Bombshell09

Don't Bother with Fraxel for Melasma - New York, NY

On one hand, I'm reassured by so many posts with similar stories. On the other hand, Im SO sad that this happens, and more appalling, that the company and physicians deny the obvious.

Well, count me in on this. My skin looks fine at first glance, or from a distance, but up close--you can REALLY see the lines/pores. I just looked in my hallway mirror, in front of a window that illuminates my face from the side, and I almost had a heart attack! I didn't lose any volume or develop sagging, but there's NO WAY these lines--all going the same direction, all strangely short and diagonal like hash marks--are natural. What? All my estrogen left me in one fell swoop and aged me five years in three months? Yeah right. For me, I'm just cleansing gently and using a medical-grade moisturizer. That's all I can think to do. My skin was my best feature. I easily looked 3-4 years younger. Now I am all marked up. SO ANNOYED. What nationality/ethnicity are you guys? I'm wondering if it's something that northern European/British/Scandinavian women may be more vulnerable to...

I'm going to my original derm who did the Fraxel tomorrow, to ask him a) how damaged I am b) if it's permanent c) how Fraxel *really* "works." I get varying reports online, and I'd like to hear directly from him. I am most interested in, of course, the recoverability of my skin, and what, if he can figure it out, caused the redness and broken capillaries. Upside? Yes, my fine lines are improved. For now. So that's one "success" from Fraxel, but that wasn't what I got it for anyway. The real reasons I got it: To improve my hormone-caused dark spots and overall skin texture, I saw NO improvement. Still. If anything, my skin texture is worse, and I'm ruddy, itchy, dry, and irritated. If I'd had any idea, I never would have spent this $$$$$.

I'm going to my original derm who did the Fraxel tomorrow, to ask him a) how damaged I am b) if it's permanent c) how Fraxel *really* "works." I get varying reports online, and I'd like to hear directly from him.

I'm glad you enjoy my posts! In return, I must compliment your positive attitude--you are pursuing improvement and remaining hopeful, which helps me a lot. Interesting about your peel. Keep me posted PLEASE! My friend in LA said that once my skin quiets down a bit, she may set me up with a Cosmoderm peel. If you and I can exfoliate away at least a decent share of this damage with peels, then that'd be great. I'd love to hear more updates as you notice changes in your skin. I'm only on day 2 with my new moisturizer, so no news here. I think the Biafine might really turn some things over, since it's what they give burn victims to keep enough moisture on their skin to slough off burned skin and regenerate new. And I do believe that we did get burned. I'm no expert, but I'm reading that this laser (allegedly) directly affects skin moisture--which is partly why you can't get facial fillers (which are, obviously, largely liquid) on the same day as Fraxel. Don't quote me on that, tho. But yeah: We is dried out. But far from dried-up. ;)