18 replies to this topic

[NSX]

Ive been using bp gel since last June I think. I remember it working pretty well the first 4 months but after that its just not having as strong as an effect. I consistently get a new pimple everyday.
Im using the cetaphil cleanser and moisterizer. My diet is clean, I wash my face twice daily and only use the moisturizer in the morning. I use bp gel after I apply the moisturizer in the morning and before I go to bed.

I remember dan saying you can never become immune to bp gel, so should I switch my cleanser to something stronger? Any help is appreciated. thanks

[Revolution]

You should switch your techniques and follow Dan's regimen.

[19yochickfightingacne4toolong]

Ive been using bp gel since last June I think.  I remember it working pretty well the first 4 months but after that its just not having as strong as an effect. I consistently get a new pimple everyday.
Im using the cetaphil cleanser and moisterizer. My diet is clean, I wash my face twice daily and only use the moisturizer in the morning. I use bp gel after I apply the moisturizer in the morning and before I go to bed.

I remember dan saying you can never become immune to bp gel, so should I switch my cleanser to something stronger? Any help is appreciated. thanks

You should definitely rethink your choce in cleanser. Especially if it's the 'Gentle Skin' version.
it's no good, and could be why your breaking out.

[NSX]

I thought that cetaphil cleanser was reccommended, no?

[19yochickfightingacne4toolong]

I thought that cetaphil cleanser was reccommended, no?

the ingredients are no good for acne-prone skin. It contains SLS and Parabens. Some find it to work fine, even though it doesn't clean skin well (which I've proved, lol) and there are other ppl who continue to use it in their regimen and can't quite figure out why they contiue to breakout, and its most likely from this product due to the ingredients. I also read a lot of the reviews on makeupalley.com and it seems to be common that people breakout from it.
Plus, just imo, I think the texture of it is nasty. To me it feels like heavily watered down moisturizer. And like I said b4, it does not wash the crap off the skin as well as other products.

When it comes to cleansing, I think its better to use a more natural-based product, and/or something that contains minimal ingredients.

[vet2b]

what products do you recommend then?

[19yochickfightingacne4toolong]

At the moment I'm using Spectro Jel for gentle cleansing.
It has a similar concept to the cetaphil cleanser, but its much much better for the skin.

[joeshmoe]

I think what the other people are trying to say is that you should
a. moisturize after you apply bp
b. you should moisturize at night too

Maybe putting on the bp first will give you the extra kick you need,
PS maybe you do use the moisturizer morning and night but you contradict yourself about this in your first post.

[NSX]

so moisturizing before applying the bp gel could be the problem?

I only moisturize in the morning. my skin barely even gets dry if I dont moisturize but I know its still a good idea to do it.

[Avi]

what cetaphil are u talkin about here?

[sadman]

so the bp doesn't need to be cycled? like for ex. 4 weeks ON then some weeks off? does the skin get used to benzoyl peroxide? and lastly, why does my dermatologist ask me to wash off benzoyl peroxide 15 min. later while the regimen says do not wash? i'm confused... i need your help guys. thanks in advanced.

[Revolution]

so moisturizing before applying the bp gel could be the problem?

I only moisturize in the morning. my skin barely even gets dry if I dont moisturize but I know its still a good idea to do it.

You should moisturize even if you don't need it, sooner or later your skin may become dry and moisturizing will prevent this from happening. You don't moisturize when your skin becomes dry and irritated you moisturize always so it doesn't become dry and irritated. Also, It's not that moisturizing before could be the problem, but in Dan's regimen it doesn't ask for that, and the point is to follow his regimen to the point, and unless your skin is really quite dry and red from the Benzoyl Peroxide, as to where it's dry after you cleanse, there's no need to moisturize before you apply the BP. If you have some areas that are, after you cleanse, moisturize just those areas to soothe them, then wait 10-15 minutes and do the application of BP and then finish by moisturizing the entire face. It's important you follow the techniques Dan uses, using Benzoyl Peroxide is not enough, the skin must be treated gently, consistently twice a day, and with the right techniques and steps of the regimen.

[Revolution]

so the bp doesn't need to be cycled? like for ex. 4 weeks ON then some weeks off? does the skin get used to benzoyl peroxide? and lastly, why does my dermatologist ask me to wash off benzoyl peroxide 15 min. later while the regimen says do not wash? i'm confused... i need your help guys. thanks in advanced.

No it doesn't need to be cycled. Just start off by taking it slow, look in my signature for how much Benzoyl Peroxide you need to start off with for your entire face, it's about quarter to half a finger, very little. And no Acnes bacteria cannot become immune to Benzoyl Peroxide and yes your skin will adjust to the BP, but take it slow, you don't want to start off with too much. Your Dermatologist probably thought you were using it as a mask over your face. So no, don't wash your face 15 minutes after, just follow Dan's regimen, look in my signature for it.

[sadman]

ok thanks for the reply revolution!...
since i don't have the bp gel (hasn't arrived yet), i've been on a different benzoyl peroxide and it's a wash. i think there's a difference between the bp gel that is being sold here on this site than what i'm using because it says on the tube that it needs to be rinsed afterwards... what advantages do you think the bp gel dan has and a bp water-based wash.? thanks again! i appreciate it.

[porad]

Despite reason and conventional wisdom, I have found that for me personally, beyond the shadow of a doubt, BP gets less and less effective with prolonged usage. I've been using variations of the "regimen" as well as the regimen itself for approximately 7 years now, so I assure you the fault is not in my application technique.

I reached this conclusion by becoming frustrated several times with my skin over the last few years and halting my normal BP regimen for 1-2 weeks at a time. Each and every time I went back to BP after my breaks I experienced a few days of redness and irritation (usually a breakout), followed by about 2 weeks of rapid and persistant clearning. This was usually accompanied by a a month or two of reasonably effective acne treatment before seemingly accomplishing nothing and 'relapsing' once again.

I've noticed a similar occurance when switching between different BP strengths/mixes (paired w/alcohol and glycolic acid, etc) as well. Unfortunately I cannot continually switch from product to product to maintain clear skin as breakouts follow each transition.

Say what you will, but I've found this to be undeniably true for myself (and several of my friends as well, although I speak only for myself)
.

[sadman]

2 weeks off BP is enough then? thanks

[porad]

2 weeks off BP is enough then? thanks

For me even one week was enough.