Reader Buzz: Acne Treatments
September 22nd, 2006 @ 1:21 pm by Mrs. Bee
Continuing our series on beauty products, let’s explore acne treatments today. I’m obsessed with clear skin and went to pretty extreme levels to ensure that I wouldn’t have any unexpected pimple surprises on my wedding day.
As for products, I’ve personally seen Proactive and Obagi work wonders on problem skin. You can’t avoid the Proactive infomercials with celebrity spokespeople like Vanessa Williams, Jessica Simpson, P Diddy, and Lindsay Lohan. And read about the fabulous Bryanboy’s experience with Obagi here - complete with before and after pictures. But I’ve also seen that these products don’t work for everyone. It’s hard to find exactly what works for you.
When I get the occasional pimple now, I use samples of a prescription acne medicine called Duac that my dermatologist gave me. I think Mario Badescu’s Pink Drying Lotion is also good for the occasional flare-up. In a pinch, I’ve also been known to use toothpaste - it really works! 
What are your best acne treatment product recommendations?
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26 Responses to “Reader Buzz: Acne Treatments”
For a fast fix, I keep Q-tips soaked in visine in the freezer. When I get a zit I take one out and hold it on the pimple—the cold helps the sweling go down, and the visine eliminates redness.
I also use Cetaphil every day–it’s super gentle and works really well!
Neosporin … for those that have escaped the open pore …
Murad acne spot treatment works pretty well.
Clean & Clear Maximum Strength (the 10% Benzoyl Peroxide really works!)
the frozen visine qtip trick REALLY WORKS.
i’m a cetaphil girl too!! i’ve never had a pimple in my life before and i’m so scared that the day i get married all those years i never had it will all come at once. *scared*
I feel like nothing works to prevent or minimize my pimples. They’re stubborn like my attitude I guess =(
Early this year I went to a dermatologist for the first time b/c I was breaking out and he gave me Adoxa Pak antibodics and I was throwing up for a week so I stopped. I never went back to a dermatologist again! If anyone recommend a good dermatologist in NYC please let me know.
My pharmacist friend said to use prescription strength benzoyl peroxide. My brother uses ProActive and it works on him.
Right now I just let the little monsters surface asap so I can pop it =P Over night I would dab some “mask” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002VHNWU/102-8104053-8891358?v=glance&n=3760911 on it and when I wake up, I’d apply Neosporin to prevent scar and infection.
I just recently read about:
Blemish - call your doctor for a cortisone injection, or try this DIY option from NYC derm Francesca Fusco: Unblock the pore with warm compresses, then pat on Visine Original eye drops to ease redness.
Mrs. Bee, do you still use the same dermatologist from your previous post? I’m looking for a good referral. Thanks!
Yes I do! Dr. Karen Burke.
I have a very unique type of acne. My pimples dont really come up to the surface… i just get little white bumps under my skin…
My dermatologist precribed me Differin ( http://www.differin.com ) and it worked wonders on my skin! At first I used as indicated (2x a day) and I did find my skin a little sensitive to sun light and/or extreeme cold, but lately i just do maintanence using the cream less then once a week and pimples are history! I highly recomend it!
Mario Badescu’s drying creme is great too!
I swear by neutrogena daily’s scrub. And I agree with H’s recommendation for Mario Badescu’s drying creme. It is a wonderful spot treatment.
er, i was too excited to answer…..i meant neutrogena’s daily scrub. sigh.
dermatologist — well worth the money. i’ve stopped buying random things at CVS. I see it like how I buy make-up at a department store — she gives me samples and when I find something, it really works!
differin and proactiv didn’t really work for me, i have horrible hormonal breakouts 1x a month and my derm prescribed me benzaclin. so far so good!
PROACTIVE is awesome ~ at least it worked for me.
Tea tree oil dries pimples gently for those with sensitve skin. Differin and tazorac make my skin peel & hurt too much. The one from the body shop is 15% tea tree oil but you can buy full strength at trader joes or other stores but be sure to dilute it before putting it on your skin.
just wanted to point out that the bryanboy link isn’t work safe. take a look at the borders on his website….porn… i had to shut that window down quick. lol
My skin is pretty prone to breakouts — it’s very oily and i have huge pores. So while i use a cleanser twice a day (i like the dove exfoliating cream cleanser), i also use the clearasil 10% benzoyl peroxide cream on problem areas. And about twice a week, I use Queen Helene’s mad masque — it’s about $2.50 for a big tube, and works wonders for sucking oil out of pores and pimples that have been steamed for a little while. i love this mud mask 
Wow! I learn something new everday. Thanks WB for Bryanboy’s site. He’s HI-FRIGGIN-LARIOUS! I’m gonna give his recommendation a shot. I just bought Obagi Cleanser from his page.
If you’re in a bind and really need a pimple gone, applying straight rubbing alcohol with a Q-tip a few times a day and washing as usual really does the trick. I don’t recommend it all the time, though, because it’s pretty harsh. But I have sensitive skin and it’s ok for me once in a while before something important.
Soap + water for me. And I wipe my face down afterwards with toner. And two or three times a month, I’ll use St Ives apricot scrub to exfoliate.
BenzeClin from dermatologist. It works really well but super expensive.
spelling error: BenzaClin
Great blog !!!
Mrs. Bee, New York
Age and Occupation: 29, Weddingbee Publisher
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Internet
Engagement Date: May 7, 2004
Wedding Date: March 5, 2005
Venue: Westside Loft, New York
About Me: Yes, my name really is Bee! I love my blogging, wikis, and tabasco sauce!
Neutrogena RapidClear Acne Eliminating Gel. The only Neutrogena product I ever use, CUZ IT WORKS and doesn’t break the bank. =D