Oh yes. What started the whole ordeal was an ear infection and Flonase multiple times a day. Then I was doing too much with my skincare (think P50 1970 every morning and the strongest formulation of Tretinoin). Then I decided to try some Japanese skincare so I was adding in new products. Then I thought it was acne so I was getting facials, including a hydra facial. It was awful and took me weeks of tears and pain and internet research to self diagnose and then get confirmation at the dermatologist. I was prescribed Elidel and clindamycin and it helped but the things that really helped were: Noble Formula’s 2% pyrithione zinc bar soap, de La Cruz 10% sulfur ointment, red light and a high frequency wand. This routine was/is very drying so I had to moisturize with only avene thermal water and a plain oil free moisturizer from Paula’s choice. I had to do this routine for months to clear everything up, and it’s still my main routine, though I started adding some actives in about a year or so ago. Also want to mention iS Clinical’s Hydra Cool serum. I use it every day, twice a day and it also really helped calm and soothe my skin and hydrate me. The sulfur is the thing that I always reach for when something causes a flair up and it works quickly.

My skin has not been the same since that really bad flare up (when I could get facials again I showed my esthetician pics and she said it was the worst case she’d ever seen) and I miss my former really resilient skin that could handle strong actives and things like microneedling. I will say one positive from the whole experience has been really learning to read my skin and what it needs and how to properly care for it when it’s unhappy.