Acnecide Face 5% w/w Gel Spot Treatment 15g

Always use this medicine exactly as described in the leaflet. Check with your pharmacist or doctor if you are not sure.

Benzoyl Peroxide may cause irritation. You should therefore start by using this product on alternate days to minimise this risk and then gradually increase the frequency up to twice a day use if tolerated. If you experience any severe skin irritation stop using the product. If this irritation does not improve after stopping, please consult your pharmacist or doctor.

Acnecide Face Gel is for EXTERNAL USE ONLY.

Adults and adolescents aged 12 years and over (unless your pharmacist or doctor 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 to all the affected areas of the face. Avoid contact with sensitive areas such as eyes, mouth, nose lining and neck.
• When you first use Acnecide Face Gel apply the gel once daily before going to bed. You may feel mild burning and notice slight reddening and peeling of the skin during the first few days. If you have more severe redness, burning, irritation and peeling then you should stop treatment and let your skin go back to normal before restarting treatment.
• If Acnecide Face Gel does not affect your skin, or you have only mild burning and slight reddening and peeling after 2-3 days of use, you can apply the gel twice a day, in the morning and evening. If this causes more severe skin symptoms (burning, irritation, redness, peeling) then you should go back to using Acnecide Face Gel only once a day. If your skin remains more severely irritated you should stop treatment and let your skin go back to normal before restarting treatment once a day.
• If you get severe skin irritation at any time whilst using Acnecide Face Gel you should stop the treatment. If your skin does not recover after stopping treatment you should seek a advice.

Using a moisturiser after application can help to reduce any irritation the treatment may cause.

You should try to avoid exposure to strong sunlight while using Acnecide Face Gel. If exposure is unavoidable, use a suitable sunscreen lotion and apply Acnecide Face Gel in the evening. Remember to wash the affected area before use.

How long you will have to use Acnecide Face Gel will depend on how quickly your condition improves.

If your acne gets worse while using Acnecide Face Gel or if it does not improve within 12 weeks, it is important that you see your pharmacist or doctor for advice.

Under treatment of some forms of acne may sometimes result in scarring. Your pharmacist or doctor will be able to recommend an alternative treatment for your acne.

If your spots heal but leave a scar for the first time, which is usually a shallow dent or deeper pit in the skin, you should see your pharmacist or doctor for advice.

You may require additional or alternative treatment for your acne.

• Active Ingredient: Hydrous benzoyl peroxide equivalent to peroxide 5% w/w in an aqueous, non-alcoholic gel base.
• Other Ingredients: Docusate sodium, disodium edetate, poloxamer 182, carbomer 940, propylene glycol (E1520), acrylates copolymer, glycerol, colloidal anhydrous silica, purified water and sodium hydroxide to adjust the pH.

• Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using Acnecide Face Gel if you are unsure if your spots are acne or not.
• If you are worried or upset about your acne, even if mild, you should consult your pharmacist or doctor for advice. Acne can be associated with increased risk of depression, anxiety, poor self-image and poor self-esteem. If you experience any of these psychological effects, please consult your doctor for professional advice.
• Avoid contact of the face gel 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 water.
• Acnecide Face Gel should not be applied to damaged skin.
• Acnecide Face Gel may cause swelling and blistering of the skin, if any of these symptoms occur, use of the product should be discontinued and you should see your pharmacist or doctor for advice
• This product may bleach hair and coloured fabrics including clothing, towels and bed linen. Be careful to avoid contact of the face gel with these materials.
• Please make sure that you wash your hands thoroughly after you have used it.
• Acnecide Face Gel should not be applied to the neck and other sensitive areas of skin (e.g. around the eyes).
• Acnecide Face Gel can cause increased sensitivity to sunlight, therefore excessive exposure to sunlightshould be avoided. Sunbeds should not be used whilst using Acnecide Face Gel.
• Children and adolescents aged less than 12 years.
• Acnecide Face Gel should not be used by children less than 12 years of age.
• Tell your pharmacist or doctor 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 Face Gel.
• Do not use Acnecide Face Gel with other benzoyl peroxide containing products (including other Acnecide products), or any other preparations for acne, unless under supervision of a doctor.
• If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your pharmacist or doctor for advice before using this medicine.
• Avoid using this product if you are breastfeeding unless your doctor has told you otherwise. If your doctor has recommended the use of this product while you are breastfeeding, you must not apply the gel onto your chest, this is to avoid exposure of your child to this product.
• Acnecide Face Gel has no or negligible affect on your ability to drive or use machines.
• Acnecide Face Gel contains 40mg of propylene glycol (E1520) per gram, which is equivalent to 4.0 %w/w. It may cause skin irritation.

Do not use Acnecide Face Gel if you:

• Are allergic (hypersensitive) to benzoyl peroxide or any of the other ingredients of this medicine. An allergic reaction may include a rash or itching.
• Have any inflamed spots or larger lumps on your face, because you may have more severe acne and you should see your pharmacist or doctor for advice about treatment.
• Have scars from past acne spots, usually a shallow dent or deeper pit in the skin, you should see your pharmacist or doctor for advice.
• Have any acne on your shoulders, back or chest. Treating acne in these areas can be difficult and you should ask your pharmacist or doctor about how to treat it.