Dr. Pickart,

I noticed that you have recommended the use of the hormone DHEA for some to block the cortisol in the blood caused by stress which inhibits skin renewal & repair...

Your recommendation is 25 - 100 mg daily on a temporary basis...

The following link dose not recommend more than 5 mg per day for long term or even temporary use due to side effects (Heart palpitations, etc.)...

http://www.raysahelian.com/dhea.html

Are there safe intervals this can be taken in & what does temporary mean?... Do you think a 5 mg dose may be the eay to go?

I would like to take this, but

...Just not sure!

He is selling 5 mg doses as a gimmick.

I have looked deeply at DHEA literature for over 30 years and find many positive actions but very few negative actions. It drops by 90% as we age.

I was wondering why there was no other company out there selling it below 25mg...

I will take 25 mg, but any suggestions on how long or intervals for safe use?

I'm just trying to "boost my skin repair"...

..Thanks for your time!

I think I'll try 25 mg for a month & see if I have any side effects...that seems conservative enough to me, but not sure???

Does anyone currently take DHEA for skin repair or have any suggestions on safe intervals & dosages from their own experience?

Hi,
I buy vitamins from Puritan.com. I see that they have DHEA in 5mg, 25mg and 50mg. I dont take it but I was thinking about trying the 5 mgs.

Di

Hi Di,

While DHEA, as well as other hormones should be taken cautiously... I'm not sure a 5 mg strength is going do anything at all...

Dr. Pickart suggests between 25mg & 100mg...

I think I'll take 25mg for a month & see what happens...

The "Dr. Wong" who suggests no more than 5 mg is probably trying to make $$$ to keep you coming back at 5 mg...since nothing is happening at all...

I'll stick with Dr. Pickart on this one, as well as pretty much everything else!...

Oh ya, I've been looking for you... you were on the Sunscreen thread...

Just wondering are you trying to heal your skin or just trying to better your overall appearance (tightening, fine lines, wrinkle, etc... or both?)

Hi,
Yes, I'm sure your right about 25mgs. Maybe I will give that one a try instead. 5 mgs isn't very much.
Well, I'm 54 and I was having a lot of trouble with redness and dryness on my cheeks. They almost felt crusty. I don't know for sure if it was rosacea or not. That finally went away after going back to cp serum and lots of emu oil. Now I am back to normal, thank goodness. I'm so happy I started using SRCPs again.

I guess you would say I'm just trying to keep my skin firm and trying to get rid of some fine lines around my mouth and forhead. I have a couple of deeper lines at the corners of my mouth that I would love to get rid of. I have been using Green Cream on the lower part of my face since I seem to have such sensitive cheeks. So anyway that's what I'm working on. I sure wish I could figure out a way to use Cp serum during the day, since I use a sunscreen with zinc in it, I use the one you told me about. I love it! It's my favorite yet. The Clinique City Block.

Di

Hi Di,

So you are basically in to maintaining your skin at this point...

...continual use of CPs will help you deal with any deeper lines & wrinkles...don't think about it, just let it happen!

I do do love Clinique City Block Sunscreen in AM & use my CPs (Super CP Serum) with my retinol in the PM & like it that way...

However, I also use P & R Day Cover everyday before SS (don't wear SS everyday, unless needed...mostly in the Summer & if skiing)... Day Cover is kinda my beauty treatment after Emu Oil (love, love, love that!) in the AM...

Day Cover has CPs which act more like beauty enhances than the "Work Horses" of CP Serum or Supper Cop....

I'd stick with your CPs in PM since they work well with Retinol & both do there thing while you Sleep...

Also, I use my Exfol or LacSal in AM so they don't compete with CPs...I hope you are using on of these as well??

Did I mention TTT (Two Time Tightener)? ...this DMAE formula (proven for skin tightening properties is a MUST for 50ish & over)!

Anyway, I need DHEA to deal with some of the stress of everyday living...just don't want to overdo it!!!

Hi,
I hope it does help with the deeper lines, that would be great!
So, when you put on your retinol do you put it on first? I have been doing it that way for a couple of days, but the cp serum is so watery since I do water it down some, it seems like I'm just diluting the retinol, even though I let the retinol sit for 30 minutes first. Maybe I need to use the Protect and Restore cream instead, but I just bought the cp serum.

I would love to try the TTT someday too. I also want the Day Cover. So many wants!

I use exfol cream on my cheek area only. I don't know if I need it on the rest of my face since I use Green Cream Retinol and Renova on my forhead and neck area. So I just use the exfol on my cheeks, since I dont use the Green Cream there. I really like the exfol.

What kind of Retinol do you use?

Di,

Put your CP Serum on 1st..(it is watery, but it melts right into your skin)

Protect & Restore alone isn't going to be strong enough for deep wrinkles, but you can use it in conjunction with your other products.... I actually put I light coat of Reg P & R on last after my Emu-Oil in PM to seal it all in & P & R Day Cover in the AM after Emu before SS...

..Have I confused you, yet??

Apply your green cream or other retinol in PM after your CP Serum...

If you are using Exfol, You can use it all over your skin in the AM ... it won't interfere with your retinols & CPs...

I use AM :

Cleasnse (be sure you are using a more Acid PH cleanser, so you don't strip the acid mantle of your skin)...what are you using?

Exfol or LacSal

TTT (Two Time Tightener) if you get it later

Emu-Oil

Day Cover (My year round savior) - this gives you a natrual SPF 15

SS (when needed)

PM:

Cleanse

Super CP Serum

Retinol

Emu-Oil

P & R (Reg) very lightly...tones down the Emu

I also use "Bare Minerals" for my foundation "Rare Minerals" Night Treatment... love them both...

I never really looks like I have makeup on...

Hi,
Ha! Yes it can be confusing . I was told to use retinol first and then cp serum. I do like using the cp serum first, since it's a serum. I use Avalon Organics Co Q10 enzyme facial cleansing milk. It says it's gental and soap-free. It says it's ph balanced. I only wash my face at night.

This is my routine:
AM.
I dont wash my face in the AM
I have tried Oil Of Olay regenerist, but thats when all my trouble started with the cheek thing I think, so I haven't used that much lately.
Exfol Cream every other day on cheeks. Leave that(15 minutes)before anything else.
Emu oil
Suncreen either ( city block or blue lizard)
mineral powder when I use the blue lizard sinces it's a little greasy.


PM
Avalon organics cleanser
cp serum 15(min) confusing part or Green Cream( retinol) first. let sit for 30 minutes.
emu oil.

That's about it for me. I have also tried those filler things for those dumb lines at the corner of my mouth. I think it was the oil of olay one. It doesn't do much to help. That's what I do.

I guess I will go ahead and use the cp serum first then befor the retinol. So that seems to work for you. I will give it a try.

Thank you for the help
Di

Hi Di,

I would say your routine looks great...

...it's the order of CP Serum & Green Cream that just didn't seem right to you, so you started to 2nd guess everything right?

I would use your CP Serum 1st, then your Green Cream (Retinol)...

You will find greater benefits in you wrinkle reduction once your skin becomes adjusted to CP Serum & you move to Super CP Serum...

...but go slow & use all of your CP Serum 1st, before moving to the next level... CPs are strong & "Less is More" when starting...

...The only other thing you didn't mention that I would suggest is "Weekly High Grade" Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Scrub or an ocassional "Fruit Acid Exfoliation Peel"...

I had far greater problems with my skin than you, but have finally "figured it out" for myself at least (49 & have the wrinkle thing to worry about too)...

...I'll bet you never used BP (Benzoyl Peroxide) or you would have been on the other forum trying to figure out the "stubborn,little white bumps" trapped under your skin, that I now know the chemicals in BPs CAUSED, due to abnormal healing...

The BPs also caused NASTY scaring even where I never had acne or blemishes before...it was the "high road" approach I thought I was taking by using BPs as they suggest "to prevent future break-out"...

...if you know anyone younger who uses any BP products, please warn to stop before it's too late... the REVENGE over time is NASTY & can soley be fixed with SRCPs

...Most will never know about them, though!....

Hi,
Yes, I was really second guessing myself on which order to use retinol and cps. I will use it like you do, cps first.
No, I dont use any microdermabrasion. I have been afraid to do that since using Green Cream, I was afraid it might be too much, especially on my red sensitive cheeks. I could probably use one now on the rest of my face though. I have never tried a peel. I wonder what would be a good microdermabrasion that I could get at the drug store, do you know of one?
I have normal skin I guess, so I have never used BP I didn't know it could cause problems like that. I hope it all works out for you. I only get a pimple now and then, so I guess I'm lucky there.
I have a little sample of Super Cop, I guess I could try that in my wrinkle prone areas. I have been going very slow. 2 drops cp serum and 5 drops water, still.
Thank you
Di

Hi Di,

I should have worked for Sherlock Holmes, because this detective story I'm unraveling is getting clearer & clearer to me (luckily for my face too!)...

...I knew you were one of the lucky ones growing up who never really had to deal with any blemishes of sorts or you too would have used BPs & ended up as miserable as the rest of us who have...LUCKY YOU!

Anyway, I'm not really sure of a good drug store brand to recommend... (you've got to watch out for most because of the irregular shape of the bead), but Dr. Pickart had recommended a very affordable "Professional Grade" Brand that I've been using...it's gentle, but very effective...

...I'll try to find the link & get back to you later so you can look it up...

Di,

Here's the link for the Microdermabrasion Cream that Dr. Pickart recommended:

http://www.microdermabrasioncreams.com/skincare-products.htm -

I use mine almost everyday in the shower (I have rough, tough, resillient skin), but if you are more sensitive ... 1 - 2 x per wk should work ...It's a large 8 oz jar so it should last you quite some time...

Have A Great 4th!

Oh ya, I meant to ask about your "red, sensitive cheeks"...Is this "Rosacea"??? & Have you gotten this under control???

It may be being caused from something you are using....

Since you've had "Normal Skin" all of your life & were one of the "LUCKY ONES" who didn't have to "battle with blemishes" growing up, you "red cheeks" may possibly be a by-product from something you are putting or have put on your skin in the past...

Sherlock Holmes, again!

Hi,
Thank you for the microdermabrasion link. I used one I've had for awhile yesterday, but I didn't use it on my cheeks. I noticed in the ingredients that it has that nasty Sodium Laurth Sulfate, so I wont be using that one again. Do you use the one in the link on your face?
I dont really remeber when my cheeks started getting a little red and irritated, but I think it has somethng to do with sunscreen at first, or it was the Retinol, (Green Cream) I stopped using that in the cheek area and changed to a physical sunscreen, I still would get a little red if I took a shower or even sometimes just washed my face. My face would get real sore if I got into a HOT car also, so I dont know for sure. Then just about 2 or 3 months ago I was dealing with dry, dry cheeks and they were starting to wrinkle from the dryness. I even have some new dry lines still on my cheeks now. I never did get a real diagnosis from a doctor, but now it's gone since use Cp serum and emu oil. Thats the story behind "My Red Cheeks"

So, I'm a little afraid to use microdermabrasion on my cheeks, but maybe I can now. I never use to be sensitive, but it could be all the chemical sunscreens I have used in the past. I haven't used a chemical on in 2 or 3 years, but hummmm now that I think about it. I did get one that was 20% zinc and some other chemical sunscreens in it and that's about when all that dryness and redness started a couple of months ago even though I only use it 3 or 4 times, but then again I used it while at the beach last year for 3 days and it didn't do it that time. So I don't really know. Ha! this is long. Then again I did change cleansers. Oh Dear!!

Thank you very much

Happy 4th of July to you!
Diane

Oh yes, and I also have a nice circle of spider veins on my cheeks now too. Four flat round spider vines. Not sure what caused that but I woke up one morning and there they were. I got those 2 or 3 months ago also. So, I am prone to getting spider veins. Thats another reason I dont use Green Cream on my cheeks and I'm a little afraid of microdermabrasion there.

Di,

I do use the microdermabrasion cream on my face, but again (I have rough, tough resillient skin)...your sounds more sensitive, so I would avoid or go very lightly on your cheeks...

Interesting on your mystery "Red Cheeks", (Rosacea-like with some spider vein).....

For all we know, it may be from the chemicals in SSs????

I know that the sun alone can cause "spider veins"...had some on my legs (also hereditary)...

Had sclerotherapy (Saline injections) some 15 yrs. ago...my derm back then was one of the "Top" in his field in "spider veins"... ...it really did work, a few came back or perhaps they were new ones, I don't know???...but, I did live at the beach for 20 yrs. & spent my winters in the South Pacific which probably brought out my "hereditary trait"...

The same derm back then, who thought I had a "lovely complexion" on the surface, was equally puzzled by the "little white bumps under the surface" of my skin which I now know where caused by BPs (through my Sherlock Holmes detective work), that he suggessted I try "Accutane"...in other words, he a top MD in his field, was clueless???? Of course, I didn't go that route..Thank God!...but it makes me somehow wonder if "Chemical Suncreens" can be a partial cause of "Rosacea" for those who never had it early on????

...I wouldn't be surprised...I just don't have enough "Sherlock Holmes" left in me to figure this one out!!! Although, my own Mother is a "classic example" of this theory...She never had "Rosacea" until much later in life when her derm put her on all the RX's & heavier use of Chemical Sunscreen...she basically went into "Catch 22" with the MD approach & she really only listens to me with half of an ear because what the MD says is ALL FDA-approved...

..I can't even get through to my own Mother, so I can understand why others may not want to hear "where I am coming from"...

This is deep, goes back to another forum on scars...sorry to confuse you in any way...

I feel a new book coming on, I've been trying to close this chapter, but it keeps resurfacing....

Have A Great 4th...

Stoney

Hey, I can relate to the red, sensitive skin. I used to have "tough", resilient skin. I can remember in 5th grade after running hard in the gym, I went to the bathroom and looked in the mirror. My skin was even toned. My friends had pink areas that showed blood had been moving around. I was actually a bit envious that my face didn't get that cool look of exertion, lol. Only after extreme exertion did I get some extra color. I don't know what that has to do with this, except to say that my skin used to stay a normal, even tone under most circumstances. I started getting breakouts at a young age, getting worse til I was in my 10th grade year, when it got very bad. I had red marks galore, some even purplish. I kinda liked a sunburn because at least everything looked the same color! I could use the strongest Retin-A because my skin was quite tough. It was only in my 20s that I began to get redness and irritation beyond the pigment marks from old pimples. I have no doubt that all the years of harsh products caused or contributed to it. I had use BP, chemical sunscreens, had glycolic peels and basically treated my skin harshly in trying to eradicate acne, marks & scars.

Now with the use of SB products, including the GC to help skin barrier, I am hoping I can reverse and heal the mild rosacea or whatever it is. My face is always pinkish compared to my neck and body skin. It would be nice to have even tones all over.