I would have guessed that it actually somehow reduced the acne, but considering acne is bacteria based, I guess it makes sense that benzoyl peroxide has some antibacterial properties to it. Other advice listed was fairly basic, keep the cream from getting into your eyes, nose or mouth (yuck, who would eat it??). And then it said the most depressing thing ever. It takes three weeks to start to see an effect and eight to twelve weeks for maximum effect. Seriously? What happened to all those commercials we see where it’s the night before prom and they put some of this stuff on and look great the next day for the prom? So overall, I guess it’s the most common because it’s inexpensive, but perhaps its just not the most time efficient remedy.