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This drug is a combination of two active ingredients, benzoyl peroxide and erythromycin, which are applied topically to treat mild to moderate acne. Benzoyl peroxide breaks down and removes the outer layer of skin and exerts antibacterial activity. Erythromycin is used as an antibacterial agent.
Summary of Interactions with Vitamins, Herbs, and Foods
In some cases, an herb or supplement may appear in more than one category, which may seem contradictory. For clarification, read the full article for details about the summarized interactions.
 May Be Beneficial: Side effect reduction/prevention—Taking these supplements may help reduce the likelihood and/or severity of a potential side effect caused by the medication. | Vitamin E* |
| May Be Beneficial: Supportive interaction—Taking these supplements may support or otherwise help your medication work better. | Zinc |
| Depletion or interference | None known |
| Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability | None known |
| Adverse interaction | None known |
An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.
Vitamin E
Animal studies show that benzoyl peroxide promotes tumor growth, yet the significance of this finding in humans is unknown. A test tube study showed that when exposed to vitamin E, human skin cells were more resistant to damage caused by benzoyl peroxide.1 Controlled research is needed to determine whether use of benzoyl peroxide products by humans promotes tumor growth and whether vitamin E might prevent this damage.
Zinc
Using a topical zinc solution with topical erythromycin increases the effectiveness of the antibiotic in the treatment of inflammatory acne.2
1. Babich H, Zucherbraun HL, Wurzburger BJ, et al. Benzoyl peroxide cytotoxicity evaluated in vitro with human keratinocyte cell line, RHEK-1. Toxicology 1996;106:187–96.
2. Toyoda M, Morohashi M. An overview of topical antibiotics for acne treatment. Dermatology 1998;196:130–4.
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Learn more about the authors of Using Medicines with Vitamins and Herbs
The information presented in Healthnotes is for informational purposes only. It is based on scientific studies (human, animal, or in vitro), clinical experience, or traditional usage as cited in each article. The results reported may not necessarily occur in all individuals. For many of the conditions discussed, treatment with prescription or over the counter medication is also available. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires September 2008.
