wrinkles are awful

elena1

I have finished my chemo, 8 months worth and just on herceptin for 6 more months. Also radation..Inow I have noticed how many more wrinkles I have on my face..its awful, I look so much older and I had so few before. I had become severly dehydrated a few times during all this and my skin is so dry now. Has anyone had this happen? I dont iknow what to try to make it better, although its probably to late...Im 60 and maybe its just age.

lauri

Elena1 -- it all hits at one -- cancer treatments AND getting old -- so the best I can do is::

. use moisturizers (didn't help)

. hydrate (couldn't hurt)

. leave the mirror by the front door dusty, so the wrinkles don't show as I leave the house

I'm now 66 and almost 5 years from diagnosis -- and looking forward to getting even more wrinkles over the next 20 years if that's the price I have to pay for having those years.

dlb823

Elena, I didn't have Herceptin, but I had to go off HRT when I was dx'd, and I'm also using a natural aromatese inhibitor.  And the wrinkles, which seem worse each week, are really starting to bother me, too.  I even switched to an ultra-expensive face cream, which I love, but it hasn't stopped the progression.

This past week, I bought & started using two new things.  The first is natural coconut oil, which a few other women on BCO have raved about.  The other is vaginal estrogen suppositories, from which you use a tad bit on your face.  It's an extremely small amount of "good" estrogen (estriol), and from all I've heard and read -- especially that it's doesn't go beyond the area to which you apply it -- something I'm willing to try.   It's obviously too soon to tell if either will make a significant difference, but so far I like they way both products make my skin feel. 

If you haven't already, check out the Natural Girls thread in the Alternatives forum here.  Lots of good, healthy advice there on things like this.   Deanna  

nina4031

I just found this site and I'm so glad to hear I am not the only one whose wrinkles have gotten really noticable since going through chemo and being on Tamoxifen. I thought it had to be a factor. I feel so old when I look in the mirror even though I feel fine. My hair has also gotten very thin and won't hold color. I am 58 but look 68. My neck has gotten so bad I am considering surgical intervention. I am going to try some of the products I've read about here.

mscal02

Hi All

I looked in the rear view mirror of my car the other day and thought my,my my. What the what? Where did these groves around my mouth come from? and when? Our bodies have been through soooo much. I just shake my head and be thankful I am alive, often comparing myself with someone a little more wrinkled than I am and think to myself, I am doing okay.I am 58 and decided that I am not going to give in to being depressed over this.Don't worry be happy.

lago

I just noticed this week all this puckering/wrinkles starting around my lower frown lines. I still have one more chemo to go. This is nuts. I turn 50 in less than a month. Before all this I looked like I was in my early 40s. I'm afraid with Als its just going to get worse.

Is this from chemopause or just dry skin from chemo?

annettek

lago - you are beautiful I think it is just the stress we all get slammed with following diagnosis and the various treatments. It all takes a toll. I have bags under my eyes like friggin suitcases, yet if i grab a couple of good days with sound sleep, I look a hell of a lot better. Having said that...if these creams and potions and sleep do not work...I AM GETTING SOME BOTOX!

lago

Anne  you are so sweet. That picture was taken Dec 18th 2010 with my wig. I didn't have these frown/chin wrinkles then. Seriously they just popped up this week.

Also that photo was taken by my DH. Of course I look beautiful from his perspective.

But you look damn good too.Very cut photo. So what are we both doing up. We need a beauty sleep. But for some reason I've been having issues off and on this past week.

annettek

I agree, we are both way cute and way overtired! Let's get some sleep and let the rest heal our poor tired faces and bodies;)

julie75

Iago and annettek:  You are beautiful!!! 

Hope we can all get some rest and rejuvinate ourselves . . . my best to everyone.

Julie

annettek

you too Julie-  I hereby declare the we be beautiful club!

Claire_in_Seattle

Relax.....it's WINTER, and most of us have drier skin at this time.  So a ton of moisturizer, and also a moisturizing mask.  Works wonders.

Also, most of us have ultra-short hair at best.  So a more austere look.

Cure is a lot of moisturizing creams and extra facials.  Makes a major difference.

I have also noticed that when I get out and exercise, up to 15 years melt away.  So recommend that one too.

However, my ultimate solution is to work on smile and not frown lines.  Sleep works too.

Speaking of which....it's getting close to my bed time.

annettek

that is so true claire...I slept 7.5 hours straight through last night (a record these days) and look a helliva lot better this morning...sleep works for mind, body and soul:) Of course i sat up like a top at 330am and will be dogassed tired by 6pm tonight but who cares!

imbell

Time to stop worrying about the body and start on the face. Here are some suggestions from a survey done of regular women and their favorite product that works.

Miracle Cream under $40 Avon Anew Clinical Advanced Wrinkle Corrector

• Miracle Cream Over $40 Elizabeth Grant Biocollasis Complex Advanced Cellular Age Defense Day Cream
• Eye Cream - Under $35 - Avon Anew Reversalist Illuminating Eye System
• Eye Cream Over $35 - Clinique All About Eyes Rich

A lot of people swear by Loreaql Regenerist products and a face mask no matter how inexpensive once in a while does the trick. I find I have less wrinkles when it isn't so dry in the house. Drink water also.

3jaysmom

was at the derm. dr. yesterday. she said the extreme dryness won't get better, until we make sure we exfolliate!! so, she gave me an rx creamLAClotion. its not just a reg. moisturizer. she swears it goes deeper into the tissue, and sloughs off the old dead cells.

  she also warned me about the new "liver"spots ive gotten. i have a large history with skin cancer. so, for the next few months, she's freezing them off. what grows back has to be biopsied. seems we can get bc under the skin anywhere on ur bodies, most common near scars ( i had a bmx) so, ck up, ck up. anything comes of any of it, i'll letcha know. the mosturizer is quite different, so i have hope for the dry skin. the wrinkles are just wear and tear.. we took POISON to kill the bc; so i guess its just part of the package deal!

   yes, i think you ladies look wonderful! and feeling good is the most imp. part. thats why we did all this.. to enjoy more life!(ill speak only for me)    be well.also, Barbara A swears by emmuoil, and many ladies have tried it, and agree... 3jays

susan_CNY

I think I hate my body today even more than I did the day I had surgery. I now have the belly fat, but also have grown this big honking "GOOD" boob to deal with, what was once a B and A pair is now a D and B pair, this is sooo frustrating ! While I am bitching I want to say shame on the bra and clothing manufacturers for pricing mastectomy wear so insanely high that garments that are a neccessity are now a luxury and are reminded of that every day when dressing. I was charged $50 for a tanktop that I can wear my prosthesis in, went to walmart and same shelf bra regular tops were $4.99 we have to pay the rest of our lives for BC don't we? Maybe with whats left of the family budget we could donate ?

susan_CNY

I forgot to say (which is why I posted here..lol) that my wrinkled cleavage is only on the bad side and ugly, has this happened to anyone else?

Phanay

Hi all,

Yer talking "wrinkles."

The worst thing to put on are those moisterizers with a high content of Mineral Oil.

The mineral oil is a fast fix.  Then the wrinkles gets worse.   The mineral oil fills in under the skin, fattens up pushing out the wrinkles.  Actually STRETCHING the skin!    

Then what have you.  More wrinkles and deeper.  I did a lot of research in my mid 40's when I started seeing laugh lines around my eyes.  B4 that, I used to use SOAP on my face! Big no-no!

Sleep is the answer.  Oil Of Olay, puts out a moisterizer for SENSITIVE skin.  If you look on the ingredients, it has a very low content of mineral oil.  Washing with a good face wash w/o alcohol morning and night, then applying the Oil Of Olay, (what ever moisterizer you prefer w/o the mineral oil content being high).  Then the make up.  I swear it helps.

I have found out not to look in the mirror out side during the day.  Like in my car mirror.  Then I can see what everyone else sees.  Big disappointment.  The mirror in the house cares more for me. LOL. 

I do have that genetically neck droop.  I forgot what that slicky piece under the skin is called.  It's there to hold the skin to the muscle.  I think those neck excercises makes it worse.  Mom used to do those excercises and I think she should not have. 

Just trying to help.