Co-cyprindiol and benzoyl peroxide gel
"An oral contraceptive paired with a branded gel you apply to your skin daily to help improve your skin’s appearance. It treats both the causes and symptoms of hormonal acne. Co-cyprindiol is also known as Dianette and Clairette protects you against pregnancy."
What are co-cyprindiol and benzoyl peroxide?
Co-cyprindiol is a combined oral contraceptive pill. Benzoyl peroxide is a topical gel used to treat mild to moderate acne that works as an antiseptic to reduce bacteria levels on skin.
As co-cyprindiol is also sometimes branded as Dianette or Clairette, and benzoyl peroxide gel is often branded as Acnecide, you may also see this combination treatment as:
- Dianette and benzoyl peroxide
- Clairette and benzoyl peroxide
- Co-cyprindiol and Acnecide
- Dianette and Acnecide
- Clairette and Acnecide
How do they work?
Co-cyprindiol, also sometimes branded as Dianette or Clairette, is a contraceptive that contains cyproterone and ethinylestradiol. These work to block the hormones that cause acne. Benzoyl peroxide gel reduces the oil produced by your skin that clogs up pores and can cause acne. It also breaks down blackheads and whiteheads, and kills the bacteria that cause acne.
How to use co-cyprindiol and benzoyl peroxide gel
Co-cyprindiol will act as a contraceptive as well as a treatment for your acne if taken correctly. This means taking co-cyprindiol on the first day of your period, then for 21 consecutive days at around the same time each day, followed by a 7-day break. Our clinicians will share more details about how to take co-cyprindiol.
You should apply benzoyl peroxide gel to clean, dry skin once or twice a day depending on how your skin reacts to the treatment. For sensitive skin, it’s probably best to further reduce the amount of times you use the topical solution each week.
Treatment results
Both treatments work best for those who experience sore red spots (papules) and those with white tips filled with pus (pustules). Co-cyprindiol is effective for women who experience hormonal acne. You may start to see the impact of the treatment within 4-6 weeks.
Side effects
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects with benzoyl peroxide gel. These include a mild burning sensation, redness, dryness, and peeling skin. Wash your hands thoroughly after using the gel, as it’s likely to irritate eyes, and bleach hair or fabrics, like towels and bed linen.
Benzoyl peroxide is likely to make your skin more sensitive to sunlight during use. So, try to protect yourself from the sun, use oil-free SPF 50 sunscreen, and avoid sunbeds or sun lamps.
Co-cyprindiol, like most contraceptive pills, can cause sore breasts, an increase in weight, headaches, mood changes, and nausea.
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the benzoyl peroxide and co-cyprindiol patient information leaflets. If you’re worried about side effects, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
Product features
An effective combination treatment for women only
The co-cyprindiol contraceptive pill helps prevent hormonal acne
Benzoyl peroxide gel unblocks pores and kills acne-causing bacteria
What are co-cyprindiol and benzoyl peroxide?
Co-cyprindiol is a combined oral contraceptive pill. Benzoyl peroxide is a topical gel used to treat mild to moderate acne that works as an antiseptic to reduce bacteria levels on skin.
As co-cyprindiol is also sometimes branded as Dianette or Clairette, and benzoyl peroxide gel is often branded as Acnecide, you may also see this combination treatment as:
- Dianette and benzoyl peroxide
- Clairette and benzoyl peroxide
- Co-cyprindiol and Acnecide
- Dianette and Acnecide
- Clairette and Acnecide
How do they work?
Co-cyprindiol, also sometimes branded as Dianette or Clairette, is a contraceptive that contains cyproterone and ethinylestradiol. These work to block the hormones that cause acne. Benzoyl peroxide gel reduces the oil produced by your skin that clogs up pores and can cause acne. It also breaks down blackheads and whiteheads, and kills the bacteria that cause acne.
How to use co-cyprindiol and benzoyl peroxide gel
Co-cyprindiol will act as a contraceptive as well as a treatment for your acne if taken correctly. This means taking co-cyprindiol on the first day of your period, then for 21 consecutive days at around the same time each day, followed by a 7-day break. Our clinicians will share more details about how to take co-cyprindiol.
You should apply benzoyl peroxide gel to clean, dry skin once or twice a day depending on how your skin reacts to the treatment. For sensitive skin, it’s probably best to further reduce the amount of times you use the topical solution each week.
Treatment results
Both treatments work best for those who experience sore red spots (papules) and those with white tips filled with pus (pustules). Co-cyprindiol is effective for women who experience hormonal acne. You may start to see the impact of the treatment within 4-6 weeks.
Side effects
As with all medications, some people may experience side effects with benzoyl peroxide gel. These include a mild burning sensation, redness, dryness, and peeling skin. Wash your hands thoroughly after using the gel, as it’s likely to irritate eyes, and bleach hair or fabrics, like towels and bed linen.
Benzoyl peroxide is likely to make your skin more sensitive to sunlight during use. So, try to protect yourself from the sun, use oil-free SPF 50 sunscreen, and avoid sunbeds or sun lamps.
Co-cyprindiol, like most contraceptive pills, can cause sore breasts, an increase in weight, headaches, mood changes, and nausea.
For full details of side effects and correct use, please see the benzoyl peroxide and co-cyprindiol patient information leaflets. If you’re worried about side effects, you can contact us in your Patient Record.
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Co-cyprindiol and benzoyl peroxide gel FAQs
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How long do co-cyprindiol and benzoyl peroxide gel take to work?
How long you’ll need to use benzoyl peroxide gel will depend on how quickly your acne improves.
It normally takes 2-6 months before you notice a significant improvement in your acne due to co-cyprindiol.
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Can I use co-cyprindiol and benzoyl peroxide gel while pregnant or breastfeeding?
You shouldn’t use benzoyl peroxide gel or co-cyprindiol while pregnant or breastfeeding. If you think you could be pregnant, we advise taking a test before you start this treatment.
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Where can I buy co-cyprindiol and benzoyl peroxide gel (Acnecide)?
You’ll need a prescription to buy co-cyprindiol and benzoyl peroxide, if you’re using an online service, like ours.
One of our clinicians can prescribe these medications after an online consultation where we make sure they’re right for you. It only takes a few minutes.
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Co-cyprindiol and benzoyl peroxide gel (Acnecide) warnings
Co-cyprindiol
Taking co-cyprindiol can make certain conditions worse for some people, so tell your clinician if:
- You, or someone in your close family, has ever had problems with your heart or circulation, such as high blood pressure.
- You, or someone in your close family, has ever had problems with blood clotting.
- You’ve ever had migraines.
- You currently have depression or have had it in the past.
There are other instances where this contraceptive pill may not be suitable, and our clinicians can advise on this in a consultation.
Benzoyl peroxide gel (Acnecide) warnings
Your clinician will make you aware of any warnings before using benzoyl peroxide gel. Please note:
- Avoid getting it in contact with your eyes, mouth, angles of the nose and other mucous surfaces like the lining of your nose.
- Don’t apply it to damaged skin like cuts, grazes and sunburn, or eczema.
- Stop using the gel if you get swelling and blistering of the skin, which is a known side effect.
- Be extra careful when applying the gel to sensitive areas of skin, for example your neck.
- Benzoyl peroxide gel can make you more sensitive to sunlight, so avoid prolonged exposure to the sun or other sources of UV light like sunbeds or sun lamps.
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Do co-cyprindiol and benzoyl peroxide gel interact with any other medications?
So our clinicians can prescribe an effective and safe acne treatment, you’ll need to let us know which prescription and over-the-counter medicines you’re taking regularly. This includes any medications for other skin conditions like eczema.
Taking other medications at the same time as co-cyprindiol can make it less effective in protecting against pregnancy.
While using benzoyl peroxide gel, you should avoid medications or cosmetics with high alcohol concentrations, and any that contain tretinoin, isotretinoin or tazarotene. They can make the treatment less effective, and dry out your skin or cause peeling or irritation.
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Alternative acne treatments
Our clinicians can also prescribe oral antibiotics to treat your acne alongside a gel or cream, tailoring the right combination for your needs. Medications you apply to your skin (topical) may work on their own, depending on how serious your acne is and what’s causing it.
Delivery and collection information
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Standard delivery (Free)
Packages will be delivered within 2-3 working days of your order being approved.
You’ll be contacted by your courier when they know when they’ll be delivering your package. You can update your delivery preferences in the Royal Mail app to enable delivery to a neighbour or leave in a safe place if you won't be in.
If you’re not present when Royal Mail deliver your treatment, they will:
- Post your parcel through your letter box
- Deliver to neighbour
- Deliver to your chosen safe place
If none of these options are feasible, Royal Mail will attempt to deliver the next working day.
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Next day delivery (£4.95)
Mainland UK
- Orders approved before 5pm Monday-Friday will arrive the next day (Tuesday - Saturday).
- Orders approved up to 11am Saturday will arrive on Sunday.
- Orders approved after 11am Saturday and all-day Sunday will arrive Tuesday.
Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Scottish Highlands, Channel Islands and other offshore UK destinations:
- Please allow an additional 24 to 48 hours for offshore UK destinations
You’ll be contacted by your courier when they know when they’ll be delivering your package. You can update your delivery preferences in the Royal Mail app to enable delivery to a neighbour or leave in a safe place if you won't be in.
If you’re not present when Royal Mail deliver your treatment, they will:
- Post your parcel through your letter box
- Deliver to neighbour
- Deliver to your chosen safe place
If none of these options are feasible, Royal Mail will attempt to deliver to you the next working day.
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Click and Collect (Free)
If your order is approved by 5pm Monday-Friday, you should be able to pick it up the same day from selected pharmacies - provided they have your treatment in stock.
We suggest you ring your chosen pharmacy before you go to collect your treatment, just to make sure they have it in stock and ready.
