RedCatWaves - thoughts on Hydroquinone?
Hi RCW,
I have been on your program for almost 2 weeks now and I am very pleased with not only how my skin looks but also how soft it feels! :blob7:
Last June I turned to the Obagi Nu-Derm system to clear up some sun damage and after being on maintenance I am thrilled with the even tone of my skin. I know the products are too harsh for using long term, so I have dropped the cleanser, toner, and Exfoderm forte, but I still use the Clear (4% hydroquinone) once a week to maintain the results.
My question for you is should I continue to use the Obagi Clear at all? I checked the ingredients and found sodium lauryl sulfate listed. :evil1: Knowing that ingredient damages the skin barrier, should I be concerned that even with once-a-week use that I am undoing all the good from using the fabulous PSF products I ordered?
I use the following PSF products:
Green Tea Cleansing Milk
Gentle Castile Cleanser ( I like them both!! )
2% SA
Vit. C serum
HA serum
I also have jojoba oil and generic Tretinion .05% used nightly.
I use spf 30 sunscreen every morning. I have become a real hat lover and avoid the sun as much as I can. I'm afraid if I stop using the hydroquinone that the melasma and freckles will reappear even with all my precautions. Do you have any opinion on the PSF PhytoNutriv Lightening Serum as a replacement for the Obagi Clear? I would very much appreciate any thoughts or suggestions you might have.
Many Thanks!!!
I have been on your program for almost 2 weeks now and I am very pleased with not only how my skin looks but also how soft it feels! :blob7:
Last June I turned to the Obagi Nu-Derm system to clear up some sun damage and after being on maintenance I am thrilled with the even tone of my skin. I know the products are too harsh for using long term, so I have dropped the cleanser, toner, and Exfoderm forte, but I still use the Clear (4% hydroquinone) once a week to maintain the results.
My question for you is should I continue to use the Obagi Clear at all? I checked the ingredients and found sodium lauryl sulfate listed. :evil1: Knowing that ingredient damages the skin barrier, should I be concerned that even with once-a-week use that I am undoing all the good from using the fabulous PSF products I ordered?
I use the following PSF products:
Green Tea Cleansing Milk
Gentle Castile Cleanser ( I like them both!! )
2% SA
Vit. C serum
HA serum
I also have jojoba oil and generic Tretinion .05% used nightly.
I use spf 30 sunscreen every morning. I have become a real hat lover and avoid the sun as much as I can. I'm afraid if I stop using the hydroquinone that the melasma and freckles will reappear even with all my precautions. Do you have any opinion on the PSF PhytoNutriv Lightening Serum as a replacement for the Obagi Clear? I would very much appreciate any thoughts or suggestions you might have.
Many Thanks!!!
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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Comments
The natural alternative skin lighteners (kojic acid, arbutin, vit C, wildberry, etc.) will work to a small degree, but they're nothing like what hydraquinone 4% does.
ok - You have confirmed what I was thinking. I don't use harsh detergents in my hair, so why use them on my face. Got it. :toothy7:
I did look into the Tri-Luma, and from what I saw, it is only recommended for short-term use, 8 weeks, or intermittent long-term use, up to 6 months, because of the corticosteroid it contains. But, if I understand your approach, Tri-Luma applied once a week is not damaging in the long term, right? I guess I'm fixin' to get me some....
One last question. In your opinion,when I do place a Medsmex order, can I feel comfortable using a credit/debit card?
I guess I'm using Tri-Luma off-label then, because I've been using it weekly for a couple of years now and I don't seem to have any bad effects from it. I'll take my chances because there's really nothing else that keeps the hyperpigmentation under control.
I feel comfortable with medsmex.com and a credit card. Others may have a differing opinion. I use one credit card with a low limit for all my online purchases, so I feel fairly safe. You can call your CC company and see if they'll issue you a one-time number for a specific purchase if you feel uncomfortable.
BTW - My husband just this morning commented on how wonderful my skin looks. Yippeee!
That's true. Hydroquinone 4% gets rid of hyperpigmentation (and it's the only thing that really works), but it also makes you more subsceptible to sun damage. And, you're not supposed to use it continuously. I used it daily initially to get rid of hyperpigmentation (which took probably a month or two), but then once it was cleared, I use it once a week now to maintain. I've been using it weekly for about a year, and it seems to be keeping my skin clear, but not doing damage.
HQ 4% is not risk free. That's why people should do their own research and decide for themselves if the risk vs. benefit is worth it for them. I think it's worth it for *me*. Everyone is worried about wrinkles, but hyperpigmentation is probably more aging than wrinkles. A clear bright skintone will do more to keep skin looking young than wrinkle reduction.
Excellent point here about a clear, even-toned complexion vs. wrinkle reduction for a younger appearance - I have to agree with this for sure! On my own face, I have few wrinkles, and my skin is pretty firm for my age(60)but that hyperpigmentation makes me look older than I should, considering my good health and fitness habits. I'll think about this some more. BTW, that acquaintance gave me some samples of Retin-A .05% that I have been slowly introducing my skin to by way of buffering, and increasing frequency of application over the period of a few weeks. I'm up to every other night now, applied an hour after some neutral face moisturizer(Cetaphil cream). So far so good - only some slight sensitivity. I've had way worse reactions off of drugstore stuff, which leads me to believe that likely the cheap fillers and fragrances were the culprits, not the active ingredients, which in drugstore products are at a laughably low level anyway.
Also, have any of you ever used the skin bleaching gel (hydroquinone-free) from MUAC? Just wondered what you think of the ingredients and whether it works nearly as well as testimonials there claim . . . . www.makeupartistschoice.com/products/Skin_Bleaching_Gel-373-83.html
Current Main Rotation: MG217 medicated or Aim2Health 'poos for scalp, Elucence cond., Spiral Solutions Protein & Deeply Decadent Cond., CJCCCC reg or lite,CJ Pattern Pusha,, Giovanni LA Hold Hair Spritz + lots more, sporadically
HG Method: Super Soaker + Smasters-ing, brief upside down diffusing w/360o diffuser then clips/clamps & air dry. Newly gray - stopped my henna glosses!
www.fotki.com/auntnett
http://www.makeupartistschoice.com/products/Retinol_30_Anti_aging_Sun_Damage_Adult_Acne_Minimize_Pores-340-6.html
They also have 10%. The Tri-Luma caused me some problems by on my arms, but I was using it about 4 times a week for more than 8 weeks. I didn't know you weren't supposed to. I also am one of the people who had their credit card ripped off because of medsmex.
I've been using the Retinol for a few months now and it is working really well. It does take a lot longer to start seeing results than the Tri-Luma though. I have no sensitivity to this and I'm really liking it. This combined with my products from The Organic Pharmacy have made a real difference in how my skin looks.
ETA: makeupartistschoice has 20% off sales a lot if you sign up for their announcements. I just reordered the other day at 15% off and I just happened to see that on the site when I went there to order.
Have just recently started using MUAC's 10% retinol, with the intent of building up to 30%. I also just got a sample of the bleaching gel, but I haven't yet used it. Do you use it, too, SDC, or just the retinol?
Oh, and I also totally agree with RCW's statement about the spots being more aging than wrinkles! Same for the broken capillaries I have - Vit. K creams don't seem to help and the little bit of good laser treatments did initially didn't last. My lackluster results with laser treatments for both hair and various discolorations make me wary of wasting more money trying photofacial treatments for the capillaries. Anyone here tried it?
Current Main Rotation: MG217 medicated or Aim2Health 'poos for scalp, Elucence cond., Spiral Solutions Protein & Deeply Decadent Cond., CJCCCC reg or lite,CJ Pattern Pusha,, Giovanni LA Hold Hair Spritz + lots more, sporadically
HG Method: Super Soaker + Smasters-ing, brief upside down diffusing w/360o diffuser then clips/clamps & air dry. Newly gray - stopped my henna glosses!
www.fotki.com/auntnett
I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul. (Invictus - William Ernest Henley)
Just think I used to worry 'bout things like that,
Used to worry 'bout rich and skinny, 'til I wound up poor and fat,
Nowadays I kind of worry where my mind's been at,
Just think I used to worry 'bout things like that. (Delbert McClinton - I Used to Worry from Never Been Rocked Enough)
ETA: I know lactic acid is supposed to be more effective for brown spots, but that's not consistent with real-life results of a few people I know. Not having had any luck w/LA, I figured GA was worth a try since it should at least help with other things, if not with the spots.
Current Main Rotation: MG217 medicated or Aim2Health 'poos for scalp, Elucence cond., Spiral Solutions Protein & Deeply Decadent Cond., CJCCCC reg or lite,CJ Pattern Pusha,, Giovanni LA Hold Hair Spritz + lots more, sporadically
HG Method: Super Soaker + Smasters-ing, brief upside down diffusing w/360o diffuser then clips/clamps & air dry. Newly gray - stopped my henna glosses!
www.fotki.com/auntnett
I made Vitamin C serum a while back and i loved it..my skin is seriously a hot mess right now and i would love to know what that program is ..hopefully someone can post it. MEanwhile i will continue to search.
Thanks