Ask here! - ScA Daily Help Thread Sep 17, 2024

If you’re new to SkincareAddiction: welcome!

This thread is the best place to start if you have questions about skincare products, your routine, and your skin. Our community is knowledgeable, and we want to help you have the best skin of your life!

Do you have a question?

Step 1: Read our resources

Be sure to check out our FAQ and Wiki! There are a lot of topics covered in those links, but some of the most popular guides include:

Or search the sub using this awesome website. You might find a solution to your problem there!

If you can’t find an answer, or you have additional questions after reading, please move on to step 2!

Step 2: Ask for help

To give you the best advice possible, our users need relevant information about your skin and skincare. With your request for help please include:

  • The issue(s) you need help with. It’s helpful to put your questions at the top of your comment (especially if it’s a long one)!
  • Skin type. It’s OK to be subjective, how do you feel your skin is? Oily, dry? If you need help clarifying, check out this guide on skin types
  • Current routine with the full names of your products (try to separate it in to Morning, Evening, and Occasionally used)
  • How long you have been using your current routine, or product in question
  • Anything new you’ve introduced or started doing that might change the condition of your skin
  • Your location so we can recommend products/services available to you

Thanks for taking the time to include your information!

Would you like to give advice?

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Whether it be in-depth responses that deserve to be their own guides, thoughtful product recommendations, or simply pointing someone in the right direction, we appreciate all the time and effort you’ve made to help others!

Previous Threads


any idea what this is?


Any advice on how to get rid of these bumps? They seem like old acne or something except they aren’t inflamed/painful like acne would be, and don’t seem like they are working towards being a whitehead. Been there for many months not even sure when they showed up.

I just cleaned and moisturized, just started tretinoin as well. If there’s anything else you think might help them any advice would be appreciated!

Any advice on how to get rid of these bumps? They seem like old acne or something except they aren’t inflamed/painful like acne would be, and don’t seem like they are working towards being a whitehead. Been there for many months not even sure when they showed up.

I just cleaned and moisturized, just started tretinoin as well. If there’s anything else you think might help them any advice would be appreciated!

When something has been on your skin for so long, it merits seeing a doctor.


What to do about these red spots that popped up on my skin? They haven’t gone away for months and they aren’t acne.

Broken blood vessels or cherry angiomas, probably. I don’t believe there are any topical treatments, but lots of speedy in-clinic treatments.

Thanks!! By clinic, do you mean a dermatologist? I went to an aesthetician and they just charged me $150 to smear a bunch of crap on my skin that did nothing. Lol

Yeah, a derm or a medical aesthetic clinic with medical aestheticians/nurses (varies by country) - it’ll need to be a laser treatment.


Is there anything you’d recommend for my skin? I have some acne scars id like to lighten/remove as well as redness around my nose and chin. I currently just moisturize/cleanse 2x a day with sunscreen in the AM, and an eye cream at night. BP/SA spot treatments/pimple patches when needed.

Hello all! I’ve had pretty decent skin my entire life (despite the occasional breakout and texture in my T-zone). However, about a month and a half ago I quit taking my birth control, and ever since then I have had the most pesky texture ever. My entire forehead and parts of my nose have a lot of texture. I had been an avid Tretinoin user for the past 2 years, and I loved what it did for my skin prior to this breakout. For some backstory, I went about 3 months without using Tretinoin due to mental health issues and unrelated unfortunate life circumstances. Now, I have started taking EXCELLENT care of my skin again. Could the texture be due to pausing birth control? I am going to start taking it again for the time being, and I have an appointment with my doctor in a couple months to discuss any changes. I am frustrated that attempting to come off birth control could cause such bad texture. Any suggestions?

So yeah, pausing BC impacts hormones and can cause an increase in oil production which may lead to texture issues.

If you’re okay to go back on BC, that’s your best bet. If you don’t want to, I’d check out the link to our acne wiki (it’s linked to at the top).

How long before my birth control will clear it up again?

I’m not sure - could be a few weeks to a few months.

What’s the difference between a chemical or physical exfoliator and how will I know which a particular product is? I’ve generally heard before on this sub to choose a chemical one over a physical one and just wondering why + any recommendations? I have very oily skin.

We have a ton of helpful information about exfoliating in the sub-wiki so definitely check that out. Physical exfoliants use an actual mechanical way of exfoliating with something like a face scrub or brush. Chemical exfoliants use specific active ingredients to go into pores and help facilitate cellular turnover. Neither is necessarily good or bad. It’s all about finding what works best for your skin. And not overusing whatever you choose. What skin issues are you trying to address and what’s your current routine?

Oh ok, so probably looking for a chemical exfoliant then. Mostly acne and dullness are what I’m looking to address, and right now I pretty much only use a water-based cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen for my routine.

Salicylic acid would be a good one to try to add in maybe three times a week between cleanser and moisturizer. That will help address acne. After you’ve given that a go for a bit, you might consider adding in a vitamin C serum in the mornings before sunscreen to help with the dullness.