It's normal for benzoyl peroxide to burn or sting just a little bit when you apply it. Your skin may also get red and a little itchy. 1 This doesn't necessarily mean you're allergic to benzoyl peroxide. It's just a typical side effect, especially during the early stages of treatment.
Irritation usually begins to lessen after four weeks of continued, once-daily use. But if irritation is severe you should discontinue use and consult a health care professional. Using a gentle cleanser and moisturizer is strongly encouraged to decrease dryness and other signs of irritation.
Apply twice daily, morning and night. Treat your whole face. Apply a small (dime-sized) amount to dampened skin and gently massage with fingertips for 1 to 2 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Week 2: 80% of Proactiv+ users saw results after just 2 weeks. It's that fast! Your pores may start to appear smaller and your skin's texture is already becoming smoother. Week 3: You may notice any blemishes that arise healing faster.
Proactiv Solution® (for oily & combination skin with acne)
Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria and works hard alongside glycolic acid, an exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid that helps unclog pores.
Best for dry or sensitive skin: Proactiv+® Acne Treatment System. An ideal solution for dry or sensitive skin is the Proactiv+ Acne Treatment System. Start with the cleansing exfoliator to smooth away dirt, oil and dead skin cells.
ProactivMD is our prescription-strength retinoid that clears breakouts and helps restore clear, healthy skin. Our new Mark Correcting Pads helps fade the appearance of dark marks and scars left behind by past breakouts and is the perfect addition to any proactiv system.
“People should be aware that with most acne treatments, you may see an initial flare-up when starting treatment, as cell turnover speeds up. But skin should begin to clear up after the first few weeks. If it gets even worse, the products may be irritating the skin too much,” adds Dr. Cheung.
Proactiv's Blackhead Dissolving Gel is a 5-minute mask that dissolves blackheads, unclogs pores, absorbs excess oil, and removes acne-causing impurities. Salicylic Acid - This beta hydroxy acid (BHA) acne treatment clears pores of dead skin, oil, and debris, which helps unclog pores and minimize their appearance.
Whether you're a man or a woman, one of the best ways to treat hormonal acne is with a proven acne treatment system from Proactiv that can help both prevent and treat acne, breaking the acne cycle.
It's fine to use makeup as a way to cover acne, but we believe in the "less is more" approach. Use as few makeup products as possible and, ideally, the fewer ingredients in the product, the better. Makeup should be the last thing you put on your face.
Proactiv Solution Renewing Cleanser: Use this face wash twice a day, morning and night. Dampen skin, then massage a dime-sized amount gently into your skin for 1 to 2 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat dry. If bothersome dryness or peeling occurs, reduce application to once a day or every other day.
For some people, Proactiv does a good job of clearing up acne (or at least keeping it under control). But for others, Proactiv just isn't effective. The result you get is completely dependent on your skin and the severity of your acne. The more important question becomes whether Proactiv works for you.
It's normal for benzoyl peroxide to burn or sting just a little bit when you apply it. Your skin may also get red and a little itchy. 1 This doesn't necessarily mean you're allergic to benzoyl peroxide. It's just a typical side effect, especially during the early stages of treatment.
ProactivMD Essentials System + Teen Duo is recommended for all skin types and teens with mild to moderate acne. Our acne-treating retinoid Adapalene Gel 0.1% helps speed teen acne healing and prevents whiteheads and blackheads from coming back.
Salicylic acid can be helpful for all types of acne.” Salicylic acid is a go-to OTC ingredient for acne since it dissolves the dead skin cells in clogged pores, helping treat existing acne and prevent future breakouts.
Whiteheads are a type of acne (acne vulgaris). Oil and dead skin close off hair follicles or sebaceous glands (oil glands) and form a closed bump on your skin (comedo, plural comedones).
Proactiv Products for Blackheads
It is designed to soothe irritated skin and shrink the appearance of pores for a more radiant, glowing complexion.
ACNE TREATMENT GEL - The Proactiv Blackhead Dissolving Gel is gently formulated to dissolve blackheads, unclog pores, absorb oil, and deep clean pores of impurities that cause breakouts. GOODBYE PORES - Salicylic acid gel shrinks the appearance of pores for a more radiant and glowing complexion.
Proactiv(R) Solution Skin Lightening Lotion is specially formulated to help gradually fade skin discolorations caused by age, pregnancy, or oral contraceptives. Made with glycolic acid, it can help remove dead skin cells and refine the texture of your skin.
Adapalene is ideal for treating stubborn hormonal breakouts — and the redness and inflammation that often appear alongside them. It's our prescription-strength formula that works on a cellular level to clear skin, which helps restore even tone and texture.
As a pimple heals, your body sometimes produces cells with too much melanin in them to replace the damaged skin. This results in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which we sometimes just call a dark spot.
With that being said, Proactiv may be an effective treatment option for mild to moderate acne outbreaks and scarring. But it's not a miracle cure, and it won't work for everyone. According to its product description, Proactiv doesn't work on cystic or nodular acne. It's also not the best option for severe acne.
Proactiv+ is the result of a decade of research, extensive studies and input from thousands of Proactiv customers. It's a completely reimagined treatment that targets acne bacteria with speed and precision- clearing acne faster than ever- while at the same time gently nurturing your skin to a smooth, luminous radiance.
Best Proactiv® Products for Dry Skin
The third step in the Proactiv+ acne treatment system is the Complexion Perfecting Hydrator, a moisturizer for dry skin containing a proprietary moisturizing complex with omegas (oils) and hyaluronic acid, a powerful humectant able to hold hundreds of times its weight in water.