19 replies to this topic

[JakeD]

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[Wynne]

You could try Avon's Anew Retexturizing Peel. It's a low strength glycolic (10%) that can be applied daily. It helps decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and the exfoliating properties have also helped my pore size a bit. You shouldn't use it daily until you know how your skin will react to it.

I've read that Fraxel laser does a good job with improving skin texture and wrinkling. You have minimal wrinkling under the eyes. Do you squint and strain to read? Have you had your eyes checked recently? If you work outside a lot, wear sunglasses! I ask those questions because squinting can cause that type of wrinkling.

Good luck! There is hope. If your doc doesn't give you the answers you want, go to another.

[JakeD]

You could try Avon's Anew Retexturizing Peel. It's a low strength glycolic (10%) that can be applied daily. It helps decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and the exfoliating properties have also helped my pore size a bit. You shouldn't use it daily until you know how your skin will react to it.

I've read that Fraxel laser does a good job with improving skin texture and wrinkling. You have minimal wrinkling under the eyes. Do you squint and strain to read? Have you had your eyes checked recently? If you work outside a lot, wear sunglasses! I ask those questions because squinting can cause that type of wrinkling.

Good luck! There is hope. If your doc doesn't give you the answers you want, go to another.

Thanks for the helpful tip. I'm checking it out on Amazon.

I forgot to mention that pic was taken today and I've been using 8% AHA and RoC Retinol under eye treatment for the last 2 months. I have seen a nice improvement in color and skin tone, but that's about it. Before my skin was like partly grey from being so dry and covered with dead skin. This is better than I've looked in a long time, but I would like it to be better. I guess wrinkles like this don't go well with my face all. Some people can pull 'em off and I can't.

I haven't thought of having my eyes checked. I will do that soon.

[Brandy]

You might also consider Green Cream. It's a nice gel Retinol product. I don't know how it compares to RoC brand though.

[Wynne]

...I forgot to mention that pic was taken today and I've been using 8% AHA and RoC Retinol under eye treatment for the last 2 months. I have seen a nice improvement in color and skin tone, but that's about it. Before my skin was like partly grey from being so dry and covered with dead skin. This is better than I've looked in a long time, but I would like it to be better. I guess wrinkles like this don't go well with my face all. Some people can pull 'em off and I can't.

I haven't thought of having my eyes checked. I will do that soon.

Brandy's idea of Green Cream is a great one, too. As you know, retinoids help greatly with wrinkling and photoaging. Green Cream's retinoid strength is a much higher percentage than RoC's retinoid strength. Since you've been using a retinol lotion, you could immediately go to Green Cream Level 6. I used a RoC retinol product once at night for moisturizing. It felt really nice, but I haven't used it since as I didn't wish to risk an initial breakout right before my wedding.

Since you've seen good improvement with AHA and retinol, you just might see even more with Green Cream. Retin A is prescription strength, but Green Cream is not as irritating. You might experience an initial breakout but you will see a reduction in wrinkling. Your overall skin texture will improve, too. I had one little old lady patient in her late 80's who used Retin A for wrinkles EVERY single night. She didn't remember her own name sometimes, but she sure as heck remembered her anti-wrinkle cream. She had beautiful skin, too. Clear, glowing, minimal wrinkles. She was almost 90!!! You could even ask your doc for Retin-A, but Green Cream is less irritating. Good luck!

[Jess]

if your only response is going to be "you look like shit, you need to learn to live with it" please don't bother replying.

This is a notice that anyone who posts something like this, in any thread: you will be banned from this website.

Best of luck to you Jacob

I think you look great btw-most 27 years olds have some degree of sun damage. I know we're our own worst critic though......

[JakeD]

Thanks for the replies. I have looked at Grean Cream a little. So I should start at level 6? The Roc stull leave my skin a little red and dry if I use it every day.

I have been curious about these Rx creams for blackheads like Retin-A. Does green cream help with blackheads?

I guess my biggest concern on my face is the clogged pores on my nose. I need something that will make a dramatic improvement.

Blue/red light treatment gives a major improvement to enlarged pores. The red light gives a temporary face lift (lasts about 3 days) and the blue light takes out the acne and blackheads over about 3 months or so (bit longer for the blackheads).

Really easy on the skin too; you don't need moisturiser even.

Yeah, if they'd just shine that on my nose to fix my blackheads for a while, I'd be 90% done.

[SkinRN]

http://home.comcast.net/~md6040/Face1.jpg


Note that I'm concerned about the size of the pores around the nose, hard line to the sides of my nose and wrinkles below my eye..


I struggle a lot with clogged pores on my nose and sun damage on my face. I just feel like my skin looks a lot older than I am. I really want to find something that will give a dramatic improvement. The main concern is the clogged pores on my nose, but I'm too insecure about it to post a pic. Maybe if I get drunk first.



From browsing around on this site I can see there are many options available. I don't even know what half of them do or how they work. Instead of looking in to all of them, I thought it might be a good idea to show you guys my skin condition and look to you for advice.

When I was 25 I asked my doc about chemical peels and he scoffed me and said they cause the skin to be permanently bleached and age weird when I get older, so I never looked into it. Now I feel a little bit dumb for not verifying if that is accurate. I've seen chemical peels on people and they look a lot better. I would spend $1,500 a years if I knew I could look 30% better.

I don't expect to have perfect skin, just better than what it is now. I refuse to accept that this is the best it can be! I just have a youthful face (17-19 years old) with skin that's been damaged by the sun when I was a teenager. In other words, I look 19 with 45-yr-old skin. If I could improve my skin 20-30%, that would be AWESOME. Just the look of normal damaging for my age is what I'm trying to get close to. I don't expect the wrinkled under my eye to just go away, it would just be nice if they weren't extremely noticeable.

Here are my questions:

1.) I don't know who I should see first. My regular doctor said flat out that there is nothing I can do. Anything any doctor ever tells me is that I need to learn to live with it. (Yeah I'm already doing that, thanks! It doesn't mean I'm not going to keep watching to see if anything can possibly improve my skin at all!)

2.) I want to know what to ask about when I'm looking into procedures. Recovery time and cost is not much of a concern to me. I don't think I should need to be cut open for any reason, right?

3.) What do I need to AVOID? The main things that scare me are things that will cause me to age weird of have bleached skin. Any procedure that will have permanent affects will be last on the list of options. I would rather see small results that will clean me up than major results that will make everyone know I've had a major treatment.


Thanks a lot in advance.

Jacob

PS- I am very insecure about my face, so if your only response is going to be "you look like shit, you need to learn to live with it" please don't bother replying. I've repeated those words to myself millions of times already. I'm already low by accepting that this will never be easy and might never be any better. I don't care how bad it can be. This is where I am now, and if it can get better, I will try to do it. Thanks for understanding.

If you really want to get serious about your skin I might suggest Obagi. You can always start with a lower strength Retin A to minimize the peeling that one normally experiences.

[JakeD]

http://home.comcast.net/~md6040/Face1.jpg


Note that I'm concerned about the size of the pores around the nose, hard line to the sides of my nose and wrinkles below my eye..


I struggle a lot with clogged pores on my nose and sun damage on my face. I just feel like my skin looks a lot older than I am. I really want to find something that will give a dramatic improvement. The main concern is the clogged pores on my nose, but I'm too insecure about it to post a pic. Maybe if I get drunk first.



From browsing around on this site I can see there are many options available. I don't even know what half of them do or how they work. Instead of looking in to all of them, I thought it might be a good idea to show you guys my skin condition and look to you for advice.

When I was 25 I asked my doc about chemical peels and he scoffed me and said they cause the skin to be permanently bleached and age weird when I get older, so I never looked into it. Now I feel a little bit dumb for not verifying if that is accurate. I've seen chemical peels on people and they look a lot better. I would spend $1,500 a years if I knew I could look 30% better.

I don't expect to have perfect skin, just better than what it is now. I refuse to accept that this is the best it can be! I just have a youthful face (17-19 years old) with skin that's been damaged by the sun when I was a teenager. In other words, I look 19 with 45-yr-old skin. If I could improve my skin 20-30%, that would be AWESOME. Just the look of normal damaging for my age is what I'm trying to get close to. I don't expect the wrinkled under my eye to just go away, it would just be nice if they weren't extremely noticeable.

Here are my questions:

1.) I don't know who I should see first. My regular doctor said flat out that there is nothing I can do. Anything any doctor ever tells me is that I need to learn to live with it. (Yeah I'm already doing that, thanks! It doesn't mean I'm not going to keep watching to see if anything can possibly improve my skin at all!)

2.) I want to know what to ask about when I'm looking into procedures. Recovery time and cost is not much of a concern to me. I don't think I should need to be cut open for any reason, right?

3.) What do I need to AVOID? The main things that scare me are things that will cause me to age weird of have bleached skin. Any procedure that will have permanent affects will be last on the list of options. I would rather see small results that will clean me up than major results that will make everyone know I've had a major treatment.


Thanks a lot in advance.

Jacob

PS- I am very insecure about my face, so if your only response is going to be "you look like shit, you need to learn to live with it" please don't bother replying. I've repeated those words to myself millions of times already. I'm already low by accepting that this will never be easy and might never be any better. I don't care how bad it can be. This is where I am now, and if it can get better, I will try to do it. Thanks for understanding.

If you really want to get serious about your skin I might suggest Obagi. You can always start with a lower strength Retin A to minimize the peeling that one normally experiences.

Just out of curiosity, why do you suggest that over other treatments? I want to know what to ask when I visit the derm. Most importantly, is it effective on blackheads? I am extremely serious about making my skin look better.

Thanks so much..

[babyboy123]

wow, what crappy suggestions and even from a nurse who owns a laser clinic!! LOL LOL LOL
you're going to ruin your face with any of the above!

try:
http://www.fraxel.com

http://www.reliant-tech.com

check out the massive fraxel thread in scar treatments forum

[SkinRN]

I suggest it over other options first of all because I have had 100's of patient for whom it has accomplished all they ever hoped for, and second of all, because it is way less expensive than doing laser treatments. Sure, some people may require more aggressive treatments, but for many, doing Obagi is fantastic. I have plenty of Obagi before and after photos on my website to show what I mean. We have 4 lasers in our office, and they have their place. Without seeing you in person I can't say for certain WHAT you would need. Not everyone needs thousands of dollars in laser treatments to meet their goals.

[The Great Reizo]

Here is my recommendation...Aging cannot be stopped totally but you can look young a reallly long time if you do the following....

1) Eat a balanced diet...To get all the antioxidants you need
2) Take supplements...Make sure they are quality supplements also
3) Take anti aging supplements such as ALA, Amino acids, Q10, Flax, Omega 3, Green Tea, Hyaluronic Acid and Vit A C and E...these will help internally

4) Stay out of the sun! Don't count on sunscreen to help you! Choose a physical sun block not a sun ray absorber

5) Get an anti aging cream...Bellaplex is the botox alternative btw beautifulreview.com is where i learned it is the best.
6) Don't sleep on your face....This will cause wrinkling
7) Don't let a dry face go through the day...keep it hydrated!
8) Use exfoliants - BHA's AHA's etc...it's also recommended that you get a facial every week and a proffessional one at least every month for maintenance
9) Do chemical peels...Skin culture peel seems to be pretty popular I am going to do it...your face will look like a really low quality leather material for about 5 days but after that your skin will look lighter and much much smoother.
10) Exercise at least 30 mins a day...keep your vitals at optimum levels

That's all...Best of luck!

[hhughes]

As far as products go... I think you would be VERY happy with the results you would get from CE Ferulic by Skinceuticals.

the stuff is amazing... but it does cost some coin.

Most C products dont work b/c you have to have L-ascorbic acid... that is the only kind your skin can actually use. The CE Ferulic has this form and is a special formula which was patented by Duke Medical School.

I agree with the Obagi suggestion as well. I also use retin a micro (NOT RETINOL... but tretinoin)

Do you use sunscreen? Maybe you should try mineral makeup instead... Im tanned and a GUY... and i can never find a good sunscreen for my face that doesn't clog my pores or make my face look white.. or just crappy... so my derm suggested mineral makeup. so if i know i'll be out in the sun i brush it on and it matches my skin and gives protection... i noticed my pores dont get all crazy with it like regular liquid suncreen.

P.S. - my derm had to show me that Tiger Woods actually uses mineral makeup as a sunscreen b/c he has the same problem as me... b/f that I was like NO WAY! LOL

[RomaGirl]

The Red/Blue light does work but only for a short period of time. I had 7 treatments and it worked for about 6 months. I spent close to $1000 can't remember exactly.

Not worth it at all

[sc4r3d]

wow, what crappy suggestions and even from a nurse who owns a laser clinic!! LOL LOL LOL
you're going to ruin your face with any of the above!

try:
http://www.fraxel.com

http://www.reliant-tech.com

check out the massive fraxel thread in scar treatments forum

THe results look worste to me than before they started the streatments. Especially the newer before and after photos. THe girl and the boy. THe girl looks very bad after 6 treatments. her Skin looks worste now.

Her skin had a nice natural look to it before and now its red and unatural looking. I would not touch Fraxel.


I would do mild MicroDermabrasions with very mild GLycolic washes and over time it may help but at least not look unatural unless overdone.

Mychelle makes incredible products for the skin. She makes the Fiesta peel that is all natural and works nice over time. But again you have to make sure you do not overdue it.

Also fillers like Sculptra and Restylane or Juvaderm etc would be a better alernative than Fraxel or any invasive laser. They ruin the natural look of yoru skin.

THis is all my opinion of course

[just another1]

Hey Jake, from your pic I can tell you that my skin is very very similar to your's, although my pores are slightly larger especially around the sides of the nose.

Over the years I have used may things to help reduce them from Retin A to 30% Glycolic acid. I've recentlly been doing alot of reading on Fraxel and from everything I have read and from all the pics I have seen Fraxel laser, in particular Fraxel 2 ( 1500) is the way to go.

There is also a new Fraxel 3 waiting to be introduced but from the info I have read, it is more ablative and might not be as subtle and as Fraxel 1 or Fraxel 2 ( possibly damaging).

In general ablative lasers can make enlarged pores increase in size as pores actually get wider the deeper you go.

The "scar forum" has alot of info dealing with Fraxel and there a few well informed people who may help if you have specific questions.

Good luck

[orangehrzn]

I will comment only on things that I have personal experience with:

1. Acid exfoliators (glycolic, salycilic, mandelic), enzym exfolators, retin A blah blah do not work for me cause my skin reacts with severe redness.

2. Accutane low dose, 10mg/day, is the best thing I've done for smooth skin. Pore are still here after 4 months on it but face looks smoother and clearer on it

3. I use only mild face wash (emusifying wax + water or Paula's choice skin recovery cleanser)

4. I use chemical sunscreen which surprisingly doesn't irritate me and looks good on my face, Anthelios dermo pediatrics spray spf 40 ppd 18

5. Although I'm on accutane I still get occasional pimple or two when I eat concentrated sugar. I try to balance that by eating lots of fruits, kiwis, carrot and celery juices etc. That keeps skin clear, synthetic multivitamins dont have effect on clear skin at all.

6. My skin doesn't like moisturizers of any sort and looks best without any of that junk.

[pip123]

Green cream will get rid of those wrinkles and minimise those pores after about 3 to 5 months of use. Start with level 6 and go up to level 9 when your face is ready.