Forgive me if this is a double post, but I can't find what I thought I posted
earlier. When I got the book and took the tests, I came out as I expected.
Borderline O, mildly S, N, and borderline T. Because of my age I went with
W. I had problems from time to time with irritation and pinkness, but they
seemed to resolve themselves with time and gentleness. I was already
using Retina-micro gel 1% without problems. Then I introduced some of the
new products mentioned. With the exception of Aveeno ultra-calming
cleanser (which I had used in the past) I've reacted to all of them: the
Ceravue cleanser and lotion, and now the Eucerin anti-redness night cream.
I stopped everything and am using an RX cortisone cream. I hate to do this,
but my face is lobster red and burning. To say I'm discouraged is putting it
mildly. I don't even want to go out because I'm afraid I'll react to my usual
sunscreen. Has anyone had more problems since they've added new products and does anyone have any suggestions. HELP!!

Forgive me if this is a double post, but I can't find what I thought I posted
earlier. When I got the book and took the tests, I came out as I expected.
Borderline O, mildly S, N, and borderline T. Because of my age I went with
W. I had problems from time to time with irritation and pinkness, but they
seemed to resolve themselves with time and gentleness. I was already
using Retina-micro gel 1% without problems. Then I introduced some of the
new products mentioned. With the exception of Aveeno ultra-calming
cleanser (which I had used in the past) I've reacted to all of them: the
Ceravue cleanser and lotion, and now the Eucerin anti-redness night cream.
I stopped everything and am using an RX cortisone cream. I hate to do this,
but my face is lobster red and burning. To say I'm discouraged is putting it
mildly. I don't even want to go out because I'm afraid I'll react to my usual
sunscreen. Has anyone had more problems since they've added new products and does anyone have any suggestions. HELP!!

I would stop using everything, except a gentle cleanser. Then, slow add products back in one at a time and find out which are the ones that are bothering you.

That is what I am doing. I also have to wait for my face to heal before
I add anything. On rare occasions this has happened and I then react to
everything.

I understand your frustration. I found quite a few of the recommendations, for my skintype,to be totally wrong for me. I think you were given good advice to start back with a gentle cleanser and add a product at a time and see what bothers your skin. After trying the rec's for my skintype,I basically have gone back to my previous routine,adding only a RX retin-a..fortunately,I kept all my receipts and got a refund.I am glad I read the book and it did have lots of good information,but I was disappointed in some of the products,as they contained irritating ingredients and some did not provide adequate sun protection.I am old school I guess,but I think the fewer the products,the better.

Actually, you are not old school. The best derm I ever went to (she left
the area) told me exactly that. The fewer ingredients, the lesser chance
of reaction. Because I'm in today, I'm not even cleansing this a.m. and
after four days of cortisone cream, I don't look bright red. My suspicion is
that the moisturizers all have something in them that I was reacting to.
Considering that I could use Retina-micro 1% with sensitive skin meant I was doing something right before. I do know that I am acutely sensitive
on my face to chemical sunblocks; years ago when Bobbi Brown and
Prescriptives came out with foundations I reacted at the counter. I was at
Bloomingdales on a makeover day when the BB guy who came in from N.Y.C.--I started screaming that my skin was burning up. He knew right away and practically left me soaking wet when he threw a wet towel on
my face. I felt terrible, but he laughed and said:"Less work for me, as the
line behind me dissapeared. I like the book but wonder about that Eucerin
anti-redness cream that turned me lobster red. Paula Begoun says it doesn't
have enough of anything to help redness and that was the only suggested
cream and Dr. Baumann's choice. I have kept all my receipts and have gotten refunds and am on my way back to my previous regime, once my
skin heals. I suspect it will take a while. I was puzzled at all the chemical
sunscreen suggestions for sensitive skin; I did know from previous experience to avoid them. But I was surprised at a lack of physical block
sunscreens suggested.