Omg  I just wrote out a massive post but now its gone flm,  this is going to be a much shorter version because im annoyed lol  anyway lets try again, (Excuse my grammar and spelling) 

iv been dealing with this type of damage for 5 years!!! with no change until recently  Iv used so many oils, moisturisers and barrier creams its unreal but they didn't do anything, Retin A and glycolic acid cream did this damage to my skin ¦ don't ask 

first pic is start of dec 2019 second is end of jan 2020.

here's my routine :Pm

avene cleansing lotion extreme tolerance (I like to wash it off)

damp face Hada labo premium lotion x2 layers 

spray water on top

hydroboost water gel Neutrogena

100% squalene oil the ordinary

Am

avene cleanser 

eucerin 5 % urea replenishing cream

squalane oil

once a week I use cerave baume hydrant moisturiser on top of the hydoboost to get some lipids and ceramides in aswell also Vaseline after the squalane to make it all very occlsive,  I then wear  a silicone mask over the top to keep all in place and off my pillow 

once a week I will also use cosrx 0.5% daily salicylic acid cleanser  after my avene cleanser,  this is a very gentle exfoliator I believe you need to do this - to gently remove those stuck together skin cells without causing anymore inflammation

You will get cc's probs from the hada labo or the once a week heavy thick mask (cerave and Vaseline)  but as you can see from the two pics the holes are going ! so its up to you i would take cc;s  over those holes any day!

Right now ¦ this is key! and what I really think has helped the most

hydration is completely different  to moisturisation

hydration = water

Moisurising = oils and lipids

and oily dehydrated textured skin like this needs water!!!  ie hydration so focus on water! i  cant stress this enough *** toners are a game changer here they get water into the skin very well (Korean toners not western astringents)

whereas dry skin with this texture needs oils and lipids ie moisturisation so focus on moisturising

I still have a way to go to get my good skin back but

So happy that I have finally got some progress hope this can help people x

What hydrating toner do you use? Is it the Neutrogena hydro boost?

I would appreciate your help! Your skin is looking great btw!

Hada labo premium lotion - its called a lotion by theJapanese but lotion means toner in there culture, the neutrogena hydro boost is the moisturiser I use the water gel one.hydro boost aww thanks!! yes I am so pleased after so many years of having crap skin its still messed up but itsfinally getting better x

I wish my damage looked like your damage. My damage looks like acne scars

Update??

Want to heal your skin? Water fast. Drink about one to one and a half bottles of water a day for 4 days. Then get back to me.

@phuong-nguyen tried all of it! Ive been dealing with the damage for 6 years now. Ive tried fasting, green juice only diets, almost anything you can think of.

Update! After 6 long years of dealing with retin A damage and also losing both of my parents during this difficult time I have finally saved up enough money to get treatment. The painful burning inflammation has stopped and took 3 years to subside but I am now left with the textural issues and damage that retin A caused my skin that was once pretty great prior to using it as a preventative maintenance type of thing.

My first treatment will be mid December and it will take about 6-12 months to see the results As well as a second treatment that will happen at around 6 months after the first treatment. This is a very expensive treatment (think buying a new car expensive) and I wont get into the details of it just yetnot until I know it actually works because Ive tried so many things over the last 6 years that I dont want to steer anyone in the wrong direction until I know that this will work. But the before and after photos that the clinic has shared with me are pretty amazing so heres to hoping. Pray for me!

Posted by: @yola4

Update! After 6 long years of dealing with retin A damage and also losing both of my parents during this difficult time I have finally saved up enough money to get treatment. The painful burning inflammation has stopped and took 3 years to subside but I am now left with the textural issues and damage that retin A caused my skin that was once pretty great prior to using it as a preventative maintenance type of thing.

My first treatment will be mid December and it will take about 6-12 months to see the results As well as a second treatment that will happen at around 6 months after the first treatment. This is a very expensive treatment (think buying a new car expensive) and I wont get into the details of it just yetnot until I know it actually works because Ive tried so many things over the last 6 years that I dont want to steer anyone in the wrong direction until I know that this will work. But the before and after photos that the clinic has shared with me are pretty amazing so heres to hoping. Pray for me!

What treatment are you getting?

@yola4 Hi Yola! Long time lurker here, was surprised to see you post an update after so long. First I'd like to say I hope your treatment works out and am praying for your success and happiness. My condolences for the loss of your parents as well. I know how it feels to be trapped in your own headspace, worrying about your own insecurities, and then tragedy strikes someone you care about. It just feels like a pile-on and finding the strength to get through it all is tough.

Would you mind sharing some details about the treatment you got back in December? I took have this texture, but from laser/microneedling. IIRC you're in NJ, right? I am too, and would be interested in hearing where you went for this, if your results are favorable. All the best!

Hey Guys! So the treatment definitely worked and so well that people are now envious of my skin. Im 40 years old now the damage occurred when I was just 33, but now people think Im 28-30. I live in NJ, but traveled to Ukraine of all places to get stem cell injections into my skin. The clinic is Mediland clinic in Kiev. Yes, I was there in December during the war. I was desperate. And had waited 6 hellish years to finally get help. It took over 3 years for the burning to subside. Mind you my damage was from a combination of retin A, derminator, and manual over exfoliation. I couldnt use anything on my skin for 6 years Id have a burning reaction. My barrier was so compromised that I lived in ice masks for 3.5 years. It was a complete nightmare. I still have another treatment to go but Im feeling like Im making up for all that lost time. I just wish my parents were alive to see me whole again. This was super expensive and I had to take a plane from France to Poland and then a 20 hour bus ride to Ukraine but I trusted this clinic and am happy I went with them. Ill update again after my next treatment. Idk when its happening because of the current climate in Ukraine

@yola4 Hi,thats great 🙂

What was your main problem? Only skin texture, burning sensations? What about sun, was / is your skin sun sensitive? Have you had problem with skin sensitivity, redness, etc? Has it helped with shiny skin after retin A damage?

I have also problem with skin texture but probably what concern me much is skin sensitivity to sun, heat, etc, overall redness. I always get red after few minutes on direct sun 🙂 but only there where peel has been applied...

Unfortunatelly I have rosacea proned skin that has been worsened by chemical peel and harsh acne treatments (so cause of the skin damage is quite similar to your as Retin A exfoliate skin as chemical peel) and so far nothing helped too much. I have done some laser treatments, used many topicals, antibiotics, but redness, irritation and skin texture is still there. So I am quite curious if this treatment can help me.

Have you did only stem cell treatment or stem cell treatment with PRP? Because I have found some guy (on rosaceagroup forum) who did stem cell treatment with PRP and he / she also got rid of rosacea (it cost him/her 40 k USD).

Would you mind if I send you private message? I am from Europe, so I can visit Ukraine, but probably there are other clinins in other countries that can do same treatment as well. That guy I mentioned did stem cell and PRP in Mexico and US. So if you are from US, probably there are clinics that can do same treatment as well (maybe they are more expensive?).

Thanks

@yola4 good for you!

@yola4 Which stem cells have you been treated with? But probably it were mesenchymal stem cells (there are some other stem cell treatments)?

Where have doctor got your stem cells from, from narrow bone or from fat (ussualy stomach fat)?

Thanks

@yola4 some update?

@yola4 has it stayed healed permanently or it has returned? I am just thinking that generally PRP, PRF can help with texture in same way as stem cell but for fraxtion of stem cells cost. Have you tried PRP or PRF before? There is also laser damage support facebook group where many people succesfully used PRP or PRF for texture damage

Posted by: @Yola4

Update! After 6 long years of dealing with retin A damage and also losing both of my parents during this difficult time I have finally saved up enough money to get treatment. The painful burning inflammation has stopped and took 3 years to subside but I am now left with the textural issues and damage that retin A caused my skin that was once pretty great prior to using it as a preventative maintenance type of thing.

My first treatment will be mid December and it will take about 6-12 months to see the results As well as a second treatment that will happen at around 6 months after the first treatment. This is a very expensive treatment (think buying a new car expensive) and I wont get into the details of it just yetnot until I know it actually works because Ive tried so many things over the last 6 years that I dont want to steer anyone in the wrong direction until I know that this will work. But the before and after photos that the clinic has shared with me are pretty amazing so heres to hoping. Pray for me!

Hi

Would you please care to post an update? Is there any way to get in touch with you?

Would love an update

Posted by: @Yola4

Hey Guys! So the treatment definitely worked and so well that people are now envious of my skin. Im 40 years old now the damage occurred when I was just 33, but now people think Im 28-30. I live in NJ, but traveled to Ukraine of all places to get stem cell injections into my skin. The clinic is Mediland clinic in Kiev. Yes, I was there in December during the war. I was desperate. And had waited 6 hellish years to finally get help. It took over 3 years for the burning to subside. Mind you my damage was from a combination of retin A, derminator, and manual over exfoliation. I couldnt use anything on my skin for 6 years Id have a burning reaction. My barrier was so compromised that I lived in ice masks for 3.5 years. It was a complete nightmare. I still have another treatment to go but Im feeling like Im making up for all that lost time. I just wish my parents were alive to see me whole again. This was super expensive and I had to take a plane from France to Poland and then a 20 hour bus ride to Ukraine but I trusted this clinic and am happy I went with them. Ill update again after my next treatment. Idk when its happening because of the current climate in Ukraine they arent taking patients right now.

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Hi Yola, can you please give an update? Im going through the same thing Im literally suffering so bad. Quality of my life has gone down hill and Im only 28. I did the same thing as you. I wanted to know if the treatment you did is still working. Please write back!

@evewaddell what damages have you gotten and for how long now? Ive been suffering for 7 years myself. Im wondering if I should do the same as her with the stem cells.

@phuong-nguyen I am in a similar situation for the last 3 years so I would be interested to hear an update too. Do you think you will do the same treatment?

Posted by: @Phuong Nguyen

@evewaddell what damages have you gotten and for how long now? Ive been suffering for 7 years myself. Im wondering if I should do the same as her with the stem cells.

Posted by: @Phuong Nguyen

@evewaddell what damages have you gotten and for how long now? Ive been suffering for 7 years myself. Im wondering if I should do the same as her with the stem cells.

Ive used retinol and a bunch of harsh products back in January which completely ruined my skin barrier. Ive never had skin issues before in my life but now my skin is dry, dehydrated, I have lines in my skin, the texture is bumpy and rough. I experienced itching, burning, tingling all over especially after applying products. Its been a total nightmare. I am willing to go to Ukraine to get this fixed (if possible)

@evewaddell I fully sympathise with you and am so sorry you're going through this too - I damaged my skin barrier 3 years ago with the Paula's Choice 2% BHA and my skin still hasn't recovered. It's been an absolute nightmare. I have made progress thanks to some great estheticians but I just want my skin back to how it was before. My skin is so dehydrated, it feels tight every day, burns randomly like you mentioned, and flushes red around my mouth. I have kept coming back to this post as I was so reassured to see someone heal after so long. I am very interested to hear if you decide to go ahead with the treatment, and also what they advise for this situation

Hi all,
Im currently going through the same nightmare after 3 weeks of using tret for anti-aging. Prior to this nightmare I had really good skin, sunspots and a few fine lines when I smiled but thats it. Now my face is covered in large pores that join together. My skin has orange peel texture that looks like it belongs to an 80 year old. Im very depressed, dont want to leave the house and dont even want my own family to see me looking like this. Its completely destroyed my life.
I stopped using tret about 3 weeks ago and at first in a panic, I used a BHA exfoliater which definitely made things worse. The last couple of weeks Ive been trying to be super gentle but I can see that I have blocked pores which is driving me a bit crazy. My skin just looks awful and Ive gone from absolutely loving life, to never wanting to leave the house again.
its heartbreaking to read that some of you have been dealing with this for years. Im so sorry 🙁 I really hope we can find a way to fix this.