u/Individual-Mood1119

I have recently updated my routine to make it as MINIMAL as possible as it’s super damaged and reactive to any products and was reacting to water at some points.

I am now using Avene control moisturizer in mornings if it feels dry (no washing/water) and Cereve gentle cleanser at night followed by Avene control moisturizer.

I do not use barrier serums etc as my skin feels too damaged and sensitive for products. My skin does feel less itchy with slightly less redness but my chin is still irritated and one of the flaky patches bled overnight. Why?

Does this routine sound ok to try and reset my skin? Everyone says skin is self healing so I expect new cells to regenerate while I keep it minimal.

I believe my barrier got damaged due to actives (differin & AA) so i stopped ALL actives and continued with a minimal routine. However, slowly the skin barrier worsened as I have more patches, redness and stinging.

Morning:

- lukewarm water
- Vanicream daily facia moisturizer or Aveeno dermexa moisturizer
- SPF sometimes

Night:

Same routine expect I use Cereve gentle cleanser and no SPF

It started of with a white patch of flakiness on chin but this has since spread to other areas of the chin and more redness on the forehead. There is also some itchiness on forehead but not anywhere else.

My face stings sometimes after washing but sometimes doesn’t. My forehead was completely fine until a month ago where redness and itchiness appeared.

Please help. It’s been months of this and the skin is not healing. I don’t use barrier serums as they tend to sting, I’ve read it’s good to use them to build barrier up once it’s fixed.