whats the real deal with proactive...

some drs say yes others say no.....im 38 weeks and i need to use something badly...

Re: whats the real deal with proactive...

Everything I can find says NO, but nice try Nance. 2 weeks to go, you have made it this far. I on the other hand have to deal with this skin for 30 more weeks!!!

Re: whats the real deal with proactive...

my OB was fine with proactive, used it throughout my pregnancy

Re: whats the real deal with proactive...

I didn't know there was a problem with it! I've been using it all along. It has benzoyl peroxide which is supposed to be safe in pregnancy. Salicylic acid is the one we're not supposed to use. There are no warnings on the bottle. One of the products I have does have a warning. It's a skin lightner. I don't use that one.

Re: whats the real deal with proactive...

everyone has differing opinions on both benzyol peroxide and salicyclic acid. some say yes, others no.

i haven't used proactive in years, but i use a neutrogena wash once a day.

honestly, the little amount of wash i use on my face and the 5 seconds its on my face before i rinse..i cant imagine it doing much harm.

Re: whats the real deal with proactive...

My doc said yes to proactiv but my dermatologist (also pregnant) said no because there is not enough data and no human testing done. She said "when in doubt cut it out". That being said, I feel like in your last few weeks of pregnancy you are fine...all of the really important things are already in place. I used it before pregnancy and plan on using again as soon as I can! If my skin does not clear up I am considering starting up again at the end of my third trimester, too. Maybe ask your dr. so you have peace of mind!

Re: whats the real deal with proactive...

Re: whats the real deal with proactive...

Here's what I found out.

Neither benzoyl peroxide nor salicylic acid have been studied with regards to pregnancy and effect on fetus.
No animal studies have even been done on either, and they are both class C drugs.

It is known that less than 5% of benzoyl peroxide is absorbed by the skin from topical applications. It is not known if it would be absorbed into breastmilk.

No one knows how much salicylic acid is absorbed, but they known it is. Salicylic acid is known to pass into the breast milk and you should never take it if you are breastfeeding.

I feel safe washing with proactive face wash but I don't apply the acne lotion.

I like tea tree oil wash from body shop, also, sometimes I mix it with proactive wash

To dry out a pimple try this. Take a q-tip, soak it in rubbing alcohol and hold it against the pimple for a few minutes at a time throughout the day.

Re: whats the real deal with proactive...

My OB said it was fine. I use it in moderation.