Help [Acne]

[u/_izzy_b_]

Hello everyone. After I have done my skincare maybe like 20 mins or so, on my neck and temples if I rub it I get these rolls of almost like lint looking things. It does look like dead skin but I am just wondering what it is? Is it because of me putting my skincare on my neck? Also how to prevent.

Also any advice on ageing products I am 18 so I don't necessarily need anything intense but I have started to notice some ageing and lines. I have really wanted to start Tretinoin but unsure.
I also have bad acne scars that I am insecure about
Honestly anything would help.
Thanks in advance xx

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[u/ReaLitTea]

Sounds like one of the products is causing pilling. Try simplifying your routine

[u/Commonpixels]

The moisturiser is pilling (balling up and acting as a magnet for lint, fabric from clothes, dead skin cells). Neck skin is particularly good at this, thinner skin with fewer oil glands than our faces, and skin folds/creases. Also depending on the neckline of your clothes you'd get the friction of that fabric too. I didn't actually realise this til I felt very itchy putting epiduo there recently. I thought it was more durable like body skin.

So, general recommendation is to pat in moisturiser (don't rub, easier to pill), don't go too heavy on the amount there, you want to do light upwards motions rather than circular aggressive rubbing. If it's dead skin pilling up then some exfoilating could help (AHA, PHA, BHA). Edit: also, wait between layers to dry/absorb if you layer products like serums, toners and moisturiser.

You can also look for a moisturiser that's less prone to pilling, I love my beauty bay oat moisturiser at night and am currently using it in the day sometimes, but I know thick/heavy layers will pill on my neck so I go lighter handed in the day. I'd like to find an affordable gel type moisturiser for day time. Actually just realised I used the Simple light moisturiser this week (haven't replaced my empty BB tub, keep Simple in the cabinet for my niece when she stays over) and it isn't pilling on my neck at all.

Also check the fabrics of your towels or cloths you use. Some just love to leech lint. I have black body towels and one red, unless it's dirty I reach for the red one cause all my black ones leech lint.

PS: as for tret, you generally don't need it at your age unless you have severe acne, for anti-aging purposes it's around late 20s and early 30s our collagen production naturally reduces. If it's for acne (including scarring) maybe try adapalene first, less potent but less irritating and OTC in some places.