Is Proactiv Safe??

[Gina209]

I've pretty much told everyone on here that my acne is bad and only getting worse!! It seems to be only on my forehead with minimal breakouts on my chin and cheeks. But its horrible!! I've never had bad skin so I don't really know what to do. I wash my face twice a day, use moisturizer and that doesn't seem to help. A couple people suggested Proactiv...saying that within a couple treatments it took care of their acne for the longest time..but they don't know I'm Pregnant. So does anyone know if its safe to use while Preggers? I have a doctors appointment on the 24th so I will definitely ask her but just looking for some answers now. Thanks!

[kellibubba]

I use it and it works great for me...

[kellylo]

My doctor said Pro-active was fine to use while pregnant.  I used it through my first pregnancy,  my son is 2 1/2 now, & is perfect! ;)
Im pregnant again, & now use dermalogica with salicylic acid in it. Once again asked my doctor, she gave it the ok.
I think some doctors are more conservitive than others.  If we listened to everything we were told was not safe...we couldn't eat, drink, or use anything!!!    

[momofboy29]

When I was pregnant with my son, 3 years ago...I was advised by my doctor to NOT use proactive product. I used just the face wash and not the last two steps and it helped a TON clear up my face and my doctor agreed that it was safer then using all 3 steps. Hopes that helps.

[Rosa20]

,my sis and her best friend use it all the time and swear by it!! They would reccomend it to anyone..i have started using it and have seen some results but i have a hard time sticking to new things...just have to get into the '"groove" haha but i would ask your doc..if she says its safe in pregnancy then i would use it..i wish i had used it a long time ago  when i was a teen!! I never believed in it until my sis told me aboout it and her skin is flawless!!

[Sunkissed19]

this post is a year old so its likely that none of them are going to respond to you...

[Atia_Julii]

I saw that Gina wrote in another post that she asked her doc, and her doc said it is NOT safe to use while pregnant.  Just wanted to update that here in case others didn't read her post in another column.

[browneyedmama]

i heard nothing but good things about proactive.  i have never used it myself. i have been using clinique for a while now, and i really like it!!

[Summer_Baby]

Here is the correct list of ingredients for Proactiv, there is NO salicylic acid in it.

Step 1: Renewing Cleanser
Active Ingredient: benzoyl peroxide 2.5%.
Inactive Ingredients: water (aqua), magnesium aluminum silicate, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, disodium dimethicone copolyol sulfosuccinate, sorbitol, dimethyl isosorbide, polyethylene, tridecyl stearate, neopentyl glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, tridecyl trimellitate, cetyl esters, anthemis nobilis flower extract, sodium hyaluronate, sodium PCA, propylene glycol, xanthan gum, imidazolidinyl urea, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance (parfum).

Step 2: Revitalizing Toner
Ingredients: water (aqua), glycolic acid, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract, anthemis nobilis flower extract, rosa canina fruit extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, sodium PCA, panthenol, glycerin, propylene glycol, allantoin, polysorbate-20, hydroxyethylcellulose, sodium hydroxide, benzophenone-4, tetrasodium EDTA, methylparaben, propylparaben, imidazolidinyl urea, fragrance (parfum), blue 1, yellow 5.

Step 3: Repairing Lotion
Active Ingredient: benzoyl peroxide 2.5%.
Inactive Ingredients: water (aqua), cyclomethicone, ethoxydiglycol, propylene glycol, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone, panthenol, allantoin, carbomer, ceteareth-20, xanthan gum, triethanolamine, diazolidinyl urea, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance (parfum).

Proactiv Refining Mask:
Active ingredient: Sulfur 6%
Inactive ingredients: Water (Aqua), Kaolin, Glycreth-26, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Hydrated Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lemongrass Exrtract, Geranium Extact, Tea Tree Oil, Ethoxydiglycol Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Glycerin, Fragrance (Parfum)

To verify this, just click <a href:"http://www.proactiv.com/system/sys... and for each product, click the "View Ingredients" link. A window will pop up with the ingredients.

If you want to check out what each of these ingredients are (in plain English), try the ingredients dictionary <a href:"http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/... I have found it to be VERY useful. You will find that many ingredients in ProActiv can be quite irritating to skin, though.

Be aware that the active ingredients list are the ingredients that are there in high quantities -- the rest are in far smaller concentrations the further down the list you get.

[Summer_Baby]

Here is the correct list of ingredients for Proactiv, there is NO salicylic acid in it.

Step 1: Renewing Cleanser
Active Ingredient: benzoyl peroxide 2.5%.
Inactive Ingredients: water (aqua), magnesium aluminum silicate, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, disodium dimethicone copolyol sulfosuccinate, sorbitol, dimethyl isosorbide, polyethylene, tridecyl stearate, neopentyl glycol dicaprylate/dicaprate, tridecyl trimellitate, cetyl esters, anthemis nobilis flower extract, sodium hyaluronate, sodium PCA, propylene glycol, xanthan gum, imidazolidinyl urea, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance (parfum).

Step 2: Revitalizing Toner
Ingredients: water (aqua), glycolic acid, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) extract, anthemis nobilis flower extract, rosa canina fruit extract, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, sodium PCA, panthenol, glycerin, propylene glycol, allantoin, polysorbate-20, hydroxyethylcellulose, sodium hydroxide, benzophenone-4, tetrasodium EDTA, methylparaben, propylparaben, imidazolidinyl urea, fragrance (parfum), blue 1, yellow 5.

Step 3: Repairing Lotion
Active Ingredient: benzoyl peroxide 2.5%.
Inactive Ingredients: water (aqua), cyclomethicone, ethoxydiglycol, propylene glycol, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, cetearyl alcohol, dimethicone, panthenol, allantoin, carbomer, ceteareth-20, xanthan gum, triethanolamine, diazolidinyl urea, methylparaben, propylparaben, fragrance (parfum).

Proactiv Refining Mask:
Active ingredient: Sulfur 6%
Inactive ingredients: Water (Aqua), Kaolin, Glycreth-26, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Linolenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Arachidonic Acid, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Hydrated Silica, Tocopheryl Acetate, Lemongrass Exrtract, Geranium Extact, Tea Tree Oil, Ethoxydiglycol Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Glycerin, Fragrance (Parfum)

To verify this, just click <a href:"http://www.proactiv.com/system/sys... and for each product, click the "View Ingredients" link. A window will pop up with the ingredients.

If you want to check out what each of these ingredients are (in plain English), try the ingredients dictionary <a href:"http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/... I have found it to be VERY useful. You will find that many ingredients in ProActiv can be quite irritating to skin, though.

Be aware that the active ingredients list are the ingredients that are there in high quantities -- the rest are in far smaller concentrations the further down the list you get.

[sweetangel7]

The american pregnancy association does not recommend the use of salicylic acid for acne but rather benzoyle peroxide based medications.  They have a section on their site called 'is it safe' where you can learn what they recommend.  Good luck

[mommato4]

It does have salicylic acid in it. I have used it for 3 years. It does work but not for everyone. I still get acne. And a few months ago it got really bad even with proactiv. I guess it was my hormones. Its since then cleared up a lot. I would like to know if its safe. i had 2 m/c but im sure it wasn't due to proactiv. And when i called about it they said lots of women use it. I did not ask my ob though.

[heatherlynn22]

i've been using proactive since before i even got pregnant....kept using it all through my pregnancy and i haven't had a problem. it's been doing wonders on my skin. my doc never gave me restrictions on what facial washes i could and could not use so i just kept on using it. it hasn't affected either of my boys as far as we can tell from the u/s and bloodwork.

[BTS1022]

I use Dove Nutrium bar soap on my face every night, and olay definity night creme, and during the day I use Olay face moisterizer and eye serum. My docs said Olay is safe to use during pregnancy. DH used proactive and he ended up being burned by it, so I wont touch the stuff. I hardly ever break out, even when preggers, but DH has bad acne. I have him scrub his face with nutrogena morning burst and a loofa every morning and then he applies the nutrogena morning burst 8 hour facial lotion, and he hasn't had a break out since.

I good home remedy for acne is white vinegar.

[Crystal125]

I asked my doctor about proactiv, because my face kept breaking out and I use to use it before pg, and stopped when I found out I was. She said not to use it, but she said clearasil (sp) and noxema was fine... So no idea =/

[kelliestarr]

Proactive ***** and does not work!!!!

[Kash12]

I have read it in many forums that a component in proactive isn't good to be used during pregnancy. I used it for the first month and read this in some forum.. stopped using it immediately. I use Noxzema... it helps... its got camphor in it..so removes the extra oil..but I think most of this acne is hormonal during pregnancy.. so it will stick around anyways...

[fsantiago]

I use Proactive...I didn't use it before I was pg bc the breakouts were not so bad but once I got pg my hormones went buck wild and I broke out like a sob...The first time my husband went to the mall and got it for me he mentioned that I was pregnant and the lady said that I should check with my dr first but I didn't...It has def helped my skin...As for harming the baby I don't think what I wash my face with could hurt her...They used to say not to dye your hair but I've dyed and highlighted my hair with all three pregnancies and my first two kids are healthy as can be and I'm sure this one will be too...Good luck!

[Gina209]

I will let you all know, promise! I'm not going to use it unless my doc says it's okay..too paranoid!
Ohhh a BOY, that'd be nice! :) My face broke out with all my Pregnancies, I guess my hormones are just psycho!

[Mea426]

Well Gina I wonder if your having a boy???? Sometimes when you have tons of pimples it's a chance it could be a boy!! That's what I've heard! Anyway the pimple thing I had it when I was preggers the second time (ended in m/c) and there was nothing I could do to help it! It was annoying! Let me know what your Dr. say's.

[Fay1984]

Hi Gina I know for a fact that you don't want to use anything contains salicylic acid at all ...now i dont remember if proactiv contains that but if it does then be aware of that...i had acne and i was advised not to use it spacially now ..

[FEOT]

My face is not like super bad, it never has but i have used proavctiv. I still use it. I dont use it everyday i use it maybe 1 or 2 times a week. It makes my skin super dry, so just be careful how you use it. Maybe start off slowly and if your skin can take it use it more often. I asked my doctor and she said it was fine as long as i wasnt eating it lol
Good luck i hope Proactiv works for you as it worked for me.

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I know some people swear by it but my daughter said a girl at her school came in one day and he face was like bleached white...she said it was a reaction to proactive...

my husband has tried it and while it helped at first...immediately upon not using it for a day or two his face started popping out all splotchy red.  I guess some people just have a real high sensitivity to it. Give it a try but you might want to just try a small spot for a few days and see how your skin reacts to it.

[Gina209]

Well I just did some research on it and everything I read said that it was perfectly safe and lots of Pregnant women use it. Soo I'm still not going to try it until I talk with my doctor but it seems to be okay. I'll let you all know on the 24th what she says..hopefully it's safe because my face is getting nasty!

[Cheesecake7]

I have terrible acne right now, all over my face and absolutly covering my back ; (   I have been told that Proactiv is bad. That is what I have used for years, and I will say that yes it absolutly does work very well, but I am afraid now.......