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Differin lost effectiveness after a while and in the beginning dried and irritated my skin like crazy.

Tazorac itched so badly and dried my skin out to the point of flaking. Still didn't clear acne.

Antiobiotics worked but the Dr. will usually only let you be on them for so long and when they are gone, the acne is back full force - plus some. Minocyclin started to give me hyperpigmentation too. (Any spot I did get left a dark mark)

Proactive irritated my skin more than it did anything else.

Zeno brought the zit to the surface quickly but otherwise didn't do much. Certainly didn't do enough justify the cost of the unit and the refills.

Drugstore remedies, even those marked as acne treatments often had comedogenic ingredients in them. The ones that didn't usually didn't have the proper pH level to do what it really said it would.

So, I moved on to internet research and found a few things that seems to be working pretty well. Here goes...

For washing, Neutrogena Gentle Face wash with a washcloth works well. Without the cloth it doesn't quite manage makeup removal. But it doesn't irritate, dry out, burn or anything else.

I found Paula's Choice online and started using her 2.5% benzoil peroxide every morning and evening. I alternate the 2%BHA with the 8% AHA in the evenings. I use the 2%BHA in the morning after the BP. They have sample sizes of stuff available for next to nothing.

When it's a bad time of month for my skin, making an aspirin facial helps out. Make a thick paste out of 5-6 aspirin and add a tablespoon of honey. Leave it on for 10-15 minutes and rinse off.

I still get spots during those bad times but it is still much better than it was, even with the drs. help. And, I'm not popping pills or using medications that did more to irritate my skin than anything else. My skin doesn't hurt or burn anymore and the spots I do have are pretty easily covered with makeup. (I could go on about that topic too but won't!)

Proactiv has absolutely no effect on cystic acne. It didn't help AT ALL. Try Bye Bye Blemish serum if you're looking for something. I'm 24 and have had acne since I was 8. I've tried almost everything there is and that is the only thing that has worked. It's very inexpensive and available as well.

It did not work I used it for both my daughters it irritated their skin worse and made it red and blotchy, then you have to join their club thing and they keep billing your credit card it was a nightmare, I found an awesome line Medicated Acne Treatment Products by Bee-Luscious Cosmetics the entire kit costs 193.00 but it lasts forever the only product you will refill on is the acne wash after 3 months but you get 8 awesome products and best of all no club and no worries about how they bill your credit card. My daughters skin cleared up in 10 days its amazing you can read more about it on beeroyalproducts.com

I don't have any experiences with Proactiv, but I did get great result from a medication called Roaccutane. I got it from my dermatologist and my skin has never looked so great.

I had terrific results with proactive, I never acne or zits, only an occasional small one. It worked great on my oily skin. But, I also have sensitive skin and after awhile it made my have a rash on my face! But, if you dont have sensitive skin i totally reccomend it!

really i never got any good results with proactive...it works a little i guess but really isnt worth the money to me because it hasnt really cleared up my face completely like ever and ive been using it for a long time..

it has minimal to no effect for me and my brother. i tried using it but i have sensitive skin so it just irritated my face makin it dry up and flaky and red. when my brother used it, it just took away some oil from the face but otherwise, the acne is still there. doesnt really help, might as well get the counter ones.

used it. My oily skin was much healthier and better looking after the first try (of the refining mask). Form there, I saw results in two weeks, and my skin was clear around a month. Now, I get lazy with it (use it every other day =X) and a get a few zits, but its WAY better then before.

welpp. Proactiv works extremely goodd. =) i had a pimple one day before picture day, and i pur Proactiv on it. And the next day it was not at all noticable. =)

it does really work, I know this sounds like a commercial, but nothing else ever worked for me, but within' 1 week , it was like it wasn't my face any more, yes it works! Its is worth the $30 dollars!