Follow precisely for best results
The Neck Regimen is a 3 step process, using common drugstore products. You may have even tried similar products before. But, when used precisely as outlined below, you will predictably clear up.
First, watch the video or read through the step-by-step instructions until you are comfortable with the process.
Next, use the product guide to make sure you get the right products.
Below is a typical experience on The Neck Regimen. However, many people on the forums say it took them over 3 months to get clear, and they are thankful that they stuck it out.
| Mild to moderate neck acne | Moderate to severe neck acne | |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Mild improvement. Skin may be slightly red and itchy. | Usually slight improvement. Some people have reported an initial worsening of acne. Skin may be slightly red and itchy. |
| Week 2 | Further clearing, followed perhaps by a breakout. The breakout clears more quickly than usual. Red spots from old acne linger and may be hard to distinguish from active acne. | Clearing, followed by a breakout. Skin is still somewhat red and itchy. Person is considering other options. Red spots linger and may be hard to distinguish from active acne. |
| Week 3 | Skin is definitely improved. Some cases of neck acne are cleared up. Others are well on their way. Red spots from old acne linger but are fading. | Skin continues to clear and breakouts are lessened but may be still occurring, albeit to a lesser degree. Skin is less red and no longer itches. Red spots from old acne are evident. |
| Week 4 | Neck is looking very good. No new acne is forming, but red spots from old acne may still remain slightly. | For many people, neck is looking remarkably clearer by this time. Others are still frustrated that their skin is not yet clear, but push on. Redness is gone. Red spots from old acne still remain. |
| Week 5-8 | Skin stays clear, with perhaps an occasional small pimple. Red spots are fading further. | For many people, the skin of the neck is now clear. For others, the struggle continues with intermittent breakouts. Red spots are fading slowly. Despite the urge to deviate from The Neck Regimen and experiment, the person sticks with it precisely. |
| Week 8+ | Ongoing treatment keeps neck clear. Red spots continue to fade until complexion is beautiful and clear. A mysterious zit pops up from time to time, but overall the skin is clear of neck acne. | Usually by month 3, most cases are well on their way to becoming under control. Many less severe cases now simply require ongoing treatment to maintain acne-free skin. Red spots continue to fade, but a few may remain for months to come, or even years. An isolated pimple from time to time is normal and to be expected. An isolated larger lesion may erupt occasionally due to irritation as well. |
If your experience does not closely match the above descriptions, don't fret. Stay patient and follow The Neck Regimen precisely and you should see results. If you get an unexplained breakout at any point, look back over the two weeks prior to the breakout and consider how you may have irritated your skin or veered off The Neck Regimen. It can take a couple of weeks for acne to surface.
The Neck Regimen should be completed both in the morning and in the evening, about 10-12 hours apart.
| # | How | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Dispense a generous amount of cleanser (1 full pumps if using Acne.org Cleanser) into your palm and get a good lather going. | Using a generous amount of cleanser will allow you to generate a good lather. The more lather you generate, the more easily your hands will glide across your skin, thereby reducing irritation. |
| 1.2 | In the shower or at the sink, gently wash your neck for only about 5 seconds and with a gentle touch. Rinse. | Cleansing is necessary because it removes surface oils which allows the benzoyl peroxide and/or glycolic acid (alpha hydroxy acid - AHA) to penetrate, but you can easily achieve this goal with bare hands and only a few seconds of washing. Washing for this short a period of time reduces irritation and is one of the most important steps in The Neck Regimen. |
| 1.3 | Gently pat dry your neck. Do not rub. You may not get your skin completely dry with a towel this way, but that's ok. The remaining wetness will air dry quickly. | Anything which rubs, scratches, or scrubs the skin can cause irritation. Stay very gentle with your towel. |
| 1.4 | Wait 10-15 minutes until your skin is completely dry. Feel free to do other normal daily activities during this time. | Do not begin Step 2 until your skin is completely dry. This will allow your skin to better absorb the treatments. |
For light neck acne skip to step 3. Benzoyl peroxide is not necessary for light neck acne.
| # | How | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | Wash and dry hands. | This helps remove any oils that may have accumulated on your hands. Exposure to oils can aggravate acne. |
| 2.2 | Dispense a generous amount (2mL) of benzoyl peroxide. If using Acne.org Treatment (2.5% benzoyl peroxide), dispense one full pump. |
Using an extremely generous amount of benzoyl peroxide is crucial. When in doubt, use more! Note: This refers to only after you have worked up your dosage to the full amount (2mL). If you have sensitive skin, start with a small amount of benzoyl peroxide and work up the amount you use over 2 weeks until you are using the full amount. |
| 2.3 | Apply very gently, allowing your fingers to glide over the neck until the benzoyl peroxide is more or less absorbed. | Staying super gentle reduces irritation. |
| 2.4 | Wait 5-15 minutes until your skin is completely dry. Feel free to do other normal daily activities during this time. | Benzoyl peroxide oxygenates skin, and dries and peels inside the pore. It is important to give it the time it needs to properly medicate and treat acne. |
| Benzoyl peroxide can bleach fabric. This is the most challenging part of this regimen. If you are using benzoyl peroxide in the morning, you may want to wear a white undershirt. Once you are completely clear, try eliminating benzoyl peroxide from the morning routine. Still keep applying the glycolic acid twice a day, but only apply benzoyl peroxide at night and see if you can stay clear with just once daily benzoyl peroxide application. This works well for some people with less severe acne. | ||
| # | How | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | Wash and dry hands. | This helps remove any oils that may have accumulated on your hands. Exposure to oils can aggravate acne. |
| 3.2 | Dispense a generous amount (2mL) of 10% glycolic acid. (If using Acne.org AHA+, dispense a thick 1/2 finger's length, or 1 full pump.) | The neck requires a lot of glycolic acid to properly treat. |
| 3.3 | Apply very gently, allowing your fingers to glide over the neck until the glycolic acid is more or less absorbed. Wait for the glycolic acid to dry before dressing. | Staying super gentle reduces irritation. |
You can use products from any drugstore to get started right away. However, acne.org also provides products which are carefully formulated to be ideally suited for The Regimen.
To best help people follow The Regimen strictly, we formulate and produce non-comedogenic, pharmaceutical grade products which come in large, affordable sizes so you can use as much as you need.
Visit our storeBuying from the store means you can start treatment almost immediately, which is part of the beauty of The Regimen. Even if you choose to go with acne.org products, the drugstore products are always there for you in an emergency.
Print product guideFeel free to check out what users of The Regimen have to say if you'd like.
