Over-the-counter (OTC) benzoyl peroxide cream clears up acne as well as prescription antibiotics -- and at a fraction of the cost, according to new study findings released Friday. UK investigators found that roughly 60 percent of people with mild to moderate acne said they noticed an improvement after using OTC benzoyl peroxide cream for 18 weeks. This is the same rate of improvement reported by people who tried antibiotic pills, antibiotic creams, and creams that combined an antibiotic with benzoyl peroxide, the researchers note in The Lancet medical journal.
