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I stopped using mechanical exfoliants after reading Dan's advice when I started the regimen. Aha kept me flake free (mostly.) Now I'm on epiduo and the leaflet says not to use anything that peels or contains glycolic acid WITH the epiduo. Does that mean I could use them in the morning? (I use the epiduo at night.) I'd usually use aha at night because of the risk of sun damage but I gather it's ok really if you use an spf and I have an exfoliating moisturiser with aha, bha and oil controlling properties so I think that is designed for the day... So is that ok or are we really not supposed to exfoliate at all? I've been on epiduo a week now and suddenly the flakiness is really bad... I hate acne!
I've also been using Epiduo for a little over a week now (It's called Tactuo in Canada). My skin is peeling like a snake now, but I don't want to stop using it as I've read this is a normal stage and once your skin adjusts it will be fine.
As for the exfoliating, I don't think you should use anything with any chemicals in it. Your face will probably get irritated. As per my Doctor I've stopped using ALL over the counter cleansers, etc, and no perfumed products whatsoever. I'm just using Cetaphil Gentle wash cleanser and lotion, and carefully peeling away the dry skin as it comes (I know, gross)
My face is very itchy though, do you experience this?
Yea my face is very itchy. I don't use any lotions though as they just aggravate my sensitive skin (I've tried practically every kind). I pretty much just follow the "Cave Man" regimen. I use shampoo 3 times a week, I don't use soap or body wash as it drys out my whole body. So far the acne is pretty much gone with retin-A but my face is still very red and peeling. It's been 2 and a half weeks.
I caved and used some exfoliating moisturiser. I'm still flaky around my chin but the rest of my face looks much better and I don't think it has done any harm. I think I will continue to use it in the mornings but only when I really need it. Normal gentle moisturiser is my first choice but sometimes the flakiness just looks too awful...
I'm really sorry to hear about the itching you are experiencing, I haven't had that, not yet anyway... My face stings when I put even the gentle soothing moisturiser on it but the rest of the time it doesn't hurt or itch. So I'm afraid I don't know what to suggest. Have you tried putting something cold on your face? Sorry I can't be more help hope it gets better soon!
How is your skin now after a week? Tomorrow will be 3 weeks for me, and I've went through every stage that people have mentioned and am happy that I stuck through with it. I went through the red stage, the skin peeling like crazy stage, now my skin no longer peels, just a little dry in certain areas some days, but Cetaphil with a drop of skin conditioning oil helps with that, and now I just have a little pink on my neck, but no longer red. My skin got a lot more clear for a couple days, and then the IB started which I knew would happen, right now I have a few cysts, but it's that time of the month, so it's to be expected.