Please help you guys....facial dilemma!

[Poohbear]

I'm sure you guys see several posts I have made on this forum. My face is suffering from hyperpigmentation and these brown blotches on my cheeks that make my face look burnt. I just had my period and have a lotta blemishes. /forums/images/graemlins/whyme.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cry3.gif

I was wondering if the Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask will help. If not, what would you suggest? I see that a few post about Obagi but I can't afford that. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif My skin type is oily and I get blemishes/acne around my mentstrual period. Right now, I'm using Black Opal Advanced Fade Creme to fade away these discolorations on my cheeks. Will this work too??? /forums/images/graemlins/perplexed.gif

[Allandra]

Poohbear,

Why don't you try the fade cream that you already purchased? Along with that, use the Neutrogena sunscreen that I mentioned in two of your other threads. Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask doesn't help hyperpigmentation, but it's a good mask for oily skin (maybe even acne prone skin). I find it easier for me to stick with a few good products (which is why I keep a simple skin care regimen). Also, try limiting your time in the sun. I wear sunscreen every single day because I even get a little sun when I'm driving (sun shining in the car). Give it a little time and see how it works out for you, and try not to stress over it.

[Poohbear]

Thanks Allandra!

I'm not out in the sun that much. These are the facial products I use now:

I put EVOO on my face for 10-20 minutes before I wash it off with my Noxzema Exfoliating Cleanser and a little of dial liquid soap. I do this twice daily.
MaryKay Blemish Control Toner (I use sometimes for blemishes).
I apply the Black Opal Fade Creme (twice daily).
I use Nadinola Cocoa Butter Cream as a moisturizer (1-2 times a day).
Retin A Micro gel (at night only to acne/blemishes).
And that's it. I don't have a mask or a facial sunscreen. But I rather use a sunblock instead. Do you think my current regime will work?

Has anyone heard of Vita-K Solution for Blotchy Skin? I was thinking about trying that but it's $10.99 at Walgreens. Too expensive since I already got that expensive Black Opal creme.

[myco]

I don't know if this might be true in your case, but my skin cannot tolerate Noxema at all. I always end up with more skin problems than it can ever fix. Also, this might seem counterintuitive but if you have oily/acne-prone skin, sometimes the more gentle the products you use, the better. I think the combination of the Noxema, the dial soap, the toner, the Retin-A, and the fade cream might be making your skin more reactive. It could be one product or all of them, so you'll need to pear it down and try to pinpoint the source. Products that have "scrubbing" particles in them can irritate your skin and cause it to produce more oil.

I agree with Allandra that a sunscreen is really important. I would suggest switching out your Cocoa Butter cream and adding in a sunscreen as your moisturizer. Even on cloudy days, we need to be protected.

[Poohbear]

I've always used Noxzema and have used the retinA and toner in the past. I just started using EVOO, the dial soap and the fade creme. These skin problems started happening after I put this expired masque on my face (A STUPID MISTAKE!). So I bought the fade creme to try and recover from the blotchy burn look that my face has.

I saw a post that godzooki made about using fade creams/gels: Is it true that the old skin looks darker before it finally peels off your face to reveal new skin?

[Mochalolita]

Hey Poohbear...I'm assuming that you have been to the dermatologist because you have the Retin-A Micro...but it almost sounds as if you have melasma. Have you spoken with your derm at all about it? Sometimes melasma doesn't really respond to OTC products and needs different treatment than just plain bleaching treatments...HTH :-)

Hugs,
Crys

[Poohbear]

[ QUOTE ]
Hey Poohbear...I'm assuming that you have been to the dermatologist because you have the Retin-A Micro...but it almost sounds as if you have melasma. Have you spoken with your derm at all about it? Sometimes melasma doesn't really respond to OTC products and needs different treatment than just plain bleaching treatments...HTH :-)

Hugs,
Crys

[/ QUOTE ]

I havent been to my dermatologist since a little over a year now, since I got off Accutane. The way I got the Retin A Micro gel was by telling my pharmacy to call it in to my derm for a refill. She told me to make an appointment but I havent. I've heard of melasma...but what is it exactly? These skin problems that I have started happening after i used this expired mud pack masque on my face...can that make your face have melasma??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/perplexed.gif

[kitchen_tician]

[ QUOTE ]
...EVOO, little of dial liquid soap, Nadinola Cocoa Butter, Noxzema Exfoliating Cleanser, MaryKay Blemish Control Toner, Black Opal Fade Creme, Retin A Micro gel...


[/ QUOTE ]

I know you don't use these all at once and a couple of them are used only in certain areas, but it sounds like you have alot of products for you face. Remember, less is more, even with skin care and it may be good to give your skin a rest and let it breath and heal for a little while.

Also, if you have oily skin, why are you using heavy oily moisturizers, like cocoa butter. I also used to use cocoa butter on my face with no problems, but I had dry skin at the time, now my skin is combination and oily moisturizers increase my acne break outs. You may want to try an oil free moisturizer with sunscreen.

As far as the EVOO, you may want to leave it on for less time, since you already have oily skin. Maybe 2-3 minutes. IMO, I would use it sparingly and maybe 3 days a week. Oh yeah, that dial soap also sounds a little harsh also.

I know you're trying to find the right combination and it's taken awhile, before I was able to find mine as well. I hope you find the perfect combination, Poohbear. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Poohbear]

Oh my gosh! I just researched melasma at this site http://www.dermadoctor.com/pages/newsletter55.asp and I think I've always had this, even before I had put that expired mask on my face! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Especially when I was taking Accutane. Before I used Accutane, I was on minocycline and my derm prescribed me Glyquin 4% to fade my face. It evened out my skin tone! I might just schedule an appointment for a facial peel or to have her prescribed me some glyquin. Im sure some of u know how I dont like spending a lot of money, but now I will be straight financially since I just found out Im getting a scholarship check from my college (my scholarships exceed my expenses), so I think it might be worth the money again. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[Poohbear]

Thanks Kitchen_tician but I think I have melasma. When I put 10-20 minutes for the EVOO, that was when I first started using it. Now i have cut down on itto like 3-5 minutes. I only use the cocoa butter when my face is dry, never when its oily. i started using the dial soap a few days ago only because i heard antibacterial soaps help prevent pimples/blemishes. so im going to do more research on melasma to see what i need to be doing for my face. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif