Proactiv Solution Cure For Acne 2007 2008 - TEEN ACNE TREATMENT - ACNE SKIN CARE - CLEAR PORES MEDICATION - FACIAL ACNE CREAM

Proactiv Solution is a revolutionary, dermatologist-developed Combination Therapy® system that helps the skin heal the blemishes you have now - and helps stop new ones from forming - in three quick, easy steps.

Renewing Cleanser

This unique oil-free formula contains smooth, tiny grains to gently exfoliate dead skin cells and other impurities, plus prescription-grade benzoyl peroxide to penetrate pores, attack bacteria and heal blemishes fast.
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Revitalizing Toner

This refreshing, alcohol-free toner removes dead skin cells, unplugs pores and helps remove excess oil so your skin looks and feels refreshed. Soothing botanical agents gently balance your skin tone.
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Repairing Lotion

Our light, oil-free lotion contains finely milled prescription-grade benzoyl peroxide to heal blackheads and blemishes and helps prevent future breakouts. The advanced delivery system in Repairing Lotion is soothing and safe for your entire face.

You're not to blame for your blemishes - but you're also not a helpless victim. You can help your body win the fight against acne by giving it what it needs to stay strong and healthy. Just follow these simple daily rules, and you may find your good health reflected on your face - for everyone to see.

While diet doesn't cause acne, a balanced diet can help give your body the tools it needs to fight bumps and blemishes. Don't skip breakfast - it jump-starts your metabolism to give you energy throughout the day. In general, choose fresh fruit over french fries, and balance your meals with foods from all four groups. You should also drink at least eight glasses of water every day - more if you exercise.

A cleansing routine is essential for maintaining a clear complexion. Gently wash your face twice a day to remove excess oil, bacteria and dead skin cells. But remember, since acne isn't caused by dirt, overwashing won't help - it's more likely to dry out your skin, causing it to produce even more oil. So limit yourself to two daily cleansings…and once you've found a routine that works, stick with it!

While it's true that small amounts of sun exposure may initially improve acne, don't be fooled; the benefit is temporary. Consistent sunbathing will dry your skin, causing it to produce more oil and slough old cells more frequently. Combine the extra oil and extra dead cells, and you create the ideal environment for blemishes. So it's important to wear sunscreen (at least SPF 15) every day, even if it's cloudy.

A good night's sleep (7-8 hours) can do wonders for your complexion. How? A healthy, well-rested body has the resources to build a strong immune system. While a robust immune system won't prevent acne altogether, it can help fight infection so your lesions clear up more quickly.

Movement improves circulation and helps you relax, reduce stress and increase your energy level. Your skin benefits from an increase in blood flow achieved by a higher heart rate and oxygen level in the bloodstream. If you are prone to body acne, wear loose-fitting cotton clothing when exercising.

All makeup, even those advertised as oil-free and non-comedogenic, can clog pores. It's best to wear as little makeup as possible, and make sure to remove all makeup before you exercise, or before you go to sleep.

When you become tense, your adrenal glands flood your bloodstream with the hormone cortisol, triggering the sweat glands in your face to produce more oil. So it's important to take time out of every day to relax - read a book, take a bath, practice yoga, or do whatever makes you feel happy and calm. It's an important step towards overall good health…and in turn, the health of your skin.

Acne is the most widespread skin condition in the world - yet there are still many misconceptions clouding public awareness about it. These "myths" are passed down from a friend or family member... reinforced by advertising... even published in magazines. For those who suffer from persistent breakouts, these little seeds of misinformation can blossom into a bigger skin problem. Following are some of the most common myths... use this list to test your knowledge. Because the more you know about acne, the more you can do to fight it.

Acne is caused by a number of factors - but dirt isn't one of them. Blemishes form when dead skin cells mix with your body's natural oil, forming a plug in your pores. This has nothing to do with dirt, so frequent washing of your face or body (more than twice a day) will not make your acne better. Overwashing or stripping with alcohol in an effort to "clean" your skin can actually make blemishes worse.

No, those french fries you had yesterday didn't give you new zits today. In fact, scientists have been unable to find ANY substantial connection between diet and acne. So all the foods you've been afraid of - pizza, french fries, chocolate - are fine. So use your common sense, but don't be afraid to indulge every now and then.

Unfortunately, acne can strike at any age. Over 85% of all people 12-24 have acne. Acne can also start as late as ages 20s or 30s...especially in women, whose hormones are constantly fluctuating. It's estimated that one in four adults between the ages of 25 and 44 experiences acne, and nearly half of all adult women experience mild to moderate acne.

Untreated acne can leave permanent physical and emotional scars. No matter how old you are, it's important to start treating breakouts early. And the best way to treat breakouts and blemishes is to prevent them from appearing in the first place.

Since blemishes take 2-3 weeks to develop, you're treating an old symptom of the problem rather than the problem itself. The best way to treat acne is to help stop the blemishes from developing in the first place - which means treating the whole face or area every day, even when you aren't breaking out.

Yes, acne does affect the way people look - it's not a serious threat to a person's physical health. But it can also affect the way you feel about yourself and the world around you, causing low self-esteem and even depression. Don't let anyone discourage you from seeking treatment because your acne is just "a little problem."

Wrong...the "Bronze Age" is over! While small amounts of sun exposure may initially improve acne, continuous sunbathing often increases plugging of the pores - producing comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and small pimples. Ultimately, the risks of sun exposure outweigh its minimal benefits.

Not yet...but don't lose hope. Acne can be prevented and controlled with continued daily use of products, such as Proactiv® Solution, which contain powerful acne-fighting ingredients. And remember this: Even if your blemishes go away, your acne is not cured. It's important to be diligent about your treatment plan, even after your skin is clear.

When most of us think of acne, we think of adolescence; pimples go hand-in-hand with puberty and all its bother some bodily changes right? Wrong. While teenagers do make up the largest percentage of the acne-afflicted population, they're not alone in their suffering. Acne strikes adults, too - more than half of all adult women and about a quarter of adult men. And these figures appear to be climbing. As the world begins to wake up to adult acne, it's becoming clear that the psychological, social and physical effects of this condition don't diminish with age.

It's difficult to know for sure exactly why adult acne seems to be on the rise. One study found that the mean age of patients treated for acne had increased significantly over the course of a decade, from 20.5 years to 26.5 years. This could mean one of two things: Either more adults are getting acne, or more adults are seeking treatment for their acne. One can make a compelling case for either statement — but most likely both are true. While some recent studies have suggested that incidences of adult acne are increasing, others suggest that adults (particularly women) are simply more concerned about their skin than they used to be.
Whether one's acne persists through adolescence into adulthood or strikes suddenly after 30, the condition can have lasting physical and psychological ramifications. Dermatologists have known for many years that adult acne is more likely to leave permanent physical scars; as the skin ages and loses collagen, it's much harder for it to bounce back after tissue damage. Psychological scarring is much harder to trace. For many years, the prevailing perception was that older acne patients were less affected by their condition than younger patients, having accepted its symptoms as part of life. Without a visible peer group, many of these people felt too ashamed to step forward to get treatment. Adults with acne found themselves suffering silently — and most importantly, privately.



Two recent developments suggest that public perceptions are changing. Dermatologists have reported an increase in the number of adult patients coming to them for help. As the world's awareness shifts to include adults in the group of acne-afflicted people, more adults are coming forward with their skin problems. Bolstered by this fact, today's adult acne sufferer is learning to be proactive. Not surprisingly, these new attitudes are reflected in the product market. Both prescription treatments (including oral contraceptives) and over-the-counter acne products have experienced an increase in sales. Also on the rise: Hope.

As we begin to recognize acne as a condition for all ages, we can find better ways to fight it. Doctors, like everyone else, are beginning to see acne as an adult problem. With reported cases of adult acne on the rise, doctors will be considering the special causes and unique effects of this condition on older patients. And as public awareness increases, more people are likely to consider seeking treatment — and take the first steps toward an acne-free existence.

Acne can't be cured, with or without a prescription. Even after blemishes disappear, you must continue to use an effective acne treatment to keep new blemishes from forming. Our expert dermatologists have created a breakthrough way to treat acne safely and effectively. Combination Therapy® uses several different medicines in one system to heal the blemishes you have now and help keep new ones from forming.

Renewing Cleanser
Tiny, smooth grains unclog the pore and help remove dead skin cells. Benzoyl peroxide penetrates deep to attack bacteria.Revitalizing Toner
A gentle alcohol-free formula helps to balance skin tone and remove dead skin cells, while preparing the pore for the Repairing Lotion.Repairing Lotion
Finely milled benzoyl peroxide penetrates deep into the pore to attack bacteria, healing existing blemishes and preventing new ones from forming.
How Acne Happens >>

Proactiv Solution is a Combination Therapy® acne management system - it combines prescription-grade ingredients in a system that works together to heal and prevent acne. Developed by two Stanford-trained dermatologists, this unique acne fighting system combines finely milled benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, and our special formulation. These ingredients gently exfoliate your skin, unplug your pores, attack acne-causing bacteria, and soothe inflammation.

Many of the acne medications you buy at the store are "spot treatments," designed primarily to get rid of existing acne, one pimple at a time, with harsh creams that can cause redness or irritation. Gentle and effective, doctor-developed Proactiv Solution is designed to be used on the whole face (or acne-prone area) every day. It gets rid of existing acne - and proactively helps prevent future breakouts before they even surface on your skin. And since it's formulated with soothing botanicals like allantoin, panthenol, aloe and chamomile, it leaves your skin feeling healthy and hydrated... instead of dry and flaky.

Proactiv Solution's unique formulations work together to knock out acne in 3 easy steps:

Renewing Cleanser: gently exfoliates your pores and allows the benzoyl peroxide to penetrate.

Revitalizing Toner: helps unclog your pores and remove dead skin cells.

Repairing Lotion: allows delivery of benzoyl peroxide deep into your pores to attack acne-causing bacteria at the source.

Proactiv Solution also offers a Refining Mask that boosts the effects of your 3-Step System. This cool, soothing formula includes sulfur to refine pores and help heal existing acne more quickly. Work it into your skin care routine 2-3 times per week for even more acne-fighting power!

The most important thing to remember about acne is: It's not your fault. Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by anything you're doing - what you eat, how often you wash your face or work out - but by a combination of factors at work far beneath the surface of your skin. The regularity with which you shed skin cells can change throughout your life. Your hormone balance affects the rate at which you produce oil. Research has also shown that genetics play a big part in the development and persistence of acne, so your family history is a valuable prediction tool as well.
You're not alone: About 90% of all teenagers develop acne. Acne is starting at even younger ages today as puberty begins earlier. Acne may also start as late as the 20's or 30's, especially in women whose hormones are constantly fluctuating. It's estimated that 1 in 4 adults between the ages of 25 and 44 experiences acne, and nearly half of all adult women experience mild to moderate acne.
There's still no cure for acne, with or without a prescription. The secret to controlling acne is PREVENTION - stopping the formation of acne before it becomes a visible pimple. To avoid the risk of permanent scars, it's important to treat acne as soon as the first signs appear. Even after blemishes disappear, you usually must continue to use an effective acne treatment to keep new blemishes from forming. Proactiv Solution is safe and effective for everyone, and it can help prevent blemishes from becoming a larger problem.
For most forms of acne, Drs. Rodan and Fields prefer topical medications. They may prescribe antibiotics for inflammatory nodular and cystic type acne, and Accutane for more severe cases. Oral antibiotics and Accutane don't cure acne - like topical medications, they gain control of the problem.
Please keep in mind that Accutane is the strongest oral medication available for acne and often can make a dramatic difference. But it may have severe side effects, including depression, liver damage and birth defects if taken during pregnancy. Patients must be under a dermatologist's supervision for the 5-month course of treatment.

Proactiv Solution can heal your existing acne, and help stop new blemishes from forming. Its mild formulations gently exfoliate your skin, remove excess oil, and deliver powerful acne-attacking medicine. Proactiv Solution works alone or; when following your doctor's advice, in combination with a dermatologist's prescription.

All acne begins with one basic lesion: the comedo, an enlarged hair follicle plugged with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria. Invisible to the naked eye, the comedo lurks beneath the surface of your skin waiting for the right conditions to grow into an inflamed lesion. As the skin continues to produce more oil, bacteria flourish within the swollen follicle. The surrounding skin becomes increasingly inflamed as your white blood cells fight against the intruders.

Though all pimples start the same way, they can take many forms and may react differently for different people. Please note that the following guide is not intended to be used for conclusive self-diagnosis. These definitions may be used to help you decide whether or not you should consider seeking medical attention.

Closed comedo, or whitehead. If the plugged follicle stays below the surface of the skin, the lesion is called a closed comedo, or whitehead. They usually appear on the skin as small, whitish bumps.

Open comedo, or blackhead. If the plug enlarges and pushes through the surface of the skin, it's called an open comedo, or blackhead. The plug's dark appearance is not due to dirt, but rather to a buildup of melanin, the skin's dark pigment.




Papule. The mildest form of inflammatory acne is the papule, which appears on the skin as a small, firm pink bump. These can be tender to the touch, and are often considered an intermediary step between non-inflammatory and clearly inflammatory lesions

Pustule. Like papules, pustules are small round lesions; unlike papules, they are clearly inflamed and contain visible pus. They may appear red at the base, with a yellowish or whitish center. Pustules do not commonly contain a great deal of bacteria; the inflammation is generally caused by chemical irritation from sebum components such as fatty free acids.

Nodule or Cyst. Large and usually very painful, nodules are inflamed, pus-filled lesions lodged deep within the skin. Nodules develop when the contents of a comedo have spilled into the surrounding skin and the local immune system responds, producing pus. The most severe form of acne lesion, nodules may persist for weeks or months, their contents hardening into a deep cyst. Both nodules and cysts often leave deep scars.

Acne conglobata. This rare but serious form of inflammatory acne develops primarily on the back, buttocks and chest. In addition to the presence of pustules and nodules, there may be severe bacterial infection.