I used Proactiv for about 4-5 years. I had moderately bad acne since I was about 14 years old (T-zone). It worked wonders for me. It did, however, bleach the skin somewhat. It got rid of the redness in my skin (old scars etc...) but my freckles disappeared and my skin turned a shade whiter. People were always asking if I was sick! But it worked. Now what happened is, I went to a spa where an Esthetician said that my face looked great and that I probably didn't need to be on Proactive anymore, 'cause it was so chemically and all. So I quit. Cold turkey. Just went back to a mild cleanser with no acne medication at all. Huge mistake. My acne came back with a vengeance, little tiny bumps all over and wayyyyy worse than it had been before. Now, I understand what everyone is saying about how it was only supposed to be a treatment not a cure, but, my skin was reallllly bad. To make matters worse, when I promptly went back on Proactiv, it did nothing. Everything I tried did nothing. It is now 3 years later, and I am still battling this terrible acne. N-o-t-h-i-n-g worked after Proactive. I am of mixed decent (East Indian and red-hair Irish, so I am very fair with dark features) so I don't know if it is just MY skin or not, but my skin is destroyed. It is full of blackheads, red, patches of discoloration, and purple scars. I wear heavy scar makeup to go out. Just wanted to get my two cents in. Hope this helps someone with their decision of whether or not to use Proactiv. I works. But the cure may turn out to be worse than the disease. I was for me.

Proactiv didn't work for me at all, after 3 days of using it my face was swollen, blotchy, red, itchy, and downright painful. I stopped using it but it is still red, blotchy, and swollen. I got it a month or so ago so i coudl have nice skin for my wedding, now instead of being a blushing bride, i look like I just got stung by wasps all over my face.

ick. i hate  this stuff i spent all my money and it did nothing.

Worked at first for moderate acne, then stopped working. Skin never got 100% clear. Waste of time and money.

My grandmother purchased me some Proactiv during my senior year in high School it cleared up my acne I had for years it was great but when I moved out I realize how much I had to pay. I couldn't afford it and when I stop using it my Face Broke Out really, really bad I've never seen myself like that before. So now like I've started back using it and it's clearing me up again. Like the previous person said I guest we have to use this for the rest of are lives.

I used Proactiv for about a month or so, and saw no noticeable difference. I just purchased the "Continuously Clear" system from HSN. I have been told by so many of my teenage friends that i works so I'm hoping it odes. I will let all know on the Continuously Clear review page of this site. Im only 17 and i gotta while to go, so i hope it works.

ive been using proactiv for about 6 months now and it hasn't been as amazing for me as it has been for the people on the commercials. but with that said, it has improved the overall quality of my skin. it doesnt get shiny or oily, it looks very even, and it feels very soft. i have very dry skin, so i did have to get the oil free moisturizer and cut down my usage to only once a day, but if you can figure out what works for your skin, it really does help.
the only complaint i have, and its one ive heard from a lot of people, is that after using this product, i would get an occassional breakout of cystic acne. not all over my face, but one here or there of that kind of acne is bad enough because it can take months to go away and can leave permanent scarring. i had never ever experienced a breakout like that before using the product. does anyone know what in proactiv could cause that reaction for so many people? i don't believe that it's just being allergic to benzol peroxyde cause that causes dry, red, and swollen skin. cystic acne doesnt really seem like an allergic reaction to me. then again, im not a dermatologist. any ideas?

i started using this product a few years ago, it worked fine at first and i definitely noticed good results, but after i ran out and didnt order anymore because my skin was clear, who needs it? NOPE. a few months later my skin broke out SO BAD. i STILL suffer from horrible acne, worse than i had first started
DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT.

When I started using proactive yrs ago it worked for me, then it stopped working, humm, so i stopped buying it....BIG MISTAKE. Once i stopped using proactive i got the worst acne of my life, i have never goten acne that bad even before i started using their product, so i tried everything and nothing worked, my face seemed to get worse every day, so i decided to go back to proactive and then what do you know..all that bad acne cleard up again, so now im left w/the choice of either using their product all my life or discontinue it and face the horrible effects....I kind of wish i had never started using it coz my acne wasent even that bad to begin with, but now its like my skin is addictated to it!!!!!

Try murad! I've tried Practiv 2 different times. But the ppl at Sephora explained to me that the toner in proactiv jus spreads stuff around. I've been using Murad for 2 months, & it's so great! I've had bad acne since I was a teenager. But I recommend Murad, It's by an acutal dermotologist instead of 2 woman wanting to create somethin for money!

i have a love-hate relationship w/ this product. when my face has tiny bumps and basically looks red, i use pro-activ. when i have cystic acne, i gotta use more strong stuff. i WILL say, using pro-activ for years and years (mostly continuously), i constantly get told i have radiant, smooth skin. still, this product does not seem to take care of the big pimples when i get them!! i use duac topical gel for those.

Never use it!!! I have opened my own blog about proactiv http://proactivsolutions.blogspot.com You can read interesting here. If you have problems with skin like acne, don/t do enything by yourself! You can make worse!!! You must go to medical or proffesional cosmetilogist!!!

I'm allergic to Proactive, and pretty much anything else out there even the prescription stuff. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Sorry for your experience but it works for me. The trick is if it dries out your skin than to cut back using the product that dries your skin, which is the repairing lotion. Instead of using it twice a day, try once a day. If that doesn't help then try a 2-3 times a week. Oh, and always use a moisturizer with sunscreen right after the repairing lotion dries. Proactiv works wonders but your skin can become immune to it after time. I've used it for over a year and I have one day (Monday) were I take a proactiv break and use another cleaner that is not designed to treat acne. Also, if you work out during the day it's important to use another cleaner before and after working out. When you sweat the repairing lotion may bleach your clothes or towels if you sweat a lot like me.

I hope these tips help someone else, but proactiv does work. I've been blemish free for the first time since being a teen and I'm in my late twenties. I used the product when I was 21 for a year and thought my body was over acne. It was for nearly four years and then I started to experience breakouts. The type with the painful under skin cyst that you couldn't treat until the pimple came to the surface. It was horrible! I had just ended a relationship and was too impressed to start dating again. Now I'm as confident as ever. Don't let a couple of bad experiences stop you from trying the porduct.

I suggest going to your local mall and finding a proactiv kiosk. Just purchase the travel kit which should last you about 2 to 4 weeks. Oh, warning: You may experience immediate breakouts when starting to use this product but it completely clears up within a week or so. Also, please use the tips above to work out a good regimen that works for you. Once you know if it works or not you can then purchase the regular kit and use on a daily basis.

The best part is not only does it clear up your skin, but it makes the texture smooth and soft to the touch. Also, it creates this amazing glow! I love my makeup but most days I go without foundation and powder since I get so many compliments about my complexion. I've never had a foundation/powder do that! But remember your sunscreen or moist + sunscreen when using the repair lotion.

I started using Proactiv in June 2005 to treat my mild acne. Over the next several months of using Proactiv, I suffered severe outbreaks of skin lesions that I had never experienced before using the product. When inquiring about these severe outbreaks, Guthy-Renkers unlicensed medical support representatives "consistently" advised me to continue using Proactiv, "You're just experiencing the 'normal' breakout period. Results vary by person, some see results as little as two weeks, others don't see results until a few months later. So continue to use the product and your skin will get better." In fact, even a Proactiv representative at the Proactiv Kiosk Queen Center Mall in New York, looked at my face and said exactly the same as the phone representatives. When they learned that the product caused further injuries after the third month or the end of the program, a Guthy-Renker representative said, "You have sensitive skin. You are probably allergic to the benzoyl peroxide ingredient. We do have another kit called the Gentle Formula for sensitive skin. I will rush you this product and it will work for you." With no improvements to my condition, in late November 2005, I stopped using Proactiv Solution.

Despite the advice given to me by Proactiv representatives to continue treatment with Proactiv, I sought the professional care of a dermatologist to treat the severe outbreak of skin lesions. After consulting with the dermatologist, I was prescribed a costly and powerful medication, which helped improve my condition. He also had to inject each of the pimples caused by Proactiv, which was quite painful. However, I have been left with permanent pit-scarring and skin discoloration on my face as a result of the irritation caused by my prior use of Proactiv Solution. I will need to have an expensive laser surgery procedure to reduce this skin discoloration with no guarantee that the damage can be reversed.

After watching numerous infomercials where celebrities would endorse a product, I never once questioned if these products were actually used by them. Yet, after I watched the infomercials for Proactiv Solution, it seemed like the celebrities not only used the product, they praised its ability to clear the skin of blemishes. When I was experiencing mild acne, I had high hopes for Proactiv, and the claims that the celebrities, and the company made. As you have read, the results were not favorable; not only was Proactiv ineffective, but it also caused permanent scarring, short term anguish and depression. This could have been avoided by knowledgeable representatives advising me to stop using the product and consult with a professional dermatologist. The issue is NOT whether Proactiv works or not, but what matters is the lack of accountability taken by the manufacturer and its affiliates; and also the advice given to me by the Proactiv reps to continue using the product despite the outbreaks that I reported. I urge anyone considering the use of this product to carefully re-evaluate their decision, and perhaps prevent a lifetime of pain and embarrassment as the result of using The Answer for Acne. I would be very much interested in making this to the news media on a national coverage level.

See more before and after pictures on my personal website: http://www.propassiv.com

Watch the video version at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za3tM2Ruadw  

Proactive made my skin worse...I got the cysts...the hard sore deep under the skin bumbs....OUCH! I hate proactive. Not for me I guess. I wish there was a O

DON'T EVER TRY IT!! I TRIED IT AND IT DID CLEAR MY FACE FROM PIMPLES, BUT IT MADE MY FACE SWOLLEN AND RED. I LOOKED HORRIBLE! AFTER THAT, MORE BREAKOUT COME OUT. I STOP USING IT.

My skin has hit an all time low using the Proactiv "Solution". It cleared up my skin for a very short while. After that, every day got worse and worse, waking up with new breakouts and unmanageable skin. It was horrible. I used it like an addict...terrible relationship. It worked again for about a couple of days, then it bombed on me again. I suppose the only way this "solution" would work is to be dedicated to it every waking second of your life. Even then, it'll probably give you a few good days in your life.
All in all, it works....sort of. And that's only because you'd have to sell your soul to it. Very unfair. I'd like my soul back.

I TRYED PROACTIV AND BY THE END OF MY 30 DAY TRIAL I WAS CRYING. I DRYED OUT MY SKIN SO BADLY THAT NO LOTION COULD SOAK IT UP AND ALL MAKE-UP JUT FLAKED OFF.  DONT TAKE THE RISK OF WHETHER IT WILL HELP YOU OR HURT YOU.

Nothing works better!!

I've used this product for a couple years now. It seems to control my acne to a point where its not as visible to outsiders as it used to be... but its definatly still there. It doesn't ever really completely get rid of it as it advertises, and sometimes makes your skin very dry. It also doesn't really block acne from stress or monthly cycles, I still have pretty good sized breakouts. I guess I would recomend it if you have severe acne and you wanted to decrease it but know that it probably won't just magically go away.

Proactiv can never really completely clear your skin. That being said it has been good for me. I use it sparingly now and then when I fear my skin breaking out. The cleanser is great and I use it everyday twice. it has a tendency to make the skin dry without clearing up which makes things worse. But after soemtime I think your skin kind of gets used to it and once you have controlled the usage perfect for you it works well. I have hoefully been able to in the last 1 yr I have used it. needs other exfoliants for blemishes and scars.

Do not sign up for this product. Sales and account reps are too aggressive.
There are comparable products out there. Buy those instead. I signed up for this product . I had a hard time canceling my subscription because of the account reps. THIS PRODUCT IS NOT WORTH THE HASSLE. FYI - This product dried out my skin. I just wanted to be able to cancel my account without the hassle. It's just common courtesy and good business sense.

I tried Proactiv for the first time last night.  My skins feels better this morning.  I have very mild acne.  Most of my breakouts are caused by stress or my monthly cycle.  My skin mainly gets oily in the Tzone.  I was worried because when I have used facial masks my skin would turn red and dry out.  But my skin didn't seem to have a reaction.  I will continue using my 30 day trial and see how it works.  I would recommend it and I have only used it one day.

i have been using proactiv for about three weeks now, and it was working wonderfully, gradually, but i was still seeing results. However, now, ive gotten terrible breakouts worse than ever on my chin and upper lip. i dont understand how since ive been using the product religiously twice a day. im desperate to find an alternate solution.

I have been using proactiv long enough to learn a few things about how to work it for me.

1- wash your face with cool to lukewarm water   before your hot showers and not with hot water. Otherwise, you are opening up your pores to dirt and oil and it gets pushed into your skin.

2-You are putting chemicals on your skin that is damaged. My mom gave me the best remedy ever. Neosporin at night to heal my blemishes. It is greasy but it works friggin wonders with healing blemishes. I have these stubborn ones that never go away and they are going away now.

3- The toner needs to be diluted. Use a damp cotton ball to put the toner on. Problem solved.

4- Drying out your skin with chemicals can make it oily- your skin makes oil to replenish the moisture lost, Use an oil-free moisturizer with sunscreen over the treatment lotion.

     Proactiv is different for every skin type and so is acne. My acne is bad but it is slowly getting better. I don't think proactiv is the wonder acne cure. They tell you there is no cure for acne. Maybe after this goes away I can go get some scar treatment. Lucky my few scars are small, but I still want them gone.

Proactiv works wonders. I'm now nearly 22 years old, but I developed what would become moderate acne at 19. After trying dozens of over-the-counter products, I finally broke down and decided to give Proactiv a try. Before I go on about how well it works, let me paraphrase the FAQ on Proactiv's website:

You should notice visible results within 6 to 8 weeks. A complete clearing of your complexion will take 3 to 6 months.

This is absolutely true. I saw no improvement for about 8 weeks, and just as I was about to give up, I noticed that my breakouts were less frequent, and I could finally smile without my face hurting somewhere. So, I stuck with it, and in about 4 months, my complexion became perfectly clear. I mean absolutely clear. It was such a shock, in fact, that I thought maybe my whole acne problem was just a fluke. After I ran out of Proactiv I decided it would be safe to stop using it; let me tell you, this was a big mistake. I broke out worse than I ever had before, and over-the-counter products, again, weren't doing the trick. Finally I started to use Proactiv again, and it's working like it did before. I'm currently on month 3, and I haven't had a severe breakout in about 3 weeks.

So, here's the moral of my story: Proactiv does indeed work, but you MUST be patient. It will take a while for it to work, and your use must be consistent. But, believe me, it all pays off. Just give it a chance!

Im 14 and i have a family with a history of awfull acne. Proactiv cleared everything up in a month but in the first week my acne got worst but then everything dissappered. MOst of the people who claim proactiv doesn't work didn't use the entire system, used to much of the stuff. (it is very strong) or didn't WEAR SUNSCREEN! YOu need to constantly use the stuff and, it is a LOT cheaper if u have
it delivered then its like 30 bucks for a 2 month kit. MAKE SURE YOU USE THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND USE IT CONSISTANTLY read the directions!!!!!

I'm 14 years old and I've had acne since I was nine. I have been using Proactiv for about a year. When I first began to use it, I noticed my face was clearing up. I had never used a better product. But, my mom suggested that I try some treatments that were at local stores, I tried Acne Free, and Advanced solutions. They didn't work as well as Proactiv, but they did ok for managing my outbreaks. I feel more satisfied with my skin now that I'm using Proactiv again. I just wish that I wouldn't continue to break out, but I guess I do because of my oily hair. I would recommend Proactiv, but you may need to moisturize your skin. Don't over do it.

I had bad acne in High School, tried it, along with the antibiotic you get from the dermatologist, nothing helped. Proactive didn't do a thing.

I have suffered with acne for most of my teen and adult life. I have spent a fortune on products,and dermatologist visits..one being the head of the dept at a very prestiges hospital, and nothing worked. I would always wind up with painfully raw,flaky skin that would still break out and get oily no matter what I did. One night I bought Proactive. When I got it, I used it for a a week or so, and I did notice some difference, but was still frustrated and thinking I would have to send it back. But I kept with it, and to my disbelief,,my skin cleared up completely!!! All that time and money wasted but I finally found something that really worked. I kept waiting for it to be a fluke, and for the zits to come back, but they didn't. Yes, your skin will get dryer. If that happens, start it slowly..like every other day and work your way up to everyday, or twice a day. It depends on what your skin can handle. For me it was a walk in the park though, because I had already suffered so much worse over the years. My skin in now flawless. I started microdermabration to help with some of the scars. Luckily I did not have too many scars because I was always careful to not pick at my zits and popped them with a zit extacter instead of my fingers. I highly reccommend this product. If I had to choose between eating and proactive..lets just say I would rather live on peanut butter than to give this up.
Hope I helped someone. I know how upsetting acne is when no matter what you do you always have one zit on your face. Good luck!

Proactiv is total trash trust me..i had only 1 pimple every month..proactiv caused me to get tons...so stop using it while you still can its a waste of money and time..

I started using ProActiv about 2 years ago. I had mild acne and just wanted to get rid of it. Well, with CONSISTENT use, my skin was flawless. I only broke out the week before my period, and thats it. This past summer I ran out of product and decided to buy the competing brand, AcneFree. BAD IDEA. Well, within 2 months, my skin started flaring up, which I assumed was due to me not exercising anymore or wearing excessive amounts of sunscreen and sweating a lot, since it was summer. So I moved on to Murad. Didnt help. Skin got worse. Developed systic acne around my chin and jawline and forehead, which I have never had before. Sick of it all, I finally went to a Derm and was prescribed Doxycycline (an antibiotic pill) and Retin-A Micro. Being winter and never used these products, both of these prescriptions literally TORE UP my face. Such bad peeling, flaking, I couldnt even wear makeup it was so bad. So I went back and was prescriped Tazarac. Didnt help. After 6 months of bad BAD skin, 3 failed Rxs and a lot of pain, suffering, and embarrassment, I'm back on ProActiv. I was home and my dad commented on my skin, "Wow, you really have broken out" and I literally cried, got in my car, drove to the mall and bought Proactive from the kiosk. After just 2 days my skin is starting to look clearer than it has in 6 months. Proactive seems to work great with me, but every person is different. Its a matter of trying what works and what doesnt. Proactive has worked for me in the past, I should never have stopped using it.

Well now I'm afraid to try this stuff 'cause all of you had such bad experiences with it. What do I do?

So many bad reviews on this site, but I gotta tell ya: I have been using this stuff for 6 years, after suffering for YEARS with acne,and it is the only thing that works. For girls, wash your makeup off at the end of the night with a gentle cleanser, THEN use the exfoliating cleanser. I only use the products at night,and I have had amazing results. I noticed results after 1 week, and 6 years later, it is still the miracle I was looking for. I have recommended this to friends and family, and so far they are having great results as well.

So many bad reviews on this site, but I gotta tell ya: I have been using this stuff for 6 years, after suffering for YEARS with acne,and it is the only thing that works. For girls, wash your makeup off at the end of the night with a gentle cleanser, THEN use the exfoliating cleanser. I only use the products at night,and I have had amazing results. I noticed results after 1 week, and 6 years later, it is still the miracle I was looking for. I have recommended this to friends and family, and so far they are having great results as well.

Hello, This is my first time writing a comment and so here it goes. I had bought proactiv during my worst bout of acne to date and within a few days it had all dissapeared. It was a miracle. It does burn a little(especially with the toner) but if your skin can handle it i would advise you to get it

this garbage made my skin 100 times worse. it made my face extremely dry, i had flakes comming off my face. it made me get more pimples then what i had before using this junk. it turned my cheeks red from dry skin. and i started to form these strange types of dumps almost like an imgrown pimple that were very painfull.

Proactive really sucks...They should ban that product or something! It's a real scam. I've using that product for 2 months and I don't see any improvement in my acnes. They are still as dark as theyused to be. Yeah it did help me get rid of pimples, but not acnes at all. I just wasted my 2 months money on nothing as now I can't even return it back because they are refusing to pay the money back. Is that money back guarantee. Trust me guys it really sucks...if you are a current user or are going to use it, DONT. Its gonna lose you money, and most of all your skin. Trust me it ruins your face more than before. The else is all up to you.

I started Proactive as nothing was working on my skin. I had mild acne, and at first I liked the results. My skin was so soft, though, it took a few weeks before I noticed the acne disappearing. However, the acne improvements were only momentary and after two months the only results were that my skin was softer, but the acne was no better. I used the product exactly as described (amount, time, etc).

So, I sent my product back for they money back guarantee and recieved my money. However, I wish they would also send me back my pre-Proactive skin because once I stopped using the product my once mild acne turned into moderate acne. It is seriously worse than before I even used the product! Their site says you have nothing to lose b/c you get a money back guarantee. I didn't lose my money, but I did get worse skin. I would say don't even try this product b/c acne that you once thought was unattractive really can get worse.

I woudlnt recomment this product to anyone! this is a really expensive product and doesnt work what so ever. it just made my skin really greasy feeling and since it requires two different moisturizers it gave me the hard white bumps underneath my eyes that took months to go away! i think that the actors and actresses are paid to advertise this... really who would use this!?

I hate this stuff. If you have insurance go to a dermatologist and get some real acne treatment. My face looked significanly worse after 2 weeks. I returned it back and not I am on retin-a micro. My face is starting to look better from the retin-a.

IVe been using proactiv on and off from 2003 since i was 16 now i,m 19 and i used lots of other products noxezema,clean and clean neautrogena they only work to keep ur face clean but i dont think they ever get rid of pimples and please never try a benzyoyl peroxide product with more than 2.5% in it it really makes the skin dry but proactiv really does work for me it clears all the brown spots from the past pimples and the mask really whitens the blemish i love it it really gets rid of pimples but u have to keep using it daily not use it a day and leave it the next its like eating how u need food to make you have energy and survive thats proactiv to me i need it to make my skin healthy and clear without damaging it your skin may get dry for a few days but not really dry just use a good moisterizer with it i really like proactiv but the price is alot its like 17kd in kuwait but i dont know how much if i converted it to dollars but its the only thing that works for my pimples hope u give it a shot and remeber u need to use it day and night and daily and u need to wait nothing just happens overnight pateince is the key dont forget that

I just started using this product 3 days ago and i had a big pimple that was on my chin which seems to get smaller everyday. unfortunately i have little bumps on my cheeks and forehead that i did not have before. i called the customer service line to ask if this was normal and they said that this product works from the inside out and by seeing these little bumps means that they have been cleaned out from the inside so it is a good sign. she said it should only get better so im giving it a try. has anyone else had this problem before? if so, did the little bumps go away? and if they did, how long did it take? ( by the way, i do not have acne..just the occasional pimple or two, but i really wanted perfect skin. )

I noticed no effect on my face when using this product. It didn't make my acne worse...but it sure didn't help it either. Go to a dermitologist instead

hi there...

i haven't tried proactiv but i'm really tempted to try it, the infomercial sure can entice customers. Since i wanted to know more about this product i've searched the net and i found this site for the testimonials about proactiv. Thanks to this site, it was like an eye-opener for me. My sister persuaded me not to buy and think it over and finally I came back to my senses. This product may work for others but not for all.

I'd like to recommend to those who have acne problem (like me of course) to try Galderma products. THey're OTC and less pricey. What i'm currently using is Benzac AC facial wash and Benzac Gel...it has 5% BP and really really gentle on the skin. The gel helps a lot and really can prevent cystic acne. Hope this helps.

OK, there are a few things that need to be understood about the use of Proactive, or any other chemical acne treatment.
1) It should only be used on people who have real ance issues, not just bumps. It has a pharmicuetical grade amount of chemicals in it and shouldn't be taken lightly. It will irritate sensitive skin of any kind.

2) If you do have real acne issues, you have to use the system for 4 weeks in order to make it through the "purging" stage (where your skin gets worse). Since your skin cycle lasts about 28 to 32 days (that's how long it takes your new skin cells to reach the surface) there is no reason to use ANY product longer than 30 days. If you don't see better skin in 4 weeks dump it and find something new.

3)There is no such thing as your skin "getting used to it" If you have a really bad reaction right away, you're allergic to something in the product and you'll need to toss it.

4) Don't expect to find something to work on your acne over the counter. Real acne should be treated by a derm, or even better, an esticitan. They have access to products which are not sold over the counter.
Most acne treatment purchased over the counter have very high levels of alcohol, and fillers which actually make acne worse. By going to an esti. you can get instructions on how to care for your skin without the use of harsh chemicals that can potentially damage your skin.

5)If you use or have use Proactive and have experienced irritation, you can and should use a calming agent , like aloe juice, to help lessen the irritation and prevent scaring.

6) Finally, Benzoyle Peroxide and Retinol are not the only treatments for acne that work. Do some research and try to find natural ways to heal your acne. Remember that your skin is a reflection of what's going on inside of your body. "Garbage in, Garbage out. Stress, hormones, lack of sleep, pore diet, and dehydration are the major causes of skin problems. You may wish to consider a lifestyle change before wasting your money on dangerous chemicals. To get you started go to
http://www.thealoespa.com/AloeSpa/BotanicalScience. html and see what aloe and botanicals can do for your skin.

Okay, here is the deal with Proactive. At 17 I started to use Proactive because of occassional MILD breakouts. I continued to use it since it controlled my breakouts, didn't cure them but helped me maintain a clear face throughout most of the month. At 22 I decided to stop using Proactive. My skin was dehydrated, felt old and worn, even though I moisturized and avoid sun exposure. About 3 days after going off Proactive my skin broke out in cyst like acne; everywhere. I could not bring it under control no matter how hard I tried. The ONLY thing that helped was to go back on Proactive. I decided to go to my docotor and ask him what was going on. FIrst of all, due to the harsh chemicals proactive does overtime cause premature aging, just like sun exposure. Second, your skin will become dependant and addicted to the chemical base in Proactive. I am off Proactive for 5 months now, my skin is better but nowhere close to being clear. Proactive traps you in a cycle of NEEDING their product. Many people say you breakout because Proactive is not an acne cure, that is correct but the point is that Proactive does not return you to the problem skin you once had, your skin explodes in acne and cysts from the lack of the chemicals it became dependant on. Think twice about using Proactive, youll be stuck in a neverending cycle.

My adult daughter started using it last month. Within 2 weeks, I could see the Proactiv solution starting to work. Her skin got a little better each day. We both think the stuff is GREAT! I'm just sorry she didn't try it sooner.

My face has definitely gotten worse since starting Proactiv. I started the program 6 weeks ago. I heard the same thing, "Oh, it'll get bad at first." So, I waited and waited. Now........i wake up to big red painful cyst like pimples EVERY day.....new ones just keep coming. And they last a week! My skin looks terrible, feels terrible and I feel duped. I am very angry. I stopped using it 5 days ago. I have an appt to get a facial and start the Murad program for acne treatment. By the way, I never had bad acne, just little red dots on my forehead that I wanted to get rid of and the occasional chin pimple. NEVER like this! PROAVTIV caused my problems now!!!!!!!