beauty tips, anyone?

maiolo · June 2007

so, i've been on hormonal treatment for 2 months now, maybe. and my face has aged i'd say at least 10 years older through all this cancer stuff.

i'm a 36 yr old Filipina and have olive complexion (i think that's what it's called), and now i'm getting tiny brown sun spots(?) on my face and dark circles around my eyes that i never had before.

so, does anyone have advice on good treatments, lotions, potions, etc? i'd loooove to hear suggestions please

Ainslee · June 2007

Hi Maiolo,

What a great question! Unfortunately, I don't have any answers for you but will wait to see if others respond.

I am 41 years old and feel like I have aged considerably. I have an olive complexion as well (part Indian) and have noticed dark patches around my hairline and jaw. I was thinking of going for a chemical peel or microdermabrasion but don't want to drop a couple of hundred dollars if it won't work!

I've tried a few face lotions from Origins, Dior and Clinique that are supposed to tighten, lighten and repair but nothing seems to make much of a difference.

I'll be waiting to hear other's suggestions.

Ainslee

maiolo · June 2007

sorry, duplicate entry.

maiolo · June 2007

ooh, forgot to mention, i've been using Prai Ageless Eyes on and off nowadays too for the dark circles under my eyes that just came up out of nowhere.
http://www.shopnbc.com/product/?familyid...rchList-_-N-_-N

there is also Ageless Face on that package that i tried yesterday and worked ok, i may have glopped-on too much though because my face was a bit greasy all day.

re. the rest of the stuff in the package, come to think about it, i've only used the Pure Prai and don't really see any good results either.

so back to the Prai Ageless Eyes, that one's alright. just don't get it in your eyes. i did that a couple of times, oucha!

i found this after watching tv and those seller ladies are really convincing on tv. ha ha!

jasmine · June 2007

You might see a dermatologist for the brown sun spots! Also, be sure to use a sunscreen on your face now since chemo makes the skin super sensitive.

BettyeE · June 2007

I use Obagi products. I had brown spots and they were all removed. When I started chemo I was advised to stop using everything except the cleanser and toner. I will start back on it ASAP. Google Obagi and read about it. It is a wonderful product.
Bettye
Also Bare Minerals makeup is great.

BethNY · June 2007

my sister has brown spots under her eyes. They are getting worse every year. She's 34. The dermatologist said they were from hormone changes. Foundation doesn't really cover it.
Its not dark circles, its literal brown spots-- so if thats what you have go see a dermatologist.
If it gets really bad, there are some docs that do laser treatment, but my sister hasn't opted for that yet.

laureniris · June 2007

Hi,
I've been on hormone tx. for less than a year and I started sprouting little brown moley spots under one of my eyes. They are like new-born moles. Had 4 them removed by a derm (which took 3 minutes maximum). Two were removed by laser and two by scraping. One of them was stubborn and is still a little raised and pink. For a couple of days I had mini scabs, which I had to keep moist with aquafor (or something like that). Here's what's most annoying: I had to pay for it all out pocket, even with the hormone tx., and being at higher risk for skin cancer. Oh well, At least it was easy to deal with, if expensive.
I really like my derm, and just went in for another cosmetic tweaking (restylaine by mouth). I'm still pretty bruised, but if you're interested, I'll keep you posted with results when I heal.
Best wishes!
Lauren

maiolo · June 2007

oops, i forgot to add this, thank you. i've been using Shiseido SPF 55. i'm not too pleased with this so far so if anyone has a better recommendation please, i'd love to try something new.

maiolo · June 2007

how come u had to stop using the other Obagi products? i googled it and it seems really interesting. more info please? i am really open to trying new stuff

and yeah, my cousin gave me a Bare Minerals beginner kit. great stuff!

on another board, another Filipina lady told me about Philosophy foundation, which is in powder form w/ SPF protection too. plus, she said that it comes w/ a different type of applicator puff so i'll be checking it out next time i go to the mall she knows her stuff too since she said she worked at Nordstrom of a long time!

maiolo · June 2007

well, i now have both dark undereye circles AND little brown moley spots. GRR! as tiny as they are, i think that sounds good to scrape them out alright. thank you, laureniris. great idea! painful, but great for the long-term effect

what is restylaine btw? i've considered Botox since i now have 11's on my forehead and laugh lines. they're all just beginning to show, but this is not going to get better, i know.

man, i need a lot of work! haha! thus is the price of still being alive eh? oh well, on to buying more products...as vain as it is, i must say that i'm very pleased w/ the results so far.

i've always neglected this part of my chick-ness, but i figure if i don't do it now, when will i ever, right?

jasmine · June 2007

I use the coppertone sunscreen for faces... Coppertone Sunscreen for Faces

laureniris · June 2007

Hi,
Restylaine (not sure of the spelling) is a filler that gets injected into depressed areas (like creases/wrinkles) and puffs them out. It's not the same as botox, which paralyzes the muscles (sounds scarey). Restylaine is used around the lower face, like the lines around the mouth or the marionette lines coming down from the sides of the nose. Seems to be working, and the bruising is going down.

mibriggs · June 2007

hiya
my beauty regime is mainly made up of a combination of vitamins and fresh fruit and veg.

I take
Selenium which decreases damage of skin cell membranes along with Vitamin C and E. I take quite high doseages of these vitamins as they are antioxidants and also offer some protection (i have read) for cancer prevention and protection from reoccurance.

Buying a regular multivitamin will have very little effect... high doseages are much better and theraputic.

I didnt take any vitamins thru chemo and rads though. my doctor told me that I could take during my hormonal treatment. he said it was absolutely fine.

here are the quantites
Vit C (ester C is best) 1500 mg
Vit E 400 ius
Selenium 80 - 100 mg
Co Enzyme Q 10 - 120mg

Also creams containing Co Enzyme Q 10 (Co Q10) also reduce oxidation and winkle depth... and have shown good results for age spots.

Also creams containing vitamin A derivative tretinoin is available on private prescription, this stimulates skin collagen production and oxygenation to fade pigmented age spots.

hope this was useful... I must admit since i have been taking my vitamins I have noticed a great improvement on my skin, in my energy levels and definately in my mood ... i swear by them. Good luck.

mel
xoxo

my video clip:

BettyeE · June 2007

Mel,
My OC did not want me to use anything that would cause my skin to turn red or peel. He said the chemo would be doing a number on fast growing cells which included the face. Obagi will make you peel in layers at first, then you will have the best skin you have ever had. No moisturizer ever needed again. It is great. It's really hard to get through the first 2 months with the peeling and all, but if you go to a derm. and get dermabrasion and peels first you will not have as much peeling. My daughter n law took that route. I think I had better results the old fashion, longer route with just the Obagi. But then she is a good 30 yrs younger that me ,,,,,Maybe she did not have as far to go at least she did not have as much OLD skin and sun damage as I did. HA
Bettye

maiolo · June 2007

thanks for responding so this is safe for people who had chemo before? do u know what it's made of?

maiolo · June 2007

wow, GREAT stuff everybody! thank you very much for the tips! i'll be runing them by my oncologist and i'll be on my way to looking better. whoo hoo!

laureniris · June 2007

The derm who gave it to me was referred by my onc, and she knows my story. I don't think it's particularly unsafe, cancer-wise. But really, I try not to be too paranoid. I use nutrisweet all the time, and stuff like that.

Anonymous · June 2007

I now get Restylane injections on a regular (every 6-8 months) basis and it's done wonders for my face by completely filling in the lines/wrinkles that cropped up in the nasolabial area of my face after chemo. Really...took at least 10 years off! It's just collagen filler and consists of a thick gel that is injected directly into the sites and then massaged to avoid bumps and achieve smoothness. Unlike Botox, it isn't absorbed systemically, so it's safe after chemo (thank goodness). Restalyne and Botox are also different in how they achieve results...Restalyne by filling in the area and Botox by paralyzing the muscles slightly so that they relax, thus eliminating fine lines. Now for dark under-eye circles, there's Sculptra which is also a filler, but better for that area of the face. With all of these, you should make sure that your plastic surgeon has alot of experience using the stuff because there are a lot of spas out there just jabbing people right & left. At best, you just won't get your money's worth (and it is EXPENSIVE!); at worst, you'll get permanent bumps, scarring or discoloration. This is your face, after all...can't hide it behind a scarf (wll, unless you're a religious Muslim I guess )!

Marin

maiolo · June 2007

oh excellent! thank you for the very helpful reply. i definitely have some stuff to clear w/ the onc. now, then after, the dermatologist

have a nice day everybody!

laureniris · June 2007

Well, I'm one week past my first restylane and there's no bruising anymore. The effects are subtle, but positive (just as I hoped). Can you tell me more about Sculptra? does it help with crepiness and bags under the eyes? Any idea how it compares to restylane in terms of price, side effects, procedures, etc.
btw, I'm using a derm for this stuff, not my boob p.s. She seems to be slightly more into precision.

Anonymous · June 2007

Any MD who has experience with the injectables should be fine and you'd certainly know by now if you had a problem. I went to a spa the first time I had Restalyne and the nurses there just didn't know what they were doing. Fortunately, the results were tempoaray and, after the bruising went away, I just had a bit of lumpiness. But they used 2 whole syringes to get the desired result and just randomly chose sites. Then I went to a PS who runs a spa. She was recommended by my friend who gets Sculptra and she was so much more precise and professional. She applied so much topical anesthesia that I felt absolutely nothing (compared with fairly intense pain at my first place), marked the target areas carefully and then asked me to take a look and massaged the areas heavily after the injections were complete. The bruising was actually worse, but went away within the week and the results were significantly better...with only one syringe. So if you're considering any filler, definitely go to someone well-credentialed.

I'm not sure exactly how much Sculptra is, but know it's pretty expensive (like $1,500-2,000?). The good part is that it's supposed to last about 2 years. It's a heavier injectable and, so, intended for the under-eye area and the cheeks (if you don't need or want implants). Not sure about crepiness and lines though. My friend is only 36 and doesn't have that problem (no chemo either!).

Marin

beauty tips, anyone?

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