You can absolutely use a lactic peel. Make sure you stop using it at least 4-5 days before and resume at 3 days post peel. I have pretty tough skin. So I stop using my retinols and such usually 2 or 3 days before and resume the day after I used the peel. I'm not using any retinols now though since I'm pregnant. I do use BP AND mandelic/glycolic acid, both approved by my OB. You know your skin and how much it am take though. Start off slow and gentle and make sure you wear tons of sun screen always, but especially a week after your peel. You may not necessarily "peel" but there will be new skin and you don't want the sun touching that! Hope this helped. Have fun using your peel and be safe!

Another question: do you think it would be okay to simply spot treat the lactic acid and continue using differin only on active pimples? Would using the differin affect my entire face?

Hey I'm the same as you about week six of differin, mostly red marks left now. I'm really cautious about using any other acids on my face just now. I have been using turmeric mixed with water or a little natural yogurt, it's meant to be good for red marks and so far so good. Your skin is probably different from mine, but too much exfoliation or irritation and I break out. I'd would go gentle on the red marks they will fade, especially now you have your skin under control. Like I said though your skin is maybe a bit tougher than mine, let me know how you get on...and glad differin is working well for you

Hey I'm the same as you about week six of differin, mostly red marks left now. I'm really cautious about using any other acids on my face just now. I have been using turmeric mixed with water or a little natural yogurt, it's meant to be good for red marks and so far so good. Your skin is probably different from mine, but too much exfoliation or irritation and I break out. I'd would go gentle on the red marks they will fade, especially now you have your skin under control. Like I said though your skin is maybe a bit tougher than mine, let me know how you get on...and glad differin is working well for you

Thanks for your response! Glad to know Differin is working for you too! You're right, I am a little impatient with these red marks and want them gone ASAP, I should probably wait a little bit

I know how annoying they are...I feel like if they would go away I'd feel a lot better about my skin. I'm so impatient, but doing too much made my acne they way it is now..or was before I started differin. I wish I had just left thing alone. I'm trying to say to myself wait until the three months are up and then think about the marks, if they are noticeably going down then I think that will give me more encouragement to let them go away on their own. Do you just use differin as a topical? I find it sooo much better than Benzoyl Peroxide, that's what made my skin go crazy and if I'm honest, before I used it, I could have a huge spot or a few at one time, even burst them (yuck I know) and the red marks would be gone in a week, since using Benzoyl peroxide on ive never seen red marks take soo long to fade. I used it more on one side of my face and that is the only part that flared up...honestly my right side has nothing, and my left cheek just went crazy after I used BP to try and get rid of a couple of cysts. Rant over lol. I'd love to hear how your finding differin.

I know how annoying they are...I feel like if they would go away I'd feel a lot better about my skin. I'm so impatient, but doing too much made my acne they way it is now..or was before I started differin. I wish I had just left thing alone. I'm trying to say to myself wait until the three months are up and then think about the marks, if they are noticeably going down then I think that will give me more encouragement to let them go away on their own. Do you just use differin as a topical? I find it sooo much better than Benzoyl Peroxide, that's what made my skin go crazy and if I'm honest, before I used it, I could have a huge spot or a few at one time, even burst them (yuck I know) and the red marks would be gone in a week, since using Benzoyl peroxide on ive never seen red marks take soo long to fade. I used it more on one side of my face and that is the only part that flared up...honestly my right side has nothing, and my left cheek just went crazy after I used BP to try and get rid of a couple of cysts. Rant over lol. I'd love to hear how your finding differin.

I was in the same boat as you! I used BP for a long time before going to a derm and using Dfferin. Not only would it take a lot longer than Differin, it would dry my skin out like crazy and, most likely contributed to a large portion of my red marks. I am loving djfferin so far, I am also using it with ortho tri cyclen lo and that is helping significantly, but differin was working even before I started this birth control. I've been on it for about 2 months and the only problem I have is that it makes my skin a little dry sometimes and, weirdly enough, makes my ears itch (I don't really get it but it started as soon as I started differin). What about you, how's differin working for you?

Also, thanks so much for your detailed and thoughtful responses!