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vgbdaisy
New Member
 
Joined: 20 Dec 2011
Posts: 3
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Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:56 pm  |
I need your help to figure out if my Obagi treatment is working or not. I am about to finish my 3rd month on the Obagi NuDerm which I got for my 40th birthday. My family got it for me, I normally wouldn't spend this much money on skin care. I am closely following the Obagi recommended regimen: cleanser, toner, clear and exfoderm and Sunfader in the AM (sometimes the Vitamin-C Serum); cleanser, toner, clear, blender and tretinoin 0.05% in the evening (did about 2 weeks with 0.25% and didn't see much pealing so I went up to 0.05%.) I have had peeling and redness in the area inside my laugh lines, so near the nose, around mouth, chin. In week 3 or so I had a few days when that area was so dry, tight and red that I stopped the tretinoin for a few days, put Eucerin and when it was better I added back the tretinoin, I kept using the other products. Normally, every 2 weeks or so, I get some peeling and redness in that area, I back off of the tretinoin for a couple of days and then start using it again. In the same area that I am peeling and in my jaw line I have been breaking out a lot and seeing lots of black heads. I was breaking out before Obagi but now it is even more and it seems like it is taking longer for the zits to heal(sometimes I pop them which I know I shouldn't do but I have done that all my life - thus the acne darker spots and why I am using Obagi.) The rest of my face, no peeling, no redness, maybe once around the eyebrows, but that is it. When I wash my face in the evenings, I use the Clarisonic. I am originally from Argentina, have medium olive skin - like an italian since grandparents on one side where italians.
So why am I not peeling ALL over? great if I don't peel, it is not like a want the peeling or redness. But this treatment is not cheap and I want for it to work. Do some people not peel but still have good results? Is the couple of days I stop the tretinoin if the skin is getting too red and uncomfortable causing me not to peel? But about the rest of my face? I still have some of the tretinoin left in the tube plus another one and I would hate to throw it away if I have to go to a higher strenght. Maybe I could add it in the morning? Or do one coat of the 0.50 and when it dries add the 0.25. And I am not being skimpy with the tretinoin either, I put a decent amount on.
Pleas help! I welcome any recommendations. Thank you! |
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Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:07 pm |
| vgbdaisy wrote: |
So why am I not peeling ALL over? great if I don't peel, it is not like a want the peeling or redness. But this treatment is not cheap and I want for it to work. Do some people not peel but still have good results? Is the couple of days I stop the tretinoin if the skin is getting too red and uncomfortable causing me not to peel? But about the rest of my face? I still have some of the tretinoin left in the tube plus another one and I would hate to throw it away if I have to go to a higher strenght. Maybe I could add it in the morning? Or do one coat of the 0.50 and when it dries add the 0.25. And I am not being skimpy with the tretinoin either, I put a decent amount on.
Pleas help! I welcome any recommendations. Thank you! |
Some people do not peel and if you are darker, you may not notice the redness as much. You can still get good results. What results have you seen in the 3 months you have been using Nu Derm? Are You noticing improvement in your skin?
It is ok to back off when you get extremely dry and/or irritated, but you are also slowing down the process when you do that. And you should not be using moisturizer unless you are really have major problems.
The only thing I can think of is if you are using the correct amount of the products. Are you using 1 gram of Clear twice a day and 1 gram of Retin A mixed with 1/2 gram of Blender at night? |
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vgbdaisy
New Member
Joined: 20 Dec 2011
Posts: 3
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Thu Mar 22, 2012 2:25 pm |
| Thanks for your input! I think I am using the right amount, for sure of the tretinoin. But it is hard to tell what the right amount is, I know that it is the amount between the lines in Obagi name, but how tall? Compared to a pea, how much would you say a gram is? The only time I use Eucerin is when it gets red and it start to feel really uncomfortable (mild pain) |
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Tue Mar 27, 2012 11:57 am |
Did a dermatologist prescribe the Obagi regime for you? If not how do you know you are on the most appropriate regimen for your needs?
Chronic inflammation is damaging to the skin, being able to avoid or limit it is a positive thing and does not necessarily indicate efficacy. Bear in mind much irritation/ inflammation is invisible and you cannot see what is taking place at the cellular level. IMO you should be using the Eucerin or another moisturiser daily, not waiting until your skin is visibly stressed. Bear in mind that healing takes place in a wet environment, so your skin needs to be hydrated to repair and regenerate most effectively. |
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Sensitivity, forehead pigmentation & elevens, nose & chin clogged pores. Topicals: Aloe vera, squalane, lactic acid, Myfawnie KinNiaNag HG: Weleda calendula, Lanolips, Guinot masque essentiel, Flexitol Naturals, Careprost. Gadgets: Vaughter dermarollers, Lightstim. |
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Tue Mar 27, 2012 12:02 pm |
| vgbdaisy wrote: |
| I know that it is the amount between the lines in Obagi name, but how tall? Compared to a pea, how much would you say a gram is? |
vgbdaisy, 1 gram is measured either by the letters on the product from the O to the I, or you can use your little finger. From the tip of the little finger down to the 2nd joint is 1 gram. And compared to a pea size, 1 gram is quite a bit more. Think more along the lines of a line of toothpaste you put on a toothbrush. |
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vgbdaisy
New Member
Joined: 20 Dec 2011
Posts: 3
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Tue Mar 27, 2012 3:07 pm |
So I put the different "creams' on top of the Obagi of another bottle, to make sure I measured correctly, and I think I was using about 1/2 the amount I should have been using. So maybe 1/4 gr when I should have been using 1/2-1 gram. So I started using a bit more and I can already see after a few days that I am starting to peel more, it is a little tighter, but I am not uncomfortable. I will continue down this road and see how things progress.
vgbdaisy |
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