Anyone using or used Proactiv?

Just wondering if anyone has used Proactiv Solution? How did you find it? Did it work for you? 

I've suffered with pimples since I was probably 11 (I'm now 27) and tried soooo many lotions, creams, even the pill I tried didn't work.  I wanted to try accutane but the doctor wouldn't prescribe it because she didn't think my case was severe enough, which I admit its not, but still gets me down sometimes and certainly affects my confidence.  I'm fairly sure that its hormone related as I get breakouts generally a week before "that time of the month".

So yeah.. interested to hear what people who have used it think about it.

Cheers

They do not like prescribing acutane to sexually active females because of the huge risk of birth defects etc...

Below is a copy of some notes when we did acne last year - hope it is of some use.

TREATMENT OF ACNE:

-Firstly, treatment of acne should aim at treating the underlying pathophysiology of the condition.

-The primary pathophysiologic factors in acne include:

1        Sebaceous hyperplasia with seborrhea (increased sebum production) due to androgens acting at the sebaceous follicle.

2        Altered follicular growth and differentiation.

3        Propionibacterium acnes colonization of the follicle.

4        Inflammation and immune response.

Due to the pathophysiology of acne, it is suggested that combination therapy be utilized as early as possible (except in patients requiring isotretinoin) to attack several of the underlying pathogenic factors simultaneously.



-There is much debate regarding whether a healthy diet, face-washing and UV-exposure can reduce acne.  Overall, there is not enough evidence from clinical trials to either prove or disprove that these factors will help acne.

 -It is very important for the patient not to squeeze any spots, as this will squeeze extra oil out onto the skin, which already has a problem with excessive oil.  It will also push some of the sebum across, underneath the surface of the skin.  This will cause another spot to form in this area.

Over the Counter Medications:

-Over the counter medications are available to treat mild acne (if the acne is severe, however, prescription medications will need to be used).

-These are topical medications that contain benzoyl peroxide, which dries out the skin and encourages it to shed the surface layer of dead skin.  Benzoyl peroxide also has an antibacterial action.  These effects together make it more difficult for pores to become blocked and for infections to develop.   Benzoyl Peroxide is sold as Benzac, from pharmacists.  Also, treatments such as Oxy and Clearasil Max contain benzoyl peroxide.  These are available from supermarkets and pharmacists. 

 

Prescription Medicines:

 

-A GP will start treatment of a mild to moderate case of acne often with preparations containing benzoyl peroxide.  However, if these do not work, or if the acne is very severe, the GP will begin to try other topical and oral medications.

-Topical treatments that a GP may prescribe include:

1        Azelaic acid: This is an alternative to benzoyl peroxide

2        Topical retinoids- medications based on vitamin A, and are to be rubbed into the skin once or twice a day.  This preparation soaks into the skin and normalises keratinisation.  It reverses the abnormal desquamation that leads to microcomedo formation, and thus promotes shedding of small aggregates of cells rather than sheets of abnormally coherent cells. This leads to a decrease in comedones and inflammatory lesions. It is used as a preventer of acne outbreaks.  This medication may cause skin hypersensitivity to sunlight.

3        Topical antibiotics may also be used.  These are used to control the P. acnes bacteria that colonize the follicle in acne lesions.

-Oral treatments that may be prescribed include:

1        Oral antibiotics.  Usually a tetracycline is prescribed.  These antibiotics are used to control the P. acnes bacteria.  They are usually prescribed for around three months.  However, the success of this treatment is often limited as the bacteria found in acne are often resistant to the common antibiotics.

2        Hormone Treament:

o       &n bsp;    Is possible for women, using a standard combined oral contraceptive pill (containing oestrogen and progestogen).  This can improve acne symptoms.  One particular pill often used to treat women with acne is Dianne, which contains cyproterone acetate, which is a progestational anti-androgen that blocks the androgen receptor.  Overall improvement in 75% to 90% of patients treated with cyproterone acetate 50-100mg daily has been reported.  Cyproterone has a dual action, inhibiting ovulation and blocking androgen receptors.

o       &n bsp;    Spironolactone also function as an androgen receptor blocker, it is also an inhibitor of 5? reductase.  In doses of 50 to 100mg twice a day, it has been shown to reduce sebum production and improve acne.  These hormone treatments, however, can only be used for women with acne.

Combination Therapies:

-As mentioned above, combination therapy is usually used in the treatment of acne, in order to attack several of the underlying causes of this condition.
- Clinical studies have demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in both inflammatory lesions and comedones when topical retinoids are added to oral antibiotic therapy.

-For acne that has a high inflammatory component, benzoyl peroxide and/or topical antibiotics used along with topical retinoids help improve the clearing of inflammatory acne.

-If none of the above prescribed treatments are successful, or if the acne is extremely severe, the GP will refer the patient to a dermatologist, and Isotretinoin (Roaccutane) may be prescribed.  This medicine is oral retinoid, and is very powerful.  Roaccutane works by decreasing the size and secretion of the sebaceous glands, normalising follicular keratinization, and preventing the formation of new comedones.  It also indirectly inhibits P.Acnes  growth via changes in the follicles and it exerts an inflammatory effect.  During oral isotretinoin therapy, sebum production is reduced by 90% or greater.  It also de-differentiates them from being huge, grape like structures, to really small structures.  It is a very successful suppressor of acne.  The acne never grows back as severe or as fast after a treatment with Roaccutane.  However, Roaccutane also has a number of severe side-effects.  Common adverse effects include dry, chapped lips and dry skin and eyes.   Nose bleeds, photo-sensitivity and skin fragility are also common.  Oral isotretinoin is also a potent teratogen and women of child-bearing age must not start this therapy until a negative pregnancy test has been obtained.  Oral isotretinoin has also been known to produce, on occasion, mood disturbances and depression, and other psychiatric changes.  It has also been linked to suicide.  Also, rarely, long-term oral isotretinoin therapy has been linked to a loss of bone density and osteoporosis.

I'd beware of accutane anyway. Every girl I knew in high school who was on it got severely depressed and a few got suicidal... and I know severe depression is one of the side effects.

A friend of mine and her (now ex-) husband used proactive and said it worked wonders... another friend said it didn't help her. The only way to know is to try it I guess. Different things work for different people. Proactiv is a bit expensive though... but I guess it's worth it to try.

I use it and it works great! But... i have been a little depressed lately now that everyone menchions it. I had no idea it might be from acutane?

Yes I'm fully aware of the side effects of accutane.  My brother was on it for several years.  He had quite severe acne, much worse than mine.  He unfortunately damaged his skin, it was quite red looking and has had to have expensive laser treatment to repair the damage and its still not right.

I did a search for reviews on proactiv and the reviews were mixed.  I really don't want to go forking out money yet again for a product that won't work for me.  and cos its got benzoyl peroxide in it, i'd say its going to dry my skin out. Grrr!

Hey I use it all the time. Exensive but worth it for sure!

Almost all my friends have used proactive at least a few times and they all say that it works great for them. commercials are on tv ALL the time. sorry i dont know the number. im sure you can look it up on the internet tho.

Results are mixed because proactive works great for some types of acne, not so great for others.

Does it have a money back guarantee?

Unless you know you are sensitive or allergic to one of the ingredients, I'd give it a shot and hope I was in the 'works great' group.

~ Secret_Squirrel, with sensitive, easily irritated skin that can not abide most facial regimes, including Proactiv.

Actually now that you mention it Secret Squirrel, they do have a money back guarantee.. but still I think that it would try my skin.. so many products do.  I once tried Clinique, the mildest product they make made all the skin on my face go dry!  Luckily they'd given me a free sample of the stuff, so it wasn't like I had wasted zillions of dollars on it.

I've heard great things about Cetaphil too, thinking I might give that a go.

i use proactiv and i love it!! the $40 kit says it's for 60 days but i've used it for just about 2 years now and i think i just started my 4th kit. i don't use the amount that they suggest, only enough to cover my whole face- no excess. i usually do it twice a day too... sometimes only once, but usually twice.  i can deal with $80/year for my face to be zit free. they also have a 30 day kit that they are selling for $20. maybe try that one and see how it works??

I used proactive. My forehead was really bad and it cleared it up in 2-3 monthes. 

Another thing I started doing it wearing my hair up when I sleep so the oils and stuff don't get on my face. Thant has helped a lot.

Good luck

Proactive 1 (800) 876-9717.

Hi there!  I use Proactive everyday and love it!  You can buy it online or even on QVC.com  It's the best OTC product for skin care.  I had serious adult acne after I had my daughter and took all the prescribed medications with minimal results or really bad side-effects.  I bought Proactive as a last resort, thinking it would probably not work but it did within the 1st week.  Now three years later I won't go a day without using it, it's the best!  Hope that helps you!

I dont know what I'd do without Proactiv seriously!! My skin has always been clear *drum roll please* UNTIL PREGNANCY. It got awful. Now friends and family ask me why do you use that?? (When they see it in my bathroom) Because my skin is 100% clear! I just tell them if I stopped I'd look awful LOL! I must say though my skin didn't clear 100% until I mixed in birth control. I used proactiv...that took care of 90% of the problem. I was still getting a few pimples here and there, so my doctor suggested Orth-tri-cyclen. Since then, 100% success.

I've used proactiv for over a year, works well for me when I am consistent, I like the website because you can ask questions about your specific issues and they will instruct you how to use the product appropriate for you.  so far so good

May daughters use it and unfortunately have not had great results - one of my daughters has a severe case on her back and chest as well - it is such a terrible thing to have!  I had it bad in highschool also.  Put your hair up and make sure you change your pillowcase often!  Don't scrub your face - it makes your produce more oil - I have been using a soap by The Face Doctor - it is sold in some drug stores and was made for Rosacea but works for acne too - I have found it to work for me - it costs $20.00/bar but lasts forever!  I can't use any products on my face - it makes me break out worse - I use the face doctor soap at night and dove in the morning - the simpler the better for me - Dove Girl for 15 years!! :)

I find Proactiv works wonderfully, after using everything over the counter plus Retin-A over years. The scrub is gentle and lets the medicine get into your pores, plus removes dead skin and other junk from the day that bacteria feeds on. The astringent feels like it really cleans but is not alcohol-laden, stinging experience. The topical leave-on has a low-dose of benzoyl peroxide, so it's not drying. The best part of Proactiv though is the sulfur mask. Unbelievable! Leaves my skin SO soft and even toned. I didn't think it would help with the deep, tumor like pimples, but I haven't even had one of those since I started it.

when i stopped washing my face minus when i take a shower my skin cleared up really fast, dunno if i have really sensitive skin but ya i havnt had a problem since i have been like 16ish

I like the Dr. Wexler stuff they have at bath & body works a LOT better- doesn't dry my skin out so much.  Also not cheap.

With reference to the earlier posts, proactive does NOT NOT NOT contain accutane.  That's a pill, it's Rx only.  Totally different from the OTC salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide topical preps that are in most acne treatments.

I tried it. I never had major acne, but when I did get a zit it made quite an appearance! Proactiv, like every other product, worked miracles on surface issues (at first). I soon noticed that the problems reoccured though. I never really got my breakouts under control until I changed my eating habits and made sure I drank plenty of water. I still get little breakouts at TTOM because of my hormone issues. That I can't help, but they are more controllable. I tried Cetaphil as well, but my skin didn't really feel clean. I have gone back to using Dove facial soap and Neutrogena Oil free moisturizer with SPF 15. For spot treatments, I use Neutrogena On The Spot. Seems to be my best bet. Good luck girl. I know how devasting acne can be.