• Confidential assessment
  • Reviewed by doctors
  • Same-day collection from your local pharmacy

Product features

  • Oral antibiotic lymecycline kills the bacteria that cause acne

  • Benzoyl peroxide gel breaks down blackheads and whiteheads

  • Works to reduce inflammation

What are lymecycline and benzoyl peroxide gel?

Lymecycline is an antibiotic that kills bacteria. Benzoyl peroxide gel is a topical antibacterial treatment, meaning you apply it to affected skin. You may also see this treatment as Lymecycline and Acnecide, a branded benzoyl peroxide gel.

How do they work?

The antibiotic lymecycline works to kill the bacteria that cause acne. In addition to its antibacterial action, benzoyl peroxide gel breaks down blackheads and whiteheads, and unblocks pores.

How to use lymecycline and benzoyl peroxide gel

Take lymecycline once a day with water, preferably in the morning.

Benzoyl peroxide gel should be applied to clean, dry skin once or twice a day depending on how your skin reacts to the treatment. If you have sensitive skin, you may need to further reduce the number of times you use the gel each week.

Treatment results

This combination treatment is effective for all three types of acne:

  • Small red bumps (papules)
  • Small red bumps with white tips (pustules)
  • Larger and more painful lumps (nodules and cysts)

You might have to wait up to 6 weeks to see any improvement in your acne, so it’s worth persevering.

Side effects of lymecycline and benzoyl peroxide gel

Lymecycline can occasionally cause side effects, including nausea, diarrhoea, headaches and stomach pain. 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.

The treatment can cause redness, dryness, skin peeling and a mild burning sensation to the affected area. Benzoyl peroxide gel is also likely to bleach hair, and fabric like towels and bedclothes.

For full details on side effects and correct use, please see the lymecycline and benzoyl peroxide gel patient information leaflets. And if you’re worried about side effects, you can contact us in your Patient Record.

Medication

Select a medication and complete our simple, confidential online consultation

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A clinician will review your answers and, if suitable, prescribe treatment

Prescription delivery

Choose next-day delivery, or click & collect from your local pharmacy

Lymecycline and benzoyl peroxide gel combination FAQs

  • Can I use lymecycline and benzoyl peroxide gel while pregnant or breastfeeding?

    You shouldn't take lymecycline or use benzoyl peroxide gel while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. If you think you could be pregnant, we advise taking a test before you start this treatment.

  • Where can I buy lymecycline and benzoyl peroxide gel (Acnecide)?

    You’ll need a prescription to buy lymecycline and benzoyl peroxide gel, 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.

  • Lymecycline and benzoyl peroxide gel (Acnecide) warnings

    Lymecycline

    You should let your clinician know if you have:

    • Hepatic impairment or renal insufficiency (failure of liver and kidney function).
    • Systemic lupus erythematosus (an allergic condition that causes joint pain, skin rashes or fever).
    • Myasthenia Gravis (a disease that weakens the muscles). 

    Taking more than the prescribed dose of lymecycline could cause liver problems. You should also avoid direct exposure to sunlight or other strong UV light sources, for example sunbeds.

    If you get skin discomfort that could be due to lymecycline you should stop taking it and message your clinician in your Patient Record.

    Benzoyl peroxide gel (Acnecide)

    Your clinician will share warnings and precautions before you use benzoyl peroxide gel:

    • 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. 

  • Do lymecycline 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.

    Lymecycline can make other medications less effective, from certain contraceptive pills to indigestion remedies.

    While using benzoyl peroxide gel, you should avoid medications with high alcohol concentrations, and any that contain tretinoin, isotretinoin or tazarotene. They can make the treatment less effective, and dry out your skin.

  • Alternative acne treatments

    Our clinicians can prescribe a range of acne treatments including different oral antibiotics, other gels and creams, and tailored combinations of these. If you’re a woman with hormonal acne, the most effective treatment could include the contraceptive pill co-cyprindiol (widely known as Dianette or Clairette). 

Delivery and collection information

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.