Proactiv Plus for Tweens and Teens {Giveaway}

As my oldest daughter gets older I notice her worrying about her appearance more and more every day.  From agonizing over her wardrobe to insisting she wear make-up to school daily, the changes are coming and they are coming quickly.  One of the biggest physical changes I have noticed with my daughter is the appearance of pimples on her chin and forehead.  Being a teenager once myself (yes, a very long time ago) I remember those days and they were not fun.  Unfortunately acne is very common in tweens and teens, and approximately 85% of people will suffer from acne at some point in their lives so tweens and teens suffering from acne are far from alone. 

I have been a Proactiv user for almost a year now; I love the products and I love how well they work for me, but I didn’t know that Proactiv offered a teen kit called Proactiv Plus for teens specifically made for the skin types and problems that plague tweens and teens.  So when I was asked to do a review for the Proactiv Plus I was more than happy to help out.  I was also very interested in learning more about tweens, teens, and acne and thanks to Dr. Alyson Levine I was able to do just that.  Dr. Alyson Levine is a a dermatologist from Chappaqua , NY , who specializes in treating teenage acne, she believes that teens and their moms need some additional schooling when it comes to treating acne.  One of my biggest worries with my daughter starting to display signs of acne is how helpless I am to be able to stop it or make her feel better about it and apparently I am not alone in my worrying. 

Did you know?

• 66% of moms would feel worse if their teen had acne for an entire semester than if their teen didn’t have a date to the prom
• 66% of moms think they know more about how their teen feels about school than their looks
• 65% of moms believe their teens know more about algebra than how to prevent or treat their acne
• 52% of moms who have acne-prone teens feel sad or helpless (49%) when their teens breakout
• 49% of moms believe they are better suited to help with their teen’s homework than assist them in dealing with their acne
• 46% of moms who experienced acne as a teen feel worse about their teens inheriting appearance problems than health issues
• 41% of moms would give up an hour of sleep every night for a year to ensure that their teen has eternally clear skin

I recently had the chance to interview Dr. Levine and ask her some questions that I had about acne in tweens and teens, a portion of that interview is below.

1.  What should moms and tweens and teens know about acne?
Listed here are a few important tips that I believe moms of teens with acne should know.
a. Know what to look for. Acne can begin very simply, often appearing as just a few blackheads or skin colored bumps on the nose or forehead.
b. Don't minimize what your teen is feeling. Acne, even mild acne, can be devastating. It is well established that acne can have serious psychosocial consequences.
c. Get started early. Treat acne as soon as it begins. Treating acne while it is still mild will result in faster and easier control of the disease and may mitigate serious consequences like permanent scarring or long term psychological damage.
d. Start with simple treatments. Choose effective and well tolerated over the counter benzoyl peroxide containing products, like Proactiv.
e. Know when to ask for help. If your child’s acne is severe, scarring or treatment resistant, seek the help of a Dermatologist.

2.  What are the early signs of acne?
Acne can start very simply, often appearing as just a few blackheads or skin colored bumps on the nose or forehead.

3. At what age do tweens and teens typically start getting acne?
Teen acne usually begins arounds the onset of puberty (age 12-13 years in girls and age 14-15 years in boys). However, Tween acne may begin as early as age 8-11, in the prepubertal years.

4.  Do certain foods make tweens and teens more prone to acne?
This has been a controversial topic in Dermatology for many years. Most recently, there has been a renewed interest in the possible role of diet as a causal factor of acne. Current studies are focusing on investigating the role of dairy products and well as high glycemic diets. The jury is still out on if and how these food products might contribute to acne. However, if a patient reports a perceived connection between a particular food and their acne, I recommend avoiding that food as long as they are still able to maintain a healthy, well-balanced diet.

5.  Can stress make acne worse, or cause acne to appear?
Yes, stress is known to be a common trigger for acne. I often see teenagers with acne flares during or after exam periods.

6. What is a good skin care routine for tweens and teens?
The tween and teen years are a good time to start reinforcing good skincare habits, even in those who are not suffering from acne. I recommend washing twice a day with warm water and a gentle facial cleanser. It’s important to emphasize that harsh scrubbing or over-washing is not necessary and, in fact, can be very irritating. I like to take the opportunity during this conversation to remind my patients of the importance of daily sunscreen. An oil-free or non-comedogenic sunscreen can be applied after cleansing in the morning, and then reapplied as needed throughout the day.

7.  What should parents tell their tweens and teens who are experiencing acne?
There are several key messages that parents should share with their tweens and teens who are experiencing acne. First, it is important for parents to reassure their child that acne is normal. Approximately 85% of people will suffer with acne at some point in their lives. Second, teens should know that acne is not their fault. For the most part, their body will decide when to begin and when to stop making acne. Finally, parents should let their teens know that they don’t have to suffer and that help is out there. There are many easy and effective treatments for acne. While we can’t cure it, we can effectively control it so that teens can feel good about the appearance of their skin.

I found Dr. Levine’s words to be comforting, knowing that both myself and my daughter were not alone in the fight against acne made dealing with it that much easier.  I agree completely with what Dr. Levine said about not having to suffer with acne, thanks to Proactiv I haven’t had much of an issue for the past year, and I know that if my daughter continues using Proactiv that her issues with acne will soon disappear!



My daughter received the Proacti Plus teen kit to review a little over a week ago, she was very excited and somewhat anxious about using the products.  Proactiv Plus includes Proactiv’s exclusive 3-step system (Cleanser, Toner and Repairing Treatment) which heals acne now and helps prevent future breakouts from ever happening! You'll also receive our "perfect-for-the-shower" Deep Cleansing Wash, plus our special formula Advanced Blemish Treatment to attack stubborn breakouts — fast!  Even though she was obviously psyched about Proativ she was not too thrilled with having to use 3 or 4 products twice a day—tweens, can’t live with them, can’t live without them.  Once I explained to Taylor how easy the routine was she agreed to give it a try.  The first couple of days I had to supervise her to make sure she was using the products as recommended, but she caught on quickly and now Proactiv is part of her routine.  Taylor’s “acne” wasn’t too bad to begin with, a few breakouts on her forehead and some on her chin was about the extent of her acne.  Within just a couple of days of using Proactiv I noticed an improvement in the appearance of the pimples, they were less red, less noticeable, and staring to go away.  I also noticed that no new pimples were forming in their place—both Taylor and myself were very impressed with the way the products work.  After using the Proactiv kit for a little over a week Taylor’s skin continues to improve and she hasn’t experienced any new breakouts.  I do want to mention that a couple of days in we noticed some drying of the skin and decided to use the products only once a day before bed—that helped with the dryness but seemed to be just as effective as before.  And just in case you’re haing a tough time trying to convince your tween or teen to use Proactiv, just tell them that Justin Bieber and Katy Perry are both Proactiv users, bet they change their minds real quick!

Do you have a tween or teen who is experiencing acne?  If so I highly recommend that you try Proactiv!  The makers of Proactiv are so confident in their product that they even offer a 60 Day Money-Back Guarantee…what have you got to lose, except acne?    And because I love all of my amazing readers I have 1 Proactiv Teen Kit to give away! 

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This giveaway ends on Friday September 24, 2010 at 11:59 PM EST.  One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post.  Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim their prize; failure to do so will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner.