What's your opinion on proactiv?

15

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Dec 15, 2014

Megan D.

I have hormonal acne, and have tried literally everything to help it clear up as much as possible. If you don't like proactiv, give me some great skin care products that you like. :)

Dec 15, 2014

Brittany R.

It made my acne worse I had to get on Accutane

Dec 15, 2014

Brittany R.

Ever since Accutane I can use whatever I want on my skin

Dec 15, 2014

Gisell G.

It didn't do anything to my skin but cause redness & flakiness it also made it really sensitive in the sun. Didn't work for me

Dec 15, 2014

Bekah S.

Accutane was a savior and I think proactiv just brought more face demons lol.

Dec 15, 2014

Taylor G.

It cleared my skin up wonderfully then stopped working after a month or so and I developed cystic acne. I'm not going to totally blame proactiv for it but I had never experienced cystic acne before that.

Dec 15, 2014

Laura S.

It did nothing for me. But it worked on my sister, her skin and acne were very problematic for her. But there is bleach in the chemicals, our towels were getting bleached from her drying her face and hands after using it.

Dec 15, 2014

Alicia C.

It seemed to be working for me but I noticed when using it my face gotten used to it I guess and two weeks later my acne came back and worse. Now I use store brand apricot scrub, with an astringent I got from my dermatologist and Olay moisturizer with SPF daily and its cleared up so well.

Dec 15, 2014

Winnie B.

Proactiv contains benzoyl peroxide that causes the bleaching. That's a no no to put on my face! The BP works by stripping all the sebum or natural oils off your face, which yes can drastically reduce the acne because the bacteria has no place to reside, but can cause redness, flakiness, and dried out and irritated skin. Also your skin can build an immunity to it, so that explains why it can work at first but stop working. I would definitely agree and say it's a last resort after seeing your derm for more options!!

Dec 15, 2014

Hannah D.

Some chemicals are not fabulous for your skin but do their job.. Like benzoyl peroxide. I have only known this to get rid of acne and almost every Derm recommends it. So don't entirely be turned off from a skin care product that contains unnatural ingredients because that's what works! However, I must say proactiv was not good for my skin. My face turned red and burned and flaked off like crazy! If I may recommend something I would say, use nuetrogena products for face washing and use epiduo or aczone (prescription or samples only) or use clean and clear/nuetrogena spot treatments for your acne.

Dec 15, 2014

Brandy S.

The best thing I ever did for my skin was switch my birth control to Yaz. Its a godsend, seriously.

Dec 15, 2014

Megan D.

Thanks everyone. All your answers really helped.

Dec 15, 2014

W J.

Ew just no , run fast , run far.

Dec 16, 2014

Madison C.

I've tried it multiple times and really it never worked. When I was younger and my skin was terrible I found exposed skin care and it worked wonders! It should cost the same.

Dec 16, 2014

Mackenzie M.

I love it. It worked really quickly for me BUT your skin gets used to it and so when you stop using that, you'll break out really really fast. I would go with an off brand copy cat like Acne Free, it does the trick without the addictive property to it.

Dec 16, 2014

Emily W.

The main problem with Proactiv is that it is a one-size-fits-all solution to a highly individual problem. To a small minority of people with very hardy skin, Proactiv might work perfectly. However, to most people it is too harsh.

Save your money and see a dermatologist or esthetician to get a skin care plan suited for your particular needs and skin type. The expense upfront is likely less than what you would waste product-hopping while searching for a solution.

Dec 17, 2014

Emily C.

I would not use proactive. Everyone has a different experience with it put everyone I talk to and anybody In my family says it's like crack for your skin. Your skin gets so addicted to it. The moment you stop using it your skin freaks out. The chemicals change the chemistry of your skin. Look at thelovevitamin.com has literally changed my life.

Dec 18, 2014

Brittany R.

I saw someone on her used yaz birth control and I do not reccomend that, it was recalled and after I had used it I needed up getting a tumor on one of my ovaries and I had to have that ovary removed. I couldn't say it was 100 percent because of the yaz but I believe it was because I was perfectly healthy before then so please look into a birth control carefully and do not take it if it was recalled because that was a side effect of yaz

Dec 19, 2014

Emily W.

Birth control is a highly individual medication; what works for one woman will cause horrible side effects for someone else. When considering birth control options and formulations, work with your gynecologist to find what is best for your needs and your body.

A note about DIY recipes that inevitably get posted on these kinds of threads:

Citric acid (juices of lemon, orange, kiwi, strawberry, lime, etc) is corrosive, and strips the skin of its protective lipid layer. Additionally, it is photosensitive: citric acid reacts to light to cause chemical burns. This can lead to scarring, bleached spots, or dark spots (depending on your skin). It has no benefit for your face whatsoever. It may dry out oily skin, but that is causing more problems (see removal of protective layer).

Cinnamon is a potent irritant. It causes a reaction on the skin and mucous membranes, which results in stinging, burning rashes. Any tingling, plumping, or blushing isn't a benefit, it is a reaction. Over time, multiple mild reactions will cause hypersensitivity. You can experience strong burns when using cinnamon topically. Be especially careful to never inhale it, as it can cause severe respiratory issues.

Honey is mildly antibacterial, but less so than regular soap. It is also a mild humectant, attracting moisture. It does not moisturize on its own. Honey contains pollen and royal jelly, potential allergens that can cause reactions ranging from hives to anaphylaxis. Even if you eat honey without issue, you may still have a reaction topically. Additionally, honey contains varying amounts of hydrogen peroxide. This can cause skin bleaching over repeated use.