STORM2K

Does anyone here use Proactiv? If so, can I ask you a few questions?

http://www.proactiv.com

1. On a monthly basis, is it very expensive ($100 or more)?

2. Does it really work?

3. If it does, does it work better than medications/creams a Dermatologist would prescribe?

My oldest daughter is in college now and routinely forgets her acne meds. She's low on refills, the Dermatologist I know will want to see her again. That means mid-May when Nina's back in town for a long stretch of time. And quite honestly, when she takes the diuretic, 2 antiobiotic pills a day and uses topical Differin cream, it does a fair job treating her acne. But it all doesn't eliminate it or keep it in check. I keep reading that Procativ does.

I'm considering trying it, for her. Unless it's extremely expensive. If it's all truly a 3 step facial cleansing system, she can easily do that in her dorm.

Thanks so much!

Mary

My daughter uses it. I think it's about $45 every 3 months or so and yes it does seem to help. One of your local malls may have a kiosk selling it...they do at Mall of Louisiana.

You're kidding, right?

Only $45 every 3 months? OMG, we can definitely swing that. Heck, our copays last year with Humana were between $30 and $50 for each prescription!

I think I might just order it and surprise her. It will just show up at her dorm. I feel bad for Nina, she inherited severe acne from her dad. He had it bad too, he said. Now me, I had it so mild that I could use Noxema to keep it in check. Fast foward to age 50, and well, it's a whole new ballgame for me (but not like what Nina is experiencing). I'm keeping mine in check with a new product Nutragena came out with called One Spot. I tend to break out now all around my mouth/chin area. But if I put this product on after washing my face, twice a day I don't break out much. When I do, if I just complain a tiny bit, Nina sighs and says - welcome to my world.

Thanks for your feedback!

Mary

I've never used it, but I've been tempted.

I can't stand the fact that I still breakout like a teenager - I want to still look like I did when I was a teenager! LOL!

I use the Neutragena Anti-Wrinkle, Anti-Blemish face wash. During the summer time I also use an astringent because my face gets so oily. I do have large pores. I don't wear foundation in the summer either, only in the winter.

My wife uses it and loves it, the difference in her skin was noticable and very soon after she started using it.

This is me getting in touch with my metro-sexual side!

nholley wrote:My wife uses it and loves it, the difference in her skin was noticable and very soon after she started using it.

This is me getting in touch with my metro-sexual side!

Maybe I should edit the title of this thread!

Thanks nholley, for the male perspective!!!!

Steph - feel for ya......this past year I've had such an increase in acne I was starting to get scars from breakouts. Until I started using that On the Spot cream (a milder form of benzol-peroxide). Even though I'm breaking out, my skin is still as sensitive as it ever was.

Mary

I've been using the Acne Free products for about 2 months... the cost is only $29.00 for a 3 months supply...i get mine at Cost Co. I have adult acne really bad and this stuff is comparable to Pro Active and it is alot cheaper and works just as well. My friend Kebra started using Acne Free and I noticed the difference in her skin right away, that's why i bought it.

http://www.acnefree.com/

Stephanie wrote:I can't stand the fact that I still breakout like a teenager - I want to still look like I did when I was a teenager! LOL!

I know what you mean. I always thought there would be a least a couple of years between the zit stage and the wrinkle stage where I would be content with my skin! O well!

Thanks for that link HG!

Yeah, right now I have a third "eye" that's sitting right under my left eyebrow. I'm still waiting to see if it will be blue, green or brown like my other two!

LOL @ third eye!

What I hate is when I get a cold, my nose becomes red and raw. And then takes days to clear up. Meaning, look normal. I don't know if that's acne related but I figure it's another aspect of my wacky skin. I have eczema on my hands too. Let's just never I could never have made it as a hand model!

My mom says my skin has always been this way. I was sickly as an infant, allergic to milk and dairy for the first 3 years. Wool made me break out, terribly. I can wear wool sweaters but I have to first have on a long sleeved or turtleneck T underneath.

And now I'm in that oh so fun Perimenopausal stage. I think that's why I'm breaking out again. It's been good lately but for a while there I could almost watch them erupt, every 15 minutes it seemed like!

Mary

And now I'm in that oh so fun Perimenopausal stage. I think that's why I'm breaking out again. It's been good lately but for a while there I could almost watch them erupt, every 15 minutes it seemed like!

Yeah, I think that's it for me as well.

During the winter I'm usually alright (except for the third eye), because my face does dry out from the cold, dry air. It's once the humidity picks up boy I'm screwed!

A friend of mine has used it for a long time and I've seen a DRAMATIC difference in her skin. Also, the number of outbreaks which were numerous before are nil.

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Maybe I should edit the title of this thread!

Thanks nholley, for the male perspective!!!!

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I saw the title, and posting here kinda felt like going into a ladies restroom!!

Whoops - wrong door! LOL

No, it's perfectly okay that you responded nholley! Thanks for the feedback.

When I have a moment, I'm going to order this for Nina. She's mentioned it a few times. Much easier than trying to get her back in town for a Dermatologist's visit. And then reminding her umpteen times to take her acne meds.

Mary

Mary... Acne for me was bad growing up... just not as bad to prescribe acne meds.

I've given up on the OTC allergy solutions. Right now, I actually use Philosophy's Hope in a Jar cream and Purity solution. Ironically I've seen dramatic differences in the before and after.

Unfortunately, its a little more expensive than Proactiv. Hope in a Jar is $35 for 2oz jar (it was mentioned on Oprah's Favorite Things). Purity is $20 for 8 fl oz bottle. Usually I make the bottle last 3 months.

My daughter used Proactiv throughout her college years and was very satisfied with the results.

I hate to sound like doom-and-gloom, but not all acne-like problems disappear with the end of the teen years. I took antibiotics for young adult acne. Then, when I turned 50 , my face began looking horrible again. My dermatologist diagnosed a form of rosacea, prescribing tetracycline (antibiotic) and an extremely expensive medicated skin cream. Once my skin was under control, I stopped with the daily meds routine and basically only use them when hints of a flare-up occur. So here I am at nearly 56 still fussing with my face...

Stephanie wrote:Thanks for that link HG!

Yeah, right now I have a third "eye" that's sitting right under my left eyebrow. I'm still waiting to see if it will be blue, green or brown like my other two!

No problem Steph.. this stuff has really helped my face clear up.