THERE'S Jessica Simpson and Proactiv. Dr. Perricone and his $75 "Nutritional Support." Sonya Dakar and her $50-an-ounce "Drying Potion."
And then there's Dan Kern -- the man who's taking the strange glamour out of acne treatment, and winning thousands of followers in the process.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Tuesday, February 05, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 47 words Type of Material: Correction
Acne.org: A Jan. 27 Image article about Acne.org founder Dan Kern identified Dr. Sonia Badreshia-Bansal as an adjunct clinical professor with the department of dermatology at Stanford University. Badreshia-Bansal is a board-certified dermatologist and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and is not associated with Stanford.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday, February 10, 2008 Home Edition Image Part P Page 2 Features Desk 1 inches; 48 words Type of Material: Correction
Acne.org: A Jan. 27 Image article about Acne.org founder Dan Kern identified Dr. Sonia Badreshia-Bansal as an adjunct clinical professor with the department of dermatology at Stanford University. Badreshia-Bansal is a board-certified dermatologist and fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and is not associated with Stanford University.
Kern, 35, is the founder of Acne.org, a no-frills website built on a few simple concepts for clear skin. He isn't a celebrity or even a doctor. But he is out to change the way the world thinks about clogged pores or -- as he states with characteristic zeal on his home page -- to use "the power of the Internet to pool the intelligence and experience of people around the world to end the struggle of acne as we now know it."
In a little more than 10 years, Acne.org has gained 62,000 registered members and 20,000 unique visitors a day. The site is also a virtual town hall where sufferers commiserate, swap stories and solutions about bad skin, and keep message boards buzzing with makeup and grooming tips, product ratings, new research and scar treatment solutions.
"I'm looking for a gentle cleanser that doesn't have sodium laureth sulfate," writes deadbeat007. "Any suggestions?"
Acne_battle responds, "I've been using CeraVe cleanser and a Clinique cleanser also. Don't take my advice though; my face looks like crap."
One success story -- from Marie in Los Angeles -- reads, "My doctor had actually prescribed a 4% Brevoxyl Creamy Wash about three months prior, but I was using it all wrong . . . way too little for way too short of time. Using your method within two weeks, I saw a MAJOR improvement."
Kern's program is simple. He recommends washing with a mild cleanser, such as Basis Sensitive Skin bar or Acne.org's Gentle Cleanser. Allow the skin to completely dry. Then apply a dime-sized amount of benzoyl peroxide to the problem areas until all of the product has been absorbed. In time, this amount will increase to nearly a tablespoon. Allow it to completely dry, then follow with a fragrance-free moisturizer.
After about two weeks, the treated areas will start to peel and flake. Chances are they will turn red and itchy and burn, but, according to Kern, after the affected areas peel off and the skin becomes accustomed to the treatments, clearer skin will emerge.
"Follow the steps . . . precisely as outlined," he warns on his website. "I cannot make this point strongly enough. Maybe even print out this page or the checklist and take it into the bathroom with you."
