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Adult acne: Have you ever tried Proactive?

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Contributor: The Vixen The Vixen
I'm almost 25 and I'm still breaking out, it's not super sever but it still makes me self conscious. Sometimes it gets better but I can't seem to keep my skin all the way clear. I know I get hormonal acne around my period and I'm not sure if the pill makes it better or worse.

I've always used acne washes and treatments but I'm wondering if I'm actually over-treating my skin and making it worse. My skin can tend to be a little red and blotchy so I've switched to non-medicated cleansers and toners. While my skin is less red I feel like I might be getting more spots.

I'm thinking about finally trying proactiv. Does anyone have any experience with it? If so I'd like to hear what it did for you. I'm also curious if anyone has another solution that worked miracles for them.
Thanks!
Answers (public voting - your screen name will appear in the results):
Yes, I tried Proactiv and my skin noticeably improved
indiglo , MK434 , Leather & Lace , sweetpea12 , HostileUmbrella
5
Yes, I tried Proactiv but didn't really notice a difference
Lildrummrgurl7 , PeaceToTheMiddleEast , ViVix , kitty1949 , Living Doll , Love Lula
6
Yes, I tried Proactiv and my skin got worse
FunFantasys , Pandwhora , VioletMoonstone , Strider , apple4me , Bignuf
6
No, I've never tried proactiv
hhh , Ansley , Loriandhubby , damnbul12 , misterazor , Flower1 , married with children , Avant-garde , petlove0311 , atryonix , DawnStar , bog , darthkitt3n , Allstars316 , Vanille , FlashFuchsia , GONE! , richsam
18
I have another solution that is: (please comment)
Total votes: 35 (35 voters)
Poll is closed
01/30/2013
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Contributor: The Vixen The Vixen
Whoops. I guess it's actually Proactiv and not Proactive. I forgot to change the title.
01/30/2013
Contributor: Lildrummrgurl7 Lildrummrgurl7
I tried Proactiv and other "3-step" systems and none of them worked for me. The only thing that my skin responded to was Burt's Bees Natural Acne Solutions. It's also a 3 step system but I usually only use the face wash. That and switching to organic makeup made a huge difference in my skin.
01/30/2013
Contributor: damnbul12 damnbul12
Quote:
Originally posted by The Vixen
I'm almost 25 and I'm still breaking out, it's not super sever but it still makes me self conscious. Sometimes it gets better but I can't seem to keep my skin all the way clear. I know I get hormonal acne around my period and I'm ... more
No, I've never tried proactive
01/30/2013
Contributor: FunFantasys FunFantasys
Quote:
Originally posted by The Vixen
I'm almost 25 and I'm still breaking out, it's not super sever but it still makes me self conscious. Sometimes it gets better but I can't seem to keep my skin all the way clear. I know I get hormonal acne around my period and I'm ... more
I'm trying a better diet now...and it works dramatically, make sure you're getting all your nutrients.
01/30/2013
Contributor: The Vixen The Vixen
Quote:
Originally posted by FunFantasys
I'm trying a better diet now...and it works dramatically, make sure you're getting all your nutrients.
I eat pretty good and take good vitamins and supplements. Some of my multivitamins have a "beauty blend" too and I think I have noticed them helping.
Definitely good advice!
01/30/2013
Contributor: misterazor misterazor
Quote:
Originally posted by The Vixen
I'm almost 25 and I'm still breaking out, it's not super sever but it still makes me self conscious. Sometimes it gets better but I can't seem to keep my skin all the way clear. I know I get hormonal acne around my period and I'm ... more
never tried it, but i would.
01/30/2013
Contributor: PeaceToTheMiddleEast PeaceToTheMiddleEast
Yes I have tried it only because my mom gave me some of hers to try. I did not notice any difference.
01/30/2013
Contributor: ViVix ViVix
Quote:
Originally posted by The Vixen
I'm almost 25 and I'm still breaking out, it's not super sever but it still makes me self conscious. Sometimes it gets better but I can't seem to keep my skin all the way clear. I know I get hormonal acne around my period and I'm ... more
I tried it, but I didn't notice a difference after even 3 months, so I gave it up.
01/30/2013
Contributor: Flower1 Flower1
never tried it
01/30/2013
Contributor: kitty1949 kitty1949
I tried Proactiv... it only dried my face out.
01/30/2013
Contributor: kitty1949 kitty1949
However - Burt's Bees makes a really good roll-on for acne. It usually brings my pimples to a head.
01/30/2013
Contributor: Avant-garde Avant-garde
Nope, never tried it
01/30/2013
Contributor: indiglo indiglo
It took several months for me to notice a difference, but I love Proactiv.

I like that it's not just good for acne, but it's also good for sun spots, fine lines and wrinkles. Probably not a concern of yours yet, at your age, but it's something I appreciate about it.
01/30/2013
Contributor: petlove0311 petlove0311
no, but i'm considering it
01/30/2013
Contributor: atryonix atryonix
nope
01/30/2013
Contributor: DawnStar DawnStar
Never tried it.
01/31/2013
Contributor: MK434 MK434
I am 31 and I use proactive. I don't have really bad acne but enough to make me use proactive every nite and it keeps my face pretty clear, but I still do get breakouts sometimes but yes I would recommend it.
01/31/2013
Contributor: bog bog
Quote:
Originally posted by The Vixen
I'm almost 25 and I'm still breaking out, it's not super sever but it still makes me self conscious. Sometimes it gets better but I can't seem to keep my skin all the way clear. I know I get hormonal acne around my period and I'm ... more
I have heard negative things about Proactiv, but never tried it myself.
01/31/2013
Contributor: VioletMoonstone VioletMoonstone
I've used it before. The salicylic acid/benzoyl peroxide helps with acne BUT it's really potent and harsh. I noticed that it helped my acne but my face would get red, blotchy, and really itchy! Especially if you get too close to around your mouth, around your eyes, and even around the hairline. I don't think I'm allergic as sometimes I don't feel anything but it definitely makes my face tingly and dries it out badly. So I'd recommend that if you use it put a really good moisturizer on afterwards. I like the St. Ives Collagen one that you can find at any drugstore. If it's still too harsh just use it on the spots like a spot treatment instead of all over. It did help my acne but then I had other problems to deal with so in that sense it wasn't that great for me. =[

They have a generic brand of it at Wal-Mart. I checked the ingredients and it's the same strength and same products, just a lot cheaper.

If anyone can recommend anything in particular for itchy/red/blotchy skin please let me know!
01/31/2013
Contributor: Allstars316 Allstars316
Never tried it
01/31/2013
Contributor: apple4me apple4me
Proactiv always made me break out. I just got a dermatologist and I'm all better!
01/31/2013
Contributor: FlashFuchsia FlashFuchsia
Since I've started washing my face every day in the shower, my skin has gotten a lot better. I still have flareups sometimes, but it's nothing bad.
01/31/2013
Contributor: Love Lula Love Lula
I've tried it, and it didn't do anything for my skin. Benzoyl peroxide usually works well for me, so I'm not sure what it was about the Proactive that just didn't work for my skin.
02/01/2013
Contributor: Leather & Lace Leather & Lace
Yes, I tried it for a while but it didn't really do much with my cystic acne. I finally had to take accutane.
02/01/2013
Contributor: GONE! GONE!
I tried a generic version. It only dried out my skin.
02/01/2013
Contributor: sweetpea12 sweetpea12
Quote:
Originally posted by The Vixen
I'm almost 25 and I'm still breaking out, it's not super sever but it still makes me self conscious. Sometimes it gets better but I can't seem to keep my skin all the way clear. I know I get hormonal acne around my period and I'm ... more
I have been using proactive for about three years. At first I noticed a big big difference. My bad acne disappeared. But then after about six months it started to come back. But then I started birth control and my acne has been gone for the past two years. I almost never get any pimples
02/01/2013
Contributor: HostileUmbrella HostileUmbrella
if you do choose proactiv, make sure you use it every. day.
02/01/2013
Contributor: richsam richsam
Quote:
Originally posted by The Vixen
I'm almost 25 and I'm still breaking out, it's not super sever but it still makes me self conscious. Sometimes it gets better but I can't seem to keep my skin all the way clear. I know I get hormonal acne around my period and I'm ... more
i am 29 and i havent had acne since early teens but now im preg n for some reason i got crazy acne n i have thought about trying it but i havent yet..thinking about asking dr if its normal
02/01/2013
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by The Vixen
I'm almost 25 and I'm still breaking out, it's not super sever but it still makes me self conscious. Sometimes it gets better but I can't seem to keep my skin all the way clear. I know I get hormonal acne around my period and I'm ... more
I had a few trouble spots when on my period. I tried Proactive a few years ago and it was like I was allergic (and I am not allergic to much). It broke me out terribly. A few years later they came out with the "new and improved" kind. A friend had some that she let me try....oops, same thing. Something in their formula just does not work well for me. However, my friend, who does use it, loves it!
02/01/2013