Acnecide Face Wash 5% w/w Gel 50g

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 Wash is for EXTERNAL USE ONLY.

Adults and adolescents aged 12 years and over (unless your pharmacist or doctor has told you otherwise):

• Acnecide Face Wash should be used once or twice daily to cover the affected skin areas of the face: Avoid contact with sensitive areas such as the eyes, mouth, nose lining and neck.
• When you first start treatment, use Acnecide Face Wash 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 Wash does not affect your skin, or you have only mild burning and slight reddening and peeling after 2-3 days of use, you can use the wash 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 Wash 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 Wash 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.
• Wet the area to be treated
• Wash hands before use and place a small amount of Acnecide Face Wash on to the hands to wash the affected area.
• Contact time with the skin should be 1 to 2 minutes followed by thorough rinsing with water and drying.
• After use, wash hands thoroughly and replace cap tightly.
• Avoid contact with the eyes, mouth, angles of the nose, neck or other very sensitive areas of the body. If the preparation enters the eye, wash thoroughly with water. In the event that Acnecide Face Wash is accidently swallowed, contact your doctor.

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

If your acne gets worse while using Acnecide Face Wash 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: Benzoyl peroxide 5% w/w as hydrous benzoyl peroxide in a cleansing gel.
• Other Ingredients: Acrylates copolymer, glycerol, carbomer 940, sodium olefin sulfonate, sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment), and purified water.

• Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before using Acnecide Face Wash if you are unsure if your spots are acne or not.
• If you are worried or upset about your acne, even if it is 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 wash with the eyes, mouth, angles ofthe nose or other very sensitive areas of the body. If the preparation entersthe eye, wash thoroughly with water.
• Acnecide Face Wash should not be applied to damaged skin.
• Acnecide Face Wash can cause increased sensitivity to sunlight, therefore excessive exposure to sunlight should be avoided. Sunbeds should not be used whilst using Acnecide Face Wash.
• Avoid contact of the face wash with any coloured material including hair and dyed fabrics as it may result in bleaching or discolouration.
• Acnecide Face Wash may cause swelling and blistering of the skin. If these symptoms occur, use of the product should be discontinued, and you should see your pharmacist or doctor for advice.
• Acnecide Face Wash 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 Wash. Do not use Acnecide Face Wash 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 Wash has no or negligible affect on your ability to drive or use machines.

Do not use Acnecide Face Wash 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.