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Tue Jul 30, 2013 7:49 am  |
Ugh, where do I begin? I had perfect skin, the type people stop you in the street and ask what you use. I was very gentle with my skin, until my stressful job. I got mild acne on my face, and I was ready to try everything to get my perfect skin back.
Fast forward two months, and exfoliation and peels, I am left with orange peel skin. Large oily pores, more acne and inflammation.
I can’t stop stressing about it. I have stopped all hard cleansers, I use cerave products in hopes to repair the damage. I am supplements with collagen, vitamin c, and omega 3. Of course, my stressful job and hormonal imbalance is sure not helping.
What else can I do? Any other supplements and/or creams? Will my skin ever repair?
I will post before and after pictures to give you an idea of the damage, and hopefully help someone who is using harsh ingredients on their skin! |
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Tue Jul 30, 2013 8:52 pm |
Hi,
Just wondering how old you are and what your skin type is?
If appropriate Obagi have a range of Medical products for Acne prone skin that I found amazing. I used to get really bad acne around my Jaw line and neck when I was stressed out. (I also had slight rosacea)Now I use the obagi it's improved A LOT (to the point where I don't even need to wear makeup sometimes.
A friend of mine also had success with the luminesce product rang (it's a lot more gentle than Obagi), but she was also taking the Perricone supplements (which are pricey) |
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Nickky_Shygirl |
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Tue Jul 30, 2013 9:40 pm |
It sounds like your skin is telling you something. It didn't like the harsh treatments and you need to do something to reduce your stress. Does exercise help? Or talking with a friend? What small changes can you make to reduce your stress level? Sometimes even small things can make a big difference.
In the meantime, the Cerave products will give your skin a chance to repair itself. It may need a rest from the harsh treatments. It'll take some time. Eat a good diet with fruits, veggies and lean protein.
Think about seeing a dermatologist if you decide to try Obagi or if things don't get better. |
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Tue Jul 30, 2013 11:19 pm |
I agree - I would just continue doing what you're doing and wait. Try to use a sunblock in the mornings - I find actually that using a pure zinc-oxide sunblock helps calm my skin down.
Also, what cleanser are you using? I would recommend a non-foaming, very gentle cleanser - something like Clinique Comforting Cream Cleanser, used with a washcloth. The Cerave Hydrating Cleanser is also supposed to be nice, though I haven't tried it. |
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Tue Jul 30, 2013 11:20 pm |
| To add, I think your skin should hopefully recover - it's only been two months since you started the peels, etc. It will take some time for your skin to repair itself after that. |
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Wed Jul 31, 2013 7:08 am |
mur, I really hope you are right any my skin goes back. I am 24 and people were always mistaking me for 18, but not anymore!!! This happened in such a short period of time.
I am strictly using the cerave products, but was considering add a ceramide supplement that is supposed to help the skin from within. My mom advised me to wash my skin with chamomile tea and it seems to have calmed down the irritation.
Crazy how fast you can cause damage, and how long it takes to heal. |
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Wed Jul 31, 2013 2:47 pm |
What do you think of the ELTA md clear sunscreen? It has niacin, oil free, and an SPF 46.
My skin is incredibly oily, is that part of the repairing process? Should I use blotting papers? |
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Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:18 pm |
Skincare it sounds like you have disrupted your skins barrier function. Use only products that are gentle and natural. Just an oil like jojoba, passionfruit or whatever pure organic oil agrees with you would be best. Apply it on damp skin that you have cleansed with something like Sircuit Skins X-Trap would be good. Use no toners or scrubs.
A childrens sunscreen that has few harsh ingreds would be best. Uriage BarieSun Childrens Milk is mild and yet effective and cosmetically elegant. It doesnt sting the skin like chemical Sss can nor does it dry the skin out like mineral ones.
Give your skin a break and learn from it that less is more! Hope this helps. Your skin will recover if you leave it alone!
I am not affiliated with any of these products but I use them. |
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✪ My go-to products: MyFawnie.BigCartel.com ✪ |
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Wed Jul 31, 2013 4:44 pm |
| skincare1988 wrote: |
What do you think of the ELTA md clear sunscreen? It has niacin, oil free, and an SPF 46.
My skin is incredibly oily, is that part of the repairing process? Should I use blotting papers? |
I am not an expert in super oilly skins but I believe that the more u remove/blot oil the more your body is going to produce to replace it.. try leaving the oil other than twice a day wash and see... i would even suggest you using argan oil plus tamanu oil, both of these oils are good for acne prone skin.... |
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Thu Aug 01, 2013 2:42 am |
| Start using nano cyclic silver soap for sensitive skin. It will sort out this issue for you. |
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Thu Aug 01, 2013 6:59 am |
| Stress can certainly trigger acne. What about talking to your doctor about aldectone? This is a drug that lowers your blood pressure this therefore helping to alleviate acne. This is what I'm currently taking |
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Late 20's, clarisonic, Vit C serum, hormonal acne, congested pores, combination skin, living in Vancouver Canada |
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Thu Aug 01, 2013 7:12 am |
I was worried about the blotting, but I get so oily that I have to blot, My coworker stopped by and said whether I went to the gym during lunch, as my face looked so sweaty from all the oil production.
Interesting about the silver soap, never heard of it before. I am reading about it now. I added a high quality omega 3 and borage oil to my supplements and hopefully these will speed up healing.
For my acne I am taking spearmint and green tea and I hope I don't have to take any more pills/supplements for this. Its so frustrating, because my skin is now more susceptible to the p acne bacteria and there is nothing I can use to fight the acne and repair my skin at the same time!
Definitely learned my lesson and wish other people could learn from me. I even told my coworker the true story behind the "sweaty appearance" and advised her to be gentle with her face. |
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Thu Aug 01, 2013 10:50 am |
You could try the oil cleansing method (OCM). There are loads of recipes and how-to's on this forum.
Obviously you have been way too agressive with your skin - repairing the skin barrier and getting your skin into a happy place is what is most important now.
I personally don't do OCM but use cold cream - and as soon as I started doing that my skin started to do a very happy dance. |
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Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:11 am |
| I agree with Fawnie. I would use as few products as possible and keep using them until your skin is back in shape - which could take many months. I would not recommend OCM unless it is something you have used in the past. The fewer new things you try the better. This is not a time to experiment. Good luck. |
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Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:23 am |
I am a bit scared of trying the OCM for now, I tried the jojoba oil a long time ago and it broke me out all over my face. I don’t think this was part of the purging process, because there is no way I had so many clogged pores.
Funny, I went to my dermatologist last week, and she recommended retin-a. No way I am using anything that irritating at the state my skin is in.
I am trying to be patient and ride this out, hoping it will heal soon!
Should I use the foaming cerave cleanser (for acne prone skin) or just stick with the creamy version (for dry skin)? |
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Thu Aug 01, 2013 11:32 am |
skincare1988, you may want to focus on barrier repair when choosing a skincare product now that your skin is inflammed. There are a number of products which can help you to restore the power of your skin. Make sure to check this thread http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=25773&start=50 about the dermatological skincare line called Epionce which specializes in products for repairing the skin barrier and blocking chronic inflammation.
Other products for barrier repair are mentioned throughout the forum: Nia24 Strengthening Complex, Dermalogica Barrier Repair, SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream, etc.
I personally use Lifeline skincare which helps with inflammation a lot. |
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Thu Aug 01, 2013 1:34 pm |
Pure zinc-oxide worked for me when there was any inflamation - from damaged skin to chapped lips, it worked like magic. And it just sits on top of the skin, so shouldn't interfere/clog pores.. just sooths.
I also find that being as gentle as possible helps, meaning just apply to the skin, but don't rub in, so that your skin has the "choice" whether it'll be useful to absorb, or not.
My last suggestion would be a diy oatmeal cleanser. I've heard people come back from the worst damage using it, when they couldn't tolerate anything else. |
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Olive, normal/oily skin. Using rinse-off ocm, Vit C, Tretinoin since Nov/10, GHK since Feb/12, Niacinamide & glucosamine, alternating, & now skipping nights! Concerns include oiliness, hyperpigmentation from occasional zits, 11's & nasolabial folds. |
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Thu Aug 01, 2013 2:36 pm |
Great suggestions! My aunt also recommended the oatmeal cleanser, I have always wondered why her skin is so good even in her late 50s. She is always been so gentle with her skin, mainly washing it with plain water or milk, and moisturizing with olive oil.
Another thing that I was just reminded of when I looked at myself in the mirror, my upper lip hair!!! I used to just shave it with a small razor, but I don’t need the extra exfoliation! What should I do? Pluck it? |
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Sat Aug 03, 2013 11:08 pm |
If I were you I would definitely stick with the Cerave creamy cleanser - definitely stay away from foaming cleansers or any products marketed to oily skin. Using oatmeal as a cleanser is also a good suggestion
Your skin might be trying to overcompensate for past damage by overproducing oil. I would also stop washing my face with any cleanser in the mornings - just rinse your face with water, and use the cleanser only in the evenings.
Hopefully by being as gentle as possible your skin's moisture barrier will restore itself - then the oil production should also slow down.
Overall I think the Cerave products you are using are good - just keep using them, and keep your routine simple.
The oil cleansing method can also be quite drying... I'd probably be cautious as well about it if I were you.
ETA: Retin A might help actually.... it might be worth trying if your dermatologist recommended it. It should probably help the acne and oiliness at least. |
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Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:36 am |
Things have improved slightly, but the breakouts are still there!
I have even thought of buying the elizabeth arden ceramides capsules, but not sure if they will be too heavy for my acne prone skin.
I have this hypothesis, and I might be completely wrong, but if we use moisturizers with ingredients that our bodies produce (e.g. ceramides) that somehow our skin gets "lazier" and will stop producing them on their own once we stop using that moisturizer. Is that true?
I came up with this hypothesis, because many women (me included) struggle to get their period back after birth control, because they have been taking synthetic hormones. |
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Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:20 am |
| skincare1988 wrote: |
I have this hypothesis, and I might be completely wrong, but if we use moisturizers with ingredients that our bodies produce (e.g. ceramides) that somehow our skin gets "lazier" and will stop producing them on their own once we stop using that moisturizer. Is that true?
I came up with this hypothesis, because many women (me included) struggle to get their period back after birth control, because they have been taking synthetic hormones. |
I am not sure that is the case. However I do believe that once the skin barrier is damaged, it takes a very long time to repair it because people do not use the right products designed to repair the barrier. Instead, they use products that can actually make things worse.
Here is an independent clinical study comparing a barrier repair product to other products - I would focus on the Discussion section to see the negative aspects of barrier discussion, and the recommended approach to repair it.
http://www.epionce.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/10_ClinicalStudy_EpionceSuperiorinCutaneousHealing.pdf
FYI that I am not associated with this vendor in any way, but I do use the product line. I am now using the MBC daily since I just started ReAura laser treatments again. |
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No longer answering PM's due to numerous weird messages. |
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Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:30 am |
This is a disturbing statistic if true. I think it may be brought on by all the AHA, RA, peels etc. that are all the rage now. It seems people get good results at first. So if a little is good. More must be better and before you know it your skin barrier is compromised.
Statistics show that up to 70% of Caucasian Americans have com- promised permeability barriers. |
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Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it |
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Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:37 am |
| I agree, there isn't enough information out there on all these acids. I was using the Alpha Beta Peel original strength by Dr. Dennis Gross every other day or less. I loved the initial results, but things went downhill from there. The label says it is supposed to be used DAILY! |
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Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:47 am |
This 2008 article from the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology is what got me moving away from acids and obsessed with the skin barrier. It has some equally disturbing stats, along with these comments:
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Chronic inflammation is etiology of extrinsic aging
The incidence of chronic inflammatory skin diseases appears to be significantly increasing in all age groups. Approximately 15% to 30% of American children are afflicted by eczematous dermatitis. Occupational contact dermatitis has become the leading cause of lost days of work in America and worldwide. In 2004, 39% of all American adults were reported to suffer with a chronic inflammatory skin condition lasting longer than 1 month during their lifetime.
Mucocutaneous malignancies have reached epidemic proportions. During each of the past 3 years, over a million Americans were diagnosed with a skin cancer requiring surgery. About 50% of people over 65 years old are afflicted with premalignant actinic keratoses. The most common procedures performed today by dermatologists relate to skin cancer therapy. Surgical and destructive procedures for skin cancer rose by 12% to over 1.7 million despite massive public and medical education on the relationship of sunlight to skin cancer. This trend is increasing despite the introduction in the 1980s of sunscreens with a sun protection factor of 15 or greater, and broadening the radiation spectrum of protection to include ultraviolet A (UVA) exposure.
During this same period, however, the popularity of exfoliating strategies with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), retinoids, and microdermabrasion has exploded. The number of estheticians and spas, including those types of practices owned by physicians, that perform exfoliating procedures has also grown rapidly.
http://www.epionce.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/03_08_ChronicInflammationItEtiologyOfSkinAging_JournalOfCosmeticDermatology1.pdf |
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No longer answering PM's due to numerous weird messages. |
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