PICTURES of my face...look @ blemishes & melasma/hyperpigmentation!

[Poohbear]

This is what I have been talking about...those ugly blemishes and dark spots from pimples! Also, those dark areas are on both sides of my face, around my chin, and on my forehead...is it hyperpigmentation or melasma? look a the images of my face below:

http://pic9.picturetrail.com/VOL287/2119764/5546393/71048605.jpg

http://pic9.picturetrail.com/VOL287/2119764/5546393/71048555.jpg

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif WHAT AM I TO DO!?!? /forums/images/graemlins/covereyes.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cry3.gif

[kitchen_tician]

I'm not sure Poohbear, but try to see a dermatologist. I don't remember if you said you were seeing one or not. I do see the splotches, but they don't look very noticeable.

The dark areas around your chin look like dry patches of skin. It looks pretty sensitive right now.

I wouldn't use a fade cream right now, but just try to use a gentle cleanser, mary kaye blemish toner and an oil free moisturizer until you get to the dermatologist. I know you have tried tons of producs but you may want to try an Aveeno moisturizer or lotion. Also, if and when you go, take all of the products you've been using on your skin so they can look at the ingredients.

[Poohbear]

thanks again kitchen_tician! yes i did say i would schedule an appointment with my dermatologist in another thread. thats a good idea to take in the products for my derm to see the ingredients. I dont have a gentle cleanser right now. the only cleanser i have is the noxzema exfoliating cleanser which has microbeads in it. i ran out of the Noxzema that comes in a container that i've used faithfully for years which has been good to my face. what is a good gentle cleanser? i also dont have an oil free moisturizer either. i guess i'll be at Walgreens tomorrow or Beauty First to check out those Burt's Bees facial care products! /forums/images/graemlins/weird.gif

[DigitalRain]

Paula's Choice!!!!! 2% BHA solution and Xtra strength blemish solution. Take it from someone who would wake up with at least two new pimples every day, and kept acne scars. My skin has totally changed for be better, texture and all. I rarely break out now. Check out her website,www.cosmeticscop.com. She has a sale on all her travel sized (2 ounce) products and $3 shipping for all orders till the end of the month.

[Poohbear]

paula's choice...interesting...not too expensive...but i dont like ordering online...ive suffered from junk mail, unwanted magazines, and even spam emails from ordering things online. /forums/images/graemlins/ohwell.gif

[DigitalRain]

[ QUOTE ]
paula's choice...interesting...not too expensive...but i dont like ordering online...ive suffered from junk mail, unwanted magazines, and even spam emails from ordering things online. /forums/images/graemlins/ohwell.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Ive never had any junk mail or any of the above due to ordering from Paula's Choice. I promise. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I think its a safe site to order from.

[Poohbear]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
paula's choice...interesting...not too expensive...but i dont like ordering online...ive suffered from junk mail, unwanted magazines, and even spam emails from ordering things online. /forums/images/graemlins/ohwell.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Ive never had any junk mail or any of the above due to ordering from Paula's Choice. I promise. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I think its a safe site to order from.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh okay...I'll think about it! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[sunkissd]

It doesn't look like acne to me. It looks like you are sensitive to some type of product that your are using. It could even be a hiar product.

[aqualung]

In 2000, I visited the derm with similar symptoms. She put me on Differin gel and a face wash that was 5% BHA (higher concentration than over-the-counter).

Digital Rain's 2 Paula's Choice products combine BHA (= salycilic acid) and benzoyl peroxide, according to the site.

If you want an over-the-counter product line that combines acne fighters, try Neutrogena Advanced Solutions Acne Therapy System. It's new, and there are reviews at Makeup Alley and at drugstore.com.

[Poohbear]

[ QUOTE ]
It doesn't look like acne to me. It looks like you are sensitive to some type of product that your are using. It could even be a hiar product.

[/ QUOTE ]

i dont drench my hair with hair products where hair touching my face with cause this. do u think it could be the EVOO? maybe its just that expired mud mask that messed up my face. i need to find something for my face to recover from it.

[atlantatiffany]

i think u may need to try sensitive or more natural skincare like dove, purpose, or aveeno. u may just want to try one type of treatment product for scars or dark spots. i know murad has something. if u exfolite u might want to use something that isn't too harsh and has very fine beads.

[sunkissd]

/forums/images/graemlins/wave.gif
First throw out everything that is more then 3 months old or expired. You should use senstive skin products on your face until this clears up. Try clinique, I know they had a cream for irritations (Exceptionally Soothing Cream for Upset Skin)and get on a skin care regimen. Once you get that under control you can start to correct the damage. With a gentle exfoliating scrub once a week, and probably a TCA peel(http://www.perfectcomplexion.net) every other week. This will elimnate the need to use hydroquinone, which is also damaging to the skin. Also add an spf 15 or higher to prevent the hyperpigmentation and sun damage. Let me know if you have anymore ?'s.

[Lindy]

My daughter has problems with her skin, similar to yours... she's under the care of a dermatologist - she uses a lot of different stuff and her face was ok up until she started using Triaz facial cleanser (benzoyl peroxide) every day... her face dried out TERRIBLY, and she started getting these dark/light areas on the sides of her face. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif She's also using RetinA Micro (the stronger percentage) and some other cream that I forget the name of...

She's going for another appt. at the dermatologist next weekend... I think the problem is the benzoyl peroxide... I think I read that it can cause darkening of the skin... /forums/images/graemlins/look.gif

[honeydrop215]

lindy, me and your daughter have similar irritations to benzoyl. i stay away from it completely now, triaz broke me out in little red bumps, that looked like hives, and my skin was so dry it flaked, and i have an oily face.

having to avoid benzoyl has been a pain the butt because salicylic does nothing for me. *sigh*

[Poohbear]

[ QUOTE ]

/forums/images/graemlins/wave.gif
First throw out everything that is more then 3 months old or expired. You should use senstive skin products on your face until this clears up. Try clinique, I know they had a cream for irritations (Exceptionally Soothing Cream for Upset Skin)and get on a skin care regimen. Once you get that under control you can start to correct the damage. With a gentle exfoliating scrub once a week, and probably a TCA peel(http://www.perfectcomplexion.net) every other week. This will elimnate the need to use hydroquinone, which is also damaging to the skin. Also add an spf 15 or higher to prevent the hyperpigmentation and sun damage. Let me know if you have anymore ?'s.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's not like everything I have is expired. I don't have many facial products. I got this expired masque when I went to my parents house. I wanted to try it and didn't check the expiration date which was 12/2003. So that's what happen.

I've tried Clinique products in the past and they did nothing for my face. I talked to my dermatologist and she suggested Ceptaphil cleanser and moisturizer. For irratation, she suggested Hydrocortisone 1% which I already have. I will probably just get the Ceptaphil cleanser or Aveeno Skin Brightening Scrub once I run out of my Noxzema exfoliating cleanser.

I was thinking about buying the TCA Peel but I didn't want to take any risk with doing my own chemical facial peels. Instead, I ordered Glyquin-XM from http://www.canadapharmacy.com for my hyperpigmentation. I figure the 10% glycolic acid in it will help peel off the old skin to reveal new skin. I've used Glyquin in the past before and it's a wonderful product for skin bleaching!

For sun protection, I bought Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock SPF 45 and so far so good!

Thanks for your help! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

[Poohbear]

Hey Lindy and honeydrop215... thanks for letting me know about the benzoyl peroxide because I was thinking about trying products that have benzoyl peroxide in it (like Neutrogena On-The-Spot treatment). When my cousin used Triaz cleanser in the past, I tried hers once and it dried out my face as well. I didnt continue using it for it to cause dark dry patches of skin on my face. A few days ago I bought Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque (not expired /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif). I used it one night and my blemishes were gone the next morning! I plan on using this masque three-four days a week.

[sunkissd]

sounds good, good luck

[Puddles]

Hi Poohbear....I have been where you are. And MegonW mentioned Neutrogena. I have been using it for years and I now have my son(16yrs) using it as well. Go to Wal-Mart and try the Neutrogena Advanced Solutions Complete Acne Therapy (http://neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_259.asp) If you don't like it after 2 weeks....return it. I have just bought their new Visibly even Moisturizer (http://neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_253.asp) it's to help even out skin tone. If you're not allergic to hydroquinone(like I am)...try a skin lightener with 2% hydroquinone it it like Black Opal. (http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jhtml?CATID=100304&id=prod391217) They have tons of products that work. They even have products w/out hydroquinone for people who are allergic.

This is exactly what I use:
Oil Free Acne Wash (http://neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_18.asp) Morning & Evening
Acne Elimating Gel (http://neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_181.asp) Morning & Evening
On The Spot Acne Treatment (http://neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_20.asp) Evening only. I put this on after the gel and "Only" where I need it.
Visibly Even Moistrizer w/ SPF 15 (http://neutrogena.com/ProductsDetails_253.asp) Morning...you should "Always" wear a sunblock to prevent further pigmentation and it's good for overall skin health.

HTH...if you need anything just pm me. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Honeyhips]

[ QUOTE ]
My daughter has problems with her skin, similar to yours... she's under the care of a dermatologist - she uses a lot of different stuff and her face was ok up until she started using Triaz facial cleanser (benzoyl peroxide) every day... her face dried out TERRIBLY, and she started getting these dark/light areas on the sides of her face. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif She's also using RetinA Micro (the stronger percentage) and some other cream that I forget the name of...

She's going for another appt. at the dermatologist next weekend... I think the problem is the benzoyl peroxide... I think I read that it can cause darkening of the skin... /forums/images/graemlins/look.gif

[/ QUOTE ]that is interesting b/c triaz was the bomb for me.

[Lindy]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
My daughter has problems with her skin, similar to yours... she's under the care of a dermatologist - she uses a lot of different stuff and her face was ok up until she started using Triaz facial cleanser (benzoyl peroxide) every day... her face dried out TERRIBLY, and she started getting these dark/light areas on the sides of her face. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif She's also using RetinA Micro (the stronger percentage) and some other cream that I forget the name of...

She's going for another appt. at the dermatologist next weekend... I think the problem is the benzoyl peroxide... I think I read that it can cause darkening of the skin... /forums/images/graemlins/look.gif

[/ QUOTE ]that is interesting b/c triaz was the bomb for me.

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe it's because she's using it along with the other two prescription strength medications... I think it's just too much for her skin - especially now that the weather is getting cold... /forums/images/graemlins/ohwell.gif