Benzoyl Peroxide question?

Question

I bought the Clean and Clear Acne Cleanser face wash which has 10% of benzoyl peroxide in it, but it did not help my acne at all. So i was thinking of trying Proactive that also has benzoyl peroxide in it but it only has about 2.5%. If the Clean & Clear face wash did not work for me then does that mean that Proactive wont work either??

thanks :]

Answer 1

Iam a Registered Nurse and I specialize in skin care and teen acne.

In my experience of 12 years alot of commercial store bought products DO NOT WORK! They often contain too much benzoyl peroxide which tends to over dry your skin which causes irritations.

Most of my patients are teenagers and I deal with acne problems and in 12 years most of the products out there have not helped.

PLEASE READ THIS WITH YOUR MOM if you are under 18, I have a great solution for you!

Your question is very broad and you need to get professional advice. I will explain why it's a broad question!

Your age plays a role! How old are you? Do you always have breakouts?

However, acne can result from several factors such an increase in hormone levels. In males testosterone or androgens. In females, androgens respectively. The increase in androgen levels can stimulate the oil glands to become enlarged and thus more oil production is produced. An increased oil production can clog the pores with oil or sebum ( white thick substance) which cause the cell walls of the pores in the skin to breakdown. This process allows bacteria to form and thus breakouts develop.

Genetics may also be a cause. It is a myth that greasy food or chocolate causes breakouts.

However, using make-up sponges that are not changed or washed often can contaminate the pores with bacteria which may develop into acneic breakouts.

If you are a teenager ( which I assume that you are) your hormones play a definite role in your breakouts.

If you have severe breakouts than you might need medication. There are many factors.

The most important thing is that you need products that are AGE APPROPRIATE! Every age group has different products appropriate for them. If you are young than you need milder products as to not dry out your beautiful young skin.

The problem with commercial skin products is that they are manufactured for MASSES OF PEOPLE and are not specifically made for different peoples' needs.

Your skin type is different than mine and your age differs from mine so how is it logical that we both use the same skin product for breakouts. We need different strengths of cleansers and toners. Do you kind of understand what I am getting at?

Here is my STRONG SUGGESTION for you. I refer all my students and patients to this website:

www.aboutyourskincare.com

You need to consult with professionals and on this website YOU CAN ASK QUESTIONS FOR FREE AND A SKIN EXPERT/PHYSICIAN WILL ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. It would be a shame if you dont take advantage of this free service.

Lastly, they have incredible products for breakouts and they make them specifically for every kind of skin type. That means that if your breakouts are more severe than mine, than while we both will buy the same product yours will have stronger ingredients than mine will.

They have a mild glycolic acid cleanser that's great for your type of skin and also a DRYING LOTION ( I have 3 bottles) that you put directly on your breakouts and the next day it's gone. It's truely magic in a bottle.

A basic guideline for properly taking care of your skin is this ( now if you're a young girl you will need fewer products than this):

Night time:

1. Exfoliate the skin

2. Mild Glycolic Acid Cleanser

3. Mild Glycolic Acid Toner ( cleans off the excess debris and balances the PH level of the skin).

4. Drying Lotion used only on breakouts

5. Moisturizer

Morning:

1. Mild Glycolic Acid Cleanser

2. Moisturizing cream

The above is a standard you may need to only use one or two products. Visit: www.aboutyourskincare.com

As I suggested and click on the ASK FOR FREE section send them an email and you will get free expert skin care advice.

Good Luck to you,

Michelle

Answer 2

hmm well i just got some new stuff. called panoxyl i believe. i got it from rite aid/ or cvs. so it seems good so far? good luck  

Answer 3

I use that face wash & it works great for me--are you sure you gave it enough of a chance?

I use it when I get up and when I go to bed, and I use plain yellow Dial bar soap in between (it is antibacterial).

It took about a week to see improvement, and in 2 weeks I was completely clear.

Answer 4

Hmm, don't rush it.. Give it some time so that the product can actually absorb in your skin.... Don't be afraid if it's causing more acne.. just wait till it absorbs in the skin so that it can actually work....  Same with salicylic acid and other products; give it time to absorb in the skin.

Answer 5

Benzoyl peroxide helped me but it won't help all people. If the 10% didn't work for you, I wouldn't try proactiv. You should try salicylic acid which is the other over the counter acne treatment that's common. If that still doesn't work then you should see a dermatologist because you will probably need something stronger than what over the counter can provide .  

Answer 6

Don't get proactive it's too expensive and products that are better than proactive are much less aand you can get it at wal-mart. Too me benzoyl peroixde is better in a cream form. Get the Clearisil Ultra Cream Vanshing Acne. It worked miracles for me lol. Just leave it over night put it on when your going to sleep and wash it off in the morning. It may sting a little at first but then after that it gets better