Update: I stopped doing extractions on most clients and their skin got better

Phoenix Davis · 2026-03-04T18:50:09.39233+00:00

I think we're doing more harm than good with all that squeezing, and gentle chemical exfoliation gives way better long term results.

milabaker6mo ago

When you mentioned seeing less redness after switching to acids, that really hit home for me. I've had clients with the same experience - we thought we were helping but were just irritating their skin more. Now I focus on calming treatments and slow exfoliation, and the long-term improvement is so much better. No more angry, inflamed pores that take weeks to heal.

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terry7705mo ago

So you basically stopped extractions cold turkey for most people. What percentage of clients would you say still need the occasional manual clearing?

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lindaw296mo ago

Used to swear by extractions for every clogged pore. Saw way less redness and fewer breakouts once I switched to just using acids. Guess we really were making it worse sometimes.

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