Acne Problems.

Bump.

I would also like to know.
I seriously hate my skin.

I use proactive...I have used proactive since high school and I love it!!!! Cost 65 dollars for a 60 day kit

proactive is not for everyone. it's one of those things that once you start it, you have to use it forever.

when I used it as a teenager for my mild-moderate acne, it burned my skin and gave me worse skin problems that I started out with.

i cant use proactiv either.. it made my skin worse. i use the vichy normaderm line. its amazing!

black soap. use it twice a day and a skin moisturizer or baby lotion. also it helps to do a mint mask once a week if you have light skin or mud mask for dark skin. i went to cosmetology school and this really works. i had loyal clients who came in once a week for facials hope this helps!!!

I have been using the pro-active knock off at walmart. It is cheap and effective. I only use it when I start to break out. I will have a few good months of clear skin and then a month or so of not so clear skin. That is when I break out the knock off and it clears it right up. If that doesn't work, head to the dermatologist. They can work miracles....well....at least in my experience they have. Good luck!

Carleys Clear and Smooth!

Saved my skin. Cleared up in a month and has been clear since (this was after proactive, doctors prescriptions, everything over the counter, etc etc).

Only prob is you can only order it online. But its affordable and one bottle lasts you at least 3 months.

Trader Joe's Spa Face Wash with Tea Tree Oil

Amazing product!!!!!!

You could try taking probiotics. They really helped me with my acne that just DIDN'T GO AWAY but they're kind of expensive and they need to be refrigerated so they're a pain...just don't order them online because like I said they need to be refrigerated and unfortunatly amazon does't ship your orders in a mini fridge. :P

Yes i have posted this topic before but i want more input.
What magically cured your face when you began to use it?
I want stuff that doesn't dry my face up, and doesn't cost a whole lot, maybe nothing??


Anyone.
Let me know. I can't stand pimples on my face.

I avoid powdering my face at all costs, as that ends up clogging pores and causing a vicious cycle. Other than that, clean and clear is good if your skin is oily, otherwise water works fine

I also can't use proactive or things from the drug store (it irritates my skin and then causes a rash). I can use B.Kamins blemish gel that I get at Sephora (here in Canada anyway). It has 5% benzoyl peroxide in it, which is actually more than twice as strong as the other ones I mentioned that irritate my skin. But, this is a well made product and it has moisturizers in it. It will dry my skin if I don't put moisturizer on after I apply it, but as long as I use a light oil free gentle moisturizer I'm fine. It's not cheap, but it lasts a long time, so I only need to buy it every few months (it may even last me 6 months). I don't have acne, just occasional blemishes because I have oily, but sensitive skin.

As I understand it, the important, active ingredient in ProActive is plain and simple old benzoyl peroxide, which you can buy in any grocery store much more cheaply, without having to sign a long-term contract obligating you to keep buying the product for many months.
ProActive is a sore subject for many dermatologists who believe it is an instance of unfair marketing.
There used to be a soap called Phisoderm that was quite popular among persons with acne because it was non-drying. You might want to look into getting some of that (if you can find it) or asking your doctor about gentle skin cleansers. As I understand it, that is probably your only option if you are prone to drying . . . that or tetracycline.
Tetracycline can work wonders for some. But, it, too, can be drying.

My skin has been really awful lately too. I think I've over-irritated it trying harsh products, making the flare ups worse and worse.

My sister, who's had terrible skin her whole life swears by using a honey mask. Like, plain old honey. Supposedly it's cleared her skin up more than anything she's tried. I think I'm going to give it a go tonight. My skin can't get much worse at this point! I'll report back after trying.

I have constantly had skin issues. Recently I started using Proactiv, however my skin did relapse into breaking out again.

I've had a good solid month lately without breakouts after switching to natural products, exfoliating my skin twice a week, and using a mask twice a week as well.

In the morning, I use Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions Purifying Gel Cleanser. Then I go about my usual makeup routine, being sure to use a foundation primer.

At night, before bed, I use the gel cleanser again, then swab Burt's Bees Garden Tomato Toner all over my face with a cotton ball. After that, I use Jason Aloe Vera 98% Moisturizing Gel as a moisturizer instead of an oily lotion. On the days that I exfoliate, prior to using the moisturizer, I use Bare Minerals Exfoliating Treatment Cleanser. And on the days that I use a facial mask, I use French Green Clay that I purchase from mountainroseherbs.com.

I have never had great skin, but it was worse as a teenager than now as a young adult. Proactive was painful for me to use, it set my face on fire, and so they switched me to the Gentle Proactiv solution without the salycic acid. I use Clean and Clear's Morning Burst Face Wash - really mainly because it smells nice and is supposed to brighten your complexion (I don't pay attention to my skin to be able to confirm or deny that claim.) Neutrogena's Pink Grapefruit is nice too.

Both of those have salycic acid as well, so I am not sure why Proactiv enflames my face so painfully. Perhaps it has a larger percentage? I also have a problem with my face drying out and becoming a tight leather mask after washing, especially during the winter season. I am not sure why that happens.

I have naturally oily hair, so I occasionally break out around my temples/hairline, or on my scalp, even though I wash my hair every single day. I also have a bad habit of touching my face, so I am sure that never helped the situation. Perhaps there are some external contributors to your skin condition as well.

I AM SO EXCITED YOU POSTED THIS.

Any cleanser with Salicylic Acid in it is going to be AMAZING for acne affected skin. Wash with one twice a day. Period. This is the single best decision anyone with bad skin can make.

But you need a scrub to get rid of yucky black heads? Recent discovery: mix baking powder with a facial cleanser with Salicylic Acid in it. Rub over affected area. Rinse thoroughly. Say good bye to blackheads and zits and yucky skin!

But you have combination skin and MUST moisturise--- OLIVE OIL. PH neutral and so won't make your skin greasy, despite your intuition to the contrary. I like to moisturise with it before a shower and rely on the heat of the hot water to completely open my pores. Rub this in like crazy though before dressing. I have never stained anything but others seem to have done so.

I find that reducing stress, increasing activity, drinking more water and improving what I eat all make my skin better as well.