Retin-A Micro Irritation

I've been using 0.1% RAM gel for about 3 weeks, then last week bam, anywhere that I applied it started to burn and flush basically 24/7. I've stopped it for about a week now, but the redness is still there. I look like I've been put through a meat-grinder. Is this normal? Would this go away with time? Or does Retin-A ever damages one's skin so greatly that it's a permanent defect? Even though I have red marks to begin with, I never had blotchy red colored looking skin like this before.

Skin naturally purging?

Has anyone ever experience a sudden spike in facial oil that cant be explained by the use of accutane or any sort of oral pill? I didnt do anything different besides taking in some chinese herbal medicine within the past week and now I see oil/sebum literally oozing out of every pore on my face, every parts of it where it is usually dry and rarely ever break out. I can see white "hairs" if you will, coming out of every pore. Lol, and Im not even on accutane. I hope this stuff aint permanent.

Purple?

Has anyone ever experience really dark purple-ish to black looking blotch from a cyst? Last week I had a cortisone shot for one on my cheek, now that its no longer infected and not swollen, im left with what looks like a purple/black stain in that area, right underneath the skin. What is this? Am I going to scar or is this color permanent?

Cleanser/flush for healing red marks?

Not sure what im trying to get at here, but Ive read a couple of posts from this site and others about how their red marks seemed to have faded MUCH quicker after theyve done a liver or maybe a colon cleanse/flush? Has anyone ever heard about stuff like this before?

Is it okay not to pop?

Is it okay to NOT pop a pimple even if its inflammed but there is a dried whitehead? Ive tried squeezing it but nothing comes out, yet I dont understand how it can get better if the head is dried and nothing can come out of it?