Proactiv(e)

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/30/05 at 10:23pm

Has anyone here used it? Is it any good? I'm wondering because I have a lot of pimples and nothing seems to work for me. I'm allergic to most drugstore medications and Clinique just doesn't work for me anymore. So if you don't reccommend Proactiv, do you reccommend anything else?

[zepka102]

Posted: 7/30/05 at 10:36pm

yeah, i use it... it works! but be better than me and use it consistantly. it takes care of quick breakouts quick. you might get small ones here and there for a while, but its not bad. the mask works great... and the lotion... make sure you use those!

[Parks]

Posted: 7/30/05 at 10:44pm

...hopefully you have like an extra hour in your day.

Either that...or I'm just REALLY slow.

Took me forever to use it...and it wasn't that great. There are too many different bottles to mess with.

[Adamaddict]

Posted: 7/30/05 at 10:45pm

Try Retinea-Micro!! One summer I had mountain ranges all over my forehead--it completely worked!! But my doctor prescribed it, so uhh see if it's good for you. I know it's hard sometimes, but just think of...Jessica Simpson and the fact that she had 'm too!

[zepka102]

Posted: 7/30/05 at 10:47pm

retinea-micro didnt do a thing for me... so these things definitely work different for everyone. guess you just have to find what works best for you!

[Marquise]

Posted: 7/30/05 at 10:52pm

I swear by the stuff. Just picked up a new set because I ran out. They have a special kiosk at the mall here in south miami so I don't have to mail order the stuff. I use the Renewing Cleanser, Revitilizing Toner, Daily Oil Control, Oil Free Moisture and then I alternate the Deep Cleansing Wash and the Refining Mask. It completely helped me with my acne problem. I've been using it for four years.

In the long run you have to find what works best for you. Retin-A Micro irritated my face.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/30/05 at 11:01pm

My mom decided that she doesn't want to order it . So I'm going to go to a dermatologist after camp ends (camp ends the 12). So I guess I'll try Retin-A Micro. I hope it works! She doesn't want me taking pills because while they work, she doesn't like that they strengthen resistance against antibiotics.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 7/31/05 at 5:35pm

I used Proactiv and it really does work. I had a problem with the repairing lotion (dries those pimples up in a flash) bleached spots on my pillow cases.

[zepka102]

Posted: 7/31/05 at 7:28pm

yeah, definitely buy new towels just for the proactiv... we have a towel that started green but now is mostly a bright baige color...

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 7/31/05 at 7:31pm

It works amazingly!! In a matter of days, my skin cleared up (I had really bad skin), and now it's completely clear!! I HIGHLY recommend it!!

[EVIE]

Posted: 7/31/05 at 8:15pm

Didn't do a thing for me but dry my face up. The only thing that has worked for me are my Ortho TriCyclen-Lo's! LOL!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/31/05 at 8:16pm

I've never tried it, but my roommate swears by it.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/31/05 at 8:22pm

My mom ordered it by phone today! I expect it in about a week.

[Adoannie925]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 3:16am

I used pro-activ when I started breaking out really badly. It worked for a little while, but then it began to dry my skin out. I've been on almost EVERYTHING you can ever think of for acne treatment. Everything from antibiotics to oatmeal, seriously.

Minocyclin is an anti biotic and that helped me a little bit, but the best thing has been the pill. Yasmin cleared up my skin in about 2 weeks...it was unbelievable. I also use a really good cleanser, moisturizer and I take good care of my skin. I spend all my paychecks on skin care products, but it's worth it to me. I used to be the teenager with the pizza face and braces, and I'd never want to go back to that, ever again. I use a cleanser by Murad, sun screen by Murad, and a lot of Dermalogica products (I swear by dermalogica). Peter Thomas Roth has a sulfur mask that helps when I get the occasional breakouts, too. Oh, and the make up company Origins has some good skin care products, too.

The antiobiotics doctors put you on for acne are fine and won't screw with your immune system. I was on minocyclin for about a year and never had a problem. Accutane is one of the best things out there for serious acne.

The thing about antibiotics I don't like is that when you go off them, your acne will most likely flair up again. On the other hand, horomones (any birth control pill) and Accutane have a way of balancing the cause of acne out...somehow.

I'm not a fan of the topical gels dermatologists will prescribe because they're generally consisting of benzoyl peroxide and while that kills the bacteria, it's drying your skin out which isn't going to be good down the road. Check out some of Dermalogica's skin care kits...they are amazing. (www.dermalogica.com)

Pro activ may work though, so definitely try it out, but make sure to moisturize so it doesn't dry out your skin.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 3:35am

Retin-A Micro didn't work well for me. So now I'm on some pill that my dermatologist prescribed that actually does work. And whenever I start breaking out again, I just go to the beach... Being in the sun really clears up my skin; I don't know why.

[broadway betty]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 3:55am

Proactiv is a great product! I went from having a ton of pimples every day to having one every once in a while and I still haven't used it as often as I should. I used to put a TON of makeup on and it didn't do a thing and now I take a minute, hardly putting anything on. It's a beautiful thing!

[Marquise]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 5:47am

The thing with ProActiv is it has some benzoyl peroxide (2.5% to be exact) and it shouldn't be slathered on the face. Some people experience dry skin because they put too much on their face. It isn't soap, it's medicine. A little goes a long way. They make a great Oil-Free Moosturizer with SPF 15. Some people may just have super-sensitive skin and will experience breakouts with any benzoyl peroxide based product. Just remember MFL don't use too much when you use it. A dime sized squirt in the palm of your hand is all you need to do get results.

[Pinky]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 3:42pm

I love Proactive!

However, it does dry my skin alittle too much. So, here's what I do! After a couple of weeks, I use the entire three steps at night. Then, in the morning, I use Estee Lauder's oily skin line.

Be sure to use it everyday & it doesn't take any time at all!

I never had BAD acne, but now I can go out without any make up & feel confident!

[TVBoy]

Posted: 8/1/05 at 4:06pm

I didn't read what everyone said, so forgive me if I re-state something already said...

I never had horrible acne, but if I did get a pimple, it was huge (cystic acne). Your treatment route will have to depend on the type of acne you have (i.e. nodular, cystic, etc.) Your derm will be able to advise you on that.

I tried a low-dose antibiotic, Tazaroc (stay away!), and Retin-A. None of that worked. I used Accutane and have never broken out since. I highly recommend Accutane.

If you begin using Retin-A, I would advise not starting out using it every night. Begin using it once every 2 or 3 days to allow your skin to get used to it. (Otherwise, you might wake up looking like you've been out in the sun all night. It's a miserable feeling, let me tell you.)

There is a form of Retin-A that now comes with a built in moisturizer. It's called Renova. Renova is what many people, including myself, use to ward off wrinkles. The catch is, many insurance companies know this and won't pay for Renova.

I know many people who have used Proactiv and loved it. That is, until they stopped using it. I'm told it works wonders WHILE you use it. Once you stop, the acne comes back.

I have oily skin (which, in the long run, will prove to be a good thing) so I use a facial scrub every other day. I also use a Mint Green Clay Mask by DDF I get at Sephora. I LOVE it. It will help with the oil and to clear out your pores.

I also get my face lasered once a month to improve skin texture. That helps, but I can understand how that would be a hassle to most people.

Good luck!

Updated On: 8/1/05 at 04:06 PM