I don't have any problems with my skin, but as I am very no bs-approach (I read studies). I don't like sca, but I do like the circlejerk sub.
Anyway.
Isotretinoin (Accutane) is the only thing working for me. As I had hormonal acne. Yes, men can get it too. Since I'm a man, I can’t use spirolactone or birth control pills. Which may be a better option for women, since isotretinoin is easier on the body in men. I have used it 2 times. First after starting tretinoin. My dermatologist didn't even know what happened, I just received a bs explanation on that it was just purging. Like, if you are purging for 6 months. Then it isn't purging, but it really did help to smoothen out my skin.
Second time was 2 years after first course with isotretinoin. Still no real bad side effects. Aside from drier lips and mild discomfort in my spine or some shit. Isotretinoin dries you up inside essentially, but not anything that affected me. I do workout at a gym too, squats, deadlifts and stuff. Even it it affected me more, I would endure it. Because I'm obsessed with my appearance, so having acne gave me PTSD or something. No fillers or anything, my philosophy is to keep it as is.
My routine:
Washing my face with oil cleanser and Cerave hydrating cleanser. Not any fancy oil cleanser, just the cheapest mineral-based one.
BHA > Argirilene on my frown lines and under eyes > serum with green tea > tretinoin mixed with whatever serum that's in my stash > Cerave in the tub > Vaseline
Ditching the vaseline, tretinoin and adding SPF in the daytime. If I'm going out.
And I unironically think Dr. Dray is pretty now, and my do look a lot like hers. So if you want to archive her skin, you're welcome.
If someone is interested, I have used minoxidil on my beard area since december, and it do work. I'm much more scruffy, but don't expect a full beard in a few months. You have to at least use it for a year, for the new hairs to have time to be permanent. And I was a full on twink with some chin pubes and a bad stache not filled out in the middle. Change this drastic takes time.
Anyway, tretinoin helps making minoxidil more effective. That and dermaneedling. There is a lot of fuss about using peppermint oil on your beard area. But thing is, the studies for proving that peppermint helps, is used on the head. Peppermint does lower testosterone, which is needed to be converted into DHT. Which you need to grow beard hair.
Thanks for reading my sperg out, if you bothered to read it all.