Acne.org Products
(Let me start by saying my acne has never been severe, mostly mild from what Ive seen on the forum)
We have all been lied to.
cleanser and bp in the morning and in the night this is absolutely NOT the right way to treat your skin (unless you have oil literally dripping off of your face).
After moving away from the DKR (acne.org regimen), I looked into some alternative products (I made a thread about this in the OTC acne medication sub-forum) and I spoke to some people with a lot of skincare knowledge. I started to use the new products, but I followed the same routine as the regimen - cleanse in the morning, bp in the morning (we are told to use WAY too much but Ill get into that) and moisturizer, and then the same routine at night. Things were okay for a week or so until I started noticing my skin getting tighter and tighter just from the cleanser (I use a super gentle cleanser), and more so after applying bp. I knew something was wrong but wasnt sure what.. and then I spoke to a friend in the industry and it changed everything.
She told me that using benzoyl peroxide twice a day, with a finger length amount, (she gasped when I told her I was using this much) was absolutely destroying my skin barrier. She also told me that even cleansing twice a day was causing the barrier to get worse, and that I could moisturize all I want but if I continued to do these things twice daily my face would never be able to properly heal, let alone heal any breakouts.
She broke it down and said, the cleanser (I used in the shower in the morning and shower before bed) mixed with the hot water from the shower was stripping my skin barrier completely, and THEN I was applying benzoyl peroxide to my raw, stripped skin, without any protection between them. This was making my face irritated and blotchy, tight and super unhealthy. (I didnt even notice.. until things changed. Ill get to that.)
So she helped me set a plan, which first meant I had to repair my skin barrier (while still fighting any potential breakouts). I STOPPED using bp in the mornings COMPLETELY. She suggested I also not use my cleanser more than once a day either but I went against this, at first. Cutting back on the bp for a couple of days seemed to help a little, but my skin still felt tight and irritated, so I took her advice and stopped cleansing twice a day. I began to do something thats called skin buffering, and something she called sandwiching. Instead of cleansing in the shower, getting out and letting my skin completely dry out and then putting bp over that raw skin, I instead began to put moisturizer on as soon as I stepped out of the shower after gently patting my face with a towel - she said this locks hydration into the skin immediately. Then I would take a very VERY small amount of bp and gently apply it to my problem areas and spot treat any pimples. After waiting 5-10 minutes for the bp to dry, I would then use the sandwich method and reapply a very thin layer of moisturizer over the areas that I had just treated with bp. (Not even rubbing this application in, just putting a small amount on my hand and dabbing it over the areas that I had previously applied bp).
when I tell you all that my skin changed drastically within 3 days I am telling you no lies. I started to get compliments of my skin having a glow that I hadnt heard in years and years. This glow, is hydrated, healthy skin.
Im not sure where it came from or who came up with it, but using a cleanser (gentle or not) as well as a f***ing finger-length of bp twice a day is ridiculous and I dont know how I never noticed it on my own. I just saw pimples fading and thought everything was fine. I was destroying my skin. If youre currently doing this and still having issues especially with redness or irritation PLEASE cut back. If/when youre told oh thats just your skin getting used to it, dont listen. Its not, its getting mad at you for stripping away its essential oils and ruining your skins natural barrier.
anyway, for those of you still reading this, this is now what I do each day, and I can honestly say my skin hasnt felt better in maybe a decade:
before the gym (6am) :
- lukewarm water rinse in the sink followed by moisturizer on my damp skin.
after the gym, in the shower:
- gentle cleanser (a much smaller amount than I was ever used to using) rubbing it over my skin gently as opposed to feeling like I'm rubbing it in, if that makes sense.
- moisturizer as soon as I pat my face semi-dry with a towel, locking in hydration.
- 5-10 mins later, a VERY thin layer of 2.5% bp on problem areas of my face (forehead/nose) and spot treating any active pimples
- once the bp is completely dry, another thin layer of moisturizer over the treated areas - not rubbing it in, gently patting it onto my skin in circles and allowing it to absorb on its own.
in the night before bed:
- lukewarm water rinse, wether in the shower or in the skin, doesnt really matter.
- moisturizer on my damp skin after patting dry with a towel
- spot treating any active pimples with a thin pea sized amount of 2.5% bp
- moisturizer over these areas again, very light layer, not rubbing but just dabbing over where the bp has dried, allowing it to absorb
and thats it.
my skin hasnt felt this good for as long as I can remember, it feels so much more hydrated and full, no more redness or irritation, not at all blotchy, a very even tone across my entire face. When I began this I had two pimples just forming under the skin on each side of my face. I listened and just did this routine instead of overreacting or trying to do too much to those spots - this routine itself softened those spots up and reduced redness within 2-3 days and within 4-5 they were both on their way to healing.
I am aware that everyone is different and everyone has different needs for their skin, but I do truly believe that this twice a day twice a day, finger length, arm length of bp is absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary and is likely causing you much more harm than any good it may be doing. For those of you that have this type of routine and it works, thats great and I am happy for you. But overall I believe the majority of people do NOT need this much strain put on their skin, it does nothing but strips our skin bare, then were supposed to put harsh bp directly over that raw stripped skin no, it doesnt make sense.
less is more. trust me.
lastly, if youd like to know the products that I use:
cleanser: cerave gentle hydrating cleanser
moisturizer: cerave PM moisturizing lotion
bp: neutrogena 2.5% bp treatment
I hope this helps anyone that is having trouble and finding themself in the same place I was in. And anyone using bp twice a day for that matter - unless your acne is severe, please think about the damage youre doing to your skin everyday.
thanks for coming to my ted talk. ✌🏼
I'm glad you have found a regime which works for you. I don't think it's fair to say we are being lied to though. Some people do genuinely need a lot of BP to treat their acne. There is something of a trade off between sufficient BP to treat the acne against using too much that causes dryness and outbreaks. Remember you have mild acne so probably have more leeway.
Im saying that based off of what Ive been told by a medical professional, what Ive seen on this website for over a decade and from my own personal experience for the last decade.
My opinion isnt law, its just that - my opinion. As I said, Im sure some people have to treat their severe acne with a more severe scope, but speaking from my experience being on this website for the last 10+ years, anyone with acne asking for help, are told to go to the regimen and it will cure them. For the vast majority of these people, the amount of bp recommended by the DKR is WAY too much.
just giving my opinion in an attempt to help others. 🤷🏼♂️🙏🏼
@starpower I don't disagree with you, inasmuch dryness can be a big issue with BP. I used BP successfully for 2 years but then found the dryness problematic (I think because I was having to cover a larger area of my skin as the underlying acne had spread)
In the end I switched to an BHA/AHA serum instead of BP which is much less drying. I still do the cleanser and moisturiser steps like Dan's regime. If you ever want more details let me know.
This is Star Powers personal opinion. Take it with a grain of salt. Anecdotal evidence is pure speculation.
if you look at his or her post history, their skin condition had changed and making unsubstantiated claims the product changes are the reason. Maybe it is the cause, maybe it isnt. But at the end of the day, you have to make the decision for your self.
as for me, accutance could never keep my skin clear. Dans regime has kept my skin clear. And my skin looks even better with the product changes, especially thanks to niacinimide.
careful with trolls. Do your own due diligence and see how the product works for you. If it doesnt, there are plenty of alternatives.
edit: Dan has always encouraged people to adjust the product use based on your own skin condition. I use less BP than suggested. And its common knowledge to never use hot water to cleanse your face.
If you can get away with using less and be completely clear, absolutely use less.
But, in all of my experience, most people need to use more.
When you first start (in the first month or so), your skin does get irritated. No doubt about it. That's expected. You have to live through it and your skin gets used to the BP. That's why it's really important to start slowly.
Also, as a final note, the new Acne.org Treatment (Benzoyl Peroxide - 2.5%) is super effective and has super tiny particles so I've been noticing some people can get away with using a bit less. But I don't want people to think they shouldn't use more. You want to slowly increase your dosage until you're completely clear.
Overall, I would tell everyone to do The Regimen exactly as outlined until they're completely clear and stay clear for 2 weeks. Then, you can take your dose down a bit each day and see what you can get away with.
youve been under my posts in the past trying to argue against things Ive said.
as you yourself just said, this is my opinion, on an open forum, dont like it dont listen to it.. not sure whats so hard for you to understand and Im not going to try to justify any of it for you as we have had this conversation numerous times now. On an absolutely dead acne forum. Go get some sunshine.. calling someone literally just trying to help others, a troll 😂