The Best Acne Treatment?

The fight against acne can be a difficult one and finding a product or method to reduce or eliminate these skin blemishes can be very time-consuming and expensive. There are so many pharmaceutical companies that develop and release new products to fight acne that it becomes overwhelming trying to figure out which product or treatment to use. One of those products is Proactiv® from Guthy-Renker. This article discusses various Proactive reviews, the product itself and independent testimonials to help you determine if it is the best acne treatment for you.

Our skin is constantly going through a process of shedding dead skin cells as new skin develops and producing oil to keep the skin moisturized. Acne develops when excess oil and the dead skin cells plug the hair follicle pores. This in turn, allows bacteria to grow behind the plugged follicle pore, which triggers inflammation and swelling. The result is an acne blemish. Cystic acne is a more severe form characterized by large red cysts that appear on the face, back or chest.

The Proactive Product

The 3 step skin care regimen begins with their Renewing Cleanser. This is an oil and soap free medicated exfoliating cleanser that kills bacteria with prescription-grade benzoyl peroxide.

Step 2 involves using the Revitalizing Toner, which is alcohol-free and contains glycolic acid to exfoliate dead skin cells. The toner also soothes and hydrates the skin using a botanical rich formula.

The final step is the Repairing Treatment which is a light, medicated lotion that kills acne-causing bacteria. It also contains benzoyl peroxide as the antimicrobial compound.

The Proactive Reviews: Best Acne Treatment?

The Proactive reviews and testimonials available from the manufactures website include comments from a user who claims after struggling with acne for 5 years and found no progress with over-the-counter products, that once she started using Proactive she started seeing a difference after just 3 days. In fact, there are quite a few Proactive reviews from users with before and after pictures. Some show quite a dramatic improvement.

Yet, other sites containing Proactive reviews appear to favor other products for their ability to fight acne. While scoring in the top 10 of tested products, Proactive scored 7th for overall effectiveness in one comparison. Murad Acne Complex and Exposed Skincare both scored higher in one of the reviews I researched, as did Dermagist and Acnezine in two other online Proactive reviews.

What might account for these differences? The truth is there are many factors that can lead to acne outbreaks on the skin, including fluctuations in hormonal balance, skin type, diet, and the use of cosmetics. Given this, it should be no surprise that the best acne treatment for one person may not work for another person. One thing I’ve learned from reading various Proactive reviews is that Proactive is more effective for sensitive skin, and is considered a more gentle treatment as opposed to an aggressive one. There are several acne fighting chemicals Proactive does not contain including Salicylic Acid (for unclogging pores), Sulfur (for drying sebum) and Azelaic Acid (for normalizing skin).

As you research further into the myriad of acne products available, it makes good sense to keep track of the active ingredients and their percentages within the medication. If an acne medication you are trying is not effective, try something with other or additional (or perhaps less) active ingredients. Be sure to consult a dermatologist should your acne become severe.