It makes it feel like it’s working, like I am turning into Dr. Curt Connors. Bro wanted to get his limb back but got a bunch of pleiotropic effects.

Update : so I had the treatment this morning ; my impression and first findings so far:

They put anesthaetic cream before treatment ( Emla) and I have to say am not sure if I could do without : while eyes were surprisingly fine and few “shots” I didn’t even notice, the neck area was still painful despite the anaesthetic and I think if I would have to do it myself I would most likely drag it out … or maybe not do it ( at the moment of treatment I thought I won’t be able to support this doing to myself :sweat_smile:) , or do it less perfect …

Btw : I noticed a slight burning smell once the treatment began (Doctor called it a” barcecue “ smell but to be honest it wasn’t that good ) but so that seems to be normal.

I told the doctor that I read that some only use cold air and / or whether I could do without emla but she answered “it is only possible when doing the non-ablative treatment, to have substances more easily enter the skin. “

The doctor said she used the penultimate highest setting for my face ( and that she only uses the highest one for male which would have thicker skin in face)

She used a smaller tip for my eye zone to be able to go just next to the eye: when I asked her about that she quickly showed it to me and it seemed a 1cm2 tip so it might be the sole tip that the Ali versions have ( at least, upon my questions to distributors I got one clear reply stating that the size of the tip was the same ( 1 cm2) for the machine with 2 ( face - body ) handles but that their settings - depth and time of contact with skin - were different … )

I am still red as a tomato :tomato: and my skin feels like cardboard but that would be normal so let’s see.( had to get groceries just afterwards and got some funny looks - putting on sunglasses and /or mask was bothering). FWIW She told that in her experience, the worse the reaction, the better the production ( not sure if this was just to reassure me )

I got a tiny product (which gave great relief) to put on each half hour , during 5 hours ( which i however finished in two times and thus in one hour already, as my skin absorbed enormously ; but upon calling I was told I now have to wait without putting anything and later today I can start putting on the cream I was given, 3 times a day - once I will finish that cream I can use my own. The crème I got to use the next days contains “ growth factors” and was included in price ( posted above).

No exercise for 5 days , no sauna or red light or self tan for at least 7 days ( was supposed about the red light but she said : “better to let the skin heal itself” ?) and of course sun protection 50+ always … they stop the treatment here in May until October because of the intense sunshine.

Can wash my face as of tomorrow and put on make : up ( but will try to avoid if I can )

She said I should have significant results with one session as my skin was good (must be genetic since am no good at, nor constant in, skin care ) AND while she said it

was great to repeat whenever I wanted to, she rather advised me to do an Ultherapy session (MFI micro-focused ultrasound , price 1500 euros :grimacing: would last a 1,5 year ) for sagging skin and complement with some rádiesse ( I never had any treatment done in my face besides 1 Indiba so of course there is margin to improve and I have no clue about the things she mentioned . Looking it up now Ultherapy seems like a new treatment so of course expensive.

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N=1 here but here’s my experience: I started using Tretinoin over 50 years ago when I was a student at the University of Pennsylvania and participated in their trial of Tretinoin for acne. Helped then, and have used consistently since then. I am 74 and still using it and very grateful that I had the chance to start early. I don’t use it every day any more as my skin has aged and become more dry but I still do use it once or twice per week. (I use Vitamin C serum and several other serums as well. and sunscreen, of course). My skin is quite good, no wrinkles or spots. I do have the inevitable marionette lines and hollowing under the eyes – tretinoin doesn’t solve everything – but a little botox, restlyane and sculptra do help.

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I would agree, you look like a 50-something year old woman who takes somewhat good care of her skin.

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Thanks for sharing, as someone who’s held off on tretinoin, I’d like to hear more stories of people who had success with it over decades. Your skin looks amazing for 74.

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Yes lady, you look fantastic! Both you and @LaraPo look younger than me (54) imo! Great job and thanks for the inspiration!

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FWIW: According to skincare expert Caroline Hirons, studies have shown you don’t need retinoids/retinals more than 3x per week. I believe her, especially because she sells one and tells people not to waste their money.

I wind up using it more often :slight_smile:

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I’ve used tret sparingly for 20 years.

My sensitive skin would always get too dry to use it regularly. However, a couple of years ago I discovered a formula that agrees with me and have been much more consistent.

I do look much younger than I am, but I think it’s most likely just genetics and daily spf. I am WFPB, but I imagine that one’s diet doesn’t really make much of a difference on how we age on the outside unless you are living on junk.

Also, on the equipment topic, the only thing I know is that some of the devices that produce heat can dissolve fat, which is obviously not what we want. I have no idea which devices do or don’t have this effect.

If you are concerned about tret, I’ve heard that retinol will get you to the same place, but it just takes longer. I would use that during the periods I wasn’t on tret.

Another option is to put a good barrier cream on and then a little tret. That way you don’t get as much absorbed and it’s much gentler. I do that on the occasions when my face is angry.

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Which skincare products areevidence-based?

I did a bunch of research on this a while ago, here are my high-level conclusions:

https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/eBzJawjxkMdNaCeMm/which-skincare-products-are-evidence-based

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From the document:

and

I recommend the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) decoder tool: https://incidecoder.com/. It explains the ingredients of your skincare products and points out potential hazards, such as irritancy and comedogenicity. It’s easy to use and you have the ability to compare products.

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Has anyone tried this skin aging “test”? Please post results…

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Wow, it says I’m 51 with an eye age of 49. I’m 63 and spend much of the day in the sun and have never applied sunscreen in my life.

I think their AI might be broken.

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Oh, I see they rate wrinkles separately. From 1-100 with higher better I got a 0. I can’t see how they made it a 51.

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Facial wrinkles score 93, facial pores 84 (the best is 100).

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Well, I think you look younger than I do. The sun has caused wrinkles. I do wear glasses all the time since 8 years old, but this picture was taken to send to the
ATF when I wanted to buy a regulated accessory for my weapon this winter. If I relax my forehead I can make the wrinkles go away, so this is as natural as it can get.

Also this was not too long after I was in the explosion and some of the hair hasn’t grown back yet on my right side. Lol. Left side wrinkles are worse because of driving with the window open.

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Yes, it’s not clear how they rate it. Apparently, wrinkles don’t play a major role in visually assessing aging. I almost don’t have any wrinkles (93 score) and you have many (0 score), however their system rates you 1 year younger than me. It tells me that everybody’s preoccupation with wrinkles is wrong. Wrinkles are not that important. So, what is important?

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It’s interesting that age.toolpie.com site rates the same picture as age 44. Try to use that site and see what age you get for the same pic.

Facial age 45, eye age 32… I’m 58 … but my face is as chemical free as Chernobyl, so it’s not a fair assessment!!! But still, I’ll take it! (I am curious how much it varies depending on the photo, so I might play a bit).

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Two photos, I day apart, different lighting… photo 1: +3 years. Photo 2: -7 years. A swing of a decade.

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“I live in the American Gardens Building on West 81st Street on the 11th floor. My name is Patrick Bateman. I’m 27 years old. I believe in taking care of myself and a balanced diet and rigorous exercise routine. In the morning, if my face is a little puffy, I’ll put on an ice pack while doing stomach crunches. I can do 1,000 now. After I remove the ice pack, I use a deep pore cleanser lotion. In the shower I use a water-activated gel cleanser, then a honey almond body scrub, and on the face, an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply an herb-mint facial mask which I leave on for 10 minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an after shave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm, followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.”

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