Need advice please, NBR

Re: Need advice please, NBR

• LEdwardsRN84

  February 2012

  Clean and clear has a huge variety of products. I think some are basically the same as proactive? Maybe try that before spending a ton of money on the proactive.

  

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• klreese0213

  February 2012

  i used proactiv for a small amount of time. i didnt have acne but had small bumps on my chin. so figured id try it. it was very expensive ($100). the way the product works is that it makes all you existing acne surface.. so the first 3 weeks are HELL.. your face is VERY broke out. howevermy expereince was after that it never returned.

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• blairy926

  February 2012

  My skin was best when I followed a strict cleanse, exfoliate, tone, moisturize, and makeup routine everyday. It's kind of hard to follow now, but I found the products didn't really matter.

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• mbgreenwalt member

  February 2012

  I've had cystic acne since I was 12.  My mom tried everything on me.  I used Proactive for awhile and it worked for awhile then my acne came back.  I ended up using Accutane a few years ago and that was the thing that stopped it (this is an last ditch option though).  

  
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• Andi2384

  February 2012

  My younger brother and sister used ProActive and it worked really well for them.  Like the pp said, the first couple weeks were really rough, but then it cleared everything.  I use Cetaphil and love it. 

  

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• baileyrayvalentine

  February 2012

  
  

  I looooove Proactive. It really, really works and is worth every penny. Why else would they et all those famous people to endorse it?  It helped me for years and if you haven't tried it, it's more than worth a shot. 

   

  I think people's inclination is to try and scrub the acne away, but that might be making it worse. A gentle cleanser is best - like a Cetaphil or Cerave - followed by something topical you get from your dermatologist.

   

  If you have insurance and can see a derm, do that.  If not, try Proactive. And if you do neither, give your skin a break from the constant exfoliating!   

  

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• Jenny952 member

  February 2012

  I have had terrible acne since I was 12, seriously.  I tried everything including proactive.  I was on accutane.  It was soooo embarrassing to try and have a professional career when I was 26 and look like a teenage boy.  Gross.  Proactive did not work for me, and I ended up sending it back.  I saw a derm in high school and college, did tetracycline, minocin, you name it and I have been on it.  I finally got a good derm here and she was shocked when accutane did not work, it actually made my acne worse.  We joke that we angered it! 

  What finally worked for me was cleaning with Acne Stress, I can't remember who makes it but you can buy it at Target, it's green.  I also use the Umbrian Clay moisturizer from Fresh.  It's spendy ($80) but lasts about 9 months and it's worth it to me to have nice skin.  I also still use 2 topical prescription lotions that are safe for pg and bf.  I also exfoliate with glycolic acid a few times/week.

  My skin has gotten better with age, but I still get zits and don't think I'll ever have really great skin.  It's probably the thing that I'm most self-conscious about and totally sucks having to worry about it.  Good luck!

  

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• mrsrgl member

  February 2012

  I'm lurking from the Dec board, but thought I'd throw in my two cents. I have used Proactive before, quite a few years ago, and it worked really well, I was hooked! I ordered it again 2 years ago, and it worked, but then made my eyes super puffy after a few weeks. Fast forward to last week, I ordered it again because since DD was born, my face looks like a 13 year old boy. I used it once, the morning after it arrived, and by the afternoon, BAM left eye almost swollen shut. I will be calling proactiv today, and returning what I have for their sensitive formula, so we'll see. I've never had allergic reactions to anything before, so it caught me off guard. But if you google puffy eyes from proactiv, I'm not alone. I still say it's worth a try though. GL

  

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• Allibob member

  February 2012

  I haven't used Proactiv myself, but it's basically a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide wash and lotion. It can be drying, but it works for mild-moderate acne. There are cheaper versions though. Look at the labels and look for benzoyl peroxide and/or salicylic acid. Both of these kill bacteria that cause acne, with a side effect of dryness, redness and/or skin irritation. There is a prescription tub of 4% benzoyl peroxide wash you can use on your whole body (ie backne too) that's super cheap - it's on Target's $4 prescription plan. Basically, if you have good insurance see either a Dermatologist or your primary doctor. Some are familiar with acne prescription medications and some aren't. If they aren't, they can refer you to a Dermatologist.

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