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Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:28 am  |
Hi I have been using obagi clear with retin-a 0.25% for over a week now for acne brown marks (and a few red marks). I have only been spot treating the marks with the clear after applying retin-a in the evening. I have also been using the clear in the morning alone, once again spot treating the pigmentation areas. However I apply the retin-a all over my face. In the first few days I peeled quite majorily but after my pigmentation seemed about 30% lighter.
However a few more days and little to no peeling but I think its because the new skin will take longer to peel. I have noticed the areas of pigmentation especially have sort of turned red from brown. The redness is still there as apparent. I am a little worried.
Also my face is extremely dry, like very dry but its also very smooth, and doesnt seem to hurt or sting as such.
My questions are:
1. Is the brown to red transformation normal and expected?
2. Will it be worth me investing in the obagi Action?
3. Do you think I should be applying the clear all over my face with the Retin-a or is spot treating the way I am okay?
4. Will the red marks also go away with the combination of lightening and peeling or will the process just get rid of the brown pigmentation and have no effect on the redness and red marks?
5. Is the dryness normal and should I just continue with the retin-a? Will my skin still peel (I see peeling to be a good thing as long is doesnt hurt)?
Thanks in advance! |
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Wed Oct 01, 2008 5:11 am |
My 2 cents worth, being a nu derm user and lover! You need ALL the products. You are not "doing Obagi" if you are using 1-2 of the nu derm products. You won't get the best results you can if you aren't using all the products.
The red is a normal side effect and can continue the whole 18 weeks or however long you are on Obagi.
Yes, you should be applying Clear (and the rest of the nu derm products) all over your face for best results.
You will be dry. It is part of the process. I would suggest you go to Obagi.com and read all about the nu derm, the products, what to expect, etc. Another good site is skincare-md.com. They will tell you a great deal about Obagi, the cycles your skin goes through, what to expect, etc.
ETA: If you don't have any more peeling, consider going up to the next strength for Retin A. |
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Wed Oct 01, 2008 8:08 am |
I do see where your coming from. If you can just help me out a little. First of all I am a person of colour so I am naturally a bit more worried to go extreme. Secondly my pigmentation is very minimial on either side of my cheeks only. Secondly I have no pimples at all as of yet due to accutane and (TOUCH WOOD) it has remained that way.
Basically I wanted to know why the cleanser and the toner would be required for me? My skin is already dry and if anyting can it not be replaced by any other toner and cleanser? Secondly my skin already seems very red, I am a little scared of adding the blender in as well. I can jusitfy purchasing the action and/or tolereen for redness etc. Lastly I am not sure about the exfoderm but already feel the retin-a penetrates deep (cant use every day at the moment). Lastly I have sunscreen by shesiedo SPF55 is this good enough? |
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Wed Oct 01, 2008 9:41 am |
Ms. Riley is right. You should use all the product lines to get the best result for your skin eventhough you are a skin of colour. But do not use too much, just a small pea-size treatment for all the face, follow the routine as per doctor's instruction. Of course, at first, you will get redness, because your skin is not used to it. Also you are "spot-treating" your skin and using Retin-A all over, not good if I may add... Also, takes time to stimulate the skin cells, but once it is stimulated, you will see remarkable results, just have patience to use it....
| sid99 wrote: |
I do see where your coming from. If you can just help me out a little. First of all I am a person of colour so I am naturally a bit more worried to go extreme. Secondly my pigmentation is very minimial on either side of my cheeks only. Secondly I have no pimples at all as of yet due to accutane and (TOUCH WOOD) it has remained that way.
Basically I wanted to know why the cleanser and the toner would be required for me? My skin is already dry and if anyting can it not be replaced by any other toner and cleanser? Secondly my skin already seems very red, I am a little scared of adding the blender in as well. I can jusitfy purchasing the action and/or tolereen for redness etc. Lastly I am not sure about the exfoderm but already feel the retin-a penetrates deep (cant use every day at the moment). Lastly I have sunscreen by shesiedo SPF55 is this good enough? |
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Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:12 am |
| sid99 wrote: |
I do see where your coming from. If you can just help me out a little. First of all I am a person of colour so I am naturally a bit more worried to go extreme. Secondly my pigmentation is very minimial on either side of my cheeks only. Secondly I have no pimples at all as of yet due to accutane and (TOUCH WOOD) it has remained that way.
Basically I wanted to know why the cleanser and the toner would be required for me? My skin is already dry and if anyting can it not be replaced by any other toner and cleanser? Secondly my skin already seems very red, I am a little scared of adding the blender in as well. I can jusitfy purchasing the action and/or tolereen for redness etc. Lastly I am not sure about the exfoderm but already feel the retin-a penetrates deep (cant use every day at the moment). Lastly I have sunscreen by shesiedo SPF55 is this good enough? |
Obagi does have a dry skin cleanser and toner. My thought is that all of the products work together, each building on one another to give you the very best results with the Nu Derm. I think it is especially important for the 1st skin cycle (6-8 weeks) to use all of the products. The cleanser will last you forever. The toner, in my opinion, can be replaced after the initial 6-8 weeks by using witch hazel. The sunscreen you are using is good and if you aren't having issues with it and like it, I would continue with that.
You do get red, peely, flaky, but it is part of the process. (Only use the action/tolereen when you absolutely have to. I have never used either of those products, but they are only meant to be used minimally).
Of course this is all your choice, you can continue with what you are doing and if in a few months you don't get your desired results, then I would strongly encourage you to consider the whole Nu Derm system. Good luck!  |
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Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:47 pm |
| thanks guys for your help! I have so far ordered the tolereen just incase I require it (but of course as you said only if really required). I am going to do as rileygirl suggested and use the clear with retin-a for a few weeks and if see little to no results then I will take the plunge and by the blender, toner and cleanser as well and possibly the sunfader too! I hope thsi goes well for me I used to have immacualte skin 1 year ago (im 21) and because of one breakout it left me with some marks which have made my life really spiral downwards. I have started college again and cant bear being unconfident like this! Ill keep reporting back! Thanks again. |
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Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:59 pm |
| Good luck, Sid. Hope you get the results you are looking for! |
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Thu Oct 02, 2008 8:03 am |
Thanks rileygirl, if you can just help me out one more time. I've decided to take a deeper plunge and have ordered the obagi blender and exfoderm from EDS so I am just waiting for it to arrive. So my new regimen will stand at this (subject to change).
AM:[/b]
1. Cleanse with cetaphil gentle cleanser.
2. Apply clear and wait for absorption.
3. Then apply exfoderm and wait for absorption.
4. Apply Sheisdo SPF50 A+++ sun lotion.
PM:[b]
1. Cleanse with cetaphil gentle cleanser. Wait 20 mins (for Retin-A).
2. Apply clear (mainly on darker spots in PM) and wait for absorption.
3. Apply Retin-A (0.25% highest in UK) then apply Blender straighaway.
I will back off the exfoderm/Retin-A if my skin peeling too much or too red and irritated and use the tolereen only in such circumstances.
So just quick advice from you if this regimen will be better or anything you suggest I change? |
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Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:23 am |
| sid99 wrote: |
Thanks rileygirl, if you can just help me out one more time. I've decided to take a deeper plunge and have ordered the obagi blender and exfoderm from EDS so I am just waiting for it to arrive. So my new regimen will stand at this (subject to change).
AM:[/b]
1. Cleanse with cetaphil gentle cleanser.
2. Apply clear and wait for absorption.
3. Then apply exfoderm and wait for absorption.
4. Apply Sheisdo SPF50 A+++ sun lotion.
PM:[b]
1. Cleanse with cetaphil gentle cleanser. Wait 20 mins (for Retin-A).
2. Apply clear (mainly on darker spots in PM) and wait for absorption.
3. Apply Retin-A (0.25% highest in UK) then apply Blender straighaway.
I will back off the exfoderm/Retin-A if my skin peeling too much or too red and irritated and use the tolereen only in such circumstances.
So just quick advice from you if this regimen will be better or anything you suggest I change? |
Hi, Sid! Ok, everything looks good except you take your Retin A and you take the blender and you mixed them together first before you apply them. You want to make sure to rub all the products in really well. Once you have rubbed them in your skin well, you can go right on to your next step, no need to wait. Looks good. Good luck and keep us posted! |
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Thu Oct 02, 2008 1:40 pm |
| Thanks! I sure will do! |
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