Is anyone using this, or used it in the past? I started with it last week, and I have noticed that my skin is extremely dry. I bought their moisturizer, and it does not help at all. I have gone back to using my regular moisturizer, but I don't want it to cancel out the Proactiv and cause it not to work. On the other hand, my face feels like paper and I look like I have wrinkles because of the dryness. I was also wondering how Proactiv worked for others who have used it. I didn't have a problem with acne until I was pregnant with my older son who is now 8. The problem never went away! TIA!
Ann
My oldest DD had very slight acne problems until she started using Proactiv. She used it for at least 6 months to a year or so without a problem. It never totally cleared up her mild acne, but it didn't make her skin really dry either. All of a sudden, she started to have the same problem as you are describing.
She was following the directions exactly (and had not changed how she was doing anything). Her skin got extremely dry; feeling like paper was how she described it too. It was so dry that it hurt. She called and they said to continue using it, but be very careful to rinse her skin and to follow the steps (which she was already doing). She did ask if they had anything milder and they said they didn't, but if she continued using the products, her skin should improve. Then it got to the point that her face broke out in red blotches. When she called again, they said to cut down on the item (can't remember which it is) that had Benzoyl Peroxide in it, but otherwise follow the steps and use more moisturizer. She tried that and it didn't help.
At that point, I told her to stop using it because there was obviously something in it that she had become sensitized to.
She ended up being allergic to Benzoyl Peroxide (the active ingredient in ProActiv). Now if she uses skin preparations with even a small amount of Benzoyl Peroxide in it, her skin breaks out in painful red blotches. When she called to cancel the ProActiv, they were really trying to keep her using it. When she said she just wanted to cancel, they offered to send her a ProActiv product for sensitive skin (it is not on their website, the only way you find out about it is if they offer it to you).
She did not try that product and said she would not recommend ProActiv to anyone. When she started using it, she had mild occasional acne problems. After using it, she has some acne constantly and has some red blotches that do not go away. Plus, she has to read labels very carefully to avoid Benzoyl Peroxide.
I know some people are not allergic to Benzoyl Peroxide, but it is too strong (and drying) for them to begin with, so they have to work up to using it full strength. That might be your situation. If you get any red blotches though, I would stop using it right away.
