Quote - thanks for your response IsaoShi LOL
I do know i wont be able to produce work as great as shahara anytime soon but I want to start texturing now and build my way up and would like poinrers to help me  to eventually get to the standards of high quality artists. I would like to know which product would be best to use photo resources like photoshop or something similiar as i want to purchase one now.

The best resource is the one that fits into your workflow.  Just because Photoshop is the "industry standard" doesn't make it the absolute be all end all of image editors.  Gimp is free and can be just as powerful.  I agree with the recommendation of PaintShop Pro.  I used it for many years and still find myself going back to it when I need to do something in a hurry. 

As for skin texturing, there is a whole lot more to it than just what image editor to use.  Even with the large number of merchant resources available, you will still need to invest in high res reference photos from a subscription site like 3dsk.  You can't just take a merchant resource, slap it on a figure, twist a few dials, and call it yours.  Most merchant resources require at least 50%, some as much as 90%, alteration before you can claim it as your own. 

The map is only one part of it.  At one time it was the norm to create a texture map, add a bump map and call it done.  Do that today and you won't make many sales.  Take a look at the standard res texture of V4 in the Poser material room.  That node set up is simple compared to some I've used and created.

You're going to need a good working knowledge of the material room and learn how to create and use not just bump maps but displacement, specular, and even SSS maps. 

This is just off the top of my head and I'm sure there's more I'm not covering on the ins and outs of skin texturing but these are some of them.