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I am someone whose interested in laser resurfacing, after using a bha solution (PAULA's CHOICE - 2% BHA SOLUTION w/a pH 3.2 ) for my acne, my skin has been left emaciated, well that might be an exaggeration, but it looks like I may have had a bad reaction to the product. More or less my skin now looks like an orange peel, scaly almost, pores larger, a lot less smooth.
I do not know if I am allergic to salicylic acid or what, I was very careful about how much I put on and the first two weeks applied everyother day. I used it for a total of five weeks and there was a lot of peeling and irritation and this is where I should have seen the red flag and stopped immediately. But I was convinced that it was normal. Ive used retin a and other creams and have peeled as well. According to Paula's website (http://www.cosmeticscop.com/)customers are asked to consider the lower strength BHA first. But my pores are always clogged with junk and I can squeeze any random pore and something will come out. But anyways, I felt the 1% strength would only be a waste of time and opted for the alternative.
I dont know how relevant this might be, but I applied a gob of sunscreen afterwards (usually 20 to 30 minutes after the solution penetrated my skin) and this of course left a white cast on my face which I now realize was part of the problem, I could not really tell how bad my skin was getting cos of the sunscreen. I am also wondering if the salicylic acid combined with sunscreen, gave my skin an allergic reaction? I know its the not the sunscreen itself, because I have used it before without any problems. But the two combined, maybe?
I called PC's customer service line after a week after stopping and they told me, the irritation was not normal and that I should have stopped immediately. I really should have.
I have seen three doctors since, and so far only the first agreed with me, saying that whatever the bha solution did to my face looked permanent and he did not have a clue about what to do, so he gave me a steroid and then a prescription for renova. This did nothing.
I saw another dermatologist and she could not see anything wrong with my skin and that its impossible for salicylic acid to leave any scarring because it works at the superficial level of the skin.
She put me on the highest strength of RETIN A (the red tube) which only left my skin very dry and irritated, what a waste of time.
THE PROBLEM IS NONE OF THESE DOCTORS HAVE SEEN MY FACE BEFORE NOW AND ARE ASSUMING WHAT THERE SEEING AS NORMAL.
Now onto the third derm Im seeing now, who I felt might be able to help. But like the second doctor, agreed that there was nothing wrong with my skin as far as he could tell, his reaction "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT- I CANT SEE ANYTHING WRONG!". Ive asked him to do a biopsy in hopes to change his mind, but more importantly to find out how many layers of skin have been affected , and what may have happened. Anyways hes refused to do so and has asked me to ignore everything and get over it. In the beggining he was more understanding, evern considering a biopsy to please me, but mostly to get me off his back. I asked what options I had if the biopsy came back showing what I had been saying all along to be true. He then went on to say, he would consider several microdermabrasion procedures. This is a joke, this isnt rocket science - time and time again I have beentold that anything the salicylic acid may have done to my skin, would have diminished after a month or so. But here we are three years after the fact and well my face still looks really awful and exactly the same. Microdermabrasion works only at the surface of the skin. How the hell is this soppostue help my situation, when obviousily this stuff that I used has left its mark all over my face, and has gone way deeper. I mean isnt that why nothing has changed since I stopped? THAT IS WHY I AM LOOKING AT LASER RESURFACING - when this was bought up , he said "OVER MY DEAD BODY" saying that I would pigment and that laser resurfacing is not an option for patients with dark skin.
I can see where he is getting at, I am of indian descent(south asian), but I do not know what else to do.
What is your take on this, are there any doctors who work the laser on someone of dark skin? Is it an absolute NO?
Hes also refused any kind of chemical peels, I think he may be a little on the conservative side. He is playing things too safe.
A good three years have passed and nothing has happened, my face looks terrible, I need some hope.
Please Help
Thanks
Last edited by codedmessages; July 26th, 2004 at 11:07 AM.
Originally posted by danya Laser is a big no-no for your dark skin.
Can you post a picture of your skin so I can see what the problem is that you're referring to?
Danya
THANKS! For having the patience to read all that - I really appreciate it
Sorry I have to apologize, I do not have any scanned pics!
Laser Resurfacing is not an option?
Well not according to this:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the use of the erbium:YAG laser for resurfacing in type IV skin patients in Pakistan. STUDY DESIGN/MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten patients with skin type IV underwent laser skin resurfacing with an erbium:YAG laser to treat wrinkles, acne/chickenpox scars and hyperpigmentation. An evaluation was done by the treating physician and a photographic evaluation and grading was done by a blinded observer. RESULTS: The treating physician's records show no erythema, pigmentary alteration, infection or scarring at the 3-month follow-up. The blinded observer's evaluation of the 3-month photographs showed moderate to excellent improvement in 80% of patients in their respective underlying condition. CONCLUSION: The erbium:YAG laser is safe and effective in treating wrinkles, acne/chickenpox scars and hyperpigmentation in skin type IV patients.
PMID: 12745599 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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I dont know exaclty what skin type I am, but this information is imporant because I am pakistani( yeah I know I said I was "indian" earlier, but pakistani, indian same thing really)
If I can't get Lased, then what other options do I have? It sounds like I have reached a dead end, the odds are against me. I should be use to it by now, but I want my face to like it did before any of this happened.
The Erbium is a more superficial laser than the CO2. The deeper you go, the greater the chance of scarring, but you need to go to a certain depth in order to make the desired changes in the skin. It's a very fine line (so to speak)...
There is still a risk of permanent pigmentation changes, and if it were me, i would not take that risk. It's safer to do repeated treatments of more superficial therapies like microdermabrasion. Have you looked into that?
Danya
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The same thing happened to me with a series of glycolic acid peels (high stregnth). I started getting monthly treatments in a renowned doctors office. They started out at 20% and worked up to 70%. At first the only side effect was a little dryness, and my skin did really look nice. As the treatments got a little higher in stregnth, I started to get whiteheads about a week after the treatments and also I was noticing underground lumps that I['ve never had (haven't had a peel for about 2.5 months and they're still there). They don't surface and don't disclour my skin, but still make my texture look worse. Anyway, not happy with the results I asked one of the estheticians if I could do them more often then monthly, and he said every two weeks as long as I had no irritation. Anyway, I cgot 2 70% peels within 2 weeks, and have the same result as you. Pores look large, almost orange peelish and my skin looks almost crepey. This has occured in areas where I've never noticed a pore on my face before, such as my forehead, as well as other areas. I noticed in the begginning that this would happen less dramatically about a week after a peel, and then would return to a normal appearance one week after. However, it has been 2.5 months and my skin has not returned to normal. Also, my makeup doesn't seem to go on well anymore (powder) I can always see it on the surface. I emailed one doctor who answers questions on line and he said at strehgnths over 30% (I think) glycolic acid peels are np longer safe and there are better things to use. Anyway-just wanted to tell you my story and let you know you're not alone. The doctor I emailed said if the appearance of my pores and skin does not return to normal to try mocrodermabrasion as well.
Originally posted by court20 The same thing happened to me with a series of glycolic acid peels (high stregnth). I started getting monthly treatments in a renowned doctors office. They started out at 20% and worked up to 70%. At first the only side effect was a little dryness, and my skin did really look nice. As the treatments got a little higher in stregnth, I started to get whiteheads about a week after the treatments and also I was noticing underground lumps that I['ve never had (haven't had a peel for about 2.5 months and they're still there). They don't surface and don't disclour my skin, but still make my texture look worse. Anyway, not happy with the results I asked one of the estheticians if I could do them more often then monthly, and he said every two weeks as long as I had no irritation. Anyway, I cgot 2 70% peels within 2 weeks, and have the same result as you. Pores look large, almost orange peelish and my skin looks almost crepey. This has occured in areas where I've never noticed a pore on my face before, such as my forehead, as well as other areas. I noticed in the begginning that this would happen less dramatically about a week after a peel, and then would return to a normal appearance one week after. However, it has been 2.5 months and my skin has not returned to normal. Also, my makeup doesn't seem to go on well anymore (powder) I can always see it on the surface. I emailed one doctor who answers questions on line and he said at strehgnths over 30% (I think) glycolic acid peels are np longer safe and there are better things to use. Anyway-just wanted to tell you my story and let you know you're not alone. The doctor I emailed said if the appearance of my pores and skin does not return to normal to try mocrodermabrasion as well.
I am really sorry that this happened, you know something I don't think theres anyway of knowing what the results may be after peels, laser resurfacing , its kind of up in the air. Anytime someone considers a procedure there at some potential risk, luck has to be on your side.
I would never ever ever in a million years have ever considered skin peels or laser peels but in this case I am left with no choice.
Best of luck, I hope that your skin can make a full recovery. When it does, its probably best to stay away from anykind of procedures entirely.
Originally posted by danya The Erbium is a more superficial laser than the CO2. The deeper you go, the greater the chance of scarring, but you need to go to a certain depth in order to make the desired changes in the skin. It's a very fine line (so to speak)...
There is still a risk of permanent pigmentation changes, and if it were me, i would not take that risk. It's safer to do repeated treatments of more superficial therapies like microdermabrasion. Have you looked into that?
Danya
Heres the scoop - I had four microdermabrasion procedures done in the summer of 2,000, after reading somewhere that it was a way of mininmizing the appearance of pores. I have rather large pores in the cheek areas and my nose, so thats where I was worked on. FOR some stupid reason the person who did it, insisted she do my forehead too. The first couple times went alright without a hitch, but the last time left my face dark in the areas treated. I dont know if this was the direct result of the final procedure or all four combined that left my skin hyperpigmented. I will say that I wasnt always wearing my sunscreen and that I picked at a scab or two.
I dont know if this is unusual or not, but after each procedure was finished she would clean me up etc etc and then apply glycolic acid over my face?? She said it would help, I dont know what strength it was, but it was green and STUNG! Could this play some part in all of this?
I myself did not notice my skin was hyperpigmented until everyone around me kept asking - "your skin is really dark!" - this is when I got scared and kept insisting that I was just seeing things, but then there was no two ways about it. Today I am not as dark, thanks to the 2 prescriptions of 8% hydroquinone bleaching cream(a triluma compound) my derm prescribed. But I can't get my skin back 100% and theres nothing I can do.
That was SKIN TRAUMA ISSUE NO.1 - now after thee whole "bha soultion" episode (SKIN ISSUE NO. 2) my skin looks ten times worse. Infact the hyperpigmentation never got to me like this, I could have lived with it honestly. But whatever the bha solution did to my face, left a worse mess than I could have managed.I can still get the hyperpigmentation down with creams where its not too noticable but theres nothing I can do about the other crap.
I have never been so depressed in my life, Im on antidepressants and have been seeing a shrink for almost a year now. I need something to happen soon. Its been three very long years.
The derm I am seeing now, has suggested microdermabrasion and said that If I I prep my skin with a vitamin a cream and a bleaching cream that I will not pigment, but again its pointless.
You yourself also, suggested microdermabrasion, but its kind of pointless regardless whether I pigment or not. It still only works at smoothing out the superficial level of skin, which is not where my problem lies, its a lot deeper in the dermis. So this is a complete waste of time.
What about a chemical peel, I know this sounds too far fetched but I dont want to give up so soon then trying to live with it.
There has to be something I can look into.
Last edited by codedmessages; July 30th, 2004 at 06:50 PM.
If you read my first post I say that the last two docs(the last one being the doc I am seeing now and have seen for close to a year) noticed nothing wrong, that my skin/face looks normal. Its like I am making this all up, that I am delusional.
Its so obvious that what I am seeing is not normal, and thats because I look at myself in the mirror everyday, its like I have to proove it to them - but why cant these doctors see it as well?
My current doc suggested at our first appointment having a biopsy done so that the matter could be looked at closer. But he quickly changed his mind saying, "I can do it for you, but this is a total waste of time and theres nothing wrong" and now has my parents convinced as well.
My question is, if I were to have a biopsy would the results point out once and for all whats happened or not necessarily?
Last edited by codedmessages; July 30th, 2004 at 06:58 PM.
