If you have acne, you probably long for some good advice to help you sort through the many acne-treating products on the market to find the one that's best for you. Many people swear by Proactiv acne products, while others stand behind Acne Free products. An outline of the differences between Proactiv and Acne Free acne-treating systems might be helpful.
Causes
For teens, acne is almost a normal rite of passage. As your glands and your skin mature as part of puberty, your hormones trigger your skin to produce more oil, according to the Cleveland Clinic. When you have too much oil on and in your skin, that oil can irritate your skin and clog your pores, leading to acne. If the bacteria that normally live on your skin proliferate in the oil, you'll have bacterial infection related to your acne.
Features
Both Proactiv and AcneFree offer a wide array of acne-fighting products, but both brands center around three-part systems intended to fight acne. Proactiv's three-step system includes a renewing cleanser, a revitalizing toner, and a repairing treatment. AcneFree offers the choice of three-part systems designed for dry skin, active people, normal skin and people with severe acne, but all choices also revolve around a cleanser, a toner and a lotion.
Function
Both Proactiv and AcneFree products rely on benzoyl peroxide as their main active ingredient. Benzoyl peroxide, one of the most effective over-the-counter acne-fighting ingredients, fights the bacteria often found in bad acne and also tends to make your skin drier, which helps prevent excess oil buildup, according to the website Drugs.com. Some Proactiv and AcneFree products, such as those intended for sensitive skin, also include salicylic acid as an active ingredient. Salicylic acid, also considered effective in acne treatment, clears pores by encouraging your skin to peel.
Side Effects
Both the benzoyl peroxide and the salicylic acid found in Proactiv and AcneFree products can irritate your skin, causing skin reddening and chapping, according to Drugs.com. Salicylic acid might cause excessive peeling, while benzoyl peroxide often produces more skin irritation. In either case, you may need to cut back on your use of Proactiv or AcneFree if either irritates your skin excessively.
Considerations
Proactiv recieved many negative reviews on the popular forum at Acne.org. Many customers complained about the $75 price for a one-month supply and Proactiv's billing practices for refills. However, a few others said Proactiv cleared their skin successfully. AcneFree's systems, which retail for about $20 per month, received more mixed reviews, with some customers saying the products cleared their acne, but others saying the products severely irritated their skin, especially if they had sensitive skin.
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