Obagi- almost four months, please help
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Fri Sep 23, 2011 4:25 pm

hi guys,

i need some advice please. i'm breaking down here... it has almost been four months on obagi nuderm and i'm still breaking out like crazy. i went on it to clear acne... been using it religiously, cleanser, clear, exfoderm forte, blender w/ retina a .1% thankfully have had very little peeling but acne has gotten so much worse than what i originally had! i regret ever starting this and i feel like "what was i ever complaining about!" my skin now is so much worse, red scares everywhere, cysts (which i never had before), and acne in places (jawline) that i never had before. i'm 32 and just sick of this. please please please give me some support and encouragement guys. thanks so much.

free skin care · Fri Sep 23, 2011 5:04 pm

Did you contact the office where you purchased your products?

IMO NuDerm is great for pigmentation issues but not for treating acne. Obagi does make an acne line but I think it has crappy ingredients. Retin-a cream does have a pore clogging base and this can definitely be an issue for some. If I were you I'd stop using this set since your skin had gotten worse. Its been 4 months you have given it a good go and you should be getting better not worse at this point.

Sat Sep 24, 2011 8:25 am

yes, the office just tries to sell me stuff that will combat the minor melasma that i have. i'm so not concerned w/ my melasma at this point, just the acne and now the scars! so frustrating that the retin a could cause breakouts? is that really true? why would it be prescribed for acne when it causes acne? what about the IB? maybe i'm still going through that? thanks so much for any help out there.

free skin care · Sat Sep 24, 2011 12:17 pm

Hi Blue79,
Your reaction to Nuderm doesn't sound normal to me at all -- especially since you've been using it for four months. At this point, I would stop all of the products and visit a dermatologist if possible.

I agree with Girliegirl that Nuderm is great for pigmentation issues but I'm not too sure about acne.

free skin care · Sun Sep 25, 2011 8:10 am

blue79 wrote:

so frustrating that the retin a could cause breakouts? is that really true? why would it be prescribed for acne when it causes acne? what about the IB? maybe i'm still going through that?

Yes the cream base contains isopropyl myristate which is highly pore clogging. But you could be having a reaction to a combination of any of the products really.

IB? You mean initial purge? 4 months is too long for it be going on, it should be clearing up by now not getting worse.

I just noticed you are using the Clear AND the Blender? Thats alot of HQ especially when pigmentation isn't your issue, these 2 wont help your red spots. These products are not helping you. I would stop using them.

I agree with Kims going to a dermatologist is a great idea at this point. Definitely not the office where you got your Obagi.

Sun Sep 25, 2011 11:19 am

Hi to all you Obagi users Smile

. I'm new here and for the most part, I've just lurked gathering as much info as possible on Obagi. I'm black and live in England. I developed all manner of "sins" due to long term acne, sun damage and the pill. I've spent so much money on useless products over the years; I mean, you name it, I've tried it :cry But I recently decided to take the plunge and re-visit my research on Obagi (first learnt about it back in 2003, but was too chicken) I spent the past 2-3 months soaking up every morsel of info from you wonderful Obagi Sisters, especially Riley and Kims...thank you so much. 4 weeks ago I decided to try the Clear on its own, and so far I'm SHOCKED to say it's cleared I'd say about 70% of my hyperpigmentation!!!!!! and today I'm glad to say, I finally placed an order on EDS for the complete set. wish me luck Very Happy

Sun Sep 25, 2011 11:24 am

Ps. thanks, Kims; on "your recommendation", I bought Obagi Nu derm sunshield SPF 50....It's hands down the best sunscreen I've ever used Very Happy

I have very, very oily skin and this is a God send for my skin type!

Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:03 am

Love this informative forum but haven't posted in years!
I am in my mid forties, part Asian and have over the last two years developed two small melasma patches the size of a pea around the jaw area.
It could be as a result of being on the pill for 20 years (since stopped over a year ago) or maybe too much sun exposure at some point, though I don't really sun bathe and always wear a hat. Have been following some of the threads re melasma and loved Lushlalas results with the Nu derm! Lushlala could you specifically recommend the Obagi Nuderm you actually used to get results?
Do I just paint the product on the two affected areas? Does it come back when you stop using it?
Has anyone had results with Laser or anything else on Melasma?
Not sure what will give the best results. Confused

free skin care · Tue Oct 25, 2011 1:12 am

We have all been there, trying something new only to find it's had adverse affects on our appearance but the good news is most of us have found that it can be reversible. We have even decided we would like to change something about our appearance also only to find it looked worse than before.

A wise dermatologist once said to me that with the more potent treatments things always tend to get worse before they get better, and this might just be the case for you and crystal clear smooth skin may be down the track.

Also acne is much easier to get rid of than ageing caused by products just so hang in there and I'm sure you will be happy you did.

free skin care · Tue Oct 25, 2011 1:36 am

I was prescibed the pill(dianette) for spots I had been diagnoised with a mild form of PCOS and it worked really well but after reading about pigmentation it can cause I have recently stopped and am hoping retin a will keep my skin clear.

free skin care · Sat Oct 29, 2011 7:32 pm

If your current derm, esty or other skin professional is not listening to you, you need to find someone else.

Lots of people to go through an "ugly" period with Obagi Nuderm. I have used the whole Nuderm system for melasma in the past and fortunately never suffered breakouts, flaking or other signs of irritation, but many people do.

Regardless of whether your skin professional believes your issues to be part of the Obagi "ugly" period or not, he/she needs to take your concerns seriously. If he/she doesn't, move on.

Good luck. I know skin problems suck. Sad

Sat Oct 29, 2011 9:54 pm

ok thanks so much for your help. started taking estelle (the generic diane) almost two months ago and i think it may be helping, i no longer use nu derm clear or blend on my problem areas, but the obagi acne line instead. very drying though!

free skin care · Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:38 am

blue79 wrote:

ok thanks so much for your help. started taking estelle (the generic diane) almost two months ago and i think it may be helping, i no longer use nu derm clear or blend on my problem areas, but the obagi acne line instead. very drying though!

That's great that you've found something that is working for you! Good luck with your new regimen. Smile

Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:56 am

Ok Obagians....I'm now on week 12 and I'm sooo happy to report I'm progressing very well Very Happy

after the initial bout of excitement when I used the Clear on it's own, I'm a bit embarrassed to confirm I may have over exaggerated the efficacy. nothing had ever done what Clear did for me in such a short time! my skin continues to improve, I'm taking pics on a monthly basis....the improvement is staggering. I knew my skin was bad, but it seems it really was the worst. I'm using Obagi Nu derm for oily skin. luckily the reaction's manageable. I flake continuously around the chin area, had cracks in the corners of my my mouth but I'll manage. good luck to all Smile

Thu Dec 22, 2011 6:27 am

sorry Angelhugs, I've only just seen your question addressed to me....I use the whole Obagi Nu Derm regimen for oily skin. honestly, Obagi's the TRUTH! my only gripe is the fact it's meant to be a lifetime regime, and it's not cheap. but hey, if it does the job, I'm a willing customer. over the years, I've spent hideous amounts of money on useless products that never worked. I mean, you name it I've used it! so I think this is just a small price to pay Very Happy

Sat Sep 21, 2013 4:38 pm

I started using the Obagi Nu-Derm System 7 months ago. But had to stop 2 months ago. When I started using it, I suffered with the occasional spot and was hoping to just to refresh my skin for the summer. Since using Obagi I have developed full-blown acne. My skin looks utterly terrible,even though I stopped using the products 2 months ago. It has cost me £1,000 in treatments,products and visits to specialists, but to no avail. I wish I had never tried it in the first place. I am in despair over the condition my skin is now in.

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