<p>ingerp…good luck! I started using it every night and have had no problems but you could start conservatively if you’re worried. I noticed changes after about 2 weeks. In fact, I was all set to set up a laser appt to blast a few of those brown spots but they are now barely noticeable. I may still do it for my back and chest…and if if she does my face, I bet it will work in one try (vs two or three). I hate brown spots !!
Btw, I use very little, still have more than half the tube after 6 weeks. So it’s really not that expensive. I use a moisturizer by Garnier in the morning.</p>
<p>Roger all that. Thanks!</p>
<p>This is going to sound really ignorant…
What is a chemical peel for, exactly? Does it get rid of pre-cancer cells?</p>
<p>Now that I am over 50, I thought I should pay attention to my skin. But I honestly don’t know what I am looking for. I do have a mole on my cheek that has gotten larger over the years and I think I will see a dermatologist and try and get it removed.
I have always had freckles - maybe they are masking age spots? No wrinkles - well hardly any. No blemishes, although I do have a couple of tiny “raised” areas on my forehead.</p>
<p>I don’t know what to dooooooo.</p>
<p>Don’t know if a chemical peel will handle precancerous lesions - my dermatologist froze those off.</p>
<p>Someone upthread asked about IPL. I was told that it usually takes 3 sessions before you’ll notice a difference (maybe two). I’ve just had one, so I can’t really say. The treatment itself takes about 20-30 minutes. It’s not overly painful, but I did think that tattooing must feel similar. In other words, it’s not going to be a relaxing 20 minutes. The light pulses collapse the capillaries that cause the redness. The effect is permanent, but will not prevent future redness from occurring. Cost for treatment will vary - probably within the range of $250-$500 per treatment. Bad news - it’s not covered by insurance.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info about IPL and Help Me. I ran out to my local Sephora and picked up a tube. I think I will still need the laser treatments because I have spider veins. But I’m looking forward to seeing some improvement in overall texture from the Help Me.</p>
<p>One question before starting any retinol products, would it help to have a facial first? I’m eager to start using something but I don’t know if I should “prep” my face first. Also, any suggestions on moisturizers for night and/or day? i have mostly dry skin and large pores that I’d like to take care of.</p>
<p>lilmom, I use Oil of Olay Definity, pore redefining scrub every day in the shower on my face, it is made for large pores. It sloughs off the skin that the retinol product is affecting. For the Retin-A, they have you apply it in circular motions to a clean, completely dry face. Wait 15-20 minutes then apply any waterbased moisturizer. Even though I get my Retin-A from Mexico, these were instructions a friends dermotologist gave her.</p>
<p>Justamom,
Personally, I would consult with both plastic surgeon and dermatologist. You may get different opinions and cost of procedures. Depending on diagnosis and treatment, one procedure may be covered by insurance and the other not.</p>
<p>Many many years ago I had melanoma on face, which involved surgery with PS. Not so long ago, I saw something suspicious. I went with plastic surgeons advice and Rx, to do a peel of whole face. At the suspicious spot, he removed about 4 layers of skin. He was correct in that the peel was totally effective. Face peeled like bad sunburn, but benefits were less freckles/aging spots. </p>
<p>I think in the last 5 years there are many more options. After a few consults, you will feel informed enough to make the best decision. good luck</p>
<p>“I do have a mole on my cheek that has gotten larger over the years and I think I will see a dermatologist and try and get it removed.”</p>
<p>Yes, have it checked out ASAP.</p>
<p>A friend was at the dermatologist, who was treating my friend’s elderly mom’s skin cancer. Afterward, her mom’s surgery, the dermatologist told my friend her mom was doing fine, then the dermatologist casually told my friend that my friend had a cancerous mole under her eye, and should make an appointment for herself. </p>
<p>It was a mole that my friend had had for decades. Biopsy: Yes, it was cancerous. Fortunately, it still was in a stage easily treated.</p>
<p>So don’t delay. You never know…</p>
<p>I actually splurged on the clarsonic face brush at Sephora( also has a body brush you can use in the shower). Yes I know it is really expensive and I could almost get the same thing with a body brush or loofah- but this seems to work much better.</p>
<p>I am outside a lot and dirt gets ground into my skin, really hard to keep clean. This also takes off the dead cells so moisturizers and other things can work better.</p>
<p>I don’t have a prescription for Retin A, but I like [Buy</a> Alpha Hydrox AHA Souffle 12% Glycolic AHA Online](<a href=“Walgreens: Pharmacy, Health & Wellness, Photo & More for You”>Walgreens: Pharmacy, Health & Wellness, Photo & More for You) which works really well to thicken up the skin so it doesn’t seem so delicate.</p>
<p>this site also explains why exfoliation is so important- [AntiAging</a> Skin Care](<a href=“http://www.ageless-beauty.com/antiaging-skin-care.html]AntiAging”>http://www.ageless-beauty.com/antiaging-skin-care.html)</p>
<p>I got away with using hand soap on my face for years and having people think I was decades younger, but stress and years eventually catch up to you & after spending much of my time with friends who are in their 30’s, I go into a bathroom with overhead fluorescent lighting and age another 10 years from the shock!</p>
<p>So now I was even thinking about a face lift even though that is a ridiculous amount of money- I am seeing that increasing the fluids I drink, plus using stuff that is actually absorbed is making enough of a difference ( for now)</p>
<p>I’d caution you to have a very small & inconspicious spot tried FIRST. I know someone who did his entire face & it looked AWFUL for literally months! (Like a horrible sunburn.) It’s important to be sure you’re not allergic/sensitive to the ingredients as well. I know that I am!</p>
<p>I am one for whom retin A and retin A micro did not work. My skin never acclimated to the regiment, even when I only used it twice a week. I would have “facial dandruff” every say as the skin flaked off. So, if you have very sensitive skin, be cautious.</p>
<p>not approaching, way behind me, too lazy for doing something about my face, just color my hair after H reminds me several times, I myself do not like gray hair, but too lazy for this procedure also. But I do it mainly because I am planning to continue working until they kick me out, do not want to retire.</p>
<p>I was at a school board meeting last night & I noticed that of the 6 women in front of me, 6 of them had grey hair. All different ages and ethnicities, but their hair was all grey- which I thought was great 
While some looked older than they had to, I think that was because of the styling-( or lack of)
I would worry about toxins ( like heavy metal) in some hair color, and the difference between grow out and the tint, is way more aging than the grey IMO.</p>
<p>bookworm and northstarmom - thanks.</p>
<p>honestly I never thought it could be cancerous - but you are correct. I think I will start with my daughter’s dermatologist. I am sure I will hit you up for more advice. ;)</p>
<p>So how much does laser treatment cost for broken blood vessels in your neck of the woods?</p>
<p>My derm told me $350 per session and I’d need three to four sessions. Ouch.</p>
<p>I plan to stop coloring my hair when I retire (and I don’t know how to do that gracefully short of shaving my head). The only professional women I know who have gone naturally gray/white all have tenure. I am not in the teaching world, and the double standard applies here.</p>
<p>^ sad
I hope that those of you who color your hair- which I don’t have a problem with- although unless you have it done expensively,( and by expensively, I mean that when the stylist uses more than one color applied seperately, the growout isn’t as bad- not that charging more makes your hair color last longer!) the growout can be awful- at least make sure that you don’t use something that is going to make you ill.
[The</a> Dangers in Hair Coloring and Safer Alternatives](<a href=“The world's top new source on natural health - NaturalNews.com”>The Dangers in Hair Coloring and Safer Alternatives - NaturalNews.com)</p>
<p>I like henna- and it makes your hair * glow*.
[Henna</a> for Hair](<a href=“http://www.hennaforhair.com/]Henna”>http://www.hennaforhair.com/)</p>
<p>Sad but true. And my income is important to our family. I am already much older than most in my company. This is not a battle I feel strongly about fighting. Other battles? Yep. But not this one.</p>
<p>“I plan to stop coloring my hair when I retire (and I don’t know how to do that gracefully short of shaving my head).”</p>
<p>A friend of mine announced last year that when she turned 50, she would stop dying her hair, and to avoid the icky period of growing out the gray, she would shave her head. She was a rare person who looked gorgeous with dyed red hair.</p>
<p>I thought she was joking. Her teen kids thought so, too</p>
<p>She turned 50, and did shave her head. Now, she has a stunning head of silver gray hair. :)</p>