A couple of days ago I asked if you thought Acne.org was getting so large that we were losing sight of why it was created–to share the Regimen. This is my response to some of your comments.
A couple of days ago I asked if you thought Acne.org was getting so large that we were losing sight of why it was created–to share the Regimen. This is my response to some of your comments.
You mentioned me! Yay! You are really so sweet to be listening to our opinions and feedback. You are running this site great, Dan. It’s only going to improve and get better.
Great video today, Dan! Especially liked your discussion about organizing the questions on the boards so that the comments/answers are easier to find. You and your people are so open to suggestions!! It will only get better, all the best to you and the Acne.org gang!
Dan I think that it is incredible that you actually take into consideration what everyone has to say-and so sincerly! I think that you are doing a really special thing by helping us all! Keep up the fantastic work, we so appreciate it!
You talked about the need to follow the Regimen exactly. I have been cleansing, then applying 7-8 drops of jojoba oil to my face, and then applying the BP. This cuts back on flakiness more than I can say, and has made me able to up the dosage of BP. Have you tried this? Do you think it will be as effective? I have now been using Regimen products (and otherwise following the Regimen) for about a month, and I can definitely see a difference in my skin. Thank you for your dedication to us acne sufferers!!!
I was wonder the same thing tricia is wondering. and hey what is your email/phone number to the office? I am on the regimen and it is working FANTASITCLY but have some questions about burning and itching, its my 6th week.
Hey Dan!
Acne.org products have worked well for almost everyone. Although now my outbreaks are almost completely gone, I have to deal with over 7 years of hyper pigmentation and scarring.
Does anyone else think that an Acne.org scar treatment should be released? It seems like a final step for the regimen.
I’m currently using mederma and its leaving a disgusting burn looking mark on the side of my face that I use it on.
I hope you can come up with something to cure scarring within a year or so!
Thanks!
Hi Dan,
What i liked the most about acne.org was the fact that it talked about other products not just the Regimen. To me, that made your website more realiable. Your interest in acne was obvious and your were not just trying to sell your products. The pictures people posted about their own improvement while on the Regimen also helped my decision to buy your products.
The Regimen is great and it really works for me. I recommend it to everybody and i am sorry that i didn’t come across your website earlier. The only think i am afraid is that if you start putting more emphasis on the regimen and on the sale of the regimen people might think this is just another website trying to make some money out of acne! In your website i think you have reached the perfect balance between sounding reliable and introducing/selling your products. The clinical trial idea is perfect!
(i am 31, not a teenager anymore unfortunately! so what was appeling to me might not be the same to what appeals to younger people.)
Thank you for developing the Regimen
Best of luck for you and for acne.org
Luisa
I have been on the regimen for about 3 weeks now, and it has helped tremendously. My initial reaction to the website mirrored the comment you read on today’s blog. It seemed like the web site was only a place to discuss bad treatments in hopes of stumbling across something that might work for you. While that was a breath of fresh air given the hundreds of various acne web sites trying to sell you something, the Regimen didn’t really jump out at me. I think I viewed this page about a year ago, and it wasn’t until 4 weeks ago that I took the time to really dive in and understand what you were trying to get out to everyone — the Regimen. I guess my simple suggestion might be to have a split screen on the opening page that gives the new web browser a clear distinction of what this site is about. One side is a path to the Regimen, and the other is a path to the forum topics. I think your site does a great job of this already, but potentially a split screen with a different color background on each side might make it a little more clear. This will allow you to clearly state that you are offering the Regimen as a solution to acne, as well as offering a place for acne sufferers to come and discuss their issues.
I cannot use BP. When I started the Regimen, I used the little bit of BP you recommend starting with. I used your cleanser and moisturizer too and nothing else. My face immediately turned bright red, swollen and very painful. After that, I let my skin recover by not using any BP at all for a few days. Then I tried again, using just a pea-sized dose of BP. Still lots of redness and pain, though not as bad. I tried starting with that much BP just once a day and the redness and pain did not decrease over time. I tried BP only every other day and still the problem persisted. I toughed it out for several weeks, assuming my skin would adjust and I would eventually be able to increase the dose. That never happened, so I gave up on BP. I don’t think I did anything wrong — my skin is just too sensitive. When people exclaim (in all caps!) that the Regimen would work for everyone, if they just followed the directions, how do you think that makes me feel? It’s rude, hurtful and invalidating. The Regimen may work for most people, but not for everyone, and it’s not because we’re just fools who can’t follow directions.
Rebecca you may be allergic to BP. Um i think maybe THE REGIMEN should have it’s own tab at the top ^^^^^ maybe between the Acne Info and the Community tabs. IDK
I would really really really like a pump that dispenses only half a pump
I would buy it =))
Dan i think you are great
keep up the good work 
Dan,
I think it’s great how you listen to us and offer such great products. I’m only currently in my 3rd week, so I can’t really tell you that it’s worked for me, however I have seen a slight improvement in my skin, just hope it gets EVEN better! Edmond, great idea. I think that Dan should come out with something like that, besides the aha.:)
One of things that I dislike about the forum is that everyone seems to put down BP as if it’s a major chemical for our skin, etc. I wish I wouldn’t have to read posts like that, it makes newbies to the regimen kinda discouraged.
Other than that, I enjoy the whole website and wish I could work for Acne.Org!:)
Dan,
You are doing a great job, I have visit a lot of acne forums and after finding acne.org I stop looking. Love the fact that you are open to other treatments and not just selling your products. The regimen is great but might not work to everybody.
I just hope that the site keeps strong! Thank You so much!
Hey Dan, I’m curious of the fact that you have not grown out of acne at the age that your at. Maybe you have,
I would not know. I would just like to know if you still struggle, maybe not struggle but experience acne? Or are you just still on the regimen for the sake of us, the website, or because you just have been all this time?
And another thing, which may be a touchy subject for you, may not be on the account that you have a whole website dedicated to acne, but I think it would be very interesting and CONVINCING to see old photos of you when you did struggle with acne, if you have any. I just think it’s important to know what we’re up against by joining this community and starting the regimen, and by doing so It would be neat to see your progress, after all.. many of us are showing ours.
Thank Dan
I REALLY THINK REBECCA’S POST DESERVES SOME ACKNOWLEDGMENT
DAN, PLEASE TAKE SOME CONSIDERATION IN MY PREVIOUS POST
ALSO, LUISA HAS A VERY GOOD POINT!
I JUST THOUGHT OF SOMETHING TOO DAN, AFTER READING SEVERAL POSTS BEFORE MINE.. WHICH I’M GETTING A BIT CARRIED AWAY WITH.. AND I’M SORRY ABOUT THAT.. I JUST HAVE SO MUCH TO SAY.. BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO CREATE A REPLY LINK WHERE YOU ARE ABLE TO REPLY TO OTHER ACNE.ORG USERS POSTS AND THEY WILL BE ALERTED WHEN THEY SIGN IN TO ACNE.ORG THAT SOMEONE HAS REPLIED TO THEIR POST. IT WOULD REALLY HELP FOR PEOPLE TO GET SOME CLOSE AND PERSONAL ACNE.ORG COMMUNITY BONDAGE, TO SEE THAT PEOPLE ARE SEEING WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY AND THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE TAKING THESE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION AS WELL
THANKS DAN
thanks dan, i think the clinical trail sounds great!
your forums are a little lacking. I don’t know if you can post pictures or videos on your forums but if you cant you should upgrade it. I know this video game forum that you can post a blog with pictures, youtube videos. Its kinda like your own personalize webpage that people can comment on. check it out. http://www.zybez.net/community/index.php?s=9792272d43330060583032b1796014d6&showforum=431
julie I am 26 years old and still struggle with acne. Its a myth that only teens get acne. How old is Dan? LOL just curious!
It’s doesn’t matter how old you are you can still suffer from acne. It doesn’t just go away, because you are older. It sucks, but that’s the truth.
Hi Dan,
This is my first time posting but I have alway admired your sincerity in listening to your community here on Acne.org. It was about 6 months ago when I first came across your site; essentially I was looking for specific info about acne. Since I landed on one of your Acne Info pages first, I got the info I needed but almost left without realizing you were selling something. So IMO there should be a bigger graphic/link for the Regimen on the sidebar and/or mentioned in the page header. Maybe also consider updating your Mission Statement page; the Regimen is mentioned almost as an aside and not clear that it’s a product (even a link on that page would help).
Overall, I do like the site. Like Luisa, what sold me on your product (once I realized you had one) was that you allowed other people to talk about other products as well as your own. Shows a lot of integrity and faith in your own product. You have helped me fix my problem and I want to see you succeed in helping more and more people. Keep up the good work and thanks!
Hey I really like this site but I can’t use bp. Open a tube 10 feet away and my entire skin will start burning up. But I like coming here and hanging out with other acne sufferers. I would feel so sad if those of us who can’t use bp would be shunned just because we can’t handle it. You know we’ve gone through so much rejection from people with perfect skin it just astounds me to think we would be rejected by fellow acne sufferers just because we can’t tolerate a certain product. God I wish I could use bp, I’d love to use bp and get clear but the simple fact remains that I can’t. Please don’t snuff us out…we’ve had enough despair in our lives
I love the web site just as it is, I personaly think that dan is not being greedy, and wants all the atention for his regimen products. as many probably know they are some people that are allergic to BP, so thanks to dans site they have other alternatives that may work for them. This site is a god sent website because of you dan i’ve learned so much about this aflicting condition and how I may treat it. thanks for the hard work dan to keep us all informed. LOVE YOU DAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’d like to add one thing. When I first came to this web site in 2007, I found the message of the regimen clearly posted, but I did NOT follow it because I thought it was a basic solution for people with MILD acne. I had already used countless BP treatments in the past, whether it be over-the-counter, ProActiv or dermatologist prescribed. But because I wasn’t using those treatments in the same WAY that you showed me how to use BP, I ignored your regimen thinking it was something I had tried before. One year later I came back to the site, thoroughly researched the regimen, and decided to give it a shot. I’ve been clear ever since.
One thing that I would stress to you, Dan, is to make sure people know this isn’t the same old BP treatment that every other product offers. Empahsize that by using a LOT of BP (an amount that is almost counterintuitive) it oxygenates the skin and PREVENTS acne from forming. One of the big reasons my BP treatments hadn’t worked is because I wasn’t using it in a way that would oxygenate my skin and prevent bacteria. Make sure people follow the regimen religiously and possibly explain why it’s different from what other companies/products are offering. I think providing a compelling rationale for the regimen and the theory is very important. To other users like me, who have tried almost every kind of treatment and every type of BP treatment, this is good to know.
I just wanted you to know that. And thank you for all that you have done. We love you Dan.
Also, you may not have the budget for this but I will throw it out there anyway. It might be good for you to temporarily hire (maybe for one month) a reputable marketing and branding consultant to help you pinpoint your messaging. Maybe this person could help you develop a message with as clear a focus as possible so that you know you’re on target. That’s just a thought.
Hi Dan!
Thank you so much for dedicating yourself to such a great cause! I have suffered with Acne all my life and the regiman has really cleared me up and changed my life! When I discovered acne.org (when browsing the web), I did not first realize that there was a regiman, I thought it was just a place for people to share thier experiences. When I realized that you were offereing a solution, the only reason why I was willing to try was because you were not out to sell your products, but rather you porterayed that you sincerly wanted to help others.Thank you! thank you! thank you!
I remember coming to this site years ago and buying the first product you produced(it came in a tube). I never said how great it worked for me. I am definitely buying your new set. My comment to your last video was based upon my experience with your regimen, I just think somehow the regimen should be the focus. It seems to get lost amongst all the other topics. Perhaps it needs a separate message board with topics just related to the regimen? That way people go to that one first and don’t get distracted by all the other topics.
I totally agree it would be great to find an all natural solution.
Dan…I don’t know if you’re still reading this page…but I think it would be great if acne.org got big. However there is a big glaring type on the mainpage that I think detracts from what you’re trying to do!! It says something like “treatment and communitysince 1996″–you need a space between community and since. Every time I see that it bugs me.
Sorry, I just really find that attention to details like this is what separate major player companies from small ones. Sometimes I won’t even consider buying stuff from a company if their website looks unprofessional (I do a lot of my shopping online). My opinion is that if you want acne.org to get big you need some general improvement to your web design too. It’s okay now but it could be better.
Dan,
On the homepage, I think that the ‘Get Clear’ button is not an obvious Button/Link.
It looks more like Just an image than a link. So, I have 2 Ideas that would help this.
1.) In the button make it say ‘Click Here’. So the button would say something like
“Get Clear by Clicking Here!” (Just maybe not so Corney…) Haha.
2.) There is this thing called a Rollover Link. It is an image (just like what you have) but
as soon as your mouse goes over it is changes to a second image. Here is an Example
(Hover/Click your mouse over the Blue Squares and watch the magic!)
http://www.howtocreate.co.uk/tutorials/jsexamples/testingRoll.html
With this I think MANY more people would click on the link and this can be done in
no more than 5 minutes. It’s very simple.
On a side note: Your product has saved me. I had literally scheduled an appointment with the doctor to get Accutane, but then stumbled upon this site, ordered the product, and canceled the appointment. Now, 3 months later, my face is 100% acne free, and 95% of my red spots have gone away! Thank you Dan!
~Derek
Dan!
I had an idea earlier in response to you saying that people don’t follow the regime.
Why not create a simple page that can be printed out and stuck in the bathroom, with the simple steps listed?
That would mean people have a reference to look at while actually doing the regime
Andrew, Dan has already created a printout just like the one you have described.
http://www.acne.org/checklist.html
About the comment that you mention at 2:30, I have to agree with the guy. I feel that the front page lacks a professional look and looks a bit “homegrown”, which gives it a sense that the website isn’t very serious. I think it’s great that you really want to make Acne.org an organization that stays close to its members, but you have to do a balancing act between that and keeping a more professional look.
If you want to get really technical about website design, you should look into usability research for your website. Essentially the goal of a website should be to have access to data/information as easy as possible with the least amount of thinking. This is done best in the planning stages when you decide how to organize the design. You can also perform user research tests, do eye tracking tests to see how users view the website, diagram mental maps, etc.
But that kind of research might be out of your current budget and might be overkill. I would help you out with all that but unfortunately my abilities aren’t up to par yet (hopefully it will be in 0.5-2 years). But to get to the point, usually the more things there are on screen at any given moment, the more harder it is to navigate. Currently when I navigate around your website, I can find what I am looking for, but it takes a while, and there are tons of links everywhere. You may want to consider consolidating some of the pages and restructuring the navigation of the website. Less can be more!
To be totally honest….I LOVE YOUR SITE!!!!!!!!!!! Heres my story on how your website helped me and is still halping me get through this stage in my life—>
Durin my freshman year i got acne nothin that is bad enough to be called Severe but it was still mild/moderate…I sometimes would even get a painful cyst that i would hate people to see and i would skip skewl ALOT due to my embarrasment….So after a lot of depression and pain i finally got fed up with this and i got on the internet and decided to do some research…
Thats when i stumbled upon your website and when i found it i thought..”Oh no just another site promoting some lame ass product” (Not that im callin the regimen lame) So i was about to leave when i decided What the hell might as well take a look and i am soooooo happy i did!!! I signed up that same day:)
Now whenever im feelin depressed or alone and i feel i am surrounded with people with beautiful clear skin i remember this site and that their are others out there like me who r always willing to lend a hand and support:) So if you read this this then I just want to say THANK YOU DAN!! For everything including this amazing website which so far has helped me find solutions and make me a little clearer with every post:)
im glad i shall your video now i can have ideas
Hi Dan,
I was greatly discouraged at first, and the message boards have been much of the source of my encouragement.. I knew i would have to suffer for awhile to see results and what encouraged me most about trying the Regimen was how open the site is about what to expect and how it is done. I felt like i knew what i was getting into and what was required of me. I’ve never seen anyone go into detail about how to use their products. I like that the message boards are open to discussing different products; I’d feel nervous about buying something when the person says it is the only thing that works *exclusively*. It’s nice to be able to talk with others about their progress and opinions. I’ve needed encouragement dealing with dryness and issues like that, so it’s nice to get more info on things that are not stressed in the regimen videos.
Thanks for all your great work making and maintaining this site 
I started the Regimen about a month ago, and i’m seeing a little improvement
One thought i had was in the regimen videos to stress that new users need to adjust to BP slowly. I made this mistake starting out and lost a lot of time from trying to go too quickly. Then i wasn’t sure how much to use and then finally found the “how much to use” page.
I like the fact that you stress it is not a quick fix. Most people are looking for an instant solution, but there isn’t one. I like the site layout overall, everything is organized and easy to find. It’s also not overdone. I didn’t realize you were selling products at first, but it didn’t take long to figure out. I found the step by step regimen instructions and watched the videos. It’s nice to know you care about all of us and not just making money
Hi Dan
Your site is a lifesaver. I think it’s perfect just as it is but things can always be improved and I’ve emailed suggestions from time to time. What I like about your site…what is brilliant about your site…is that you’ve included other viewpoints and created a community where anyone can get support regardless of what treatment they’re doing. Not all of us can use BP (I get an allergic reaction – verified by my derm) but I have felt totally supported in my journey to understand my acne better. Having a place to voice my experiences and reading what other people are going through has made a huge difference in how I treat my acne. I finally got up the nerve to follow through with some recommended testing that I put off for years and am finding out about hormone imbalances and allergies that have made my acne worse. Now I’m doing treatment that is specifically designed to treat these problems and my skin is clear. Your site gave me the courage to do what I needed to do. Thanks!
Hi Dan. I found your site via googling “shea butter for acne” as it works really well for me for cuts, scrapes and rashes. That might be how many people are finding your site, and hence the focus on the treatments in the blogs vs. the regimen.
I want to congratulate you on your website! Even though you’re not a doctor, you present scientifically sound advice from what I’ve read, and you allow a forum for free speach about what’s not medically recognized. I think it’s altruistic of you to be presenting how to follow your regimen with OTC products, and not just pushing your own products.