{"id":43116,"date":"2021-12-28T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-28T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nailknowledge.org\/?p=43116"},"modified":"2026-06-19T15:42:24","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T15:42:24","slug":"bpo-peroxido-de-benzoilo-que-es-y-por-que-lo-usan-los-profesionales-de-las-unas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nailknowledge.org\/es\/blog\/bpo-benzoyl-peroxide-what-is-it-and-why-do-nail-professionals-use-it","title":{"rendered":"BPO (per\u00f3xido de benzoilo): \u00bfqu\u00e9 y por qu\u00e9?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In the liquid monomer and powder polymer system, Benzoyl Peroxide is the initiator. An initiator is what provides the start of a chemical reaction. In the L&P system, the room temperature and the heat from the finger are the energy that gives the initiator (BPO) the \u2018starting gun\u2019 to react with the catalyst in the liquid monomer, which is the ingredient that controls the speed of the reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polymer powder is not actually a powder. It is manufactured beads of a copolymer that are coated with several ingredients. One of these is BPO, and the other main one is pigment. There are others but we are focussing on BPO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the monomer liquid and the polymer powder meet the BPO, coating the polymer beads, splits to create the equivalent of free radicals that search out and encourage the monomers to form into long polymer chains. In the correct bead ratio, all of the BPO is used up. Too wet, and there may not be enough BPO to complete the polymerization. Too dry, and it is difficult to work with, plus\u00a0some BPO may be leftover and unable to complete its \u2018work\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BPO is an ingredient commonly used in skin preparations. At low percentages (e.g. 2.5%), it can be found in medicated skin cleansers. In higher percentages (e.g 5-10%), it is used for skin conditions such as acne. There are published warnings about the use of BPO. It can be an irritant and, for a very small number of people, it can be an allergen. The warnings advise to look out for these signs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, a few European countries wanted to ban BPO in nail products due to the warnings. This decision was appealed against and the appeal was upheld. This is based on the fact that it is used in over-the-counter skin preparations, plus, with correct use, it is entirely used up in the polymerization process. The result of that is BPO is THE initiator for the L&P system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the \u2018dip system\u2019 has, over recent years, become popular in some areas. Rather than making nail professionals buy two different sets of polymer powders, many brands are providing their coloured polymer powders to be of dual-use: for the L&P system + a dip<\/a> system. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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