Although we would like to pretend that acne, like homecoming competitions, are only the concern of adolescents, we would only be fooling ourselves. Worse, while an acne breakout in high school seemed like the end of the world, that embarrassment is nothing compared to the concept of walking into a high-stakes board meeting with a face full of pus. Thankfully, a team of resourceful scientists have come up with a product called Proactiv. Proactiv is a revolutionary three-stage treatment solution that, unlike many of its competing products, actually works. Of course, the success rate of Proactiv isn’t blemish free (sorry, I couldn’t resist): namely, it costs a great deal more than other products which claim to do the same. I was raised to believe that you get what you pay for and, when it comes to the eradication of acne, nothing could be truer.

Introduced to the market a few years back, Proactiv is the brain child of two Stanford scientists. Those who remain blissfully free of an acne affliction will never understand the psychological trauma inflicted by chronic outbreaks. While I’m not one to automatically assume that majority rules, there is a reason that Proactiv has quickly become the number one selling acne solution on the market. It works.

The fast food acne treatments are designed to deal with a current acne outbreak. Ironically, the chemicals used are likely to create redness and irritation which is only a minor step above an acne breakout. Proactiv was designed to become part of a daily skin care regimen and is successful in preventing further acne outbreaks.

Another difference between Proactiv and its competition is the state it leaves your skin in. Typical acne solutions leave your skin red and dry; Proactiv is designed to leave your skin feel smooth, supple and moisturized. In the long one, this means that Proactiv is better for your skin as it doesn’t dry it out and deny it of essential oils and nutrients.

The trade-off, and you knew there have to be a trade-off, is that Proactiv is more expensive than the other options available to you. However, it doesn’t take an advanced economic degree to realize that paying more for something that works is better than paying less for something that doesn’t. You’ll have to weigh the severity of your acne condition against the cost of Proactiv, but most folks with moderate to severe acne feel that the money is well spent.