I recently started using Proactive and now my face seems to be breaking out more! Why?

Answer 1

Proactiv Solution was created to treat mild to moderate cases of acne and may not be effective for people with severe cases.

Benzoyl peroxide, one of the main active ingredients, may cause dryness and peeling of the skin.

Some individuals may experience allergic reactions such as redness, itching, hives and swelling. Benzoyl peroxide may also cause increased sensitivity to sunlight.

Please find out everything about a product before using it, you can generally do it at wikipedia.

For acne, home-remedies are the best.

Answer 2

My daughter had the same reaction when she began using Proactive so I called the company. They explained that it's normal for the breakouts to get worse in the first 2-3 weeks. We decided to give it chance and I am so glad that we did.My daughter rarely gets a break out now and then only when she forgets to use the Proactive.

Answer 3

This sometimes happens when someone has a bad case of acne. Your skin is not used to the product and is just overreacting. Use only every other day and just lightly for now, then slowly increase until reach regular usage. If your face continues to react, then you are having some kind of allergy to the stuff and should see a dermatologist.

Answer 4

Skin tends to get worse before it gets better. Give it some time and it will start to clear up.

Answer 5

I know with some acne treatments, the acne gets worse BEFORE it gets better. So stick with it, unless it is irritating your skin.

Answer 6

You probably had an allergic reaction to it.

Answer 7

THIS WORKS FAST & CHEAP!!!
I used Tetracycline, Proactive, Retina A and had many expensive facials with less than good results. This has worked for me and many many other happy people.

Go to pharm., Drug store, or Wal-Mart, buy "PURPOSE" bar of soap - Blue box - Made by Johnson & Johnson - wash your face with this 2-3x's per day. Also pick up a LOW strength Benzoyl-peroxide cream, apply the cream by dabbing to the individual blemishes.... DON’T rub it in works using a oxidation/reduction reaction. It will unclog
dry it out and bring it to a head...DON’T over use this or put anywhere else on your face. It will cause drying and make you look worse.

Salicylates such as found in regular aspirin among other products work very similar but also remove layers of skin...other over the counter creams with this product will dry out pimples but maybe too hash and cause surrounding skin trauma.. I have seen many people recommending crushing aspirin and making a paste which probably will dry out the blemish but again pretty strong and probably will cause more tissue damage and bigger scars as an anti inflammatory probably would take the redness out... again pretty harsh for sensitive skin.

Also, If need which probably will for moisture ASK FOR "NUTRADERM lotion" - the original not the new stuff, this works great and wont clog pores or leave a residue on your skin...Any lotion that is completely oil free and hypo allergic should work but again I recommend Nutraderm. I have heard from people online that "Purpose" also makes a lotion that is good, Neutrogena, and Nivea make good products also. I recommend Nutraderm from experience and my dermatologist.

"Purpose Bar" & "Nutraderm" are oil free and hypo allergic they contain no perfumes and are great for both men and women. I have also heard great reports of this soap helping improve skin tone. Some people recommend the "Purpose liquid soap" saying
that the bar did dry out their skin some. The rational behind using the bar is that there are no ingredients in it that will clog pores, and according to dermatologists they recommend the Bar. I have also heard good responses from "cetaphil soap". These products are safe for all skin colors and tones. I highly discourage use of Proactive and other harsh chemicals for people with some natural color in their face due to the bleaching and drying effect it has shown in many many people.

Additional TIPS: acne, pimples, etc are frequently cause by a bacteria or hormone issues that cause clogging of pores. DON’T PICK POP POKE (your hands are the dirtiest part of your body) and will cause: infections, spreading of germs, more breakouts and scarring DON’T EVER listen to people online who tell you to scrub your sensitive skin or use harsh chemicals such as: Lemon juice, vinegar, alcohol, etc... DON’T EVER use that APRICOT CRAP!!! DON’T USE PROACTIVE- this is expensive and harsh it may kill the bacteria because also Benzoyl based wash but will irritate skin and cause bleaching of face and neck.... Other similar treatments may work.. Also things such as Accutane but have SERIOUS side effects such as Major Depression, & birth defects in unborn children, among others
If you wear make up make sure it is oil free, & hypo allergic...Eating healthy...Drinking plenty of water.. Changing pillow cases freq. ...avoiding dirty sports equip. such as helmets...can not hurt...Washing your face with first warm water to open pores and next a cool rise…
Acne/pimples again are caused by pores/hair follicles becoming plugged up, this plugging then causes an inflammatory reaction - redness and infection (pimple)..black head is dirt or old oil trapped in pore, while a white head is the same thing you just don’t see the dirt instead you see white pus (lymphocytes that accumulate in the area to fight the infection) It has been shown in many studies this most often not caused by what you eat (chocolate etc... or how clean you are) but most often by either excess oils plugging pores or a bacteria on the skins surface. - Proactive works in some people because it is a strong Benzoyl peroxide based washed but is most freq. to strong for people with sensitive skin - this is why alot of people get excessive drying and flaking, rashes, bleaching or breakouts from the product. Retina-A does decrease the bacterial growth on your face but also removes dead/living skin, this can work well in some individuals and has been shown to reduce wrinkles and scars but again I feel this is pretty harsh on sensitive skin prone to breakouts. If you choose Retina-A never use this product during the day only at night due to the sensitivity it will give you to the sun. You must also get a prescription for this product and I really don't believe it is worth the damage it does to your skin. Defferin is a very similar to Retina-A. In some rare cases for very deep/large boils and cyst types of pimples oral antibiotics maybe needed but I would first recommend trying "purpose" and a low dose "benzoyl-peroxide cream" along with a good oil free moisturizer "Nutraderm... etc" this does work well.

THIS WORKS FAST AND CHEAP!!! I no longer get expensive facials, take oral antibiotics, or even NEED makeup... I am very happy - Have very good skin... and have many many other happy friends... THANKS again to my WONDERFUL DERMATOLOGIST... TRY THIS!! GOOD LUCK.... PS. "PURPOSE" costs about $3 ---------------------------------------------
----PSSS---sorry so long I have to keep adding more information to this to address common questions that always being asked....

OK more additions to this here are 2 links to yahoo question and answers... given from people who used Alcohol and toothpaste to try to cure pimples:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AmzOIbplZR3F9am.9lClrzvsy6IX?qid=20070320000738AAGNkw4&show=7#profile-info-MykwsVrgaa

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AnI6PETXLwBFMhXf3GTNhRkAAAAA?qid=20070318151922AATb6bm&show=7#profile-info-cAExBdQdaa

TO SUM ALL THIS UP ********PURPOSE OR CETAPHIL FACE WASH 2 TIMES PER DAY - LOW STRENGTH BENZOYL PEROXIDE CREAM - A MOISTURIZER THAT CONTAINS NO OIL AND IS HYPO ALLERGIC SUCH AS NUTRADERM

Answer 8

Because your dermatologist misses you.
Go see him.

Answer 9

hahaha sucks for u cant help u there