Wrinkles and Blocked Pores

[minniemicro]

 Can any one advise? Aged 64 - My problem now is I have wrinkles and laughter lines as well as blocked pores (greasy skin/acne when younger) and I have seen that the products for treating wrinkles cause the skin to swell up and also the pores. Can't win.

No cosmetic firm so far caters for wrinkles and blocked pores I think.

I don't have the money for salon beauty treatments.

Any ideas - do I go for the dried up pore look and big wrinkles or the big pores and smaller wrinkles?

 

[Dragonfly]

Retin A will address wrinkles and BHA will help unclog pores. You can use both in a skin care program. Speak with family doctor about starting on Retin A - they can write a prescription for you.

With regard to BHA, Paula's Choice has several good ones to chose from.

http://www.paulaschoice.com/category/bha-aha-exfoliants#bha

Hope this helps

 

[minniemicro]

Hi Dragonfly, Sorry for the delay in posting/and posting in the right place - computer problems!

Many thanks for your advice. I do use Paula's Choice BHA 2% liquid. My doctors over the years have given me the brush off including the advice 'get pregnant'! and no antibiotics or retin A. The pill and HRT helped but I can no longer take those. What I do need advice for is a nice moisturiser which is a step up from L'oreal and Garnier's stuff which absorb sebum. They are good products but my skin is drier these days.I have tried Murad and Estee Lauder's pore minimiser but don't think much of either. All the moisturisers for my age group include chemicals that plump up the skin and they just make pores look bigger. Any help would be gratefully received. I'm not keen on moisturisers with SPF factors - they make my skin come out in little bumps.

Minniemicro

 

[yassy]

Hey there! I personally dnt agree going down the retin a route. Once you start using this you have to use it forever, and it thins the skin plumping up the below layers, but not necessarily treating anything. I discovered Jurlique products a few months ago and am really impressed. They are 100% organic, but are scientifically proven for anti-aging too! Try their PAD range for your concerns. The PAD refining treatment PAD stands for (Purely Age Defying) btw. This will unclog your pores, then finish with their PAD wrinkle softening cream, sounds like a perfect fix for your problems, and the products work very well for me, i love them!

 

[Dragonfly]

Yassy you sound like a spammer. And you need to get your facts in order.

You do not have to stay with Retin A if you choose to stop. And it doesn't thin any skin what so ever.

And of course it treats acne and wrinkles - its a medication that has gone through several trials to prove its effectiveness.

Are you sure you aren't trying to profit by getting people to purchase Jurlique, by trashing other legitimate skin care products?

...................................................................................................

I use Stieva Vitamin A Acid Gel - Canada's version of Retin A. The active ingredient in both is Tretinoin. Ask your pharmacist what products they dispence that contain Tretinoin.

Maybe there is some other product that your doctor will prescribe to you.

In Canada and the US, Retin A is prescribed fro both acne and for cosmetic reasons such as wrinkles and a family doctor can prescribe it.

This is what my Dermatologist recommended for dry skin:

Dampen skin (wash face or have shower)

Do not dry skin

Apply a very thin layer of Vaseline (petroleum jelly) over the dry sky

Try this first to see if it is effective. You can always apply another moisturizer on top.

..................................

With regard to blocked pores, have you heard of this toner?

Purchase:

4 oz plastic bottle

Aspirin – un coated

Witch Hazel

Blush Brush

Cotton pads

Put 10 aspirin into the plastic bottle

Pour 2 oz Witch Hazel into the bottle, stopping half way

Shake the mixture until the aspirin is completely dissolved.

Pour small amount on to cotton pad

Wipe over entire face and let air dry

Brush off any small aspirin particle with brush

I have noticed that my skin feels smoother and not so much of a build up of dead skin cells.

Hope this might help

 

[yassy]

Hello Dragonfly. Well i can only speak from what i heard about retin a. My Derma told me particularly not to use it as i have dry skin and it will give me more wrinkles to begin with. I know it can be beneficial for oily skin and acne, but i also did read some scary reviews of people saying it ruined their skin and some were waiting up to 8 months later for it to heal.. I guess any chemical product will have mixed reviews and work most some, but not necessarily everyone. I was given a retinol cream 1.25% by neova, by my friend, but need too scared to use it so far. As for the Spammer? I used nu skin for literally my whole life and loved it, my mum introduced me to it cz she worked for them when i was younger, but now i use Jurlique and love it too. Is there anything wrong with giving advice about a product you are passionate about? Sounds like you feel the same way about retin a!! I will recommend what works to everyone.  I also love Obagi Vitamin C serum given to me by my derma instead of the retin a. I have the 20% serum which is the strongest!
 

 

[Dragonfly]

When you are new to Mut and you slam every skin thread you can with the same info regarding the same product, and you stand to make a financial profit from doing so - that is SPAM. I've seen many others do the same thing so you are not alone.

 

[minniemicro]

Interesting discussion!

Does any one have any experience of dissolving the contents of blocked pores with oils - I have read about using a mixture of castor oil and olive oil.

 

[yassy]

Dragonfly. With all due respect, does it make me less informed of skin care because i have just joined a forum? Like i said i am not that informed with retin a, but am only sharing that i have read mixed reviews.  Was thinking of trying it myself, but was worried if i start too young and it thins the skin, it may not be a good idea.  I could very well be wrong, but this is what is so confusing to me when it comes to retin a, and mixed reviews as it varies from one person to the next how their skin reacts to it. As for slamming products, this is the only product in any chain i have mentioned i am not sure if i would try, so not sure what your referring to there.  As far as 'natural skin care' I can certainly vouch for that, i have been using various natural skin care products for a long time, and currently am using Jurlique which i love.. If you can fix your skin and get good results with nature, why would you want to use a chemical.  This is just my opinion, which is where it comes down to personal choice, so as you share your opinion, so do i mine. MINNIEMICRO, i've never heard of dissolving blocked pores with oils no, but i know to open your pores with a steamer, you can just put your head over a bowl of steaming water helps, and then use a really good exfoliant scrub to remove all dirt from your face, don't forget to close your pores after again with some cold water, use a good toner, then you could apply a moisturizer. This is a basic routine to help your skin. Not sure about the oils.
 

 

[Lynn Cochran]

Dragonfly... Your Dermatologist told you to use Vaseline over your face??  I'm finding that a little hard to believe since all petroleum products do for your skin is to trick it into thinking it's being moisturized causing it to stop producing the natural oils your skin needs. It is in no way something that is to be used for a long term basis.  Don't believe me, please look it up. 

As far as the blocked pores, the most important thing to do first is to be using a really good exfoliator, like Aloette's Restorative Enzyme Peel. And No, I'm not saying it because I'm a consultant. I'm telling you about it because it Works.. It's made up of aloe and fruit enzymes, causes no irritation and can be used immediately before going outside without any side effects. You'll see that once you start removing all the dead skin cells, it will be easier for your other products to work to clear your pores. Using a gentle scrub containing almond meal will work wonders for you since it's great for all skin types.  I will say that all of Aloette's products are geared for keeping your skin as young and healthy as possible and I would love to tell you more.. But I am also knowledgeable in several areas of skin care and different products. I hope this was helpful !! 

Also, it is possible to use oils to help give you clearer skin. Oil dissolves oil, and what you use to massage into your face will help to remove the impurities in your skin and unclog your pores. (Just so Dragonfly won't accuse me of spamming too, I'll give you a recipe for you to use that I don't sell..lol. ) Try blending together 30% Castor Oil, yes, that nasty stuff our grandparents made us take  with 70% Sunflower Oil. You can play around with that a little if your skin starts to feel to dry to you, just use less Castor Oil and more sunflower oil. 

One more super important thing to remember is this. Drink Lots Of Water !! Your body needs it to keep producing the natural oils it needs to help from the inside out. 

 

[Dragonfly]

To begin with - I'd believe my Derm long before I'd believe an Aloette rep

Not sure where I wrote "Vaseline over your face" so don't misquote me to try to make a point.

I'm sure I wrote the following:

"This is what my Dermatologist recommended for dry skin:

Dampen skin (wash face or have shower)

Do not dry skin

Apply a very thin layer of Vaseline (petroleum jelly) over the dry sky

Try this first to see if it is effective. You can always apply another moisturizer on top."

..........................

yassy - you protest too much spammer

 

[minniemicro]

Why I enquired about the oil treatment - I've been battling with my skin for 50 odd years. I don't get spots now just blocked pores - hence the enquiry about clearing 'blocked pores'. My own observations over the years have lead to the following conclusions - the sebum being trapped  in the pores is not because the surface of the pore is blocked with skin particles, dirt etc but that the sebum is thicker than normal so it doesn't come out of the pore at the rate it should. The same with the stuff in hair follicles

I have exfoliated,  used masks, steamed, buffed, tried lots of over the counter products. All they mostly  do is keep the very surface of the skin clean and some procedures dry up the contents of the pores.

I have found the only way to get rid of the gunk is squeeze it out. This isn't good because it leads to scarring and it only takes a couple of days for the pores to fill up again.

My skin condition is hereditary - got siblings with the same problems. I can't say it is hormonal nowadays - past all that.

Any way I might have a go with the oil treatment - thanks Lynn for the recipe.

Yesterday I bought a tub of Sudocrem - will try that for a while and see what happens.

At my age you might think I shouldn't be that  bothered by how I look - most of my friends have short grey hair and don't wear make-up and wear beige.

If you feel good about yourself it is energising.

 

[yassy]

I Like Lynn's reminder of drinking LOTS OF WATER.  This is one of the most simple, yet beneficial things anyone could do for their skin that i ALWAYS forget.  Think its good to buy a large bottle, fill it up with water every morning and sip on it all day.  Better than waiting till your about to sleep and being up all night in the bathroom.  That oil recipe sounds interesting might try that too lynn.  I know that coconut oil really benefits our body and skin as well when eaten or used even over your face, and i heard its one of the few oils that does not clog skin, you can find info online, just type in benefits of coconut oil and you will be surprised. Lastly i also heard that maringa oil (not sure if spelling is right), has amazing benefits too, but may be hard to find.  Hope this could help in anyway too.
 

 

[LisaF1163]

One of the things that's helping me with both preventing wrinkles and unclogging pores is the Philosophy Microdelivery Exfoliating Facial wash.  It's pretty gentle, but it's been helping.