Here I am, ready to dust those plugs under my skin

Once again, continuing the story of the pursuit of a happy, scar-free complexion... all the DRAMA, the UPS, the DOWNS, the GOOD, BAD & UGLY... the NAUGHTY, BLUE & BEAUTIFUL, the GIGGLES, the pointy devices and bloodshed...grr, ahhhrgh!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Summerwave,

Chart showing various needle depths of derma rollers.



Info on needle length:

Needle size - used for
0.25mm - baldness, fine wrinkles, gray or thinning hair (and to help topicals penetrate)
0.5mm - alopecia, deeper wrinkles, face rejuvenation
1.0mm - loose elasticity, cellulite, stretch marks, skin pigmentation
1.5mm - acne scars, large pores, deep wrinkles, anti-aging, chicken pock scars
2.0mm - surgical scars, stretch marks, deep pitted acne
2.5mm - deep scars, body lifting, severe acne

Needle Length---Max Penetration
0.25 mm --------0.07 mm
0.50 mm --------0.30 mm
1.00 mm --------0.70 mm
1.50 mm --------1.30 mm
2.20 mm --------1.50 mm

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Summerwave,

From Stoney:

The 6 Stages for those of us with ("Not so perfect, crummy, lousy, blemished, alien-like skin") are:

I - Embarressment which can lead to
II - Depression & Desperation
III - Frustration & Confusion
IV - Dedication
V - Amazement
VI - Maintenance

Of course, Copper Peptides are what get us over the first 3 stages & move us into:

Here is my routine which you may want to use as a guideline for yourself...you may have to tweak it to fit your needs & life-style, but it may help:

AM:
Cleanse - (use a lower acid PH cleanser to help protect the "Acid Mantle" of your skin...if not sure use, SB Gentle Clean)
LacSal - or - Exfol
TTT (Two Time Tightner) - DMAE has proven tightening properties
Emu Oil
Day Cover (everyday)
Sunscreen (on outdoor days)
Mineral Makeup

PM:

Cleanse
CP Serum or Super CP Serum (spot treat w/ Super Cop or Super Cop 2X on target areas)
Night Eyes or Super GHK
Squalane w/ Retinol - or - Emu Oil
P & R Reg (Optional)

That's it - "Consistency & Dedication" is important!!!

And here is country girl, Stoney AKA Barbie herself

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Summerwave,

Okay, you win!...

You even got my husband's "John Deere" in there...

Now, I just need a "beautiful horse" so I can present "my case" all at once to my husband...I already have his name picked out..."THUNDER"...

Thanks Summerwave, I'm "back to smiling"...

You may want to bring over the "Dermaroller" instructions when you get a chance...

Link from Ophelia to a very long, informative thread on "rolling":

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid...ostorder=asc&start=0

quote:

Originally posted by stoney:
Thanks Summerwave, I'm "back to smiling"...

You may want to bring over the "Dermaroller" instructions when you get a chance...

From Stoney on "rolling":

I have been using 1.5 mm roller to help with my scars & many, many white trapped plugs under the surface of the skin caused by BP use...

It's easy & extremely effective, though "intimidating"...(it doesn't hurt, like you may think)...

Put some ice cubes in a wash cloth & go over entire face...this helps close the pores to give you a better surface for penetration & will help "numb" a little...(you really don't need a numbing cream)

Follow the directions on the box & start very conservatively... after your finished, your face will turn a bright pink or red (like after a strong glycolic peel)... that's the inflamation..."This is good"....the redness only lasts about 15 - 30 min.

Right after rolling apply your Cp or Super CP serum (it may sting a little, but that means its penetrating deeper into the skin) Yeah!!!!

Wait 30 min if you can, then apply your Emu-Oil (this pushes the CPs further in & helps with any stinging)...

Try rolling a week later, your 2nd roll may be the one that really gets things moving under your skin (the bad guys, I mean if you have any trapped bumps)....

If things start to emerge from under the skin you may need to wait until things calm down before rolling again....

I started rolling on 4/04 & have seen "DRAMATIC", nearly complete improvement in my skin...

Foxe's info on waiting times between products:

if you do not allow a wait time after you apply your LacSal (or any exfoliative, for that matter), you are not getting the most benefit out of it.

You need to wait a minimum of 30 minutes, and up to an hour, after applying a AHA/BHA lotion. If you apply ANY product on top of your LacSal before the wait time is up, you will adjust the pH of the LacSal. The LacSal has a pH of around 3.2 and you skin has a pH of around 5.5. It takes about 30 minutes for the AHA/BHA to nuetralize (and return to your skin's pH) and during that time, it is doing it's exfoliating job. Anytime you put a product on top of it that raises it's pH, it will not be as effective at it's job. You are losing out on the benefit of the exfoliative.

The wait time after CPs does not have to be a 30 minute wait, tho. I've read around 10 to 15 minutes. Mostly for it to absorb. The only issue you'd have w/ it is if you applied something on it w/ a very high pH (not too likely, I'd think). The pH of CP Serum is around 6 - so it's fairly nuetral. Distilled water has a pH of 7.0

Looks like you covered ALL of the "bases" Summerwave....Good Girl!!!

Overall my face looks "GOOD" today other than that "little red lightening bolt" right smack dab in the middle of the "apple of my cheek"!!!...

I checked it out in my "great grandmother mirror" & it doesn't look too bad there....it's in my "daylight mirrors" that it shows up which happens to be "every other mirror" in my house...

I'll have to "work on that horse"!!!!

I added a couple update pics to my "progress pics" thread. They were taken on Friday before I rolled.

Stoney, can you post a pic, just of your "lightning bolt" ?

After my shower this evening, I thought my face was looking pretty good... so of course I had to examine it closely in the mirror and have a "pick-fest" I didn't get too crazy with the needle, and the scabs left are tiny. I'm hoping this will help coax out the bumps in those spots even faster.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Summerwave,

Hello All,

Good job on the recap SW.
Well it has been almost 5 weeks since my needling session with the dermaroller. I do believe I have had pretty good improvement in some of my scarring. I will be getting 2 or 3 more treatments.
My skin texture and overall appearance doesn't look good though. I think my skin is dehydrated or something. It hasn't been "right" since I got off the accutane 4yrs ago. (I was on accutane for about 8-10 yrs) Plus I am still breaking out. But I believe it is the purging of old "crap". I mean how else is it going to be removed?
My skin looks really rough but it is looking better in most lightening. So I consider that progress. With more to come!!!
I also think my acid mantle has been damaged so I am looking on the internet for ways to heal it.
Stoney, is P&R day cover the same thing you were talking about to soothe skin.
SW-your skin is looking so good!

Let me answer Ophelia 1st since I'm avoiding the picture question Summerwave...

I was referring to P & R Cream (Reg)...they have #'s for the different P & R products, but I'm not sure what it #is???...check the site...

Actually, that is another of my "true secrets"...I just love, love, love this product...I use it last every single night after "everything" as my calming "beauty night cream"...Summerwave had questioned it when we started Thread No. 2, but I just couldn't explain why I use it???

I do think that it's because it's "very soothing"...

I'll get back to you on the pics...I'll have to come up with a plan...

Oh & Ophelia, the mess under there has to come out, but it happens over time... just "keep in mind" that once it is gone..."it is gone for good"!!! ...that is what will keep you going!!!!

Thank you Stoney,
I only have the day cover and body lotion. What # do you use?
I hope this mess ends VERY Soon!

quote:

Originally posted by Ophelia--:
Thank you Stoney,
I only have the day cover and body lotion. What # do you use?
I hope this mess ends VERY Soon!

I use "Day Cover' in the AM & "P & R Reg" in PM...there is also one with Retinol in it, but I don't use it since I use "Squalane w/ Retinol" right now...

...just check the SB site...

quote:

Originally posted by Ophelia--:
Hello All,

Good job on the recap SW.
Well it has been almost 5 weeks since my needling session with the dermaroller. I do believe I have had pretty good improvement in some of my scarring. I will be getting 2 or 3 more treatments.
My skin texture and overall appearance doesn't look good though. I think my skin is dehydrated or something. It hasn't been "right" since I got off the accutane 4yrs ago. (I was on accutane for about 8-10 yrs) Plus I am still breaking out. But I believe it is the purging of old "crap". I mean how else is it going to be removed?
My skin looks really rough but it is looking better in most lightening. So I consider that progress. With more to come!!!
I also think my acid mantle has been damaged so I am looking on the internet for ways to heal it.
Stoney, is P&R day cover the same thing you were talking about to soothe skin.
SW-your skin is looking so good!

I have/had the same problem with damaged acid mantle, dryness, and redness. It's getting much better though. I use Gentle Clean, I don't *scrub* my face like I'm scouring pots and pans anymore (although when needed I use a facial brush to remove flakies). Also, avoid chemical sunscreens! I really think they contribute to redness and other problems. Stick to Day Cover or a physical blocker without chemical ss in it.

Do you have Emu? Just one drop, "smooshed" between fingertips on both hands and then lightly patted on really helps with imparting a "glow" and helps the skin feel better. I pretty much follow that same routine as Stoney as outlined above (except I use Retin-A most evenings). You might think about adapting that same routine or close to it, since two of us with similar problems are finding results with it. It sounds like you are having improvements with what you are doing though, I know it can be so frustrating when it seems so slow! But as Stoney said, when those plugs come out, they are gone for good as long as you don't put more stuff on your face to cause the same trouble (BP, chemical ss). The CP's, the rolling, the exfoliating - all helps this stuff move on out of your face! You are on the right track!

And thanks for saying my skin looks good. I am still looking around to see who you are really talking to! I'm luvin' me some Ophelia right now, haha

That's beginning to make sense Summerwave regarding "redness & irritation" possibly due to the acid mantle being damaged...

I have not had any of that...but I've always had access to "good cleansers"...it is kinda my thing! The damage on my face is soley due to BPs!!!...

On the "little red vein"...upon closer inspection this evening, I can see that it is directly coming off of that little "BP Bump"...now that the bump has totally come out it has a "sm dark scab" over it...the tiny little vein actually looks a "little indented"...

Perhaps once the spots "competely heals" which I expect to be in a couple of days...maybe, just maybe, the depressed little vein will go away with it...it is "most definitely" related to that spot...I'll just keep my "fingers crossed"...

Anyway, I really hope I "jumped the gun" on this one 'cause when I brought up the "horse thing" at dinner, I just can't repeat what he said to me...

I'll keep you posted on it's "hopefully" progress...

Also,

Tonight since I rolled this AM & I had enough "Blue Goo" on my face all day to kill off anything, I decided to be Dr. Pickart tonight & use "TriRed" all over my face instead...

I just had to "one up" on him though & apply my Squalane w/ Retinol followed by my "Classic P & R" Beauty Night Cream...

It was a "little stingy" at first, but I figured if "he can do it"..."I can do it"!!!...

Posted by Summerwave-

quote:

And thanks for saying my skin looks good. I am still looking around to see who you are really talking to! I'm luvin' me some Ophelia right now, haha

You had me at Buffy!

I have squalene and have been trying to use that. I also have the following: bioheal, cp serum, gentle clean, super cp, super cop, super cop 2x, day cover, body lotion. I have also ordered a microderm cloth so that should arrive this week.
I will be putting in a SB order soon and I will get the P&R reg.
It just takes time. I know.... but man it sucks...

Stoney, good luck with the "horse thing".

Oh also I am making some other lifestyle changes.
I will be increasing my flax/borage oil intake.
I love hot showers but I will be changing that. I also run the ac a lot but nothing I can do about that since I keep it cold for the dogs.
So I am going to give this new routine a couple of weeks.