I have moderate acne with oily skin, and my skin has been pretty fine this year except now that summer is over and school has started, these past few weeks (especially) I’ve had really severe acne (large cysts) all over my forehead and a few on my chin (I realized I break out like crazy during this time of year for some reason). I’ve had bad acne since 5 years ago and I’ve been using the 3-step Proactiv system ever since about 3 years ago…but I’ve minimized the use because my bad acne has mostly cleared up since about 2 years ago so I just used mild cleansers like St Ive’s Apricot Scrub or other drugstore brand cleansers with Salicylic Acid in it instead of Proactiv’s Benzoyl Peroxide, and its been working fine. I’ve had pretty clear skin as far as I can remember until around this year mid-August and my face started breaking out, and especially now its really bad. So I went back to using the 3-step Proactiv system morning/night everyday now for about 2 weeks. And the thing is, it has been helping my cysts and acne…but my skin is terrible! After I wash my face with the cleanser (1st step in Proactiv), my skin is SO dry, especially my forehead! It seriously looks like after a severe earthquake and the ground has cracked into a thousand pieces…that is how my skin looks on my forehead! It is so dry and flaky. I can’t help but use my tweezer and pick out all the flaking skin off. And of course I can’t pick out every single little piece so I just use the toner (2nd step of Proactiv) to smooth it out…but after my forehead if you look closely, can see lines of where I peeled the skin off (the skin is paler)…and it looks horrible! Also when I raise my eyebrows and my forehead wrinkles, I can see that there’s like this whole layer of what looks and seems like dead, tanned skin on top of my (healthy skin?) on my forehead. Some additional information, I tanned and went out in the sun a lot over the summer (only using a SPF 8 on my face..So bad I know) so I guess its also the tanned skin on my forehead that’s peeling? Plus with the use of the drying out effects of Proactiv…I don’t know what to do. I’m paranoid that if I don’t peel the flaking/cracking skin off, it will go into my pores and clog them up and cause more acne. But I don’t like doing that either because 1. It takes up a lot of time and 2. The tweezers are probably unsanitary. But I don’t want to discontinue using Proactiv because I need it to help cure my acne. Also I don’t remember it drying out my skin this bad when I used it in the past. I am suffering…PLEASE HELP!!!!

I have moderate acne with oily skin, and my skin has been pretty fine this year except now that summer is over and school has started, these past few weeks (especially) I’ve had really severe acne (large cysts) all over my forehead and a few on my chin (I realized I break out like crazy during this time of year for some reason). I’ve had bad acne since 5 years ago and I’ve been using the 3-step Proactiv system ever since about 3 years ago…but I’ve minimized the use because my bad acne has mostly cleared up since about 2 years ago so I just used mild cleansers like St Ive’s Apricot Scrub or other drugstore brand cleansers with Salicylic Acid in it instead of Proactiv’s Benzoyl Peroxide, and its been working fine. I’ve had pretty clear skin as far as I can remember until around this year mid-August and my face started breaking out, and especially now its really bad. So I went back to using the 3-step Proactiv system morning/night everyday now for about 2 weeks. And the thing is, it has been helping my cysts and acne…but my skin is terrible! After I wash my face with the cleanser (1st step in Proactiv), my skin is SO dry, especially my forehead! It seriously looks like after a severe earthquake and the ground has cracked into a thousand pieces…that is how my skin looks on my forehead! It is so dry and flaky. I can’t help but use my tweezer and pick out all the flaking skin off. And of course I can’t pick out every single little piece so I just use the toner (2nd step of Proactiv) to smooth it out…but after my forehead if you look closely, can see lines of where I peeled the skin off (the skin is paler)…and it looks horrible! Also when I raise my eyebrows and my forehead wrinkles, I can see that there’s like this whole layer of what looks and seems like dead, tanned skin on top of my (healthy skin?) on my forehead. Some additional information, I tanned and went out in the sun a lot over the summer (only using a SPF 8 on my face..So bad I know) so I guess its also the tanned skin on my forehead that’s peeling? Plus with the use of the drying out effects of Proactiv…I don’t know what to do. I’m paranoid that if I don’t peel the flaking/cracking skin off, it will go into my pores and clog them up and cause more acne. But I don’t like doing that either because 1. It takes up a lot of time and 2. The tweezers are probably unsanitary. But I don’t want to discontinue using Proactiv because I need it to help cure my acne. Also I don’t remember it drying out my skin this bad when I used it in the past. I am suffering…PLEASE HELP!!!!
ALSO I have not put any type of make-up on ever since I started breaking out with the numerous cysts, in hopes it would not worsen or agitate my breakout.

It’s a three step regimen, similar to proactive, but this product uses salicylic acid. The ingredients are…
Acne Treatment Wash
Active ingredient: Salicylic acid 2.0%
Inactive ingredients:
Cayaponia tayuya root extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel extract, polyethylene, schukuhria pinnata (canchalagua) extract, silica, sodium bicarbonate, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, water, xanthum gum.
Purifying Toner
Water, sodium chlorite, sodium bicarbonate, lauryl glucoside, citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract.
Acne Treatment Lotion
Active ingredient: Salicylic acid 0.7%

Similar to proactive, but this three step system is Salicylic acid. Has anyone tried this? Quixtar sells it.
Acne Treatment Wash
Active ingredient: Salicylic acid 2.0%
Inactive ingredients:
Cayaponia tayuya root extract, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel extract, polyethylene, schukuhria pinnata (canchalagua) extract, silica, sodium bicarbonate, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, water, xanthum gum.
Purifying Toner
Water, sodium chlorite, sodium bicarbonate, lauryl glucoside, citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract.
Acne Treatment Lotion
Active ingredient: Salicylic acid 0.7%

Hello, I have adult acne, it’s not THAT bad now since using Exposed acne treatments. But I noticed that it has gotten worse since being pregnant with my baby. As I was browsing through the net I stumbled upon an article stating that using skin care treatments w salicylic contained in it would be harmful. I don’t buy it. I mean come on now they say don’t do this or that and in other countries they do anyway and it works .. Is this another opinion meant to scare new mothers? Is there someone out there that is pregnant and uses acne treatments and gave birth to perfect fine babies? Thank you for any input/advice!
>>Use the right skin care products for you
“Since some topical ingredients get absorbed into the bloodstream, you should know which ones to avoid during pregnancy. It is recommended that you stay away from retinoid, a type of vitamin A that speeds up cell division (quickening your skin’s renewal) and prevents skin collagen from breaking down. Another chemical to avoid is salicylic acid. This mild acid is used to treat certain skin disorders, including acne, and you can find it in a number of skin products, such as cleansers and toners. Ensure that any peel you might book at a spa does not contain salicylic acid.”

For most of my life, I’ve fought the battle for clean skin. The typical salicylic acid products burn my skin, even causing peeling at times. I just use plain water because of how sensitive my skin actually is… sometimes with a little bit of anti bacterial soap.
I break out when I use most moisturizers that I have tried. This really sucks because I have dry skin in most areas. Sometimes it is itchy. The other irritating thing is that my skin is slightly oily as well, at times. (Combination skin? Not sure, seems more dry than oily, but who knows.)
I am so weary of worrying about always breaking out when I apply makeup (trying to cover the redness)… and tired of worrying about which products are going to hurt my skin.
After years of using water and spot care (while occasionally trying something else), I need help! I’m tired of just giving in and letting my skin win . Can anyone make some good recommendations for products that are good for ultra sensitive skin which is acne prone and quite dry (though oily in some places?). I’d like a regular skin regimen.
I used to go to a dermatologist as a kid, but haven’t been in years. That was back in the days of antibiotics being given out like candy. When I was in the hospital a couple of years ago, I was given a ton of medicine and something cleared up my skin. No idea what it was. It looked great! It could also have been an allergen removal in my diet..
BTW, I normally eat healthy food and drink tons of water, so I don’t think diet is a factor. On the occasion I eat something fried, I can tell the difference.
If you have any tips or products, they would be welcomed. Also open to holistic ideas.
TY in advance.

i’m not sure if it’s sunburned, or just an acne product i use that contains salicylic acid (i don’t have bad acne, just a few spots occasionally.), but my nose recently has been very dry and it’s peeling. It’s red too, but it doesn’t really hurt unless i peel some of the skin, in which case it stings a little.
This peeling makes it very hard for me to apply foundation and cover up to hide the redness, and it appears very cakey and ugly after i do attempt to apply makeup.
I use Mary Kay Balancing Moisturizer every night and under my makeup, but so far it hasn’t done a thing. I’ve tried sunscreen too, but that doesn’t do anything either.
Any advice, tips, or products i can use to make this problem go away? especially when applying my makeup?