[Note: If your acne resides on only one side of your face it's likely because

1. You rest your hand on that side of your face.
2. You sleep on that side of your face.
3. You press your phone up against that side of your face. ]

This may be old information to some of you folks, and others may be thinking: "Well duh! Of course talking on the phone causes acne..." However, I found it interesting that talking on the phone while pressing it up against your cheek really made that much of a difference in my facial complexion.

How I made the acne caused by phone discovery.

Earlier tonight I was looking in the mirror. I noticed that the left side of my face near my ear had 3 small pimples. Considering how my face is otherwise clear, I began to question why I might have been having breakouts in the area.

I figured that the small-3-pimple breakout may have been due to:

However, when I was talking to my girlfriend on the phone earlier tonight, I realized that my small breakout was due to the fact that I talk on the phone with my face and my shoulder pressed against it almost every night.

Oils from the phone may cause acne.

My only theory is that dirt and oils from your

• Hands
• Face
• Hair

likely transfer to your phone, and then back to your face.

As a result, your acne either

• Appears
• or Appears to be worse

than it would be if you simply wouldn't talk on the phone, and when you do talk on the phone, not press it up against your cheek.

So in essence, yes, Talking on the phone may cause acne, or at least small breakouts. [However, this is only true if you press your phone up against your face while you're talking.]

For encouragement - First see my Proactiv before and after picture! I guess the true question is: how long will it take for Proactiv to totally clear my acne?

This has been a popular question amongst many Acne Teen Youtube fans, and I don't blame them for wanting to know the answer. When buying an acne product, I used to always ask myself:

1. Will this product clear my acne?
2. How long will it take my acne to clear?

The problem is: these questions can be very difficult to answer, for every individual acne case is different. Although this is true, the information below will hopefully help you gain a better understanding of how long it will take for Proactiv to clear your skin.

After you read the information below, feel free to also read my super detailed, Proactiv Review, along with my Proactiv Questions and Answers Guide.

What type of acne do you have?

Before you go any further you must first determine what type of acne you have. Do you have either mild or severe acne? If you have severe acne, see the 'Severe Acne' section just below. If you have mild acne, scroll down to the 'Mild Acne' section.

Severe Acne:

Week 1 - Your acne will worsen this week. Your skin will usually become dry, irritated, red, and itchy. Don't be alarmed. In order for Proactiv to work, it must first bring all of your acne to the surface of your skin. As for the side effects, it will take your skin some time to get used to the new treatment so they're completely normal.

Week 2 - Your acne may or may not have slightly improved. Most users are stuck still with their week 1 type of skin along with the side effects. Although this is true, light may start to shine in week 3.

Week 3 - New breakouts are scarce this week. However, you may still have acne from previous weeks. Side effects have likely dwindled and you're likely excited about the treatment.

Week 4 - Although most of us are past the stage of breakouts, for some, small breakouts aren't uncommon during this week. Side effects are still present, but far more minimized.

Week 5 - By the end of the month, your skin will have likely seen remarkable improvements. Your acne may still be present, but it's definitely minimized. A breakout or two may still occur, but they won't last as long as they normally have in the past.

Week 6 & Up - For some, acne has completely cleared. Scars and marks from old acne may be present for some time. However, they'll fade over time. The main thing to do now is to just stick with the regimen. Keep up the great work!

Little to Mild Acne:

Week 1 - Like those who have severe acne, your acne will also worsen this week. Along with the worsened acne, side effects will also present themselves. Dry, red, itchy, and irritated skin may occur during this time. Again, don't be alarmed. In order for Proactiv to work, it must first bring all of your acne to the surface of your skin. As for the side effects, it will take your skin some time to get used to the new treatment so they're completely normal.

Week 2 - You may notice a pretty good improvement in your skin already. However, for most of us, our acne is worse during this week, from the fact that it became worsened during week 1. Side effects are also common during this time.

Week 3 - Some are lucky enough to have clear skin during this week with subsided side effects. Some are still battling to clear their acne, but their time of clear skin will come soon enough.

Week 4 & Up - Most people are completely clear by week 4. However, red marks and scars from old acne will likely linger. They'll go away over time though. The main thing here is to just stick with the regimen.

All cases of acne:

Although everyone has different kinds of acne, it's important for everyone alike to follow these common rules to get the fastest and quickest results possible while using Proactiv or any other similar acne product.

1. Be consistent - Don't skip applications!
2. Be gentle - Don't push Proactiv into your skin!
3. Drink water not soda - Bonus tip!
4. Know -
   a. To be successful with Proactiv know How to use Proactiv Properly
   b. The proper time to apply Proactiv
   c. Not to be alarmed by Common Proactiv side effects
   d. To see my before and after Proactiv picture for encouragement

Support:

Good luck with the regimen! Remember to stick with it. If you're have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to post a comment below, or join the Acne Teen Forums.

Before you go any further, be sure to check out my complete Proactiv Review / guide. It's very informative and will surely help a lot of you with any of the problems that you may be having.

When to not use Proactiv. - You'll want to use Proactiv separately from:

1. Showering
2. Bathing
3. Swimming
4. Shaving [I recommend an electric shaver]
5. Exercising [Wait for sweat to dry before use] Proactiv]
6. Or any other time where your face gets wet and/or takes damage.

Avoiding Proactiv side effects - Avoiding side effects that occur because of Proactiv is easy: Just don't use Proactiv at any of the times listed above. Why? In Proactiv is Benzoyl Peroxide, the key ingredient used for fighting acne. It's already damaging enough as it is and using Proactiv prior to or post of any of the above activities will make the side effects way worse than they have to be.

So when should I use Proactiv - The following routine will show you the proper times to use Proactiv. This is the same routine I follow to minimize the side effects caused by Proactiv.

On the clock Proactiv Routine

(8:00 AM) Morning - Shave and then apply moisturizer. I use Lubriderm Lotion. After shaving and applying moisturizer, hop in the shower. Do not wash your face in your morning shower! Doing so may cause side effects. After you've showered, carefully pat your face dry. Apply moisturizer again if necessary.

(8:30 AM - 3:00 PM) Exercise or Activities? - If you compete in any exercise or activities that cause you to sweat between 8:30 AM and 3:00 PM, do not be tempted to wash your face. Instead, after the activity is over, pat your face dry of the sweat with a soft cloth or towel.

(3:00 PM) Proactiv Application #1 - It's mid-day and it's time to apply your first application of Proactiv. By this time, your face has likely had time to recover from last nights' application. You're now ready for Proactiv application #1. If it's needed, apply moisturizer 10 minutes after you've applied Proactiv.

(3:00 PM - 9:00 PM) [Exercise or Activities? - Repeat of above information.]

(9:00 PM) Proactiv Application #2 -It's now the end of your day. To this time, your face should've only been washed one time. Any more than once is too much. You're now ready for Proactiv application #2. If it's needed, apply moisturizer 10 minutes after you've applied Proactiv.

Key to timed application success:

The key is to limit the amount of times your face comes in contact with water to two times a day. Those two times that your face does come into contact with water, you'll be using Proactiv Solutions.

Related Posts

• When to apply Proactiv
• How long does it take for Proactiv to work?
• Before and After Proactiv Picture

What Proactiv instructions don't tell you...

Consistency is key - The number 1 rule for clear skin success with Proactiv and any acne product is to be consistent. IMPORTANT: If you occasionally use Proactiv or you occasionally only skip one day or one step of the regimen, your acne will not go away!

How many times a day you should use Proactiv - I believe that the instructions actually say that you should use Proactiv 2 times a day. However, this can really vary from person to person.

Skin type determines # of times you should apply Proactiv Daily -

1. Dry skin: Use Proactiv once a day.
2. Normal skin: Use Proactiv twice a day.
3. Oily skin: Use Proactiv twice a day.

*What time should I apply Proactiv? - Although I believe the Proactiv instructions say that you should use Proactiv morning and night, this statement does not hold true. IMPORTANT: Applying Proactiv at the wrong time is usually the number 3 cause of side effects, aside from overusing the product and applying the product too roughly. With that being said, it's vital that you read this post: When to apply Proactiv, so you can learn how to avoid those nasty side effects.

Related Posts

• How to use Proactiv Properly
• How long does it take for Proactiv to work?
• Before and After Proactiv Picture

Items in acne products that cause side effects:

1. Benzoyl Peroxide
2. Salicylic Acid

As a company, Proactiv actually uses both Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid in their products. However, in the common 3-step Solution, Proactiv seems to continually favor Benzoyl Peroxide.

What are side effects of Proactiv

Common side effects:

• Dry skin
• Red skin
• Itchy skin
• Scaly skin
• Sting / Burning

Although these side effects aren't fun, they can easily be combated if you learn how to use Proactiv properly. Also, be sure to check out my Proactiv Review and Proactiv Questions and Answers guide for more information.

Don't believe me?

The above images were not retouched in any way. I will be posting some High Definition videos on Youtube showing closeups of my face here in the next couple of days as proof that my skin has cleared.

UPDATE: I have recently posted a high definition video. Feel free to check it out. It will clearly show that I have clear skin. Again, my beautiful complexion was obtained by using Proactiv Solutions.

Although this is true, it doesn't mean the solution is perfect. Be sure to check out my Proactiv Review to find out why. Also see my complete Proactiv Questions and Answers Guide!

Related Posts

• How to use Proactiv Properly
• When to apply Proactiv
• How long does it take for Proactiv to work?
• Proactiv Side Effects

Photo Taken By: DHW Photography - Salem, OR

My Acne Teen story:

I first started getting acne my freshman year of high school. As most people didn't believe my acne was "that bad compared to others," I still thought it was horrible. It was a real self-esteem killer. I vividly remember hiding my face from everyone as I walked through the halls all because of a few little pimples. No matter how little those pimples actually were, each one still seemed enormous and hideous to me.

Welcome to the world of acne products - Only after having acne for one month, I decided that it was time to try to clear my skin.

Products and tricks I use in attempts to clear my skin:

1. Alcohol pads
2. Acne free face wash
3. Egg whites
4. Eating "healthy"
5. Fasting

Research became my friend - After the commercial alcohol pads and acne free face washes didn't work for me, I began to research the underlying causes of acne. I also searched for ways to get rid of acne. That's when I came across step numbers 3, 4, and 5 above. But still, egg whites, eating healthy, and even fasting wouldn't get rid of my acne.

Introduced to Proactiv - Finally, after months of nothing working, I was introduced to Proactiv Solutions. Proactiv resulted in the beautiful skin in the above "after" picture.

Readership Bonus! - Get a FREE bonus when you order any Proactiv® Acne Solution system. Choose from Refining Mask or Green Tea Moisturizer.

Life without Acne - Life without acne is simply amazing. I can freely do what I want and need without having to worry about a pimple sprouting and ruining my day. Without acne, I no longer have to hide my face and I no longer have to hide from the world.

My hope for you:

From reading the advice that I am providing you with here at AcneTeen dot Org, I hope that you will also have clear skin success. Please enjoy reading Acne Teen dot Org. I hope to see you around and I hope to see you with clear skin soon!

I'll teach you how to get clear skin like I did:

I want clear skin like you! How can I subscribe?

There are two ways that you can subscribe your way to clear skin.

[Tip: If you're a non-tech-savvy user, you'll be better off subscribing via email:]

1. Subscribe in a Reader. [What's this?]
2. Subscribe by entering your email below.

The theme based around their site is "B.P." aka Benzoyl Peroxide. Their solution contains a 3-step acne fighting regimen and again, one of the best support teams on the net.

Acne.Org Support Review

Back when I had what I considered, "bad acne," I stumbled upon the Acne.Org Community. I told them that I needed help. You would've thought they would have tried to talk me into using their own solutions, but instead, they helped me clear my skin using what I already had.

Benzoyl Peroxide is the Secret

The secret behind Acne.Org's product is the special acne fighting ingredient, Benzoyl Peroxide. I guess it's not really much of a secret since it's promoted all over their website. However, this is the reason their solution works. If you didn't know, benzoyl peroxide is said to be one of the best ways to fight against acne vulgaris. This statement has been mentioned in multiple books, by multiple dermatologists.

Final Impression

There are currently two different types of items that you can embed from AcneTeen.Org.

[Note: The below tutorial shows only screen shots of what you can do when you come across a post that contains embeddable media. You can try embedding actual media by clicking the: "try this in an example post?" link, which will take you to a page where embedding media is actually available.]

Embedding Images: [Try this in an example post?]

Embedding Links: [Try this in an example post?]

I hope that you all enjoy embedding images from Acne Teen dot Org. Thanks for coming. Be sure to subscribe and come back for more. :)

Recommended Readers:

1. Google Reader
2. Yahoo Reader
3. MSN Reader

If you already have an email account with one of the corresponding companies above, then you don't have to sign up for a new account to use their reader. However, I do recommend Google Reader the most, because it is the easiest reader to use.

Screen shot of Google Reader:

The above screen capture is a picture of Google Reader in action. As you can see, the content area provides you with all of the information you'd normally get from coming to Acne Teen, without actually having to come to Acne Teen.

Benefits of subscribing in a reader:

• Don't have to give out your email address to get updates.
• Forgot the name of a cool site? With a reader it doesn't matter.
• Free notification to when fresh updates are posted.
• Quick, easy, and FREE.

How to subscribe to Acne Teen in a reader:

1st - Click this link.

2nd - After you've clicked the link above, the below page will load and appear.

Choose your reader as shown below

3rd - After you have chosen your reader, follow the onscreen instructions provided by the specified reader in which you have chosen.

4th - Enjoy your FREE subscription to Acne Teen dot Org.

Questions?

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial on how to subscribe in a RSS Reader. If you have any questions feel free to ask by leaving a comment at the end of this page.

[I don't want to sound like a "meanie-head" in this disclaimer, but I really don't want to risk the possibility of being sued.]

Although I try to report information as accurately and specifically as possible, you must understand that I am not a doctor nor have I gone to school for the study of dermatology and or anything else related to skin care or acne.

With the above information being said, I will not be held responsible for ANYTHING that happens to you while following any of the given advice on my site.

If you have any questions about the disclaimer above, feel free to post them as a comment at the end of this page.