r/SkincareAddiction

Wanted to share this cuz it was honestly a long ride. I tried different scar creams and topicals, including hydroquinone, azelaic acid and tretinoin.

I spent months contacting dermatologists and clinics across North America. Everyone seemed to suggest something different, some options were ridiculously expensive and others said they couldn’t help. I literally made a spreadsheet comparing everything lol.

I assessed several laser treatments from Aerolase (which I tried for 3 sessions and stopped). BBL (Broad Band Light) laser. After weighing topicals, microneedling and laser, fractional laser (Fraxel) felt like the best option for me. I wanted to give microneedling a chance, but with my Fitzpatrick IV skin, I was worried about potentially making the hyperpigmentation worse and didn’t feel comfortable taking that chance. Laser has pigmentation risks too, so it wasn’t an easy decision.

I did Fraxel with settings as my clinic set as "Fraxie (Mini fraxel) settings". First session was October 2025, second was February 2026. Things looked worse initially before they got better. It took roughly 2 years to get to a point where I’m happy with how they look. Last photo this month in October 2026.

https://preview.redd.it/hnruo056puuh1.jpg?width=1152&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=891639175e65dc23c480263acc388b109b0e07b7

https://preview.redd.it/0q4j8156puuh1.jpg?width=1152&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=458ec97654e6e0143ed1c303c6ceeb78af60dd81

https://preview.redd.it/h1nsf156puuh1.jpg?width=1152&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a596b7c195d66e9d311e17796e22c9150a86d537

https://preview.redd.it/vma86156puuh1.jpg?width=1073&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0b3ac4252caf8b8a6650a94abed798d23d233a98

https://preview.redd.it/6x6tn056puuh1.jpg?width=624&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1b18f09c3d6331122eb982d590a7fab7bdc4a25b

https://preview.redd.it/hs82g156puuh1.jpg?width=1067&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d23ca49f298060da6455f02ef4fe13b9f781c5bc

https://preview.redd.it/4dtpc156puuh1.jpg?width=883&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=59d5105e0844477269c651f733166f55b9ec3a1f

https://preview.redd.it/d98tl156puuh1.jpg?width=1206&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7a0e77512066a3d8fd63e5621123b0144de7dc84

They’re still there (hypnopigmented lines) but much less noticeable. Wanted to share for anyone dealing with similar scars. Lighting varies between photos. If you can afford Laser go for it. Maybe microneedling next. Don't waste your time on topicals. You can use that as post produce care.

Will be monitoring the comments section if you have any questions about my scar healing journey! I am so happy about my results. I am still debating if I should go for a 3rd final session or not.

I hope this post is allowed here - it’s definitely skin care related!

My husband uses a 10% benzoyl peroxide face wash nightly in the shower. It works great to keep his acne at bay, so I’m not asking him to stop or change it. But try as he might to make sure he rinses well, it inevitably discolors towels and our bedding. I don’t care about the towels, but I’d like to be able to keep nice bedding. For some reason, it never affects our sheets, only the blankets. I’m going shopping for a new blanket this afternoon. Can anyone tell me if there’s a certain kind of material that will resist being discolored by the face wash? Surely we’re not the first to deal with this?!

Hi!

I am in need of a new nightly and morning skincare routine! I tried doing research and I get very overwhelmed. So many products and brands that claim they do the same thing. I'm not sure what to pick!

Current "Routine":

At night, wash my face with Cerave Foaming Clenser and moisturize with Neutrogena ultra gentle moisturizing cream.

In the morning, I either put on eucerin SPF 50 if I'm not doing any makeup or I will wear an SPF foundation and go about my day.

For additional background I'm 35 years old and I've never had issues with acne. Although in recent years my skin has become more sensitive to things that I was regularly using, hence the bare routine that I carry now.

I would like to incorporate something for aging skin, and eye cream, a toner or anything else that you suggest!

hii !! my skin is dry but closed comedone prone. i don't really struggle with acne, i just want a moisturizer that'll plump up my skin.

i'm currently using the Cera Ve PM moisturizer but i just feel like it's too lightweight for me. i'm a bit worried to use something heavier since i'm prone to closed comedones but i want something that'll make my skin more glass like. i used to love the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel cream but i started to feel like it wasn't helping with my skin barrier much, especially during the winter.

i'm curious about the Dieux Instant Angel moisturizer. Would it cause closed comedones? Should I look into their other moisturizers? if you guys recommend any cheaper/better moisturizers please lmk :)

​

Every once in a while I'll get extremely bad dry lips, I'm paranoid to use lip products because in the past they made my lips so much worse and chapped, currently my lips are dry, itchy, and hurting so bad all I wanna do is touch and itch them but they hurt. I read somewhere that nipple cream can help is that true and what brand? Or should I try something else? I'm desperate I hate the feeling so bad 😭😭

I've been using the Ordinary azelaic acid for a long time and wanted something a bit more (15% instead of 10%). Recently just ordered dermatica's 15% azelaic acid. However, whether I like that product or not they are closing their operations by the end of the year (in the US).

Where and what should I buy in the future??

Finacea is always out of stock and when it's not its crazy pricey. I've heard some bad things about Melazepam and 20% seems too intense regardless for my sensitive skin.

I did find an indian brand called Aziderm which sells 15% for a slightly more reasonable price but I know nothing about it. Has anyone tried to brand and is it effective?

Or maybe people know others brands?

I have really oily skin so I generally only use moisturizers in winters. My skin gets really dry after washing my face but as soon as I apply moisturizer I start sweating and all products gets wiped off with the sweat 💀 Please suggest some good moisturizers that are compatible with this skin type. Possibly something that would be easily available in India.

Help me level up my skincare routine

Ive been using korean skincare for the last 3 years. My main issues are milia, small pimples, and just generally bad texture. Ive tried a host of products and ingredients which have made no difference, and now that I have a better job I can afford to spend some money on my skin. Im looking for more refined products and ingredients. My skin is sensitive and sometimes dry, but also oily around my temples and forehead (which is where most of the milia is). Im also dealing with fine lines and wrinkles. Im 38F. I need to stay away from anything heavy with oils as itll make me break out like crazy.

Heres my current routine:

Morning:

Wash with water

The Ordinary Azeliac Acid 10%

Round Pab Birch Moisturizer

Evening:

Skin1004 light oil cleanser

Round Lab cleanser

Pyungkangyul essence toner

LRP retinol b3 serum (3x week)

On the off retinol nights - The Ordinary Copper Peptides

Round Lab Moisturizer

I also have the ordinary SA 2% that I used regularly for several months but it made no difference so I switched to LRP retinol, which has also made no difference.

My azeliac acid is almost gone so i thought id get a vitamin c - but im not sure which to get. The retinol will also run out soon, and the LRP one Im using doesnt seem to be doing anything, so Im looking to replace with a different one.

Im not sure where to go from here, so if anyone has any advice thatd be great!

My skin is dry and sensitive, and a lot of moisturizers sting or make my cheeks feel like they’re burning. I’m also sensitive to smells—even fragrance-free products often have an ingredient smell that bothers me.
I’ve tried BYOMA’s pink gel cream, La Roche-Posay Double Repair, Prequel Barrier Therapy Rich, and Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer. BYOMA tingled, and the smells of La Roche-Posay and Prequel bothered me. Vanicream sometimes stung too.
Has anyone with similar skin and sensitivity to smells found a moisturizer that works for them and truly doesn’t smell like anything? I’d prefer one without hyaluronic acid. Bonus if it comes in a small size or sample!

Since I've gotten to college about a month and a half ago, I've been getting zits, cysts, and closed comedones all over my face. I'm getting them on my nose and unibrow area (which is where me acne only showed up before) and now I'm getting them on my cheeks and chin areas. I got prescribed tretinoin 0.025% in May because I had a big breakout of pimples and cysts on my forehead and started using it also on my nose and eyebrow areas as well. After about 2-3 months of use my skin was amazing, all my pores were shrunk and the most I would get was one small raised bump. But ever since I've gotten to college my skin barrier has just imploded. Multiple painful pimples on my unibrow and forehead all at once and my skin on my cheeks has gotten extremely textured with pimples forming every other day (which I've had to deal with before). Anytime I've traveled somewhere other than my hometown I ended up getting some acne breakouts but this is another level and has been going on for so long. My skincare routine has stayed exactly the same since I have arrived at university. I don't know if this will go away anytime soon or if my skin is just going to keep doing this until I graduate.