Image via New York Times

The Times ran an article about Proactiv today, and although I'm not really sure why they're covering it now, it did bring up a few interesting points. For example, the idea that the brand is cleverly marketed--celeb testimonials and all--but you can basically get the same level of benzoyl peroxide in a variety of drugstore products for way cheaper. Uh huh. (In fact, there are a zillion new over-the-counter copycat acne kits: I'm particularly fond of the Neutrogena Advanced Solutions Complete Acne Therapy System.) Of course, they also allude to acne no longer being a teen problem, but I've been hearing grown ass women (myself included) bitch about adult acne for years. Duh.

What they didn't bring up is why Proactiv seems to be so successful on a working level, and I have the answer: combination therapy is the best way to fight acne--from a topical perspective anyway--so Proactiv works by forcing you to stay on a regimen because you have clear steps. The trick is to combine acne-fighting ingredients like sal acid and benzoyl peroxide and use them on a consistent basis. Ultimately, you want to be preventing breakouts before they happen. Right.

Okay, so maybe this article doesn't quite tell us anything we don't already know, but how's this for shits and giggles:

"Spotless skin has always had aesthetic value. The zoologist Desmond Morris wrote in his book, "Naked Woman," that a smooth, unblemished cheek suggests that a woman is youthful and healthy. Harvard psychologist Nancy Etcoff goes further in her book, "Survival of the Prettiest," in which she argues that the stigma of pimples has its roots in evolutionary biology. Because acne can be caused by increased androgen levels, potential mates may unconsciously view a woman with blotchy skin as less fertile than someone with clear skin, she wrote."

Get this: androgen levels increase with age, so the problem of adult acne is no joke. Plus, this totally corresponds to a study I read recently highlighting how higher estrogen levels in women may make them seem more attractive to potential mates. What does all this mean? When your derm tells you to go on birth control pills (i.e. alter your hormone levels) to help clear up your skin, they're not just pulling that out of their ass. Comments?