I’m a sucker for any product that promises clear skin. I can’t help it. I’m controlled by the hope of a desperate woman. So for Christmas this year, I asked for the Tria UV Light Skin Clearing System ($295). Here is my review of the product after using it every night for three weeks. (This review is six of one, half dozen of another, so be forewarned.)
Yes, the product helps clear acne. I noticed a change within two days and a particularly bad spot near my eye was fully healed in 7 days instead of its usual three weeks. However, the product ONLY works on certain types of acne and ONLY works on existing acne.
The product does little to nothing for deep cysts that are forming and surface white/blackheads. It will work on the traditional small but annoying blemishes that most people suffer from, and it will help already erupted cystic acne.
It will not prevent acne from forming. You will still get new blemishes, but you may get slightly fewer of them. But the device will clear whatever you have faster than natural, chemically assisted healing.
That being said, you should know that I am returning the device (they give you a 30-day window). While I have been satisfied by the product’s performance, and would recommend it to those with a moderate case of acne (I’m afraid mine is terminal), I have two qualms:
Cost. Three hundred dollars is a lot to pay for something that requires as much maintenance as Tria does. The device requires a cartridge that must be replaced every 300 minutes, and I’ve used up almost half of this in just three weeks. At $40 a pop, that’s another $320+ per year. No thanks.
Half Isn’t Good Enough. I suffer from the dreaded cysts, and thus, this device only helps half of my acne. The maker discloses this in the booklet that comes with the product, but the salesperson at Nordstrom did not tell me that when I bought it. And while I have been pleased with how it has healed my regular acne, pleased isn’t satisfied or thrilled.
If you have moderate acne (that’s not cystic), buy this product. It really works. But if you have cystic, this isn’t for you.
Belle— i used to suffer from acne myself until I tried Differin Gel. Have you tried that? It saved my skin and my self confidence.
Let's review the list:
Differin
Proactiv
EpiDuo
Retin-A
Tazorac
Murad
And anything sold in a drugstore…
I fear that I am terminal.
I know it has had a whole lot of bad press…and frankly I haven't kept up in the past few years because it cured me of my cystic acne…but Accutane worked WONDERS for me. I tried Differin, Tazorac, and everything OTC…it not only cleared it up, but cured me…I still get the occasional blemishes- but not cystic-, mostly hormonal…but the difference is incredible. And it's been 5 years since I've taken it.
Belle I've also tried everything under the sun that you listed, including some nasty prescription cream that stung and needed to be refrigerated. I had a couple cortisone injections. I also went on Accutane, which cleared up the really bad stuff when i was a teenager but isn't really a sustainable treatment now that I'm in my 20s (not to mention the FDA drug recall).
The best solution I've had so far (and by solution I mean semi-solution) has been a rigorous twice-daily routine of salicylic acid cleanser, face wipes, and 10% benozyl peroxide cream (aka clearasil) on the deep blemishes. Every couple months or so I take a round of antibiotics such as Minocycline. The antibiotics show a noticeable difference afterward but they can't be taken consistently- also, ironically, because they interfere with the birth control pill, which didn't help to clear up my acne either.
All this is to say I feel your pain. I would have gladly shelled out $300 for a product if it meant I was acne free forever.
Belle, I, too, feel your pain. I dream of the day when I'm blemish-free, and playah-hate those awful women who are. It's not a good place to be. I've made H promise I can go seek out the super-duper dermatologist as soon as I stop nursing Bean #2. I'm tired of it. Though, to be fair, when I am religious about facewashing (which I'm just not) and even wonderbaring, I do see improvement. I've also seen periodic improvement with all of those products. Then I get lazy.
Maybe we should start a club.
You know, maybe we should start a club. Call a few Derms around town and see if we can't get a group discount. I'm totally serious, what do you think?