I swear Meg, we truly were separated at birth. I was just getting ready to reply too. I was on Accutane in my early mid twenties. Wish I would have known about it earlier. Most of my scarring isn't deep, but I am self conscious about it. I am an esthetician too and I was going to recommend that she put her son on Accutane also. I think it is a wonder drug that is often overlooked because some people have given it a bad rap.

The ABSOLUTE BEST thing I have bought for my skin in YEARS is the Neutrogena Microderm Abrasion kit!!!! It was recommended to me and I can't believe the results! It has removed a lot of fine lines, and REALLY helped soften up a scar I have on my forehead from my accident! It is really gentle, too.

I got it at a drug store, and hesitated at first because it was expensive (I think it was close to $30) but it was well worth it!!!

It has a hand-held vibrating thingy (could also be used as a marital aid to justify spending the money :D ), these real soft removable pads and a cream that has a really, really fine grit. You put the cream on the pads and go over your face with it while it rubs and vibrates the dead skin away.

I give it :thumbup: :thumbup: !

My doc said exfoliating with products that have sand or abrasive qualities is bad. Exfoliating by means of a chemical is great! My friend has acne and was using ProActive and it was actually making her face WORSE! :eek: I told her to go see my dermo and she told her the same thing about not exfoliating acne with something abrasive. She recommended that she get a series of Beta peels to exfoliate her skin that way and clear out her pores and then start on Retin-A.

I have also been on accutane twice. I have been going to the dermo since I was in 5th grade. He wanted to start me on accutane then, but in order to be on it, I had to be on birth control pills. I did NOT like the idea of being on birth control pills in the 5th grade, so I opted not to take it then. I have been on everything from antibiotics to water pills to topicals....EVERYTHING! I started going to this new dermo about a year ago because I had just stopped taking accutane for the 2nd time and my skin was beginning to break out again and I was living in a new city. She asked me if I exfoliating my face and I said YES and she told me to stop that right away! Per her orders, I had 6 Beta chemical peels and then started using Retin-A after the Beta peel treatments. Both the Beta peels and Retin-A exfoliate your face, but not with abrasive agents, but with chemicals. My skin looks better now than it ever has and it feels like a baby's butt. I LOVE Retin-A. It also prevents (and corrects) wrinkles. I will ALWAYS use this stuff. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I use the Oil of Olay face wipes/make-up remover each night. In the mornings, while in the shower, I use the Oil of Olay facial wash. Never used a lot of masks or scrubs on my face and have never really used astrignents as I've not had a problem with oily skin, even in my teens.

I am an Oil Of Olay girl too. I use there little scrubbing disk to clean my face and then use their lotion for the face. It works good for me.

I don't wash my face, I have a phobia about water splashing on my face. I did buy some ponds things that are like a wetnap & I use those on the rare occation I wear makeup. I have really nice clear skin so I guess I'm lucky. I do use an Aveda mosturizer with SPF protection every morning.

You better be counting your blessings, girl!!!! I wash my face twice a day at least, religiously, and STILL have breakouts! :eek: :eek: :eek: