Obagi NuDerm (Retin A Micro) Journal (With Photos)

46 Days To Better Skin

Day 1 - March 29, 2001
Well I am finally starting the Obagi NuDerm system! I had to wait a bit because I had a sunburn from snow skiing so now I am able to begin. I will let you guys know how my progress goes. My regimen is: (everything is 1/2 gram per application)

DAY
Gentle Cleanser
Toner (not on eyes)
Clear (it stinks!!!)
Sunfader

NIGHT
Gentle Cleanser
Toner (not on eyes)
Clear (it stinks!!!)
Blender (it stinks too!)
Retin-A Micro

I am being supervised by skin specialist, Denise Mayer. For my needs Denise has determined that 1/2 a gram is sufficient and is going to be following my progress very carefully. I will be speaking with Denise and sending her photos online, weekly, so that she may make any alterations in my treatment plan, if need be. She also sent me products such as: Ti-Silk Sunblock 45, Neova Intensive Blemish Treatment and Neova Calming Green Tea Serum in case I need them anytime during my treatment. She also sent me a bottle of Procyte Ti-Tan that I found to work wonderfully. NO more orange-self tanners of yesteryear.

Day 2 - March 30, 2001
I feel nothing. But it is only the second day. Denise told me I am going to hate her tomorrow. We will see. I am a great patient! I won't complain :) All in the name of beauty!! ONWARD... MARCH!!

Day 3 - March 31, 2001
Still no peeling, although I am red and my blemishes are more red. Hmmm. I guess my skin is tough. I hope this works. Here are some lovely photos that I would NEVER post otherwise, but you guys need to see this and all for research and aesthetic betterment. I don't think many people would post their pimply, hyperpigmented faces for the advancement of everyone else! *patting self on back*

Remember I have no eyebrows in these pics, so don't be alarmed! These photos were taking directly after washing my face and applying my day regimen - it burned only slightly today. It seems to make my blemishes more red. I am slightly pink from the chemicals.


	freshly scrubbed and looking sexy, yuck!

*click on photos for a larger image*

Here's a close-up. What a bonus! eeew. Check out that nose in need of a revision!

Night 3
I'm PEELING!! I guess Denise was right afterall!! I started peeling it off of my face. It's not like any other peel I have ever had. I was fine several hours ago. After I ate I noticed my face all peeling, yuck! But it is kind of neat.

Day 4 - April 1, 2001
I scrubbed off the peeling skin today with a rough washcloth. After I get out of the shower - after I use my toner and before I put the Obagi system products on my face is BABY-SOFT ALREADY, How can this be?? It wasn't this soft on Friday!!

I must say this tight, "burning" sensation is like when I get a sunburn. That tight, itchy, windburned feeling. It is aggravating but I am a little trooper. And I will do whatever it takes to get better skin!! Oh Denise, said I should not use it on my eye area since she is going to "NLite" me. I mean, would I get BETTER results if I peel my eye area TOO or is it a no-no?

I must say by the third evening I was cocky and thought "oh I can handle this Obagi thing! I haven't even gotten sensitive yet" - then BAM!! It took over like "Bachi" (Japanese loosely for: "that's what you get" kinda like Karma). I told Marc "ARRRRRGHHHHH!! I am climbing the walls right now!" And I looked in the mirror and guess what I was peeling where my nose meets my face and on my chin. That's what I get.

Night 4
OMG FIRE!!! It wasn't the Micro Retin-A, it is was that damnable Clear & Blender!! But I must confess, I kinds sorta rubbed (OKAY!! OKAY!!! I EXFOLIATED THE PEELING SKIN!!) with a rough washcloth tonight - again. Then after I put on the clear and blender I thought for sure my face was going to spontaneously combust! So I took my little Obagi book and I fanned my poor, flaming face until I could stand it. lol!

Serves me right! But my skin is smooth as a baby's bottom!! Just think I am only at day 4!!! WOO HOO!!

Night 5 - April 2, 2001
Never again will I get cocky. This stuff is serious. I mean, it is dangerous if used unsupervised and improperly. Denise said that if I start cracking and burning to stop the clear and micro for a day or two. I am determined to finish this in one stretch - uninterrupted. This morning I woke up all flaky. Obagi is no joke. It burned slightly from my reapplication this morning - I shouldn't have rubbed the skin off a third time as Denise said I may get really red and that it may not subside for a long while.

I ate a burrito tonight so when I had to open my mouth wide the skin was really tight and then peeled like when you put on a peelable face mask and you stretch your mouth and it hangs off like skin or Elmer's clear glue. Know what I mean?

Day 6 - April 3, 2001
I did NOT put the product on my lower face today, I put on some Neova Green Tea Serum and that burned too. The only thing that doesn't burn is - nothing. Even air burns!
Night 6
Same Thing. Ouch!

Day & Night 7 - April 4, 2001
Like I said, this stuff is no joke! I hurt on my lower face - still more greet tea serum and it is getting better, thankfully.

Day 8 - April 5, 2001
I am all better! The Neova Green Tea serum made all the soreness go away. I am more red in these areas but I can use my products again around my mouth.
Night 8 - nothing to report, same old same old.
I am going to start jotting down any changes but not writing every day. I am just peeling at least once a day, if not twice - every day now. The skin is so much smoother underneath but it is damp. Like you can feel it is kind of almost "sticky". It doesn't last too long as it gets dried and like snake skin several hours later.
*Special Note: I have had these little, white sebum blockages or milia (who knows??) under my eyes along the orbital rim for as long as I can remember, since my early teens, and they are now gone! WOO HOO!!! Marc noticed. I guess they just became invisible to me for so long, but he noticed. It made me sort of self conscious in hindsight that he even noticed them before but it lasted all of 5 minutes considering they are GONE now! YIPPEE!

Day 10 - April 7, 2001 Photos!


	note redness

*click on photos for a larger image*

I can't seem to get rid of a pimple on my left cheek and the slight redness around my mouth. It isn't a pustule or anything, it is just irritated from the Retin A Micro. I started doubling on spots. My skin is just so much younger looking in reality and notice my hyperpigmentations are so much better!! Thank You Denise!! Also, I had to add brows at least for this pic. I had looked at the others and quite frankly I look pathetic without some form of quickly drawn eyebrows. I can't wait to get them tattooed on. ugh!

Day 15 - April 12, 2001
Sometimes I will talk and a piece of skin will fly off my face. YUCK! It is embarrassing. I don't peel as thickly, but I still peel about twice a day. Still looking better!

Day 20 - April 17, 2001
No change - just peeling lightly, once a day. It does not feel like I have been on Obagi for almost 3 weeks. I will take updated photos before the end of the week. I actually switched to Retin A twice a day, starting this morning. I may do it some more after I get NLite on May 14th. I think it does wonders.

Day 22 - April 19, 2001
I started peeling a lot again since I became more aggressive with the treatment. I put Retin A on twice a day every other day or every three days now. I began peeling less and thought I could do better and I did. I still have that stupid crack on my right lip corner because I am a moron and can't keep the products away from my mouth it seems. It is getting better because I started using the Neova Green Tea Serum on the corners every night.

Day 23 - April 20, 2001
I am reviewing some products by Procyte and I must say the Sqalane AF rocks!! I put it on my lips and it there is definitely an improvement going on. Just like their Neova Calming Green Tea serum, although don't get it on your treatment areas that you ARE trying to create a reaction and the Neova products will heal it. Neova/Procyte is that good.

I started peeling more again, but I only put Retin A on my spots and forehead (wrinkles), not my entire face. We will see how this goes. Looking good!

Day 24 - April 21, 2001
I started doubling Clear on my "spots" and Retin A as well. I will back off if I get highly irritated. If I can drag Marc away from his work I will take pics today. WITH eyebrows drawn on, again.

Day 25 - April 22, 2001 Photos!


	note redness

I am a little irritated, I still double the Clear and Retin A on my spots and it makes me peel in thick sheets in these areas. My skin looks better than day one but it gets very red and grumpy from time to time.

Day 26 - April 23, 2001
Now I'm really peeling again! I usually don't peel for hours after but today since I didn't lightly exfoliate with my fingers only like I do when I am in the bath - I left a lot of skin on. I will take a photo of what it is like to peel. Of course it won't be as nasty looking on film as it really is up close.

Since I can't use Retin A or Retinol on my lids I am using the Neova Eye Therapy. BY THE WAY! I am peeling on my neck and eyelids. HOW the heck did THAT happen?? I don't even apply Obagi products there or even wash with the Obagi cleanser. I'll ask Denise why I am peeling elsewhere. I wonder if this soaks into the skin somehow and migrates down due to gravity? Nah, can't be. Can it??

Day 27 - April 24, 2001
I am peeling again like a snake! But my eye lids are peeling! I didn't touch my eyelids :( That stupid crack comes back and then goes away like every day :( But this lemonade I have to drink everyday doesn't help it much.

Day 29 - April 26, 2001 Photos!
UGH!! My past blemishes are EXTREMELY irritated check them out they are just SOOO red and nasty looking! You can tell around my mouth how red and irritated I am - apparently the Retin A reacts with humidity or moisture on the skin around the mouth. OUCH!!! It kind of hurts a bit. But check out the rest of the skin how even toned :)


	OUCH!!


note peeling on neck and crack at corner of mouth	note peeling/irritation

Day 30 - April 27, 2001
Denise said to put a hydrocortisone cream on my past blemishes that are NOT pimples because the angiogenesis and reaction to the Retin A is just making them BEET RED!!! UGLY! SO I started doing that. When I wake up in the morning they are so ugly and red as you will see in the photos I took the other day (when I get them developed). But after I wash my face and then do my products and add the hydrocortisone it subsides somewhat a bit later. I can't wait until they go away. Oh my hyperpigmentation above my right eyebrow is almost gone. The scar is still there but barely. It isn't as bad as it used to be.

Day 32 - April 29, 2001 Photos!


note welts at hairline	note welts around brows	note welts at hairline

I put on Neova Night Therapy and Eye Therapy last night because I have a meeting Monday and don't want to frighten people. I will have to be careful because I have to wear my Neova T-Silc Sunblock 45 or I will be all messed up.

My skin looks good although I must say I dyed my hair (and eyebrows) last night and I tell you what - OUCH!!! My hairline and eyebrows have welts around them now and I hope they go away by tomorrow. I put some Neova Green Tea Serum on there plus my Neova Day Therapy and I should be fine *crossing fingers*.

I took photos today of my skin - I did dyed my hair and eyebrows last night and developed welts and irritation last nights. I quickly put on Neova everything and laid off the products last night. No Obagi for me last night.

I will take more photos tomorrow - with makeup - only concealer and powder though.

Day 33 - April 30, 2001 Photo!

This is me and Dr. James Romano

Day 34 - May 1, 2001 Photos!

My skin is looking better although I am having irritation around my nose and cracking at the corners of my lips again! OUCH!! I am using Squalane - from ProCyte) in the corners of my lips and it soothes it just fine.

Day 35 - May 2, 2001
All I have to say is my skin looks damn good. I don't have to wear makeup!! for once in my life, full face foundation!! I am LIBERATED!!! Thirty-three days and no make up!!! I love you Denise!! If I ever would have met Mr. Obagi I would kiss him square on the lips!! Obagi for President!!

Day 37 - May 4, 2001 Photos

I am running out of "Clear." I mean I have some to definitely last me over my treatment period, but it is by far used more(2x a day) as compared to once a day for the others. I took more photos today and am waiting to get the last photos at day 42 (in 5 days) then we will develop them and post them all. All in all, so far I definitely like Obagi and what it is capable of. now all I worry about is if my skin goes right back to normal after. I do know I need to get ff of my BC pills and switch to an IUD because the hormones are only 1/8 of the pills. I hate my pills as they make me break out and gain weight. So when I can afford it I am going to change. I don't have to wear make up now!!! Except for a little concealer and some eyebrows and lip gloss, I am FREE!! Now I want permanent make up though for the above.

Day 46 - May 13, 2001 Photos


			note wrinkles under left eye

Well, to me my skin is better now than it has ever looked. I know some of you with perfect skin may think that the improvement is not "all that". What is important is what I think and I have more confidence about my skin - enough not to wear full face foundation anymore! I am continuing for another 6 weeks and then on to just maintenance if it results in a great complexion. My main concern is getting off of these birth control pills because they truly make me break out and gain weight - not to mention they have destroyed my breasts. Clink the link below to see all of the photos next to each other, in order. That way you can really appreciate the improvement.

Click Here For Photos In Chronological Order

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