When I encountered acne.org back in December 2005, I was depressed and desperate. I had recently turned 20 and I had worse acne than I did back in high school. Birth control didn't help get rid of the painful red bumps scattered all over my face, six months of Proactiv didn't help, medicated washes didn't help, spot-treating didn't help, masks didn't help, salicyclic acid lotions didn't help, and I was terrified of the prospect of going to a dermatologist to be prescribed antibiotics that would cause me painful yeast infections. I was dubious about the regimen because I had used benzoyl peroxide in the past as part of Proactiv, but I also didn't have any other accessible acne treatment options, and I was completely sick of my skin. I read all about Dan's gel, browsed dozens of reviews and testimonials, and decided to open up my wallet and take a risk. I ordered two tubes of Dan's gel, figuring that I didn't have much to lose besides a little money.

The regimen sure enough ended up working for me, and so I keep coming back here to help out other people who feel angry/depressed/confused/frustrated about their skin. I can't say enough about getting yourself into the right state of mind to try the regimen, so I want to use this thread to prepare people for it in an honest, realistic way. The DKR works wonders, but if your expectations are too high, you are impatient, or you experiment with other things at the same time, you will run into problems.

Start off on the right foot with recommended products, and get rid of your old acne topicals. Just because you have the Proactiv acne scrub or your mom's face cream lying around doesn't mean that you should try them with the regimen! I know it's frustrating to spend money on things that don't work, but it's better to get rid of your old ineffective products than to try to start the regimen with them. Wait until you can get all the proper supplies and then begin the regimen, rather than using some 10% BP you have lying around or other old products that might interfere with your results. If you can't bear to throw them away, put them somewhere where you won't be tempted to use them while you try the regimen. I strongly recommend ordering Dan's gel to begin with so that you start with the best (and most cost-effective) product available. If you live outside of the US or aren't comfortable ordering off the internet, then pick up another 2.5% benzoyl peroxide (like Neutrogena On-the-Spot) from a drugstore, but Dan's gel is so much gentler, better-textured, and cheaper that you should try to start with it if possible. I believe I saw good results relatively quickly because I started off with Dan's gel.

Your acne will not clear up instantly on the DKR. If you actually do see miraculous clearing within days of starting (as some people on the boards claim), please realize that you have likely not seen the last of your acne. BP dries out your acne at first, but then you aren't using enough during your first week or two to actually prevent future breakouts, so they will probably come back until you have upped your dosage enough and held it at that level for a while. I still had breakouts for the first 6 or 7 weeks on the regimen, and many people take even longer before they clear. My pimples started disappearing more quickly and weren't as severe at that point, but acne is still acne. Be prepared to give the DKR a three month trial, and be prepared to still have acne for most of that time.

It is more important to get your skin used to the benzoyl peroxide for the first month or so than to actually achieve clear skin. It is better to go slowly and take more time to work your way up to a full-finger application than to use too much gel too soon and backpedal because of irritation and dryness. Even if you've used benzoyl peroxide before in other systems, you probably were not using nearly as much BP as you will be on the regimen. I had used both the Proactiv face wash and lotion twice a day for six months and plenty of 10% BP creams in the past, and still, my skin took time to adjust to the small amount of BP I started with. Follow Dan's recommendations for BP dosage--or use even less if you feel that your skin is overly irritated. You might not clear up as quickly as you want, but you can avoid many of the problems that new regimen users complain about by going easy with the BP.

Try not to think about your skin. When you start clearing up a little but not completely, you might hold your skin to a higher standard than you did before and become more frustrated with it. If you are constantly obsessing over a new breakout or thinking about how you're not clear yet, you might even do things that interfere with the regimen. Resist the temptation to check your skin out in mirrors all the time or to pick at active acne! Aside from reapplying moisturizer as necessary, you don't want to be touching your face; the best way to do this is to not think about you skin at all. Don't dwell on why you're not clear yet and don't worry about some visible flakes or redness. Think about what your skin will be like in a few months, not how it is now, and know that breakouts or dryness right now won't matter at all in a short time.

Peeling, redness, and flaking will eventually go away, but it may take a couple of months and some product changes. Let's be honest: your skin just probably won't look that great while you are beginning the regimen. You'll still have active acne, your skin will be drier, you might have flakes or areas of redness, your skin might look parched, it's just not a pretty picture at the start. Many people think that it gets worse before it gets better, and I agree. You just have to power on through it and look to the future. You can try switching cleansers and moisturizers to help with flaking or redness problems, but please realize that you can only do so much while you are still adjusting to BP. Even with the best recommended products, for the first few months you will still deal with some degree of redness, dryness, and flaking. Those problems do go away eventually! Again, try not to dwell on the state of your skin or do things that are counterproductive in the meantime.

Don't be tempted by other treatments while on the regimen. Other acne treatments like salicyclic acid (beta hydroxy acid) or sulfur can compoud your irritation with the regimen, so don't touch those at all, especially while you are still adjusting to the regimen, In fact, BP deactivates topical retinoid products aside from Differin, so you definitely can't have those on your face at the same time! When you see an acne face wash at a store, just skip right over it and purchase something unmedicated. Even though you think you might get clear faster by using multiple treatments, you'll just end up with lots more irritation and perhaps even more acne than if you had just stuck with BP. Other kinds of skin treatments tend to do more harm than good. Scrubs can tear up your skin, masks are overdrying, and homemade facial concoctions are ineffective at best. Some people really like the idea of natural skincare and want to incorporate in things like aloe vera and tea tree oil, but the results from adding in extra steps like these to the regimen seem to be by and large unsuccessful. Just keep in mind that if you insist on using more products and aren't getting the results you hope for, the first thing Dan, Brandy, and other regimen veterans will tell you is to get back to basics and ditch the extras. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) such as lactic acid or glycolic acid moisturizers really do help with flaking and dryness, but you should wait until your skin is used to the full dose of BP before trying these. The more complicated the regimen, the harder it is to figure out where it goes wrong!

If you can't make time to do the regimen morning and night, then the DKR is not for you. Twice a day, every day. If you do the regimen only once a day, leave out steps, go through the process hastily, or miss applications, then you should expect less than ideal results. I skipped a couple non-consecutive applications due to late-night partying and timing of washes recently, and what do you know--even after nine months of straight DKR use, I still got some small pimples by my mouth. Slacking off is fine so long as you are willing to pay the price, but again, it is an actual price. If you balk at setting aside a good half-hour each morning and evening to wash your face, apply BP, allow it to absorb, and moisturize, then you should look into other acne treatment options. Patience and diligence is absolutely key.

Don't expect a flawless complexion when all your acne is gone. Many people complain about redmarks and scars and how the regimen doesn't address these acne artifacts. It's simply not that easy! An AHA used once or twice a day over several months can help fade hyperpigmentation, but it might not be enough to get your skin completely mark-free, especially if you had moderate-severe acne before the regimen. I didn't even know I had acne scarring until I had cleared up, and then I had a whole new skin problem that I had never thought about before! Now I have accepted that I can't do much about my mild scarring without spending lots of money on treatments, and that even so, my skin still looks so much better now than it did a year ago. So when you do clear up, please don't expect to have baby butt smooth, unblemished skin. Have realistic expectations about what your acne-free skin will look like. I much prefer easily concealable light marks and minor dents over big red inflamed pimples, but if you feel otherwise, then don't bother treating your acne.

Breakouts can still happen. I still get small pimples nine months later when I slack off, as I have not grown out of acne. The regimen can keep virtually all acne at bay when you follow it diligently, but even so, you might still get little pimples in problem areas once in a while. The more persistent your acne, the bigger the consequences of missing an application and the more likely minor breakouts might continue. In order to maintain clear skin, you will need to keep buying cleanser, BP, and moisturizer, keep making time to do the regimen morning and night, and keep being gentle with your skin. The regimen effectively prevents acne, but if you stop, your pimples will come back (unless you have grown out of acne). It is up to you to decide if you can stick with the regimen for the long haul.

Hey everyone,

I've done what I'm about to describe a few times to take care of my skin if it starts acting up and getting flaky, and I thought I ought to share it. It might be similar to something you're already doing if you use jojoba oil before applying BP. I think of it almost like a combination of a mask and a scrub, but very different in a lot of ways, and simpler than most homemade concoctions.

You would want to do this BEFORE cleansing your face or taking a shower, either morning or night is fine. You pour a good amount of jojoba oil into your palm, probably 10-12 drops worth or so, but basically just a large amount so that you can rub it all over your face. You start dabbing the jojoba oil all over your face, and once you have it all on there, you start massaging it in with your finger tips. At first, just lightly spread it around, but then build up pressure a little. Be very careful around active acne if you have it, but definitely rub in the jojoba oil. Don't be aggressive, but you don't want to be quite as gentle as you are when you apply BP, for example. You should feel some grittiness to your skin as you massage the jojoba oil in, which is a combination of the skin that was flaking off and maybe some residual BP/moisturizer, since after all, you haven't washed your face yet. The massage helps to loosen a whole bunch of flakes and is also good for your circulation as a bonus. I give my face a massage for several minutes straight, just rubbing it in and picking up more and more grittiness. You might put a couple more drops of oil on very dry patches partway through to help loosen those flakes even more. When you feel like you've loosened all that you can and that new gritty stuff isn't coming up (or if you get the the point where you think your face will start to get raw if you go for much longer, which means you should have used more jojoba oil, I suspect), then stop. Just leave the jojoba oil on your face for about another 10 minutes so that your face is really nice and moisturized, like leaving on a moisturizing mask. Then, just wash it off! You might want to wash your face off in the shower since the heat will make removing the jojoba oil easier if your cleanser is really mild, but it shouldn't be too hard to clean up. You mostly just want to get rid of the grittiness and leftover crud you had on your face, nothing wrong with leaving some jojoba oil behind. Then do your regimen as normal following cleansing, perhaps even using more jojoba oil before BP if that's what you like to do.

You might wonder if this is excessively irritating. I think it's a good deal less irritating than using a brush of some sort to physically remove flakes, and since a lot of people seem to be able to handle that as it is, this should be tolerable for even more people. I also think it's less irritating than a scrub because you're loosening the flakes with a moisturizing oil (technically jojoba oil is a liquid wax but whatever ), rather than ripping them off with some abrasive bits. Plus, as a bonus, you have this moisturizing, protective barrier on your face for a little bit while you're massaging the jojoba oil in and leaving it on for the 10 minutes, so it's like a therapeutic moisturizing mask. If you know that jojoba oil makes you break out, obviously, this is not the flake treatment for you, and if you have such sensitive skin that massaging your face for a few minutes would leave you feeling irritated, then this is also not for you. For everyone else, though, I think this is a nice way to deal with flakes as they come up, either as regular treatment several times a week or just something to do once in a while when they get bad.

Hope this helps! If you try this and like it or hate it, definitely leave feedback so that others may benefit; after all, I'm the only person with my exact skin, so I don't know how other people will handle it. I wouldn't expect perfect results at first if your face is very dry and has too many flakes to deal with, but if you try this every other day or so, I think you'd see an improvement in your skin's texture and dryness pretty quickly.

I got a PM from someone who was confused about whether AHA was a required element of the regimen. It is not. I love Eucerin Skin Renewal, which contains lactic acid--a very mild AHA, but AHA is not at all required. In fact, glycolic acid, which is the usual form of AHA, is usually too much for people when they're first starting out on the regimen.

I have been trying lots of samples of moisturizers from various manufacturers in an attempt to make a replacement moisturizer myself, and have found that AHA is not required for adequate moisturization. However, the various manufacturers who have been scurrying to make us a moisturizer have not hit on something that's as good as Eucerin yet. Some of the samples I've tried are too stinky, some are too thick, and some leave my face too tight. Therefore, to prevent severe flakiness in some people, I recommend the addition of AHA as discussed at http://www.acne.org/aha.html for the time being.

I'm going to try KissMyFace moisturizer as soon as I can get some and see what that's like. Since Eucerin was discontinued from Drugstore.com and I still haven't gotten my manufacturers to make the perfect replacement, we're gonna have to try some new ones 'til we find a good solution. In the meantime, if your skin gets super dry with whatever other moisturizer you're using, the addition of AHA might help, but is in no way required.

Hey guys and girls,

We're currently putting together a page of before and afters to give other members a better idea of the kind of results to expect. I think this will be a nice addition to the Regimen section and hopefully inspire more people to try the Regimen out.

Your photos will appear on a new before and after page with your member name and a link to your gallery (if you have one), along with a list of products you used to achieve your results.

If you're interested in helping out please email your photo's to paul@acne.org, if you could also include a the brand face wash, Benzoyl peroxide and moisturizer used.

Many thanks

Paul

http://www.acne.org/regimen_poll.php?anchor=poll

Click that link then click on "view results".

If you have been on the Regimen for at least 3 months, please vote in the poll.


You can also view the Success Stories here: http://www.acne.org/success.php

Anyone else have this problem where the zits keep showing up in the exact same spots? I want to know if you have any advice on this OR if there is a term for this. Someone point me in the right direction!

I have put benzoyl peroxide for my acne prone parts in my face for a couple of weeks. Yesterday I saw that bp had burned the area under the nose and left a large red spot. What can I do in order to help it heal faster?

hey im new and i was jw if tea tree oil worked as well as bp? can u use it in place of it? this site has so much info thanks so much!!

I apologize if this has been asked before. I have only been browsing for a few days. I suffered from acne as a teenager and was on Accutane with some less-than-desirable side effects (hair loss and very low poor night vision which didn't improve for 3-4 years). After having my daughter, my acne is back, but is not bad. However, since I'm 26 now, my skin isn't turning over as much and the acne I am getting is scarring.

I saw my derm and they wanted to start me on isotretinoin again. However, the generic version will cost me $342/month with insurance, and I can't afford it. As of right now, ProActiv is keeping the acne at bay, but it's not enough. Has anyone sought the DKR/acne.org regimen as an alternative to Accutane? Obviously nothing is quite like Accutane, but given the side effects I suffered before and the fact that we just can't afford for me to be on Accutane right now, should I give the acne.org regimen a try? Is it worth trying if my only alternative seems to be Accutane?

Thanks.

For the past 2 or 3 weeks I've had absolutely no problem with burning/dryness on the regimine, but since Wednesday the burning and dry feeling has returned. The only explanation I can think of is that the sun is causing this, as it has been really sunny here this week and I spent a lot of time outside on Wednesday.

Am I correct in thinking this?

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Hey everyone, I have a quick question. Recently, I've been looking into new moisturizers to try with the rest of the regimen since Dan's was giving me small pimples on my face for some odd reason. I came across a product called "Neutrogena Oil-Free Anti-Acne Moisturizer" which contains Salicylic Acid. My question is, Is it safe to mix BP with Salicylic Acid? I'm assuming the moisturizer has a very small amount of it.

Heres a link to the moisturizer: www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=159909&catid=28154&trxp1=35873

Thanks a bunch.

If I'm using 1 pump of Cleanser, 2 pumps of BP, and 1 pump of Moisturizer twice a day, won't the BP run out a hell of a lot (meaning 2X) faster than the other two products? So to stay up to date, I'll have to get the Starter Kit plus an extra bottle of the BP. Yikes.

i bought some and it says guaranteed satisfaction...should i keep using it?

it seems to dry up my acne really fast and it doesnt burn me...it just seems like 2.5 % is wayyyyy lest than 10 percent...and ten percent doesnt burn infact i cant even feel it on my face!

Hey Guys/Girls...i need your opinion on this?

These are the products i'm currently using:
1. Purifying Neem Face Wash Gel-http://www.himalayadirect.com/shopexd.asp?id=53
2. OXY Cover (10% benzoyl peroxide)-http://www.shop222.com/oxycover.html
3.CLEAN & EASY Soothing Gel 16 oz.Aloe Vera Gel-http://www.purespadirect.com/CLEAN-EASY-Soothe-Gel-16-oz-p/vu-202269.htm

This product has been doing great..but i was wondering if i would like to change products.

This are my questions.

1. I would like to follow the Regimen and i cant buy stuff online..which is a problem and in my country not all products are available..but neutrogena brand is available just like what u recommend the item needed for The Regimen.*oh yeah im from Singapore*

2. Should i buy all the neutrogena item that is recommended ?like the
-Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser 6.7 fl oz (200 ml)
-Moisturizer which one should i buy? any kind? but neutrogena brand?

3. Hey guys i have dis pimple on my nose*sob* its painful just by touching it..its like the 2nd time i get..last time i peel it off..now leave me with marks..what should i do?its quite big..*sob sob*

4. OXY Cover (10% benzoyl peroxide) is great? but is it possible that i can use them for the Regimen?

5. How do i use my Oxy cover? and then moisturize it?

Hello Guys/Girls..I need some Help on The DKR system...I am still having acne and acne marks..so im trying out the Regimen..This are the products i'm using:

1.Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser
2. 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gel based
3.Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion SPF 15, Sensitive Skin

Ok here GOES..this are my questions: Please help me answer them.

1. I was wondering what time should i be doing the DKR morning/night?Soon school about to start do i have to do it at 5.45am? or at nite 10pm?or can i only do it at night?

2. Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion SPF 15, Sensitive Skin..Should i use my moisturizer and leave it during i sleep after i put my 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gel based and 5-15 minutes after dry i just put my moisturizer and just sleep?

3. (Do not skip this step. Begin moisturizing twice a day from your first day on the Regimen.)so should i just cleanse and moisturize?or need to do the whole Regimen?

4.Finally should i apply BP even if areas that does not have acne or red marks?and BP is to be used for whole facE?

Thanks!

I'm not quite sure if I should moisturize right away or wait a while? Thanks

unfortunately, while my skin seemed to be clearing up, many parts of my skin are beginning to become extremely dry to the point in which they're like solid red, inflamed patches. when i apply moisturizer (even with the jojoba oil i bought in hopes of reducing the redness), these red zones on my face still feels like it's burning. the redness usually subsides within an hour but i feel that i need to stop use of BP. maybe i used too much BP from the very beginning and my skin is having a hard time recovering from the use.

i will try again until my skin feels like it's ready.

PS. i grew 3 more red zits on my lower left neck.

Hey guys, this is my first post here. THIS SITE IS FANTASTIC!! I have mild/moderate acne but it's getting a little better.

Anyway, I'm wondering:

I'm scared to use the BP when I order the Reginmen pack because my skin is already quite sensitive and red most of the time. My skin is also quite dry and I'm just scared incase the BP makes it look even worse... so I'm wondering what to do?

Can I use AHA+ instead of BP? Or will the results not be as effective? Dan said to use the AHA a month after the BP but why can't I use it at the same time?

Thanks very much guys, I love this whole community.

Hello everyone,

I started the whole BP treatment a few years ago when I started University, as Dan's story pretty much sounded like mine. It has worked more or less, with a few zits from time to time but nothing to really complain about compared to other acne sufferers.

A couple weeks ago, I thought I'd phase it out and see if I had grown out of acne (I'm 22 now). At the point where I was no longer using BP, the first week wasn't bad, but here I am between week two and three and I've got quite the breakout now.

My question is: is this breakout because my skin was use to BP, and I'm no longer on it? Or is it because I still need to use BP? I suppose it is a difficult question to answer unless I stay away from BP for a few months and see how it goes. I'm not so sure I want to risk having a few months of acne though!

Anyone been in a similar situation? How long must someone stay free of BP to determine whether or not it is just your skin adjusting to the change, or you simply still have acne?

i have been on and off dans regiment for the last 3-4 yrs. my acne was not terribly bad like when i was back in high jr high and high school. however, i thought i would once and for all do it by the book and get clear. i have ordered dan's new bp about 2 months ago and have been using the new pb exactly by the book according dans' video instruction for the first month. my acne did not get better, but parts of my face have turned dark. i have stopped using dans bp and was hoping that the dark spot would eventually go away. it has been over a month now, and the dark spots remain. i'm worry that i have permanently damaged my skin. would you please help? this isnt sun burn guys, because i work at home and rarely go outside into the sun. if i do go outside and expecting the sun, i have always put on a sunscreen lotion and always try to avoid the sun as much as possible.

attached is an image of my face. not the best picture and looked like i was high, which i wasnt. pls be sensitive. )

I just finished with doing the regimen tonight, and while I was looking at my skin, I could see more bumps, really teeny, forming. I just started the regimen this morning, and I'm 90% sure they weren't there then, so I'm wondering if this is normal? I thought it went you get clear, then you purge, then your clear? Anyone else have such an immediate reaction? And I'm sure I'm not allergic to the BP because I think I was on it waaaaay back when I was younger, and then I used Proactiv in middle school.

Also, some/a lot of them were in an area that I do not get zits on. I actually got just one zit there a few days ago, but that was a first.

So yeah, help would be appreciated!

EDIT: Alright so this morning I woke up and immediately checked my skin. Well, the little bumps are gone. Huh. So I guess me new question is- what happened? It seems to be trivial since nothing extremely bad happened.

i usually put the benzoyl peroxide on before going to bed and once i get up. i pretty much have a sleep disorder (max 5 hours a day). i usually wash my face/apply benzoyl peroxide at around 4 just before bed. than i get up at 8 and re-apply the benzoyl peroxide. is this enough time in between the 2 for the benzoyl peroxide to sink in?

i always take a shower in the morning, and often takes showers after work (around 6pm since i smell). should i continue applying the BP at 4 and 8 or should I apply it at 8am and than 6pm after work?

I think this was discussed before.Anyway. Since i have been using the BP my face is pretty clear, and I don't get so much acne, but when it occurs the redness it's not fading. I don't know if this is because I use BP. If I keep using BP my red marks will fade? Thanks

Will a 16 year old still see results on the regimen? As acne is really starting to effect my confidence now (and crap supplies are effecting my wallet) and all treatments seem to fail!

I've tried anti-biotics and azeliac acid aswell as numerous cleansers - and I'm starting to believe the regimen is kind of my last hope - Is it worth trying or will it not help with hormonal acne?

Tom

I've been on the regimen for about 7 weeks now. From this time I have seen some improvements, but then I break out after thinking my face is starting to clear!
That is very discouraging.
my face is red where the acne is and my skin is still very dry and flaky.

The products I use are
Cleanser: simple cleanser
Bp: 2.5 panoxyl
moisturiser: Simple light hydrating

Day: 1/2 finger of BP and Night: Full finger of BP

Should I incorporate Jojoba oil and aha? However, I do not know where to get these in the UK. Suggestions would be helpful

Thanks

Hello Everyone!

I stumbled to this website a week ago and decided to join and see if anyone else is in the
same position i am.

i have been using proactiv for about one month and half, and it has cleared some
problem areas on my face (small forehead pimples) but i still have csyts on the side of my face.



Has anyone switched from proavtiv to the regimen?? what were the results?

thanks!
hopes to hear from yall

It seems there's always this gunk left on my skin at the end of day. If I rub my forehead there seems to be gunk and stuff.

I love this stuff. I've tried ProActive, Clean and Clear, and lots other stuff but my new routine is the St. Ives (which is cheaper than C&C) then apply spot treatment of C&C clear gel. My face hasn't been this clear since 6th grade. I still have some breakouts but thats probably bc I skip washes sometimes. I use day and night.