I am wondering what prescriptions you use that work and don't burn your face off.

I never really broke out until I went off of birth control, and now I am really afraid to go back on it do to family medical history.

My Dr prescribed me Retin A Micro back in 2006, and OMG it was awful. I still use it from time to time if it is really bad, but I always know I can expect to molt afterward.

I have tried OTC meds and they just make it worst. I thought purpose face wash was working (supposed to be as gentle as water), but it is really a no go. Right now I just try to wash with warm water with a little pressure to get the dead skin cells off.

I have moderate acne, meaning I will have anywhere from 2-8 zits at a time, all the time, and I have blackheads too. I seem to get them on my chin, forehead, and inbetween my eyebrows. (T-zone)

What do you take that works?

I have tried proactive too, and it worked a little.

I actually took my son to the dermatologist. He said proactive was the best thing to use without a prescription. Also, cetiphil cleaners are the most mild and wont irritate your skin so use that in conjunction with proactive.

Hmm I was on proactiv for over a year, and it worked at first, and then it just stopped working. I guess my skin got used to it???
I have tried cetaphil. I love it, but it doesn't clear my breakouts.

Wish I could help you, but the only thing that ever worked for me was BC pills.

Good luck - I hope you find something that works!

I tried proactive and it didn't work for me, i finally went to a derm and was told it was cystic acne and she prescribed retin a and some light moisturizers. That was about 3 years ago.
Right now I have fairly clear skin unless its right before my period and I will get one or two. but my routine has been neutrogena clear pore facial scrub 3 times a week, neutrogena cream cleanser once a day (at night) followed by toner and a light moistuerizer and in the morning I wash with really warm water and follow with a swipe of toner. So far so good.

My doc prescribed Differin for me. It worked ok, but not great. I've yet to find anything other than BC that works.

I have had acne throughout my teen years. I now use Neutrogena Foam cleanser, Neutrogena facial scrub, and cream cleanser. My face has really cleared up. I do notice that if I miss a day or two I get acne really bad again. That just happened....

I heard retin was good and Proactive works my DH uses this. Clinic also as a product I can't remember the name but my mom uses it. It's like $55 for a small tube.

I tried all the RX meds when I was a teen- everything was horrible and just made it worse. The best thing by far is Alpha Hydroxy Acid, I can't believe they don't sell this stuff as an acne medication, they only advertise it as an anti-aging cream but it works wonders on acne. I usually use the 10% concentration, but if your skin isn't "used" to the AHA you may need to start using it everyother day and eventually increase to every night.
My favorite is the Alpha Hydrox brand, WAGs used to carry but now I can only find it at Ulta.

I have been on every prescription acne product available. None of them worked. I tried Proavtive, no help at all. I tried a free sample of Murad daily cleanser and it works great!

I use Proactiv (I've battled not so great skin all my life - I'm 40 and still have a breakout here and there!) and it seems to keep things under control for ME.

Now my 14 year old son has some pretty bad acne issues, breaks my heart..and the only thing that works for him, and usually within about 3-4 days...is ACNE FREE - sold at CVS and Walmart. They also have it for severe acne...we are going to go that route next for him as I just learned it was available.

And the good thing, I always see the $2.00 or $5.00 off coups come around!!! It generallys runs ABOUT $17.00-$19.00 for the kit.

HTH

Part of it may be your skin type and what causes the acne. What works for oily skin may not work as well if you have dry skin... If your period is a culprit (meaning it is worse right before it hits), most face washes will just help it clear quicker but wont keep it away as it will return a month later...

Anyway you get the point.. find out the cause and what not and it may help figure out which product is the best

Oh another thing I forgot to mention, I don't have surface zits. They seem to be deep down inside the skin. Most are small in size, but they hurt like the dickens!

Maybe clogged pores....having had this issue, I - the non-dermatologist that I am - would suggest a light exfoliant.

Mary Kay has one I asolutely love - It's like a microdermabrasion cleanser!