Acne Issues

Proactive and Arbonne both wrecked my skin. I gave them both ample time...they just didn't work for me.

I found that the most important things are:

1) Use a gentle, no scent soap. I use Neutrogena's anti-aging foaming wash for sensitive skin. It has NO scents and takes makeup off. Don't over wash.

2) Exfoliate every other day. I buy the cheap washcloths from Walmart that have cotton towel on one side and a loofah-like stuff on the other. I gently soap my face and neck and then use the loofah side. GENTLY!

3) Moisturize as soon as you get out of the shower. I use Neutrogena's anti-aging cream with SPF 15 for this. My skin is SOOOO soft.

4) Finally, use only natural makeup. I use Bare Minerals and have for years. It's the best. Now, the only time I break out is just before my period...and that's just one or two pimples.

Don't bother with astringents. They irritate dry skin.

Have you asked your doctor? I am pretty sure you are not the first woman to get acne while pregnant. :) They might even know why you are reacting to the proactive like you are.

I got a lil acne issue with my second pregnancy.
An usually has something to do with what your eatN and your hormones while pregnant. Could be.the change of your diet. Mines was. :-/

Best Wishes!!! :-)

Proactive work miracles on my sister, but hurts my daughter skin.
In fact everything was to harsh for her skin, I finally got her Boscia and it has help her a lot and not stink at all.
On my side I had acne my whole life, things would work for a while and then stop (other not even that) after having my second child I had clear skin, I only get a pimple when I am in my period, I think it was hormonal and my last pregnancy change that, then again I was always a size 0 and now I am size 4-6, so is a give and take, lol.

When I tried proactive it did the same thing to my skin. I can't use anything with Benzoyl Peroxide. It causes my acne to become cystic. The best thing I can do for my skin is to keep it really well exfoliated.

I finally went to see a dermatologist and what he had me on also caused my skin to dry out and flake really badly, but he said that's what was needed to clear it up and that I would have to live with it for a bit. I assume that's getting a lot of dead layers of skin off.

Sacylic Acid works wonders for me, but it needs to be limited during pregnancy. A daily facial cleansing scrub does seem to help.

I would typically describe my skin as sensitive and the exfoliation only helps instead of hurting (which would be logical).

Also, Bare Minerals caused me to break out more. Our skin is so different from one another's - what works for one won't work for another. There are so many varied reasons we get acne, just keep trying things until you see it clear some.

It's the hormones. Proactive is nice just be careful with how much Benzoyl Peroxide you use. If it's drying your skin out use less and/or every other day. Plus, the PPer is correct you should also use a good oil free moisturizer.

Other tips
Don't touch your face (I am guilty of this)
Wash your pillowcases in hot water and change often
Clean your phone with vinegar or rubbing alcohol in the mouth part
Use a clean wash cloth to gently wash your face
Make sure your foundation/powder is oil free
Put a humidifier in your room
drink lots of water

The only thing that helped me with acne was Bare Minerals. However since you are going through hormone changes it will be hard to clear it. I would just wait until your bundle of joy gets here. It will be only 10 short months-maybe less now :)

Give Proactiv some time. I swear by it! It took about a month to clear my skin completely. And get a really good, oil free facial lotion. Good luck!

you've gotten good advice, just wanted to add, pay attention to your diet. For me,when I get flare ups, I always realize I've been eating too much sugar, and then cut myself off, works every time :) Also make sure you are getting planty of water, fruits and veggies. Sounds like a no brainer, but it works :)

Be in touch via email ____@____.com and let's talk.

I went through something similar when I was pregnant with m first. I generally have good skin but he made my face and back break out to high hell!! I tried proactive Also with no luck. The one thing that worked for me was Dr Murad acne skin complex- I think that's what it is called. It's a whole system like proactive. I still use it now cause it made my skin so much better and I never had the breakouts when prego with my second. It does have salycic acid I think in it but in such small amounts 2 different ob's told me it was safe to use. It can be a little $ but they have the started kit to try. I highly recommend it. They sell it at sephora if u have one near by. Otherwise you can order it. Good luck and congrats!!

Is Proactive even safe to use while pregnant? I had a friend who used Proactive and it worked wonders on her skin, but her doctor advised her to stop using it when try to get pregnant and while pregnant. I would double check and make sure it is okay to use. Good luck.

Forget the pimple meds. I had used prescription Retin A once and my nose wound up red and shiny. It was damaged by the Retin A and the pimple still was there. I wound up using an old Indian remedy, which really worked.

Indian remedy: Wash face, mix 1 egg yolk, put the egg yolk on your face for 10 min. and wash if off with a non-drying face cleanser like Noxema. (The egg yolk acts as a face mask and the natural Retin A and vitamin in in the egg yolk heals the skin and gets rid of the pimples.) Be sure to wash you hands and use a nail brush when you're done, since your pregnant.

Chinese remedy: (Just in case you're interested in another idea, I never did this one.) Wash face, peel a cucumber and puree it to resemble a paste, use it as a face mask and wash it off. (They believe that pimple are caused by heat and the cucumber cools it, and that you shouldn't eat any hot spice food when your breakout starts.)