose. If accidental contact should occur, rinse thoroughly with warm water.
- Acnecide should not be applied to damaged skin.
- Acnecide may cause swelling and blistering of the skin, if any of these symptoms occur, use of the product should be discontinued.
- This product may bleach hair and coloured fabrics including clothing, towels and bed linen. Be careful to avoid contact of the gel with these materials. Please make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly after you have used it.
- Caution should be exercised when applying Acnecide to the neck and other sensitive areas.
- Avoid repeated exposure to sunlight or other sources of UV light (e.g. sun bed)
Other medicines and Acnecide
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines.
- You should not use medicines with peeling, irritant and drying effects at the same time as Acnecide.
- Do not use Acnecide with any other acne products that are used on the skin, unless your doctor or pharmacist has told you that you can, as this may cause your skin to become red and very sore.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
- If you are pregnant or think you may be pregnant or are breast-feeding, do not use this product unless your doctor has told you that you can.
- Avoid using this product if you are breast-feeding unless your doctor has told you otherwise. If your doctor has recommended the use of this product while you are breast-feeding, you must not apply the gel onto your chest, this is to avoid exposure of your child to this product.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Acnecide contains propylene glycol.
This medicine contains 40 mg of propylene glycol (E1520) per gram, which is equivalent to 4.0 % w/w. It may cause skin irritation.
3. How to use Acnecide
Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
- Acnecide is for EXTERNAL USE ONLY.
Unless your doctor or pharmacist has told you otherwise,
- Wash the affected area with a mild skin cleanser and water, and gently pat your skin dry.
- Apply the gel in a thin layer once or twice a day to all the affected areas.
- If you have sensitive skin apply the gel once daily before going to bed
- Any drying or peeling which may occur to your skin may be reduced if you alter the number of times you apply i.e. to once a day or once every two days, until your skin adjusts to the product.
- You should try to avoid exposure to strong sunlight while using Acnecide. If exposure is unavoidable, use a suitable sunscreen lotion and apply Acnecide in the evening. Remember to wash the affected area before use.
- How long you will have to use Acnecide will depend on how quickly your condition improves. After you have used it for one month, you should see your doctor or pharmacist again. He or she can then check the improvement of your condition.
If you use more Acnecide than you should or accidentally swallow the gel
- If you should accidentally use too much gel, you may find that your skin becomes irritated. Wash off as much as you can, and when the irritation has gone down, start using it again as directed.
- In the rare event that you accidentally swallow any of this product, seek medical advice.
If you forget to use Acnecide
- Don't worry if you forget to use your gel at the right time. When you remember, start using the product again, in the same way as before.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
If your skin becomes severely irritated, or severe redness, itching or peeling of the skin occurs, or you experience face swelling, discontinue use immediately and consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Tell your doctor immediately if you develop a severe allergic reaction:
Signs of severe allergic reactions may include:
- Raised and itchy rash (hives)
- Swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue or mouth (angioedema), having difficulty in breathing
- Fainting
Acnecide may cause the following side effects:
Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people
- Dry skin
- Skin redness
- Peeling of the skin
- Burning sensation of the skin
Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- Itching of the skin (pruritus)
- Pain of the skin (pain, stinging)
- Skin irritation (irritant contact dermatitis)
Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- Allergic contact dermatitis
These symptoms are usually reversible if the treatment is reduced in frequency or discontinued.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme (website: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk) or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Acnecide
- Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package to protect from light.
- Do not freeze.
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is stated on the tube and carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
- Use within 6 months of opening the tube.
- Store the closed tube away from direct heat.
- Do not dispose of medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help protect the environment.
- If your medicine shows signs of deterioration or discolouration seek the advice of your pharmacist who will tell you what to do.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Acnecide contains:
- The active substance is hydrous benzoyl peroxide equivalent to benzoyl peroxide 5% w/w in an aqueous, non-alcoholic gel base.
- The other ingredients are: carbomer, sodium edetate, poloxamer, docusate sodium, silicon dioxide, propylene glycol (E1520), glycerol, methacrylate copolymer, sodium hydroxide solution, purified water.
What Acnecide looks like and contents of the pack:
Acnecide is a white to off-white gel.
Pack size: 30 g tube.
Manufacturer
Laboratoires Galderma - Zone Industrielle Touvières - 74540 Alby sur Chéran - France.
Procured from within the EU for The Product Licence Holder:
IMED Healthcare Ltd, Unit E The Business Centre, 5-7 Tobermore Road, Draperstown, Magherafelt, BT45 7AG, UK.
Repackaged by:
Cast Healthcare Ltd, Unit E The Business Centre, 5-7 Tobermore Road, Draperstown, Magherafelt, BT45 7AG, UK.
P PL 33543/0382
Leaflet revision date: 20/05/2026
Acnecide® is a registered trademark of Galderma Holding S.A.
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