<p>Proactive does not work... I don't have much acne, but I have scars that I use RetinA for(but I think it is also a acne med, right?). I totally agree about the water and sleep... not only will it help your face, but it will help EVERY OTHER aspect of your physical and mental health!</p>
<p>Yes, Retin-A is an acne med. It's also effective against stretch marks. ^___^</p>
<p>try the acne bar from clinique, it works rather nicely.. I still get breakouts but more so around my period. I also use a topical.</p>
<p>Proactive didn't work for me AT ALL. In fact, it aggravated the acnes even more. Don't EVER trust TV commercials.</p>
<p>today i saw a commercial for this acne product; it was a spray and it was free (except for shipping and handling) ; anybody try it yet?</p>
<p>let me help reiterate
forget proactiv unless you want to try everything
there are little lifestyle habits you can work on as mentioned and whatever you try could have a minor temporary effect depending on how you implement its use
the only even remotely effective option is acutane but only for severe cases
everybody worries and complains about acne but a very small percentage of moderate sufferers actually find out they have a severe case of the disease
if theres a chance you have such a case you gotta look into it immediately
and youll find out that acutane has serious side effects some of which are not all that uncommon
there have even been various reports of chronic undiagnosable circumstances characterized by developmental attacks on the nervous system
like inexplicable localized permanent nerve damage of a debilitating nature
if you were to get a prescription from a qualified doctor not many have the time and interest to properly warn you
the general estimation is that you can survive a rigorous course of acutane completely unscathed without the slightest merely unpleasant of side effects 70-80 percent of the time
of course the absolute most serious side effects are very rare but theres a rather large gray area were dealing with concerning this drug
even after a lengthy course recurrent breakouts have been known to occur for as much as 35 percent of patients in some studies
some people will try anything to get rid of their acne but if youve got a hookup or something this is probably the last drug you wanna mess around with</p>
<p>if you have a few pimples and you need them gone pronto, put a dot of toothpastes on the pimple and go to sleep. Which you sleep the toothpaste will dry and suck the oil out of the pimple.</p>
<p>I took a drug called Accutane. Very powerful and even three years after I have stopped using it my acne is very minimal, although I do have acne scars and razor bumps. My mom's side of the family has lots of acne and overall bad facial complexions, so I needed something pretty strong. But Accutane does have some bad side-effects, such as depression and it may cause suidcidal thoughts. I experienced some depression but never anything about suicide. But the depression was worth it for me. The only time my acne ever cleared up on its own was when I spent a few days at basketball camp. It disappeared completely but came back in full force a week afterwards.</p>
<p>I too had to take the Accutane route. I'm cursed, as far as acne goes, on my mom's side of the family. Even after two rounds of taking Accutane (well, I took Amnesteem, the generic)I still get a few places pop up here and there, mostly when I've had a rough week or something.</p>
<p>Accutane is a really high-maintenance drug. I was at the drug store buying Blistex about once a week for my chapped lips and my nose sometimes bled like a faucet (swabbing it with vasoline in the morning would cut down on that, though). Also, I had to have my blood drawn once a month to check my lipid levels. For females, they have to take birth control and take a preg. test once a month due to the severe birth defects that can result from getting pregnant while on Accutane.</p>
<p>As far as depression goes...yeah. I never admitted it to the derm (in fear she'd take me off the Acc.), but I did experience some (but girl trouble around the time didn't really help things...heh...).</p>
<p>Don't use toothpaste, that stuff scars.</p>
<p>Just keep the face clean with Clearasil and warm water. Soap would work too, but it makes the face dry.</p>
<p>Yeah, I carry chapstick with me 24/7 still. Dry lips and dry skin around me ears are the side-effects of Accutane that haven't gone away. My Accutane-induced depression came at a bad time as well. I had senioritis and was going to the stress of filling out college applications.</p>
<p>Consider a type of deep cleaning facial. My dermatologist gives these, and I go about once a month. My insurance pays for it, so it's nice. </p>
<p>It's not like a luxury spa or anything, it only takes about 15 minutes. The dermatologist injects cortizon into any bump or pimple, and the swelling goes down in less than an hour. Also, she diggs deep into the pores of your skin to completely get out the oil and dirt. That keeps me pretty clear, and it's much better than accutane. </p>
<p>Also, tanning helps some too(even if it's fake). During the winter months, red pimples are more noticeable on really white skin(if you are caucasion). So, a little color really can even it out a little.</p>
<p>I really don't reccommend accutane unless it's a last resort. I don't think that the emotional side effects are too harsh, but it is known to increase cholestoral and speed up your heart rate. Also, it completely shuts down all oil glands in your body, so that explains the extreme dryness.</p>
<p>Pimples aren't worth it to take drugs. Wash it, dry it, move on.</p>
<p>"Pimples aren't worth it to take drugs. Wash it, dry it, move on."</p>
<p>Well...that's not really fair to say. Some people can't wash pimples away. I, for one, would have serious breakouts if I weren't taking a nicomide vitamin and using special face wash perscribed to me. </p>
<p>Accutane has some great side affects also. Most people who use it for 6 months are completely acne free for the rest of their life. I'm not joking. It really can change some people's lives. I just don't think it's for everyone.</p>
<p>"Pimples aren't worth it to take drugs. Wash it, dry it, move on."</p>
<p>I'm sorry, but I must disagree. When it comes down to you being self-conscious about appearence and what others see, it really can have an effect on you.</p>
<p>I also had to have to cortizone shots on some bad spots on my face...not very pleasant, but it got to the point where someting really needed to be done. Don't think the tanning would work on me...I'm the blondish/red, blue-eyed skin type...burn baby burn...</p>
<p>i use proactiv, and while it's not completely gone, it's improved alot. and the one who said wash it and move on should be shot. :D</p>
<p>some of my fiends have relly clear blemishless skins. im soo jealous.</p>
<p>Actually in response to the razor blade comment on the last page, since I started shaving on a daily basis (been about 4 years now) I have not had any real problems with acne. I get the ocasional pimple, but no huge breakouts like I had when I was 14-15.</p>
<p>I should be shot? Well, now, that's drastic. I was quoting Seinfeld. "Skin doesn't need a doctor. Wash it, dry it, move on!" But maybe you're a Friends fan.</p>
<p>HA, I made that last post in November 2004. This is quite an old thread.</p>
<p>Yes it is! I did not notice that this got brought back from the dead.</p>
<p>:D i did it on purpose. wanted to see who realised it. :) got a sudden rush of boredom, so i read cafe posts that were a year old. >.<</p>