Proactive was too much work for me and it bleached my colored fabrics, like pillow cases and bathroom rugs. That's what benzoyl peroxide does....it bleaches fabrics. Antibiotic cream worked better for me.
It shouldn't come as a surprise considering the bottles and all the the pamphlets that come with it tell you that it will bleach fabrics. As far as I'm concerned, I don't mind using my crappy towels if it means I can have clear skin.
That being said, I noticed that the only thing that was bleaching my towels was the excess lotion that I was wiping off my hands. Now I wash my hands with soap and water after applying the lotion and my towels are fine. I also haven't noticed any bleaching on my pillow cases. Mind you, I always wait a little while between washing my face and going to bed.
It wasn't a surprise. I knew it was going to bleach fabrics but I would accidentally get a drop here and there sometimes and that was annoying. If it works for you, that's great.
I read a few, and I see that mine will probably be very repetitive, but I too tried proactive, was amazed by the results only to be let down shortly after. It went from working wonderfully from not working at all and I used it for several months.
My daughter uses the generic version at CVS and it works just as well. I read the back of both and they contain the EXACT same ingredients but it's cheaper.
Hello, I am very interested in what the name of the product is at CVS, I cannot afford Proactive and my skin is terrible!!! Glad to hear your daughter found something that works!!!
I used PROACTIVE faithfully for one year and I was not very impressed with the results (or lack thereof). It took about three weeks for my skin to show any signs of clearing up.
After the third week, my skin was clear for about three weeks.
However, after that, my skin became OVERLY oily and my acne came back - worse than it had before going on PROACTIVE. I stopped using it, needless to say.
I know of others who have had positive experiences with it, so I don't want to totally bash it - but I just wanted to share my experience with the product!
I'm an esthetician, so I have been around the block with skincare...as well as seeing people try everything! ProActiv is something that either you love or you hate. The benzoyl peroxide either helps the acne, or just irritates it. Different acne responds differently to different medications (Vit A, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide...) One thing that it will cause is dehydration (water dry skin, not what you normally think of dry...which is from a lack of oil). So make sure you're drinking your water (though your skin is the last organ to reap the benefits) and if you are feeling dry, use a gel-based mask to hydrate! I am trying to keep this brief, I could talk for days about skincare. I did see someone reference Obagi on the thread....great line! Also helps with hyperpigmentation (by using the drug hydroquinone...some controversy over it, but it's safe in the small amount that it's prescribed...just wear an SPF!) It is pricey, but if you're dealing with pigmentation and acne....AWESOME line (that works along with Retin-A, which is great for acne as it penetrates the skin through the hair follicle...the root of all pimples).
Okay, I'm stopping....hope I have helped SOMEONE, and haven't bored anyone to tears!
I just ordered some for the first time because nothing seems to work just right. I've wanted to try this stuff years; I just hope my face responds well!!
__________________
DH (26) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Meghan (25) PCOS & Hypothyroidism, no B/C since '05 Meds: Metformin, Levothyroxine, Prenatals
Oct/Nov: Clomid 50 mg + Preseed=BFN
Nov/Dec: Clomid 50 mg + Preseed = in progress, HSG: all clear! S/A= TBD
*~*~*TTC our 1st Little Kanoodle*~*~*
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I was wondering if anyone knows if it is ok to continue using Proactiv during pregnancy. I've just started trying to concieve, but I wonder if I should stop using the Proactiv. I really don't want to because it's been working so well!
I have used The Body Shop Tea Tree oil line.. it works great.... so refreshing. PCOS deals with hormones, so it is best to see an endocrinologist to balance out what is making your skin erupt. My skin sparkled when I took birth controll and used the Tea Tree Oil line.
OMG!!! I so hate Pro-Active. I didn't work for me at all. For me, it made my out breaks even WORSE!! The only thing that really worked to clear up my acne (before I knew I had PCOS) was just the plain old BCP.
I used proactive about 12 years ago when I was in high school. He worked great! Actually come to think of it I didnt even have acne in high school...I very rarely got a pimple. Then two years ago my skin was breaking out so bad. I mean I literally had huge cystic boils on my face. YIKES....now I have pock marks and scarring from when it was really bad. I went back to Proactive at this time, and it totally destroyed my skin and made it works. I went through several OTC things. I finally found some things that work well with my skin...here are a couple of things that I have tried...
Clean and Clear Deoxygenating cleanser (this seemed to be the only thing that would take my make up completely off without over drying it) I followed this product with the mild lotion as well.
Clean and Clear Oil-Free Foaming Facial cleanser with 0.25% of Triclosan followed by Clean and Clear Advantage Acne Clearing Astringant with 1% Salicyclic acid followed by Clean and Clear Oil-Free Dual Action Moisterizer (at first the astringant really irritated my skin, so I started out by using it only once a day and then twice a day every other day until my skin got used to it)
A book that I recommed is The Clean Skin Prescription by Nicholas Perricon. I was walking through the book section at Costco one day and came across this book, and it just so happens that I found it when my skin was the worse! It is a book that explains ways to modify your diet. He describes a lot of foods as "inflammatory" and teaches you how to stay away from certain foods that will make your skin break out, you would be surprised!! Some foods like bananas and mangos...we think to be fairly good food choices can actually cause inflammation or your skin to flair up! He talks about foods that are great for your skin, and foods to stay away from or consume in moderation. He also talks about vitamins and supplements that decrease inflammation and help with acne. GREAT BOOK!! Highly recommend it!
The last product that I am currently on...and plan to say on is ALL CLEAR. I got this product from a family member so I am not sure how to go about getting it. Nor have I ever heard of it, but I have used it for 3 weeks now and my skin has never looked better and even the scarring is starting to heal up. It's pretty expensive, but it is one of those products where a tiny bit goes a long way!
Good luck!
__________________
Heather Michelle Hicks
Far and away the best prize that live has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.
Proactive 
