I'm not sure. My skin got damaged by glycolic acid 5.5 months ago (developed random scars like you), and I have used emu oil on and off to try to fix it, started using it nightly recently and my face looks WORSE these past few days than ever. I decided to stop using emu oil just incase it was that. I also got a lot of tiny red bumps that are going away after not using anything on my skin last night and taking an allergy pill, but that could of been from something else I was using. I ordered some MSM cream and that is all I am going to use on my skin from now on.

Also, I have heard many accounts of people who had random scarring from accutane (even long after they were off of it). Maybe that mixed with the emu oil is a bad combination for you? Maybe the accutane did something to weaken your skin and like you said, the oleic acid is too much? I think my skin is weakened too, from the glycolic acid, and I seem to have a harder time tolerating topicals that I never had a problem with before. Any way I am glad you posted this because I am for sure staying away from the emu oil now. I don't like how greasy it feels, anyway, and it hasn't seemed to ever help me.

Thanks for replying. I think it's just too much of a coincidence really. How 4 years later could accutane be the cause. I don't think I truly believe that something taken orally can have such a huge Effect on only your face. If all of my body had been affected then maybe. But for emu oil to have been involved both occasions, accutane only once....It kinda makes me wonder!

Would love other people's opinions on this!

True, I have no idea really because I have never been on accutane. I have heard of people having long term problems from it but I know not everyone does. The fact that emu oil has an acid that can hurt the skin barrier though, makes sense that it could actually damage your skin. It sucks that there are so many things out there said to help skin and be so great, and they end up screwing up your skin instead.

I know that every post I read. ....and I have read a lot, people say they are using this and that to help the problem. I know that both times for me, as soon as I stopped using anything other that cetaphil, my skin improved!

I am seriously thinking of going full on caveman. I was also using honey but turns out it has a mild acid in it! RAR!!! Here I am, desperate to fix my skin, and using potentially harmful things that I thought were good and natural (honey and emu oil) I also found this about oleic acid, this thread got me curious to see what I was actually putting on my skin... http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v124/n5/full/5602810a.html

No wonder my skin looks worse.

UGH. I'm done putting crap on my face. Seriously. I can't trust anything it seems. I think the less you put on your skin, the better. Cetaphil never hurt me, though. I used their cleanser for a good while and my skin was great. My skin didn't go bad until I started using exfoliating products. BP isn't good either. I developed an allergy to it, and am glad I did because if not I might still be using it and damaging my skin more. Over it.

I read that article but have no idea what it said. Please feel free to help me comprehend it!

I think you're right tho, the more you do, the worse it gets!

Lol, well the writing is a bit confusing, but basically, have you heard how people say emu oil can penetrate deep in the skin and therefore helps other products penetrate deeper? Well what I got from this was that happens because the oleic acid (which apparently is an unsaturated fatty acid) causes reduced barrier function...So basically what you said, it screws your skin barrier. I wish I knew sooner! Lesson learned. In the future I will research everything I plan to use on my face. Threw my emu oil out today.

Okay....so that makes sense. Let me know if u notice any improvement when u stop using it. I have an appointment with a derm next week so possibly starting my second course of accutane next month. Fingers crossed I can get off these boards and live my life for once!

Good luck! By the way, I did somemoe reading, and while oleic acid is bad for barrier function, I read that linoleic acid actually repairs the skin barrier. So things like safflower oil, grapeseed oil and I think even hemp oil would be things to check out. As for me, I am too scared to try anything new right now...lol.

I take hemp supplements but I won't be putting anything on my face anymore! Far too many contradictions on the Internet to know what is actually beneficial and what is not!

Agreed! I have MSM cream coming in the mail but will set it aside for now. Maybe use it at a later date when my skin gets a bit stronger. I have used it before and it didn't seem to hurt, but you never know. Also, all of those oils do have some oleic acid, but in a very small percentage compared to emu. I think safflower has something like over 70% linoleic, and like 10% give or take of oleic (don't quote me, I looked at a lot of different oils). Even though it is a small bit, I am scared of it. Le sigh! I guess we both learned the hard way that even "natural" things can wreak havoc on our skin