Thanks for taking the time to respond, I appreciate that.

So, some changes have happened but for the worse. I have developed itchy pustules on my thighs and scalp. Of which I believe is known as folliculitus. I think it has caused a few pin-point like red pustules on my cheeks but is mainly concentrated on the thighs and scalp.

My skin physically feels ok, on the dry side though but then I did use Hibiscrub on my beard and scalp today.

So I stopped accutane at the very end of October 2014 - and during the treatment and afterwards until now i've just used a gentle cleanser called cetaphil and the moisturiser lotion also from cetaphil.

It seems as though 'time' will be the biggest healer, its funny you mention the resignation to using a concealer for the rest of your life, this is how i feel and i am a man! I do have superficial acne scarring, nothing I would say that was 'deep' but certainly a few faint boxcar scars. And pin head sized ice picks on the forhead.

I think perhaps my priority is clearing this folliculitus first, (dont know if its viral, fungal or bacterial..) I plan to visit the gp on monday and ask for a culture to be taken. In the mean time the doc prescribed me hibiscrub, I also picked up some Nizoral shampoo.

Let me know your thoughts, its very helpful. once again, thank you

Hi Skinacea, this guide is really good as is the how to fade PIH guide.

I need some help with Post Red marks, i would appreciate the help so much.

sorry for the length. I suffered with dry skin that was sensitive and prone to clogging extremely easily in my twenties. Back at the start of this year and prior to last xmas i tried an array of products that made it worse. I am now 27 and male.

Doc prescribed Dermo lotion 300 which worked at first (like everything else) and then just blocked my skin up and caused deep red spots/minor scarring. So I stopped this and used an Olay moisturiser with SPF... it too clogged me up. So i went to a SK:n clinic in London and they advised some of their SPF, serum and differin gel.

over the next 8 weeks my skin got a lot worse, breaking out in deep painful spots and a large inflamed spot came up on my left cheek, on the apple of the cheek. (so if you look straight on at me i am talking about the front of the cheek area). Needless to say i was stupid and popped the spot (expelling all the pus) and continued to use the products for a further 8 weeks. Since then (march 2014) that red mark is still on my cheek, it has got lighter more pink in colour in fairness, but non the less it is still there and i wish it wasn't.

June came around, and i was still struggling and reached my final straw with this persistent acne. So I went on a low dose of accutane (roaccutane) at 20mg a day for 4.5months. I stopped treatment before the 7-8 months mark because of headaches.

Needless to say my skin purged the entire time, and after ceasing treatment the clogged pores began to inflame and come to a head (i assume the bodies way of expelling this stuff). After a shower I was able to gently gently press on some of them and they came out with ease, relieving the pain.

Others were deeper and contained a harder lump of sebum which would fly out with pus onto the mirror when pressed (picking has been the bane of my existence). Now I am left with lots of PIH (red marks) and some browny/pink marks on my forehead and left cheek. And very slight superficial scarring on these areas i think a mixture of boxcar and icepick. Other than this, and the spot that erupted on my forehead today I am spot/clog free.

What is the best course of action for me now? will these marks ever fade? will the superficial scars become flat and fill in over time?

I am thinking AHA's? however is there a period of time i need to wait after accutane before using such products? I have aqua glycolic up in my bedroom and azeliac acid from a while back. I fear that using products may break it out again, or make it worse :/ sigh! what a nightmare