I was at the dermatologist for something else and we were talking about how I never had breakouts as a teen but they started in my 20's and I could use really harsh stuff on my face without hurting anything (the strong Retin-A gels, etc)....now my skin is dry, sensitive AND acne prone around my chin. I can't take birth control pills for this hormonal acne, either....I can't do Accutane either.

I used to be able to use ProActiv and it really works but now my skin is so sensitive that the cleanser's scrub beads burn my skin and sometimes the benzoyl peroxide does.

She prescribed Differin Cream for me which I used in the past as a gel, but because I am so dry, she gave me the cream. She also prescribed a combo cream that contains Cleocin antibiotic topical with 2.5% Benzoyl peroxide for me to use in the daytime under my sunscreen.

This gave me a red burn on my face even though I didn't use too much, after like 3 days so I had to stop it for a week, then start back doing it only every other day.

Anyone else use Differin and does it work well for you? BTW the name of the benzoyl/cleocin cream is Duac or something like that (in the US)....

WHAT do you do with DRY, acne prone skin, sensitive skin???? Cetaphil is too greasy for me, yuck. I use a gentle Clearasil foaming cleanser for sensitive skin and only wash face 2x a day...etc. My skin isn't TOO bad but it is bad enough to make me unhappy. And now at 30, I don't have wrinkles but worry about getting them. ugh.

I also use the diferin creme and a 2.5. BP gel (on top of daily antibiotics)

It makes my face red, irritated and dry. My skin gets flaky and when I put on the creme (especially the BP) it burns like hell for hours.

And I still break out.

You should try Purpose soap, it's dye and perfume free and it's really amazing. Follow up with an alcohol free toner, Thayers is good, you can get it at Health Food stores make sure it's the alcohol free one. Then put a mild moisturizer on, I like Neuogena's sensitive skin one. I find that this works pretty well, just be patient.

no waaay, you would SO braek out if you use that!! Try a scrub or an exfoliant like a retin-a based one. and make an essential oil mix (diluted 20 drops in water in a spray bottle )with lemon, lavender, tea tree, patchouli. oh yeah and take mega vitamins like ultra mega green from maximum greens. you can get it at GNC. If all else fails, go on the pill. I'm serious, i had acne for years and the pill works!!!

Avon has a good three step acne system now, forget what it's called.

I used to use a lot of harsh things, but this stuff hasn't dried my face up at all.

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