I looked up Oestrogel. It's HRT (unopposed oestrogen form), applied topically, resulting in systemic absorption. Amongst many other things, it can aggravate a history of, or risk factors for, thromboembolic disorders or hypertension. Again, amongst many other things, it increases the risk of ischaemic stroke

I don't see how this is better than just taking HRT? If you can't take HRT for medical reasons, it doesn't look like you can take this.

I looked up Oestrogel. It's HRT (unopposed oestrogen form), applied topically, resulting in systemic absorption. Amongst many other things, it can aggravate a history of, or risk factors for, thromboembolic disorders or hypertension. Again, amongst many other things, it increases the risk of ischaemic stroke

I don't see how this is better than just taking HRT? If you can't take HRT for medical reasons, it doesn't look like you can take this.


The warnings are the same as for HRT in general without regard to the dose.

But you can use a topical gel for your skin to deliver a much lower dose to the plasma than those typically used to restore plasma levels to premenopausal conditions. In this case, adverse event risks would be much lower.

I have never heard of it being used for acne scne scars - that would be wonderful - do you have a paper on it?

I had it ten years ago. But that was another hard drive. I can't get it electronically anymore, the online database is free only to 1997.

She (Schmidt) used iontophoresis to deliver a very high dose to the dermis. She also did it with tretinoin. It caused a stir in the acne scar community. We all had such high hopes. But very few practitioners were interested in buying a machine and all the sessions required (2x/week for 3 months)-lots of labor. I called some people who had a machine but nobody wanted to use it with estrogens or tretinoin.

I suspect you might perhaps get similar results with a dermaroller. But it could be risky. Good luck if you can find a doctor who is willing to help you, monitor you, etc. I tried! But nobody wanted to do it with/for me.

Bugjune - what made you segue at age 49 from the pill to HRT? How would you know (if you were then), that you were having a menopause?

How did you find the menopause on hormones - or was it cancelled effectively, as I'd like mine to be?

And do you find the HRT to be "as good" as the Pill? in the sense that you felt the same? Sukinew felt there was nothing like the Pill.

You've done just what I want to do - bar having the loony 4 month trial.

Having a bad day, a bad week - OK a bad year actually so pardon my posting and venting here. I turned 49 last week and lately all I do is obsess about how much older I look. Still dealing with PTSD type symptoms where I keep having flashbacks to me sitting on the beach in my early 40's like a damn idiot. I still looked good, young, healthy. I knew nothing, nothing, nothing back then. The constant ache of knowing that so much of this could have been avoided.

Went to the medical derm a few weeks ago and she gave me a prescription for hydroquinone to apply to dark spots, and she suggested an IPL consultation (!!!) with their nurse practitioner. She also gave me Refissa samples, which I had never heard of. After my appointment was over and I was getting dressed, an assistant came in, a very pale Irish woman who appeared to be in her late 50's, early 60's and told me she had had IPL with good results. I told the MD that I had heard many horror stories about IPL and she said that burns were the biggest risk but in the hands of an experienced practitioner, there should be no problem. I told her about the fat loss stories I'd heard and she said she had never heard of this (!!!). I would NEVER have IPL on my face but I hate the sun damage and major freckling/hyperpigmentation all over my upper back (and chest, but IPL seems risky there as well) from swimming outdoors for my whole life. Am considering JUST a consult in the late fall....

But as I survey my body, I feel like I might as well just throw in the towel. This sun damage is here to stay, it's ALL over - legs, arms, back, neck, chest, hands...face. Wrinkled, yellow, freckles, flat brown spots - everywhere. It's not as bad as some people (namely two lovely, kind women I work with who can rival Valentino with their sun damage AND don't seem to care) yet this is ALL I notice now or seem to think about. Not to mention my other problem with gum recession. I feel I have cut off a good 10 years from my performing career and will have to retire after next year.

I want to be that person that doesn't care and goes out and lives life. It takes me a while to get out the door as I'm so self conscious and the timing of going outdoors has to be carefully planned due to sun exposure. Crying every day, even at work, thoughts of suicide, wondering how I am going to make it through the rest of my life. And I really don't even have a terribly hard life except for sun damage and now, dental problems.

I know my HEAD is the problem. It's all in the way I THINK. EVERYONE gets old, I am no different. Thanks for indulging me here and for the past advice you have given me here. I know I need to see my PCP or a specialist about getting on some kind of hormone therapy but I'm so freakin' busy with the rest of my life and the inertia and depression I have to overcome to accomplish things gets in the way.

PLAN: Accept. Accept. Accept. Have a peel in the fall and see how that works.

Thanks kosmeds...

I've been using Retin A micro for almost two years (I think). It has helped my face a bit. It put it on my neck as well but I have bad sun damage on the sides of my neck that I have been told by two derms is very difficult to treat. I will try refissa perhaps when the Retin A runs out...

I'm afraid to do a peel myself. Thanks for your suggestion though, I will look into it. I think I'll just continue the Retin A until the fall when I have a peel. I think I'll start off with milder peels and then go from there. I'm going to also use the Retin A sparingly on my chest, it tends to cause sores to break out there.

Oh yeah, I wear copious amounts of sunscreen WHEN I go outside. Currently I use Neutrogena Dry Touch 85 SPF. Although yesterday I forgot my hat and was outside for about 15 minutes at peak hours doing errands - I had the Anthelios sample that I got at CVS on my face and neck but I still was bumming I forgot my hat. I ALWAYS wear a long sleeved UPF shirt when in the car and try to cover my hands as much as possible when driving.

Can applying lemon juice do anything??? Was thinking I could make compresses of it and place on my back for 20 minutes a day, meditate and imagine those freckles and brown areas just melting away. :-)

I have been cutting a fresh lemon in half and rubbing the freshly cut sides to my facial pigmentation - and I feel it is working - the whole face is "brigher" - Also I did find some improvement with Cliniques "Even Better" serum - Also Azelex (20%) works but only as well as 2% hydroquinone - however it does not irritate the skin or make you sun sensitive - as Hydro is likely to do -

---

Hotels in Cleveland

You're going to have to tolerate some irritation. Without it, there's no improvement. If you don't have the nerve to do it yourself, let the derm do it. He or she will be able to give you painkillers, prophylactic antibiotics, deeper correction, and an even application.

Some people still need IPL to correct for a seemingly permanent ruddiness. But I'd try peels for a few years first.

Try a test patch first. Some people do have very bad reactions but some people confuse a normal response with a very bad reaction. They call it acid for a reason!

I'd be more inclined to step up to 70% glycolic rather than a Jessner's solution. Jessner's is more indicated for acne or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation than for mild to moderate photoaging.

this compared the two for acne:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10417580

It's also been compared to glycolic for melasma and found to be slightly less effective.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9092746

But these are still in the very superficial category.

If you want a more definitive step up try 15-20% TCA with a prepeel, any one of Jessner's, glycolic, CO2 dry ice, or salicylic, whichever your derm prefers. There might be an advantage to going with Jessner's or salicylic as a pre-peel if you are on the oily side due to solubility.

Sure. You'll probably heal from that pretty quickly since the area is small. But he might not think you need it.

Yes, medium-depth peels are very painful.

it only helped with skin tone and did little for the acne scarring this time. Maybe the TCA he did in the early 90s improved my acne scars as much as they could be improved.

Dented scars are almost impossible. Some people have had luck with TCA cross. Some people have had luck with aggressive use of a dermaroller with tretinoin, tazarotene, and vitamin C. I'd keep on using a dermaroller, it's the least risky thing to do, and it might make for some improvement over years of use.

If the scar is in the lower dermis, there is not much you can do.

The other thing to do is to fill them in with juvederm or restylane. I don't think I'd use Sculptra for this but a local derm in my town wrote a paper on it. He didn't get complete resolution but improvement.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2696608/

I think his cases needed a restylane top-off. It's probably impossible to get the precisely needed amount with Sculptra alone.