Help - my skin is a mess

[Okaaaay]

If your skin has equally taken a beating, what have you found that helps? I have sun damage spots (thanks to UV exposure when pregnant) and dermatitis - everything is itchy and red / blotchy all of the time. It’s grim. I’ve seen a dermatologist who prescribed trimovate but honestly that barely keeps things a bay. I currently use an SPF 50 intermittently (was consistently but started to find it too heavy) and have Botox. I’m considering tretinoin, micro needling, laser therapy etc but have no idea where to start. My derm wasn’t terribly interested (they were medical rather than aesthetics).

If you’ve had dodgy skin, what have you done that has really helped. Pics for dramatic effect.

Selinium ACE pills from Savers, they're cheap. Not saying that's it, but a start. I use Simple Light moisturiser which can also be got from Savers.

Have you thought about prescription skincare? Dermatica/Skin&Me/Uncouth?

@NewspaperTaxis will look into that - thank you. @TheOGCCL yes I’m thinking of trying this. Has it worked for you?

I have prescription skin care but with Klira, it has done wonders for my acne/rosacea/ sun damage etc. it's not the cheapest option of the lot but they will prescribe tret when you're breastfeeding and I also took my rosacea seriously (despite a GP diagnosis dermatica wouldn't treat it).

A red light mask has been the most effective skin care I’ve ever used - I use it everyday, remarkable results

@Duvetdweller a red light mask - tell us more…

This is what worked for me but I have to be consistent

Am
Wash face with water only
Moisturising spf 50

Pm
Double cleanse, first with a oil based cleanser and second with one containing salicylic acid
Light gel moisturiser

Once a week I use a moisturising face mask
I use pixi glow tonic if I feel like my skin feels a bit dull but no more than once a week

Less is very often more with skin. Strip everything back and add a new thing in once a month and only if your skin has settled

Also re spf you might have to try a few before you find one that works for you but find one without fragrance as a starting point.

@CampervanKween thank you - this is really useful. I’m wondering if I can combine red light therapy and tret.

Yes, you can. I have the mask I use it every morning as I lie in bed whilst waking up. I was looking old so have really experimented on sorting my skin out the past 6 months or so.

This is the mask I have, not cheap but has lasted well so far:

https://www.lookfantastic.com/dr-dennis-gross-drx-spectralite-faceware-pro/11984107.html?affil=thggpsad&switchcurrency=GBP&shippingcountry=GB&affil=thgppc&kwds=&thg_ppc_campaign=71700000114615792&adtype=pla&product_id=11984107&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwupGyBhBBEiwA0UcqaDovEUyHsrbAufwCu8oGNr8v8wzTa7Bc4iqvSHhnpBNAtqGrxkv6FRoC3I0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

@CampervanKween thats fab, really appreciate that thank you.

I get really bad pigmentation and switching from a Suncream to a sunblock has made a big difference https://www.google.com/

Also really loving this brand, especially the exfoliating face wash www.biovenebarcelona.com/products/the-conscious-vitamin-c-age-defying-radiance-serum-organic-lemon

Also I've noticed a lot of people have recommended the red light mask.. I know as a shop it can be a bit hit and miss but they had some in my local TKMaxx, I may go back and buy one.

They do recommend that you put the tret on after you've used the mask not before as the light can make it less effective. So I always do the mask first thing then apply tret then the creams.

@igomeow i usually wear factor 50. So you wear that under makeup?

Yep, I end up with pigmentation otherwise. (Melasma) My GP recommend this and it's so much more effective.

@igomeow thank you

Greg Foot did a good radio 4 programme looking into effectiveness of LED masks Really interesting.

You could always look at a tinted SPF, like Heliocare (recommended by derms), or the French pharmacy brands like Avene, La Roche Posay, Bioderma etc from Boots.

That might remove one item from your routine and make it more comfortable to wear, which keeps you using it daily.

For the redness, have you looked at Cicapair? It’s Korean and you can get it in Boots

If you have irritated skin don't throw more creams or drums at it. If I were you I'd research products that help with the skin barrier.

If you don't wear makeup a facial cloth (,not a flannel) as they don't rub the skin but do remove the dirt.

I've been using tret for a few months now and noticed a huge difference in my skin already. I don't have sun damage like yours, I was using It more for fine lines, but I do have a brown patch on my right cheek and it's definitely faded that. My skin just feels better overall and looks brighter. It does dry your skin out and can irritate it at first. When this happened I just skipped a night and slathered on the moisturiser. I found my DDs child's farm moisturiser to be the best. It's really thick so I only use at night. I put the tret on first, let it sink in for about 10 minutes then put on a layer of moisturiser.

Start off with a really low concentration (0.015 or 0.025) and increase after 3/4 months if your skin is coping ok with it.

Just following for the tips.

Your derm can prescribe you hydroquinone, it's the gold standard for pigmentation removal.

My skin is similar to yours OP. Freckles, redness, open pores, moles, tendency to spots etc. I'm in my 60's now and have always had 'problem skin' and realise I probably have rosacea, which I've exacerbated over the years by going overboard with cleansing etc, which has stripped my natural barrier and makes it worse.

My advice would be to treat your skin very, very gently with simple, delicate cleansing and moisterisers. Nothing that will strip it of natural oils.

30 years ago a beauty therapist advised just cleansing with a simple oil. My skin loved it and although I no longer do this I regularly give my skin an oil 'treat' overnight. Instant calming.