#73

I’ll add STIs and sexual activity is much higher in geriatric patients than commonly expected, so if you intend to have sexual activity in your golden years and have decades more than average expected lifespan it could be well worth it.

Especially if you’re one of the few old “healthy” men in their 80s without ED, decent physical appearance, kind personality…there’s a highly favorable gender ratio :stuck_out_tongue:

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#74

Someone pointed me towards this paper as an area that is moving forward with solid science behind it , in terms of skin care / therapy:

Results: A full de novo formation of oxytalan and elaunin fibers was observed in the subepidermal region, with reconstitution of the papillary structure of the dermal-epidermal junction. Elastotic deposits in the deep dermis were substituted by a normal elastin fiber network. The coordinated removal of the pathologic deposits and their substitution by the normal ones was concomitant with activation of cathepsin K and matrix metalloproteinase 12, and with expansion of the M2 macrophage infiltration.

Conclusion: The full regeneration of solar elastosis was obtained by injection of in vitro expanded autologous adipose mesenchymal stem cells, which are appropriate, competent, and sufficient to elicit the full structural regeneration of the sun-aged skin.

Full Paper available here for download (PDF)
http://sci-hub.wf/10.1097/PRS.0000000000006867

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#75

I think many people here are taking longevity drugs precisely with that goal in mind… of having a very long and enjoyable sex life…

Related to this topic…

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#76

“The same Indian supplier of Sirolimus has tretinoin cream 0.1 15g for $6.70 each. I just ordered 10.”

I have experience using tretinoin and I’ve spent time reading on the Reddit tretinoin forum reviewing user experiences.

I would advise caution. Most people don’t start out at 0.1%. They start out at 0.025%, and even then, they often start out applying it every other night. Many people never go over 0.05% for antiaging.

Tretinoin has a tendency to cause dryness, persistent redness, irritation and even temporary worsening of fine lines and wrinkles if a person doesn’t ease in to the application. There are some people who may be able to get away with just starting right out with daily application at full strength, but I think they’re a smaller percentage of people. And if you get a red face and lines from starting at full strength, it can take weeks to resolve. From reports, general practitioners and dermatologists will often tell people to apply hydrocortisone cream if this happens, but this sometimes isn’t a strong enough steroid.

My own suggestion for introducing tretinoin:

The first 6 to 8 weeks: Start with a 0.025% cream with mometasone every night. Example brand: SkinLite. It also has 2% hydroquinone, but it’s a low/gentle concentration. Mometasone is a stronger anti-inflammatory steroid than hydrocortisone, and it works well to help introduce tretinoin. Steroid creams should not be applied long term, so duration shouldn’t be longer than 6 to 8 weeks. I like SkinLite because it spreads well and isn’t drying. You don’t necessarily need a moisturizer over top. Buy-pharma.md and Alldaychemist have this.

After 6 to 8 weeks: Switch to 0.025% nightly tret without the steroid. It is drying. Apply a good moisturizer over it. If you start seeing too much irritation, switch to every other night or use a retinol cream and tretinoin on alternate nights. Oil of Olay retinol creams are designed to minimize irritation.

Eventually, you can increase 0.05% and 0.1% as your skin adapts.

Probably the most frequent approach is to just start at day one with 0.025% every other day and use hydrocortisone as needed. But I think what I’ve outlined above may work better.

Tips:

Do not apply to moist/wet skin. This is believed to significantly increase the incidence of skin redness.

Use a face cream over the tretinoin gel or cream. I like to use LosecSumma Elixir Cream because it has numerous anti-inflammatory herbal ingredients.

Avoid using tretinoin around the eyes. Tretinoin can cause inflammation to the eye surface. Consider something like Oil of Olay Retinol Max eye cream instead.

If you get an area of redness, keep some SkinLite on hand and use it for a few days on the isolated area. Or, hydrocortisone may help a little.

Be aware of what people often call “purging”, which is more frequent in the first few months. Basically, the skin peels. It tends to happen most on the corners of the mouth, chin, and corners of the nose. So you have to look in the mirror frequently. You may be fine, and then a few hours later you see all this skin peeling off.

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#77

Thank you for the info. I am not using it in my face if that make any difference? Forearms

#78

17α-estradiol, a lifespan-extending compound, attenuates liver fibrosis by modulating collagen turnover rates in male mice
(June 2022) https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.16.496423
Estrogen signaling is protective against chronic liver diseases, although men and a subset of women are contraindicated for chronic treatment with 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) or combination hormone replacement therapies. We sought to determine if 17α-estradiol (17α-E2), a naturally-occurring diastereomer of 17β-E2, could attenuate liver fibrosis.
We found that 17α-E2 significantly reduced collagen synthesis rates and increased collagen degradation rates, which was mirrored by declines in transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) protein content in liver. These improvements were associated with increased matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) activity and suppressed stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1) protein levels, the latter of which has been linked to the resolution of liver fibrosis. We also found that 17α-E2 increased liver fetuin-A protein, a strong inhibitor of TGF-β1 signaling, and reduced pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and cytokines expression in the liver.
We conclude that 17α-E2 reduces fibrotic burden by suppressing HSC activation and enhancing collagen degradation mechanisms. Future studies will be needed to determine if 17α-E2 acts directly in hepatocytes, HSCs, and/or immune cells to elicit these benefits.

Evidence before this study The prevalence and severity of chronic liver diseases are greater in men than women and men are twice as likely to die from chronic liver diseases. However, the prevalence and severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and liver fibrosis becomes comparable between the sexes following menopause, particularly when hormone replacement therapies (HRT) are not initiated. These observations suggest that estrogen signaling is protective against liver disease onset and progression, which is supported by studies in rodents demonstrating that 17β-estradiol (17β-E2) ameliorates hepatic steatosis and fibrogenesis. However, chronic administration of 17β-E2 or combination HRTs are unrealistic in men due to feminization and increased risk for stroke and prostate cancer, and a subset of the female population are also at an increased risk for breast cancer and cardiovascular events when on HRTs. Therefore, we have begun exploring the therapeutic potential of 17α-estradiol (17α-E2), a naturally-occurring, nonfeminizing, diastereomer of 17β-E2, for the treatment of liver diseases.
In this study, using tracer-based labeling approaches in male mice subjected to CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, we show that 17α-E2 reduces liver fibrosis by attenuating collagen synthesis and enhancing collagen degradation mechanisms. Both transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2) protein content in liver were reduced by 17α-E2. We also found that 17α-E2 increased matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) activity and suppressed stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1) protein levels, the latter of which has been linked to the resolution of liver fibrosis. We also found that 17α-E2 increased liver fetuin-A protein, a strong inhibitor of TGF-β1 signaling, and reduced pro-inflammatory macrophage activation and cytokine expression in the liver.
This study supports the idea that estrogens are protective against chronic liver diseases and that 17α-E2 may have therapeutic utility for the treatment of liver fibrosis.

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Slowing Fibrosis as Geroprotective Strategy
#79

You can use it on your arms, but the possibility of significant irritation still exists and starting at a lower concentration would be a good idea. You could patch test it first for a couple weeks. And you’d need to put body lotion over it at night and use sunblock during the day if you are wearing short sleeves. It doesn’t have to be smelly suntan lotion. You can use the sunblock designed for the face. The forearms are a common area for eczema and irritation to develop. So be aware of this.

I assume from your picture that you’re younger. If the problem is just freckles and superficial sun damage you might be better off just going to a local “med spa”, where you can get treatment for less money than with a dermatologist. IPL treatments effectively remove freckles. But this is more ideal for women because it can remove hair. So in men, you could have a chemical peel done on your forearms instead. You would just wear long sleeves for several days afterward. And remember not to pull any hanging pieces of skin off. Let all skin fall off naturally. And then you can follow the treatment with a low dose hydroquinone cream or another ingredient to prevent rebound hyperpigmentation that sometimes occurs post inflammation. And then while you’re at the med spa you could take advantage of other services. For example, if you have a few spots on your face to zap, etc.

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#80

Another new study on a supplement that helps with skin:

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#81

Davin8r, So, there’s tretinoin cream 0.1%, and there is tretinoin cream 0.025% which probably works just as well as the 0.1% version. I assume it’s prescription only?

And, there’s adapalene gel 0.1% which probably works just as well as tretinoin 0.1%, but it does not have a 0.025% strength? I assume this is OTC?

And, there is rapamycin cream (prescription and home-made). Do you think adapalene is just as good as rapamycin cream? Or, do you think rapamycin cream is better in some ways?

Thanks

#82

Hi Jay, there are no comparison studies between rapamycin cream and retinoids like tretinoin/adapalene for skin aging, and the mechanisms of action are different, so it’s comparing apples to oranges. Retinoids have a long history and plenty of published research showing a degree of anti-aging efficacy (tretinoin much moreso than adapalene), while rapamycin cream research is in its infancy. Yes, tretinoin is Rx-only. I like adapalene because it’s relatively cheap, more photostable, is unscented and comes as a gel that essentially disappears after I rub it in.

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#83

Davin8r, While we’re on the topic of skin care, do you have any thoughts about fraxel laser treatment for either face, neck or arms? Sure, it is much more expensive. But, are results good and long-lasting? I mention this because years ago I used RoC retinol or retinoid face serum on my face and backs of hands for a few months. I don’t know if it did any good or not, but some months after I stopped I noticed more and larger brownish spots on my face and backs of hands. I may be wrong, but I associate these brownish spots with the use of the retinoid face cream, which makes me cautious about trying a retinoid cream again.

#84

Yes, I really like the results of Fraxel. Granted it’s free for me and this makes the decision easier, but it still hurts despite the topical anesthetic and the results are well worth the pain IMO. Also, the recovery has always been much quicker and easier than I anticipate. I’m about to schedule a new treatment as a matter of fact, since it’s been almost a year.

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#85

That’s odd, I thought both of their actions were mediated by mTOR, and that this was well known.

#86

Interesting! Still, tretinoin is not a specific inhibitor of mTOR, even if (in some cell lines at least) mTOR inhibition is achieved to some degree. Other pathways/molecules are affected by retinoids, so I’d be even more surprised if their effects can be simplified as all coming from mTOR. That makes the prospect of combining a topical retinoid w/topical rapamycin even more complicated.

#87

Hi. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Would you apply to face and body daily? Or just spot apply to blemishes?

Thanks

#88

For retinoids? I apply a small amount (adapalene gel) to my entire face most days of the week. I haven’t used it on other areas because I’d burn through a tube too fast, although I’m considering applying it to the back of my hands before bedtime.

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#89

Thanks. I was asking about your use of:

Differin

If that is a retinol, then I guess you answered my question :rofl:

#90

Yes, Differin is branded adapalene, a retinoid (OTC in the USA)

#91

Great. Thank you for replying.

#92

"
Adapalene 0.3% gel showed non-inferior efficacy to tretinoin 0.05% cream as treatment for photoaged skin, with a similar safety profile. Adapalene 0.3% gel may therefore be considered a safe and effective option for the treatment of mild or moderate photoaging."
“Comparable efficacy of adapalene 0.3% gel and tretinoin 0.05% cream as treatment for cutaneous photoaging | SpringerLink”

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