POSTED UNDER Dermapen Reviews
Dermapen & PRP for Damaged Skin!! Albany, NY
UPDATED FROM saradominica
1 year post
Skin improved for 6 months then deteriorated again
saradominicaMarch 10, 2016
$1,000
Ok so I've now come to the conclusion that this damage had very little if nothing to do with the yag or facials I received. I know this because my skin DRASTICALLY improved around september of 2015- no burning no tingling no dehydration. All i did was splash distilled water on and use avene lotion. Skin looked so good. Just last week my skin began to burn very badly and turn incredibly dry again. Along with this, my eyes have turned red, irritated and my vision is blurry.This tells me it's something going on inside my body because at the very same time my skin began to deteriorate again, I got sick (sore throat, almost sinus infection like). Although i find myself becoming incredibly depressed again, I am looking into more homeopathic methods. I have started taking sulphur ( 6c 3 x per day) and being very careful about what I'm eating. I can't imagine what is going on inside of me or what could be reoccuring but that has to be what happened. If anyone has advice I would greatly appreciate it. I almost relate this to a sort of exzema like condition, something must be setting it off, this time I traveled to Florida, perhaps the plane, new environment ect? Could I possibly have a viral infection that's never been able to heal? I'm not going to change up my skin care routine because I know that this works, but I am so incredibly sad that this nightmare is happening all over again. Please Help
saradominica's provider
UPDATED FROM saradominica
3 months post
skin still not better
saradominicaJanuary 24, 2015
I hate to say this, but my skin still hasn't returned to normal or anything like it. It is still incredibly dehydrated. I've started using avene creme for intolerant skin, which doesn't hurt, but doesn't seem to help either. I've also started using Dr.Lin's hydrating gel (which has aloe vera, and other nourishing ingredients). I use a vitamin c serum as well, and thats literally it. ( I spray a bit of rose water after I get out of the shower). I'm just in a state of shock that March will be one year that I've been living this hell. I eat very healthy, have cut out alcohol and coffee, drink tons of water, and take tons of supplements. Literally NOTHING has made hardly any difference. I had a consultation at a Dr's office the other day (with a nurse), she looked at my skin for almost an hour, took close pictures, and explained to me that my skin wasn't thinned, but actually thickened. She stated that I would benefit from micropeels (using very low doses of salacycic acid, i know i spelled that wrong). She said glycolic is too drying, and that the other would be much better. She also suggested using the omnilight afterwards. She seemed extremely genuine and sincere, and wasn't trying to sell sell sell. I'm So scared to do the micropeel, but I have to give something a shot here. Please let me know what anyone thinks about micropeels. thanks
Replies (5)
January 24, 2015
Sounds to me like the more procedures you have done and the more chemicals/acids you apply to your skin, the more the risk of making things worse. I suggest a new direction by applying something that stimulates your skin to heal itself without doing damage first as is the case with acid peels of any sort. The new class of human growth factor serums, especially those derived from bone marrow stem cells, would give you the best chance at really healing your skin - that's what stem cells and growth factors are designed to do.
January 28, 2015
Dr Schwartz,
Can you say the name of this stem cell product, the cost, and where to purchase? Thank you!!
January 28, 2015
In my office, we have our patients use ProCell Therapies AM/PM Serum and Recovery Serum twice daily. They both go on at the same time, one after the other. The cost is $245 for both and they can be purchased at their web site: www.procelltherapies.com.
ProCell Serums contain growth factors derived from bone marrow stem cell cultures. Unlike other human sources such as adipose tissue, PRP, and fibroblasts, stem cells from bone marrow cultures demonstrate potent anti-inflammatory effects. These anti-inflammatory properties not only reduce healing time, but also decrease hyper pigmentation and scar tissue deposition.
In the interest of full disclosure, in addition to having a cosmetic dermatology practice, I am also a member of the board of ProCell Therapies.
January 29, 2015
I have been doing some Internet "research" on the efficacy of using human growth factors in skin care and I really appreciate your taking the time to respond. Thanks Dr. Schwartz!!
January 30, 2015
You're welcome. I just provided a fairly lengthy answer on this blog as to why certain growth factor serums derived from human stem cells are much better than others. I hope it is helpful!
April 22, 2015
Dr I am glad you did. Recently I have been obsessed with subjects around the skin and different treatments. Just as I thought I knew all to know I have just found out about growth serums and humans stem cells.
If you had not some of us would not have known. Thank you
January 24, 2015
I think if you skin can tolerate it go for it! Can you message me the name of the practice and nurse you saw?
January 25, 2015
It's in clifton park ny. Laser something but they do many other things, I'll look it up
January 26, 2015
Hey I think you look great with nothing to wirry about, take it easy on yourself!!!!
January 26, 2015
I had a blue peel many years ago and suffered with HIGHLY irritable skin for the following years. I thought I had destroyed it. I had EXACTLY that regret that you are talking about: what had I done to my skin?! It is an awful feeling! I eventually relaxed in obsessing over my skin. Aside from washing it with bottled water (the PH in my tap water was so alkaline it was on the legal borderline and irritated my skin further), I just used mild moisturizer/spf. On and off I drank aloe supplements (the liquid kind you buy in health food stores). As per Dr Perricone's recommendations I ate lots of salmon, anti-oxidant rich foods etc. Years later my skin is fine and better than ever. I'll never know if my peel coincided with a hormonal change or something (contraceptive pills, undiagnosed PCOS etc all have a big impact on your skin). But I do feel like skin is an ecosystem and it can get thrown out of balance. Maybe yours just needs time and a break from inflamation. Also, that price for PRP sounds really high, am I the only one thinking that? In the UK I have a doctor with a private practice I go to for dermapen (which I have switched to after doing dermaroller) a few times a year and PRP is £150 on top of the normal dermapen cost. Maybe there are US taxes which drive the price up, but for what you paid you could practically come to Scotland for a vacation AND have PRP done by a fully qualified doctor who is fully regulated etc!
February 5, 2015
Thanks so much, how long did your skin take to heal? I'm at jut about a year so discouraged
January 28, 2015
My suggestions are Vitamin D supplements, oatmeal masks, hyaluronic acid, and GLYCERIN. Vitamin D is a major controlling factor in skin cell growth and replacement. You could have your levels checked by your physician first so that you know how much to take. Burn victims often use glycerin. You can buy pure vegetable glycerin or a moisturizer with plenty of it in it.
January 28, 2015
Hi kjauderer, do you make your oatmeal masks at home? If so, would you share your recipe with us?
March 30, 2015
Remember, glycerin is a humectant which means it attracts water like a magnet. So it will pull moisture from all directions. It will pull it from the air toward itself on the surface of your skin BUT as a moisture magnet, it will also pull the moisture from inside your skin toward itself on the surface, which means it is stripping moisture OUT of the deeper layers of your skin where you WANT it to stay. Beware of this when using humectants. I've found that hyaluronic acid actually does this to my skin also, esp on the thinner skin of my under eye area. When using these products, I recommend blanketing the surface of your naturally dry skin with a moisture-protecting shield like straight Shea Butter. Shea is used by natives in West Africa to coat and protect the skin from the elements, like the wind - it's great for that because it sets on top of the skin without soaking in or evaporating. While the French Ministry of Health found that Shea does penetrate all the layers of the skin, I believe to do so it has to piggyback on a carrier oil with smaller molecules like jojoba or coconut. But YMMV! Good luck!
UPDATED FROM saradominica
2 months post
No changes
saradominicaDecember 5, 2014
So I hate to say this, but unfortunately I haven't seen much improvement from the dermapen (2 sessions) or the PRP injections. My skin is still damaged, dry, dehydrated, and the texture is awful. I became extremely depressed today, and couldn't get the thought out of my head that my once beautiful skin is probably ruined for the rest of my life. Just doesn't make any sense, a 5 minute laser treatment, and my skin STILL burns to this very day, nearly 9 months later. I don't know what else to try anymore. I guess I'll begin the osmosis skin care and see if that helps the texture at all. I was thinking about a mild lactic acid peel, does anyone have ANY suggestions? I really don't think my skin could take glycolic or anything too heavy duty right now. I actually thought about having laser genesis to fix the texture, but I think I'll leave lasers alone. If ANYONE has any suggestions, please message me or post here. I am so devastated it's ridiculous. I have lost 9 months of my life and at 27, I hate going out of the house. People say they don't notice anything but I sure do, My Skin literally looks burned in some places, the texture is so weird I can't even explain it. I'm beyond horrified, do I give it more time to heal on its own? or give up, I just don't know anymore.
Replies (4)
December 5, 2014
Have you tried psoria gold? The honey and emu oil treatment? Has dr. Falk given you any suggestions? You may want to try dr. Gregory in schodack. He at least tried to help me. Worth a shot! So sorry your going through this. I know it won't make you feel better but my nose and between my eyes are covered with scars I'd trade skin with you any day. Hang in there.
December 6, 2014
Hey there! I messaged you a few times, you messaged me too but I don't know if you can read it. I just had my first dermapen prp yesterday. And I'm using osmosis too. I bought the full line.
December 6, 2014
Sorry that you are feeling so down. You could post a question to our doctors on the site and see if they can offer any suggestions.
December 7, 2014
There are now much better products to use during micro-needling than PRP because PRP is strongly pro-inflammatory (not good). In my office we do all of our micro-needling treatments using a serum that is specially made for this purpose which contains high concentrations of growth factors derived from human bone marrow stem cells. Micro-needling with higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines will give more rapid healing with significantly less inflammation post procedure. Stem cells secrete growth factors and cytokines that modulate inflammation downward while providing pro-healing bio-signals. There is accumulating evidence that downtime, inflammation, swelling and discomfort are all reduced using bone marrow derived cytokine products. Healing and recovery after micro-needling should benefit on the same physiologic basis. I also recommend that all my patients continue using a similar human growth factor serum (ProCell Therapies AM/PM serum) at home after their micro-needling treatment for quicker healing times and continued improvement. I believe you would benefit from this serum at this time even though it has been quite a while since your treatment.
May 12, 2015
Of course. You can call my office in South Burlington and ask for Stacey or Eve.
March 22, 2017
Mitchell, I am a Licensed Esthetician and Licensed Assistant Laser Practitioner. I, too, use serums, while performing micro-needling on a client and more after the procedure. I apply pure Hyaluronic Acid and Stem Cell serum. Our physician applies PRP, after my micro-needling. It isn't injected, as this person implies hers was.
Sometimes I believe clients "think" services are performed one way, by feeling what they "think" is going on, not FULLY understanding us, when we explain the procedure taking place. No offense to anyone with this response! I have seen this, first hand, from clients who come from other places and tell me things.
Micro-needling is a wonderful thing, if done correctly! The results are astounding!! I have clients with acne scars, surgical scars, even keloid scars. EVERYONE of them have had amazing results!!
Micro-needling is painful, but there can be numbing, beforehand. After the procedure, it's up to the client to purchase the recommended products for at home care. Redness (erythema) and swelling (edema) are going to take place, possibly for days! It's not an over night miracle, requires 3-4 sessions and maintenance visits periodically.
Sometimes I believe clients "think" services are performed one way, by feeling what they "think" is going on, not FULLY understanding us, when we explain the procedure taking place. No offense to anyone with this response! I have seen this, first hand, from clients who come from other places and tell me things.
Micro-needling is a wonderful thing, if done correctly! The results are astounding!! I have clients with acne scars, surgical scars, even keloid scars. EVERYONE of them have had amazing results!!
Micro-needling is painful, but there can be numbing, beforehand. After the procedure, it's up to the client to purchase the recommended products for at home care. Redness (erythema) and swelling (edema) are going to take place, possibly for days! It's not an over night miracle, requires 3-4 sessions and maintenance visits periodically.
Replies (5)