r/scacjdiscussion

33, spent 2 years slugging and layering HA because my skin looked dull and puffy. everyone said dehydration. it was inflammation the entire time.

stopped everything, went fragrance free, one product. skin calmed down in 2 weeks flat.

dehydrated and inflamed skin look almost identical and the default advice is always hydrate more, layer more. nobody says maybe your skin is just angry and you need to leave it alone. this is also why i side eye stacking preventative anti aging stuff in your 30s without questioning if your barrier can even take it. curious if anyone else went through this

I work out a lot and sweat makes it worse. I keep seeing acne treatment spray for post-workout skin but I’m skeptical because most body acne products are insanely harsh. Has anyone had success with hypochlorous acid spray for breakouts on chest or back?

I know this has probably been said before but Im saying it again because its still bad. Ive tried a few online derm services and the experience is always the same, generic form, 2 photos, prescription in your inbox next day done. No one looked at my routine no one asked what products I'm using or if the prescription would even work alongside them one of them prescribed me something that straight up conflicted with an active I use every night and i found that out the hard way after my skin freaked out for 2 weeks the only decent experience I had was through an app iIwas already using for skin tracking, the derm had context, my photos over time, my products my sensitivities. after approval I got real guidance on what to adjust and what to avoid mixing. It felt like an actual consultation not just a checkout process for the money these services charge i feel like the bare minimum should be looking at what someone is already doing before adding a prescription on top of it. idk maybe my expectations are too high but it seems pretty basic

hey all,

i’m a long-time sca lurker, but it’s been a few years since i kept up to date with the skincare community. i’m on the hunt for a salicylic acid product that won’t dry the ever-loving fuck out of my skin, to put it gently.

i had pretty severe acne for several years, and hopping on accutane for 2 years was the only thing that got rid of it. my skin was very oily, and in terms of acne i mostly dealt with a lot of blackheads, whiteheads and some cystic acne. really swell mix.

i’ve always had very sensitive skin. i’m prone to dehydration and eczema flare ups, which is worsened by the dry climate i live in. i’ve had eczema flare ups on my eyelids and cheeks before, which were a nightmare to get rid of.

before accutane, i had a lot of success with TO’s salicylic acid, and various benzoyl peroxide products. but since accutane, my skin is normal-dry.

so, i switched to TO’s glycolic acid 7% toner as my chemical exfoliant. i mainly used it to slowly reduce the PIH scarring left over from years of severe acne.

i do like glycolic acid, but second puberty is starting to give me more acne again. blackheads have been cropping up over the last few months, and glycolic acid simply isn’t effective enough. they only leave my face when i physically extract them myself. the hormonal acne i get around my period now is also not being dealt with by glycolic acid as effectively.

does anyone have any gentler salicylic acid products they recommend? a BHA is definitely the move here to tackle blackheads and hormonal acne, but i’m scared of using something TOO harsh and compromising my skin barrier.

my routine focuses a lot on hydration, and i’ve managed to strike a balance where my skin is nice and hydrated and happy. i don’t use any other actives other than glycolic acid, due to how sensitive my skin can be.

thanks!

Has anyone else been disappointed by most body scrubs?

I've been trying different body scrubs over the years, and I feel like I always end up having the same issues.

Some don't exfoliate enough and barely feel like a scrub. Others leave such an oily residue that the shower floor becomes slippery, and shaving afterwards is a nightmare because the razor gets clogged.

I'm curious if I'm the only one feeling this way or if others have similar frustrations.

What do you like or dislike about the body scrubs you've tried? If you could change one thing about your ideal body scrub, what would it be?

Looking forward to hearing your answers!xx