I've been using retin-a for years ( tretinoin) I love it. It works wonders- I take breaks from it during the summer just because I'm outside more. I've been using the micro for the last few years it's great. I think it works better than the cream. I had the peeling and redness when I started on the micro but it went away. I had read a review where someone was using it on their neck, why I never thought of this I don't know but I tried it and I used it on my chest as well- there was so much redness because of all the sun damage but I kept with it. You could definitely tell it was working and repairing the damaged skin. All that lasted about 5 months, then it all became smooths. My neck skin looks so much younger as well. I wish I would have thought to take before pics but I had never planned to write a review of it. I'm 48 and no one ever thinks I'm this old - I'm planning on having a facelift, lower bleph and lateral brow lift in feb of 2017- I'll definitely take pictures and do a review about that! Updated on 11 Dec 2016: I forgot that I did have a photo of when I started using retin a on my neck- Updated on 5 Jul 2017: I did have my facelift and love it. I’ll be posting a review soon!

I grew up in Florida going to the beach and using the tanning beds back in the 80's- I never heard anything about sunscreen. In my early 20's I got my first AK. The dermatologist froze it off and told me since I was blonde and fair skinned to be careful and to watch my face because that's where the skin cancer would show up first. Since it's always exposed to sun. I stopped lying out in the sun and started wearing sunscreen but the damage had already been done, over the years I've had tons of ak's cryosurgery- about 8 years ago I did the 5FU treatment, you look awful going through it but it does work and your skin looks younger when finished. My last visit to the dermatologist he said I had a lot more than usual ak showing up and spoke to me about the blue light treatment. He told me what to expect and how I would look for a week afterwards. The procedure was pretty straight forward, he cleaned my face with acetone, applied the chemical all over my face with the kerastick, sent me out to wait for about a hour and a half, gave me a Valium waited about another 15 minutes. The nurse gave me the air hose and had me lie down on the table. She out put the light over my face and turned it on. Immediately it started to burn. Very uncomfortable but the cold air hose helped. It lasted 20 minutes which actually went by pretty quick. I was told it's going to get worse before it gets better, my face was red like i had gotten a slight sunburn. It's only day two and there is more redness and swelling, looks like some small blisters as well. It itches like crazy, I think worse than the 5fu treatment. I've been keeping aquphor slathered all over- curtains are closed and I won't be going outside for the rest of the weekend. I'm finding that having a fan blowing on me helps some with the itching plus I keep it cold in my apartment so that helps too. I did use a gel ice pack yesterday but it didn't really do anything as soon as I took it off the burning came back. I got a really good reaction from the procedure and can't wait to see what my skin looks like when it's healed. I was supposed to have my chest done as well but my dr said it would be too much pain considering how much sun damage there is. I'll have that done in a few weeks. I'll post pics from yesterday and today, then update them till I heal. Updated on 11 Dec 2016: Feeling better than yesterday although there is more swelling - this pic is from a few minutes ago after waking up and washing my face , there is more crusting and a few open sores. I'm keeping my face slathered in aquaphorI'll update later today as well. Updated on 12 Dec 2016: Woke up early this morning, face does feel better, I have been washing it with dial gold soap, same soap i use for new tattoos. At starting to peel some but I keep it so moist with aquaphor I feel like it's going to come off in one big sheet! The redness is darkening up as well. Hopefully it will all be finished or at least lighter by the end of the week. Updated on 12 Dec 2016: Peeling and crusty skin- still really red- but doesn't itch or anything like the last 2 days and my energy level is back- Updated on 19 Dec 2016: Pretty much healed, still a little itchy in spots. Updated on 22 Dec 2016: Tomorrow will be 2 weeks after treatment- everything is healing up nicely- I'm getting my chest treated tomorrow . I'm not looking forward to that itching and burning because I know i have tons of Sun damage on my chest. There is still some redness on my cheeks but not too bad