Red/ Dark Fake Mustache

Dr. Rockoff,

You wrote:"To be honest, I'm not sure what you have, or whether you have anything other than irritation changes, some if not all self-induced.  Someone who writes, "Sometimes I would peel away the skin and blood would pour out," is someone who is (out of frustration or whatever other reason) traumatizing the skin in a way that will always lead to pigment changes (and more peeling?)  Basically, unless you leave your skin entirely alone for 6 months, no treatment is going to help.  That is what I suggest, whether or not you use Differin.  By entirely alone I mean just that: no touching, no rubbing, no peeling whatsoever, period.  After 6 months show whatever is left to a skin doctor."

******
I really appreciate your help.

I have been trying to leave it alone but either by shaving or using the Differin the skin is coming loose/flaking. It looks like dead hair is trapped underneath the skin and blood is trapped by the hair.

I am not sure what my daily routine should be. What cleanser to use, what moisturizer and how to shave it. Should I shave it? The Differin (I am using the lotion) instructions said not to use a cleanser with Salycilic Acid. Does the cleanser matter? I may have been using the wrong face wash. Would that have caused the flaking of my skin?

I switched to an electric razor and started using gentle cleansers... Is there ingredients that I should avoid? I have tried so many things that I do not know what the correct routine is. My current Derm didn't really give me any instructions on a daily routine.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

There are many mild cleansers and moisturizers you can use--Cetaphil and Cerave are two, both available without prescription.  If Differin is making you flake, don't use it.  There is no such thing as blood being trapped by hair underneath the skin.  The rest of my advice remains unchanged.

Dr. Rockoff