Obagi Cleanser
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Obagi by : NU-DERM FOAMING GEL 6.7 OZ $10.70 Obagi by NU-DERM FOAMING GEL 6.7 OZ… |
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Obagi Nu-Derm Toner $11.47 This refreshing blend of natural ingredients and herbs hydrates and tones your skin, while restoring normal pH balance…. |
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Clenziderm M.D. Daily Care Foaming Cleanser, 4 Ounce $12.00 Gentle Skin Cleanser Obagi Clenziderm Daily Care Foaming Cleanser helps remove dirt and excess oil from your skin. This special foaming formula cleans pores deeply leaving skin refreshed and clean. It also promotes growth of healthy new cells with a visible reduction in acne breakouts with regular use. Penetrates deep into pores Promotes growth of new cells Helps in reduction of acne Gentle and m… |
How to cheaply and safely fade acne scars?
I’ve suffered from acne off and on since 13. I tried many things proactive, obagi, over the counter, two dermatologists, differin, retin-a,antibiotics, paula’s choice, and now I basically use nothing except water.
I’m down to the basics of splashing my face with water morning and night and now at 22, my face is dramatically clearing up and is a lot less oily. Maybe cleansers and my face do not match ; /
However, I am left with hyper-pigmentation scars on my cheeks and it makes me really self conscience. I start going to the university of texas in august and I would really like to at least be mostly clear by then (9 months from now).
I purchased this thing from Paula’s Choice called “Resist Weekly Resurfacing Treatment with 10% alpha hydroxy acid”. I’m supposed to use it once a week but I have not started yet. Could anybody help help guide me on what I should do?
AHA (alpha hydroxy acid)? Pffft. Throw it out. You’re not doing yourself good with 10%.
First and foremost, let me get this out of the way. All the bullshit you hear about tea tree oil, lemon juice, toothpaste, vitamin e oil, etc. helping scars? MARKETING. As a dermatologist, I’ve worked for over 10 years and the evidence for these ‘home remedies’ is absolutely shit. Please don’t waste your time with these. Sorry about the language but you have to be stern to get the truth into heads sometimes.
So, in order to understand how to get rid of acne scars, you first obviously have to understand how and why they form (colour, etc.). This is my most succinct way of explaining acne scars to my patients – it’s the same explanation but it’s damn simple to understand.
Skin renews itself everyday 28-45 days.
Your skin has four main layers.
The very top layer is the thinnest – the stratum corneum. The layer below is the epidermis. The dermis is below the epidermis. The basal membrane is between the epidermis and the dermis. Scars are only likely if this membrane is ruptured (when the pimple is so deep that it reaches the lining).
The very bottom layer is the dermis. New fat skin cells form here and move up. As they move up through your skin, through the epidermis and to the stratum corneum to be shed off, they mature and become thinner. Eventually, they are so thin that they become flakes. That is what you see on the top of your skin. The brown colour in your skin after acne is caused by the production of melanin. Melanin in your skin goes away over time which is why tans are never permanent. Depending on how deep your melanin pigmentation is in your skin, dictates how long it takes for the pigmentation to go. If the pigmentation is in the dermis, it will take a very long time. Remember that melanin pigmentation occurs as a reaction to inflammation and bacteria being there previously. If bacteria was in the dermis and not in the epidermis, this means that the infection (in this acne) is deeper.
Yes as a reaffirmation, acne scars turn brown due to a production of melanin but it goes away over time depending on the depth of infection and therefore depth of melanin pigmentation (4-6 weeks for the average pigmentation so I always suggest that the patient do nothing first (naturally) than resort to treatment immediately).
So, firstly I want you to know that most of the websites on the internet are rubbish and pure marketing.
Secondly, superificial acne will leave superifical scars (only on the epidermis) in which case a 2-3% hydroquinone cream should do the trick after 4-6 weeks (bearing in mind it takes 28-45 days for skin to renew itself by the process of moving up I just outlined). Either a cream as a topical treatment or dermabrasion as a physical treatment though my patients always choose the cream because dermabrasion is obviously harsh to your skin. REMEMBER, this is for acne scarring in the epidermis. If your basal membrane has been ruptured or the pigmentation is in the dermis, then here’s what I propose.
I always give my patients a choice. There’s no point in forcing them to choose something tey may not like. The first is the use of ablative lasers to correct your skin colour. Hyperpigmentation of your skin is caused by the production of melanin in the area after collagen is sent there to rebuild damaged tissue. It is quite expensive all around the world unfortunately.
The other option is much more accessible. Start yourself on a product with azelaic acid or adapalene. I prefer adapalene because this compound promotes cell turnover so skin renews itself much more quickly. Thus, pigmentation deep down in your skin will go away quicker. Note that this process depends on the natural rejuvenation of your skin as melanin levels gradually decrease over time (months or years we’re talking about).
Skin Care Lines Offered at Village Dermatology