Crepey skin on cheeks & forehead. Cause & treatment? (Photo)

Question

Two months ago I began to notice my skin looking very dry & old, which has led me to stop using a new makeup I'd purchased at that time that had "alcohol denatured" as a main ingredient. I now use retinol 2.5%, but my skin is getting worse. My question is, could the makeup cause this, will using a CeraVE niacinamide moisturizer fix it, and would an IPL photofacial help create fuller cheeks or smoother dermal layer in the forehead if it's not the moisture or the makeup that are the problem?

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Morpheus 8 is a non-invasive skin and soft tissue tightening treatment that is consistently amazing in our patients. We use the Morpheus to exact fractional induced RF into the skin or tissue in order to tighten collagen and stimulate contraction of the tissue. For acne scars, it is quite useful to build collagen in patients who have atrophic scars but is not very productive for ice-pick scars which require TCA Cross. For tissue tightening, Morpheus is ideal for the face and neck and we often combine it with CO2 laser or Ultherapy to further enhance results. Chemical peels and skin resurfacing should be done at least 5 to 7 days after, but can be performed earlier, depending on treatment severity. Avoid exfoliating skin treatments before Morpheus and expect a period of 2-4 weeks for skin contraction to set in.

Best,
Dr. Karamanoukian
Realself100 Surgeon

Best, 
Dr. Karamanoukian 
Realself100 Surgeon

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

There is no question that excessive dryness and/or skin allergies can contribute to flakey, crepey and irritated skin. Naturally, properly hydrating the skin or treating the problem can help to diminish the dryness or irritation can diminish any crepeyness and flakiness that has resulted.  So, first let me suggest that it would be wise to seek consultation with a board certified aesthetic dermatologist who would be able to help to assess the possible contribution of dryness, irritation or topical allergy to your problem. From the photos, it would appear that the forehead, however, could profit the use of a neuromodulator, such as Botox, to diminish the prominent "worry lines" present.  Unfortunately, the photo of the lower face is lacking sufficient definition. If, however, there is true crepeyness there, the injection of a hyaluronic acid-based skin quality booster, injected either in a grid pattern or with a cross-hatched fanning technique, can be helpful for smoothing the skin and increasing skin hydration and turgor.  My choices for this are Restylane Skin Boosters, Hydromax or Juvederm Volite, which I would use in my Israel satellite facility (where a far greater number of regulatory agency approved fillers are available) or Restylane Silk (which I would use in my NY office). Best of luck to you.

Michele S. Green, MD · Answer

Creepy skin is a combination of dry skin and aging.  Please consult a board certified dermatologist to address your skin care regimen and I would discontinue your Retinol based product if you are getting worse.  Botox for the forehead, Sculptra for the lower face, and Thermage to tighten the skin will all help rejuvenate the skin.  Please consult a board certified dermatologist to help you.  Best, Dr. Green

Crepey skin on cheeks & forehead. Cause & treatment? (Photo)

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