I feel like my skin is ruined :(
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Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:15 pm Quote

Hey everyone,

i had convinced myself that retin a wasnt good for my skin so i took a two week break from it. Well the blackheads on my nose were back full force. I decided to try some biore nose strips. I waited 15 minutes like the box said and then very very slowly pulled the strips off. Well here i am two weeks after using the strips with a red nose. I cant tell if im just paranoid or what but it almost looks like i have small lines on my nose. But i have broken caps on my cheeks from Retin-a and they dont look the same. Im only 21 and im sick of this crap. I feel like my skin is ruined. What should i do? I filed a complaint with the company and they sent me a letter to get another free products. I dont want any more of their stuff!! lol. So is this really bad or no? Sad

( Thank you!!

enjoys freebies · Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:34 pm Quote

I don't think your skin is ruined. I had that same result several years ago with a Biore' strip on the bridge of my nose. I pulled it off a little more forcefully than I should have, and I looked like I had a red birthmark where the strip had been! The redness lasted several days and then vanished.

Funny thing, when companies respond to a complaint with more of the same product. I wrote Healthy Choice frozen dinners once because I had taken one of their meals to work, and it was absolutely inedible, so I had no lunch that day. They sent me coupons for more dinners!

enjoys freebies · Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:11 pm Quote

We've all done stuff just like that. Me too,with the Biore strips.But,be gentle with your skin and it will repair.
I like to use triple refined Emu Oil(LBProcessors) to soothe my skin when I overdo it.
Hopefully,someone will jump in for gentle help for blackheads.
Smile

enjoys freebies · Fri Oct 03, 2008 11:25 pm Quote

I used the biore nose strips a few years back. After the third or fourth strip I noticed that there was a small red mark on the right side of my nose. I think it was the result of ripping the strip of quickly. After that I stopped using the strips all together! Three years later, I still have that red mark and it hasn't faded what so ever!

I used retin a as well two years ago. It didn't do anything for my skin other than making it extremely sensitive to the sun. After a few months I stopped using it. I honestly think that I damaged my skin more in those few months than I have over the last 20 years!

Over the years I've learned to be just gentle with my skin. I don't use too many products. I find that chemical exfoliators are less abrasive on my skin them manual exfoliators. I use paula's choice 2%bha liquid exfoliator. It's extremely gentle and it has only a few ingredients. It doesn't break me out or aggravate my skin at all. Paulas's Choice is good at giving samples as well. As far as moisturizers go, I've always had good luck with Clinique moisture surge.

enjoys freebies · Sat Oct 04, 2008 7:45 am Quote

Anastasia111 wrote:

Hey everyone,

i had convinced myself that retin a wasnt good for my skin so i took a two week break from it. Well the blackheads on my nose were back full force. I decided to try some biore nose strips. I waited 15 minutes like the box said and then very very slowly pulled the strips off. Well here i am two weeks after using the strips with a red nose. I cant tell if im just paranoid or what but it almost looks like i have small lines on my nose. But i have broken caps on my cheeks from Retin-a and they dont look the same. Im only 21 and im sick of this crap. I feel like my skin is ruined. What should i do? I filed a complaint with the company and they sent me a letter to get another free products. I dont want any more of their stuff!! lol. So is this really bad or no? Sad

( Thank you!!

Could the lines be from dehydration or pulling on the skin too forcefully?

enjoys freebies · Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:09 am Quote

I feel your pain Crying or Very sad

, I have done some damaging things to my skin as well. I am not sure of your skin type but there are many natural remedies that you can try that are healing. Try carrier oils with essential oils that are suited for your skin type. Hydrosols are also very healing. The cheapest and most effective remedy is to steep either chamomile teas or green teas and apply to your face. Let me know if you need any more help.

enjoys freebies · Sat Oct 04, 2008 8:19 am Quote

Don't use Biore strips, they are the worse. Pore walls can become damaged and weakened. They told us this in cosmetology school when I was in the esthetician program. It is a quick fix but not worth it in the long run in my opinion.

enjoys freebies · Sat Oct 04, 2008 6:15 pm Quote

I've hurt my skin a lot in the past as well. Hopefully you'll be like catballou and skincareaddict and it will heal. Plus, you're still very young and your skin will have more of an ability to bounce back than other people's skin might.

I feel your anxiety though. I'm 21 too and I thought I'd have teenage skin forever. I'm still very self-conscious of my skin.

My advice to you would be to leave your skin alone for now - don't attack it with chemicals or wash it in too hot or too cold water - and let it heal. You don't want to traumatize it further.

You could try making a very gentle mask with kaolin clay and turmeric. Turmeric is what I believe made the red marks on my cheeks start to disappear. I could work for you too. Good luck (and I really mean it).

enjoys freebies · Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:57 am Quote

Blackheads get allot of coverage on this Forum and the general consensus is that acids definitely help. I've been using Retin-A for about a year, and my blackheads have improved immensely. But I've also used lactic acid peels - salicylic acid is also very good. If you're really worried about them, I would go to a skincare professional and get them extracted properly. Then you need to adopt a good cleansing regime.

I know from your other thread "Scared about using Retin-A" that you were worried about it giving you broken caps - but I think I posted you a link that stated that Retin-A was actually recommended for broken caps. Plus it really is the gold standard when it comes to skincare. I would recommend that you go back on it - but use a lower strength and make sure it has a CREAM base and not a gel one. Good luck Very Happy

enjoys freebies · Sun Oct 05, 2008 7:52 am Quote

Fox wrote:

I've hurt my skin a lot in the past as well. Hopefully you'll be like catballou and skincareaddict and it will heal. Plus, you're still very young and your skin will have more of an ability to bounce back than other people's skin might.

I feel your anxiety though. I'm 21 too and I thought I'd have teenage skin forever. I'm still very self-conscious of my skin.

My advice to you would be to leave your skin alone for now - don't attack it with chemicals or wash it in too hot or too cold water - and let it heal. You don't want to traumatize it further.

You could try making a very gentle mask with kaolin clay and turmeric. Turmeric is what I believe made the red marks on my cheeks start to disappear. I could work for you too. Good luck (and I really mean it).

It could work for you too. Sorry Embarassed

enjoys freebies · Sun Oct 05, 2008 10:04 am Quote

Everone gets it here in this thread. You can still use your retin but back off a bit such as use it 2-3 times per week and on the off days use GENTLE skin care.

As for the blackheads on your nose those strips should be taken off the market. Paulas Choice makes an excellent BHA and keeps your skin clear. Really this is all you need plus a sunscreen during the day.

Sun Oct 05, 2008 5:14 pm Quote

Thank you all. This is the first forum ive found were everyone responds so fast, this is great! I think im going to get back on the Retin A. I also use a cetaphil cleansing bar which ive been told is very mild. Thanks for the advice!! Smile

enjoys freebies · Sun Oct 05, 2008 7:55 pm Quote

Hi Anastasia,

I'm new to this forum too - and it looks like everyone has given you great advice. I'm wondering also if you might ask your dermatologist for advice? (I'm guessing that your derm prescribed the Retin A for you?)

Since you are so lucky to have young skin - (Wish I were so young still!) you will probably heal quickly. The Biore strips can be pretty strong, esp. if you wait the full 15 minutes for them to dry. The redness you're seeing is probably some mild superficial trauma (?).

Maybe the salicylic acid (or lactic acid) will be a gentler method of keeping those blackheads at bay...

Best of luck!

Bunny

Sun Oct 05, 2008 9:30 pm Quote

Those blackhead strips..they do they pretty well, but unfortunately, then can't minimise your pores. In my opinion, you should use some gentle exfoliant every day, so that it'll not hurt your skin. for once or twice a week, put on some clay mask to absorb those oily stuff in your pores, especially your nose. Don't forget to apply some toner after cleaning your face everytime. just be patient, those blackheads will run away gradually.

enjoys freebies · Thu Mar 05, 2009 11:22 am Quote

I don't think your skin is ruined, you just need to take it easy. You have to be gentle with your skin and introduce new products slowly to gauge what you can handle without shocking your skin. Awhile back I used WAY too many products and my face was out of control and covered in acne when I had never had acne. I realized I was using too many products and just started moisturizing my skin and being gentle with it. Make sure if you use the Retin A to start with the lowest strength and then work your way up to a higher strength. Good luck to you and I hope your skin goes back to normal soon.

enjoys freebies · Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:40 pm Quote

Sometimes I get broken caps and then they go away within days! Do yours look like little pimples I get those and have no clue what they are... Rosacea maybe. Well in any case as my mom likes to tell me skin changes! Like kdd said you have a good chance your skin will resolve itself just stay away from harsh products.

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