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O/T: Acne Free (generic Proactive) Reaction

flipingout_6's picture

Just wanted to put it out there that if anyone is thinking about trying the Walmart brand proactive, acne free, be very careful. I am 26 and still break out like a teenager, and I finally decided to try something outside of my normal face regimen. I’ve used proactive, and the target knock off before with decent results, so while at Walmart I decided to try their knock off brand.

I used it Monday night and everything was fine. I used it again Tuesday morning. I noticed my face was red but just thought that I would cut back to only once a day, went ahead and put on my makeup and headed out the door. As the day progressed my face started itching and burning and putting off some serious heat. By the time I got home and took off my make up my face was bright red, a little swollen and burned like a SOB. I took some benadryl and went to bed at about seven.

I woke up this morning and my face is extremely swollen. My right eye is almost swollen shut! I couldn’t believe it. I use a benzoyl peroxide face wash once a day and have never had this reaction and I also use a benzoyl peroxide spot treatment and it has never messed with me before. I don’t know what the hell is in that acne free stuff, but it has tore my face up after only two uses.

Granted I have read reviews were people have tried it without this, just if you or your kids/skids plan on using this keep an eye out for early signs. I really hope this swelling goes down before tomorrow. I had so much stuff I had to get done today, but I will not be leaving the house! I guess that just gives me a chance to get some school work done earlier.

Has anyone else ever had a reaction like this? At least my face doesn’t itch and burn as bad as it did last night.

Comments

flipingout_6's picture

Im taking benadryl sally. It should do the trick, I thought I had some attarax laying around but I guess I am out. I just feel like the hunchback of notre dame lol.

flipingout_6's picture

Unfortunately ive tried that before. After three days with no soap on my face it looks like ive been wiping grease all over it and breakouts golare. Thank you though. I think im just going to have to switch back to my old stuff and cut down on wearing makeup. Damn face lol

Tuff Noogies's picture

i'm 37 and have always had horrible skin. i found out i react badly to anything w/ salicylic acid, which the majority of acne products have! i quit using anything but clean-and-clear continuous control, then switched to the walgreen's version. works great, just the occasional pimple. another thing that also helped was one thing a dermatologist told me many years ago - if i run out of my facewash (and i've been known to go weeeeks w/o it) liquid dial soap works great. just need to go heavier on the moisturizer, and exfoliate a bit more due to the mild drying effect.

u're skin may just need a break from the chemicals. if u cant use just water, you may want to try the dial!

flipingout_6's picture

Ill give the dial soap a shot, and then try that clean and clear. I dont have a reaction to the salycilic acid, it just dosent work. I wont be putting anything on my face tell the swelling and redness goes away though. Well maybe some unscented lotion I use for new tatoos.

You all may be right, my skin may just need a damn break. Ive become a.little.obsessed with skin care lately lol. Im starting to get dark spots and above my lip is becoming more and more discolored, throw in the breakouts on top if that and it feels like my face is in full on revolt. Lol

flipingout_6's picture

I would love to go to a dermatologist, but my insurance sucks and I cant justify spending money on it. One day I will have decent insurance and a good job lol. Some day.

flipingout_6's picture

Its pretty damn cheap too, I pay about nine bucks for a thing of face that lasts less than a month. And with that, if it dosent work for my face I can always use it as hand soap in the guest bath. Thank you! Im sick of these breakouts, I keep getting multiple pimples in the same spot and its starting to scar. (I know I shouldnt pop them but I cant bring myself to leave the house with a giant white head )

Cadence's picture

You're having an allergic reaction. Use nothing harsh. Stop washing your face at all, if you can. If you need to, just splash with lukewarm water and dab it dry with a soft cloth. Let your moisture barrier replenish.

If you want to treat it, get some diaper rash cream with zinc and rub it all over your face. I'm 100% serious.

I've struggled with spots my adult life, and am finally clear. You know what it took? Moisturizing and doing less. In my opinion, you are massively dehydrating your skin, and it is leading to more acne. This is what I was doing wrong. What I thought was oily skin was my skin reacting to me constantly drying it out with acne products. Now that I moisturize religiously, my face isn't nearly as oily. Less oil means less acne, too.

When you dehydrate your skin with drying products, you decimate your moisture barrier. This is the Western Unilever approach to treating acne, and it doesn't work. It may work for teenage acne temporarily, but it will always reappear. It is awful for adult skin. You need to do the opposite of what the companies tell you - nourish and encourage the layer of natural oil on your skin that protects it from dryness and bad bacteria. Without your intact moisture barrier, you become more prone to "bad" bacteria colonizing your skin. Your skin also freaks out and overproduces oil.

Okay, sorry, I got a little excited about sharing what I've learned. I'm just thrilled not to feel ashamed of my bare face anymore. Feeling confident enough to leave the house without makeup is a beautiful thing!

tlsdk's picture

I finally stopped my breakouts with good old fashioned, cheap, witch hazel. Miracle cure! It also worked for my 15 year old daughter. $1.50 a bottle, and I use it twice a day. Also helps with under eyes.