Proactive, anyone ever use this?

StacyJenniges

I have slight acne problem along my jaw line.  I bought Proactive to try to help with that problem.  I have been following the instructions and now my t Zone is extreemly dry.  My skinn is actually flaking! 

I don't want to have any bumps on my face for my wedding, but I also don't want my skin to be extreemly dried out.  Has anyone else had this problem?  Right now I am not using the proactive on the spots of my face that is drying out.  I have to figure out how to get that to stop. 

SouthernBelleLA

I had a similar problem with proactiv when I first started using it. Did you get the starter kit? It comes with a small tube of green tea moisturizer and it helped get rid of the dryness. I also skipped the repairing lotion in the morning and only used it at night. Hope that helps!

MrsH8611

I used it for about 5 years.... and I didn't have a day that my skin didn't flake. It made my skin incredibly dry. It kept it decently clear... because it dried it out so badly. But I kept using it. When the green tea lotion came out.. it helped soooo much. I loved that lotion.
But after a while (obviously) I couldn't stand my skin being so dry anymore and the fact it bleached all my towels too I stopped using it and I use just basic face wash now with spot treatments here and there... Usually I just use clearasil and my face looks excatally the same and much cheaper then proactive.

StacyJenniges

i actually use the grean tea moisturizer and I'm still so dry in certain areas!  It's crazy!  Glad to know I'm not the only one who dries out so much.  I may try to use it as a spot treatment.  I've actually switched to using the repairing cream only at night as well.  Thanks for the imput ladies!

leia1979

Try cutting back your usage, whether that's to once a day or every other day. Benzoyl Peroxide is very drying. You might also consider a heavier moisturizer at night (after the BP has dried for about 30 min).

KindersGirl1216

I also had that problem. I was told to cut back to once a day and I use the oil free moisturizer. That helped a lot.

StacyJenniges

Thanks you guys!  I think I'll try to cut back to once a day and then if that doesn't work I'll try the every other day! 

HBaker82407

I used it for a while too, and for a few months it really helped...after those few months my skin got used to using it...and started breaking out again! good luck!

aftonrae87

Proactive worked great for me for a few months, but I was dry & flaky too.  I cut back on the usage, but I was still flaky on my t zone.  Eventually my skin rebelled and developed an allergy to it.  Under my eyes and around my lips my skin began to swell and turn red when I used it.  I had to stop.  I now use a simple facial cleanser, Philosophy Pure, with the Clairisonic MIA system twice a day with spot acne treatment at night.  So much better!

StacyJenniges

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_wedding-beauty_proactive-anyone-ever-use-this?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:358Discussion:54ee4e66-1657-4c6b-a4fe-4db682ccf9bdPost:01de8d8b-6b62-4e5f-afad-810e2ac0840a">Re: Proactive, anyone ever use this?</a>:
[QUOTE]Proactive worked great for me for a few months, but I was dry & flaky too.  I cut back on the usage, but I was still flaky on my t zone.  Eventually my skin rebelled and developed an allergy to it. <strong> Under my eyes and around my lips my skin began to swell and turn red when I used it.  I had to stop.  I now use a simple facial cleanser, Philosophy Pure, with the Clairisonic MIA system twice a day with spot acne treatment at night.  So much better!
</strong>Posted by aftonrae87[/QUOTE]

That is scary!  The first part of your comment sound just like me.  I may go try that Philosophy Pure you are talking about. because I am 5 months from the wedding and do not want to get the swelling and redness you are talking about. 

Thanks for the tip.

libbyloutoo

I've tried and returned Proactive twice
It made me break out even worse and dried my skin out so badly, not to mention that no matter how careful I was it bleached the crap out of everything I owned.
Terrible stuff, I know it works well for some people but if its not working for you I'd suggest returning it and trying something less harsh

avtoups

Don't use all of the steps each time you wash your face. I had the same problem and found that rotating some of the Proactiv steps with some of my normal products works the best for me. For example, I would wash my face with their face wash but use my normal moisturizer. I'll use steps 2 and 3 in the evening twice or three times a week but use my normal face wash and moisturizer. I like steps 2 and 3 at night to really get my makeup off. It's not a perfect system, but it's worked for me! 

Also, if your jaw line is the problem, try wiping your phones (home, work, cell) with a clorox wipe once a week. 

nj001

Acne.org is an awesome site that could help you.  The site is majorly based of "the regimen" which is the same concept and ingredients as proactiv. Dan Kern posts a lot of great, detail, instructional videos that answer questions like this. And just to put it out there.. IMO, acne.org sells an improved proactiv that better and more gentle..but just so you know I'm not a sales rep, I think they both suck and that you should stay away from it if you can..

That being said, "start low and increase slow," like others said AND buy some jojoba oil. Add several small drops to your moisturizer and it helps like crazzzzzy. It was my saving grace through my last couple of years of using benzoyl peroxide, it kept the dryness and irritation at bay!

Again, there's lots of free, detailed info on acne.org about how much jojoba to use and how to apply products if you're confused!! Good luck!

katelyn26

i use it and love it...make sure youre using enough of the moisturizer 

AngieB6

My skin dried out REALLY badly.  I started only using the scrub in the morning and switched to a heavy Olay moisturizer and it helped a lot.  My skin isn't breaking out as much and my pores seem a lot smaller. 

Laurie109

if you are on birth control, change your brand...if you aren't, you may want to go on it. I experience DRAMATIC results using both proactiv and a different birth control (and i have tried everything...never broke out as a teenager, just in the last five years!). LOTs of moisturizer too! 

before the above really worked for me, and my skin would flake (from washing my face almost compulsively with the proactiv)  i would heap on tons of moisturizer lotion, wet a towel in hot water...wring it out and then put it on my face so that it would help my skin absorb the lotion...then after i was done i'd put on more lotion and rub it in. this helped A LOT! i still do this after i go tanning sometimes, it really does help!

PinkGold&Roses

I swear by Proactive.  It does dry out my skin if I am not careful, but just make sure you use a good moisturizer all the time.  I have been using Proactive for about 5 years now and do not ever get bad breakouts, just a couple pimples here and there, but they are not noticeable like before.  I ran out of my old moisturizer and have been using oil-free sun block that is for your face, and it works really well as a moisturizer.  Every once in a while my skin gets really dry so I cut back a little on all 3 steps of Proactive, and my skin is good again.

J&K10910

Ditto the poster that recommended jojoba oil.  You can add some to your moisturizer or just put the pure jojoba oil on your face.  I know that sounds scary because people with acne are always told to use oil free products but jojoba doesn't clog your pores and it's really moisturizing and healing.

mountaingirl18

Yep - I've used it. It made my skin dry and tight. It was as though my skin couldn't breathe.
I would just use it once a day (at night only) and use the 'moisturizer' only as a spot treatment or problem areas; avoid the T zone, if you can.
Find a soothing lotion for sensitive skin to use in the morning, something with aloe and fragrence free.