Comments on: The Pros and Cons of Proactiv for Acne http://thedermblog.com/2009/12/22/the-pros-and-cons-of-proactiv-for-acne/ Smarter Skin Care Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:58:23 -0600 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: mik http://thedermblog.com/2009/12/22/the-pros-and-cons-of-proactiv-for-acne/comment-page-1/#comment-50983 mik Tue, 20 Apr 2010 17:23:58 +0000 http://thedermblog.com/?p=822#comment-50983 is it any better to use organic skin care products or ingredients? i'm trying to decipher the ingredients list on organic and non-organic skin care products. i'm lost...! it seems that for sure, i should avoid anything with parabens or sulfates? example, organic: http://www.pangeaorganics.com/product/scrub-featured-home_page-egyptian_geranium-adzuki_bean-cranberry/egyptian_geranium_with_adzuki_bean_and_cranberry example, non-organic: http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=149922&catid=15487 is it any better to use organic skin care products or ingredients? i’m trying to decipher the ingredients list on organic and non-organic skin care products. i’m lost…! it seems that for sure, i should avoid anything with parabens or sulfates?

example, organic: http://www.pangeaorganics.com/product/scrub-featured-home_page-egyptian_geranium-adzuki_bean-cranberry/egyptian_geranium_with_adzuki_bean_and_cranberry

example, non-organic: http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=149922&catid=15487

]]> By: Dawn http://thedermblog.com/2009/12/22/the-pros-and-cons-of-proactiv-for-acne/comment-page-1/#comment-50562 Dawn Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:56:25 +0000 http://thedermblog.com/?p=822#comment-50562 <a href="#comment-44419" rel="nofollow">@Lynn</a> Did you ever get a response to your question? I have a similar issue - I'm nearly 44 and for the past 3 years have been dealing with adult acne that sounds like yours, including the "rods." It comes and goes, usually about 6 months of breakouts, then a break where my skin looks beautiful except for the growing number of scars. Blemishes can take MONTHS to heal - very frustrating. Doctors have been useless - a strict diet of whole foods and stress reduction are the only things that have ever helped. But I'm curious as to WHAT this is ... @Lynn
Did you ever get a response to your question? I have a similar issue – I’m nearly 44 and for the past 3 years have been dealing with adult acne that sounds like yours, including the “rods.” It comes and goes, usually about 6 months of breakouts, then a break where my skin looks beautiful except for the growing number of scars. Blemishes can take MONTHS to heal – very frustrating.

Doctors have been useless – a strict diet of whole foods and stress reduction are the only things that have ever helped. But I’m curious as to WHAT this is …

]]> By: Debra http://thedermblog.com/2009/12/22/the-pros-and-cons-of-proactiv-for-acne/comment-page-1/#comment-50302 Debra Sun, 11 Apr 2010 15:37:40 +0000 http://thedermblog.com/?p=822#comment-50302 As a 57 year old female with oily skin, I have used Proactiv for 10 years and it works. If I skip a few days.... the acne always comes back. I use the Proactiv salicylic acid body scrub with the scrubbing beads as a cleanser on my face which stops the skin peeling, skip the toner, and use a light, but complete covering with the benzoyl peroxide solution. I'm sold on it for life. Luckily we now have a Proactiv kiosk in a nearby mall, so I don't have to use the mail order anymore. As a 57 year old female with oily skin, I have used Proactiv for 10 years and it works. If I skip a few days…. the acne always comes back. I use the Proactiv salicylic acid body scrub with the scrubbing beads as a cleanser on my face which stops the skin peeling, skip the toner, and use a light, but complete covering with the benzoyl peroxide solution.
I’m sold on it for life. Luckily we now have a Proactiv kiosk in a nearby mall, so I don’t have to use the mail order anymore.

]]> By: Dr. Benabio http://thedermblog.com/2009/12/22/the-pros-and-cons-of-proactiv-for-acne/comment-page-1/#comment-47017 Dr. Benabio Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:18:45 +0000 http://thedermblog.com/?p=822#comment-47017 @Justine I cannot say for your case in particular. In general, once acne is improved the medications can be tapered to every other day, every third day, etc. If the acne does not worsen, then the treatments can be stopped. @Justine
I cannot say for your case in particular. In general, once acne is improved the medications can be tapered to every other day, every third day, etc. If the acne does not worsen, then the treatments can be stopped.

]]> By: Justine http://thedermblog.com/2009/12/22/the-pros-and-cons-of-proactiv-for-acne/comment-page-1/#comment-46705 Justine Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:28:19 +0000 http://thedermblog.com/?p=822#comment-46705 Hi Dr. Bernabio, I have a recurring case of mild/moderate back acne. I have tried using a salicylic acid cleanser and benyzoyl peroxide cream on a nightly basis and it has cleared up my back so far. Once the skin clears up almost completely, do I still need to apply both products on my back every day or can I use it less often? Will using just salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide effective enough by then? I worry about the harshness of these products if I continue to use them regularly for maintenance. Hi Dr. Bernabio,

I have a recurring case of mild/moderate back acne. I have tried using a salicylic acid cleanser and benyzoyl peroxide cream on a nightly basis and it has cleared up my back so far.

Once the skin clears up almost completely, do I still need to apply both products on my back every day or can I use it less often? Will using just salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide effective enough by then?

I worry about the harshness of these products if I continue to use them regularly for maintenance.

]]> By: Jo http://thedermblog.com/2009/12/22/the-pros-and-cons-of-proactiv-for-acne/comment-page-1/#comment-45644 Jo Fri, 12 Feb 2010 04:58:54 +0000 http://thedermblog.com/?p=822#comment-45644 i find proactive too dying for my skin. so i stopped using it. i find proactive too dying for my skin. so i stopped using it.

]]> By: Ariel http://thedermblog.com/2009/12/22/the-pros-and-cons-of-proactiv-for-acne/comment-page-1/#comment-45539 Ariel Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:10:31 +0000 http://thedermblog.com/?p=822#comment-45539 I use a system called Clear.now that is like Proactiv but way more gentle. Proactiv used daily felt like rubbing alcohol and my dry skin did not like that at all. Clear.now is gentle enough to use daily and has been effective. Only downside is that the sodium chlorite smells a little like the swimming pool. I use a system called Clear.now that is like Proactiv but way more gentle. Proactiv used daily felt like rubbing alcohol and my dry skin did not like that at all. Clear.now is gentle enough to use daily and has been effective. Only downside is that the sodium chlorite smells a little like the swimming pool.

]]> By: Lynn http://thedermblog.com/2009/12/22/the-pros-and-cons-of-proactiv-for-acne/comment-page-1/#comment-44419 Lynn Wed, 27 Jan 2010 08:31:01 +0000 http://thedermblog.com/?p=822#comment-44419 I have a strange breed of adult acne that looks slightly bumpy,with clusters of deep-set white "rods" in them (under the skin). It is not regular acne. Sometimes if a rod pokes out on its own I will try to use tweezers to pull it out. It stretches and the sometimes comes out or breaks-off. Does anyone know what I am talking about. Please help. I am a 40 year old woman and never expected this to happen at this age. My skin is becoming increasing scarred and has crushed my self-confidence. My hormone levels and thyroid tests came back normal. I eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. This acne seems to resist all treatment. The only thing I can think of is that I may have the gram-negative type of acne from over 20 years of being over-prescribed antibiotics for acne, or starting ADHD treatment stimulent drugs at age 39? The worst spots seem to be where I received Botox or Juvederm treatment, so maybe some type of infection from that?? If anyone can help me understand what this is and how to treat it, I would be eternally grateful. My dermatologist wants me to do Accutane treatment again. After doing it several years ago with several severe side effects I promised myself I'd never do it again. I have a strange breed of adult acne that looks slightly bumpy,with clusters of deep-set white “rods” in them (under the skin). It is not regular acne. Sometimes if a rod pokes out on its own I will try to use tweezers to pull it out. It stretches and the sometimes comes out or breaks-off. Does anyone know what I am talking about. Please help. I am a 40 year old woman and never expected this to happen at this age. My skin is becoming increasing scarred and has crushed my self-confidence.

My hormone levels and thyroid tests came back normal. I eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. This acne seems to resist all treatment. The only thing I can think of is that I may have the gram-negative type of acne from over 20 years of being over-prescribed antibiotics for acne, or starting ADHD treatment stimulent drugs at age 39? The worst spots seem to be where I received Botox or Juvederm treatment, so maybe some type of infection from that??

If anyone can help me understand what this is and how to treat it, I would be eternally grateful. My dermatologist wants me to do Accutane treatment again. After doing it several years ago with several severe side effects I promised myself I’d never do it again.

]]> By: SarahF http://thedermblog.com/2009/12/22/the-pros-and-cons-of-proactiv-for-acne/comment-page-1/#comment-44374 SarahF Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:34:57 +0000 http://thedermblog.com/?p=822#comment-44374 I recently read <a href="http://fromyourdoctor.blogspot.com/2010/01/acne-treatment-with-non-prescription.html" rel="nofollow">this article</a> about over the counter acne medications. It made me feel a little bit better because I've never had any success with over the counter acne treatments but have always had to resort to prescription ones and I realized that it's not uncommon to experience difficulty when trying to use store bought treatments. I recently read this article about over the counter acne medications. It made me feel a little bit better because I’ve never had any success with over the counter acne treatments but have always had to resort to prescription ones and I realized that it’s not uncommon to experience difficulty when trying to use store bought treatments.

]]> By: Grace http://thedermblog.com/2009/12/22/the-pros-and-cons-of-proactiv-for-acne/comment-page-1/#comment-43977 Grace Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:46:43 +0000 http://thedermblog.com/?p=822#comment-43977 doc, from your clinical experience which yields better results, obagi or proactiv? thanks. doc, from your clinical experience which yields better results, obagi or proactiv? thanks.

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