Week 2 - My face is settling to a pink colour but is still peeling a lot.

Day 8 - I'm so glad to have completed my first week! Unfortunately the redness is getting worse and parts of my face are very sore, my upper lip and area between my eyebrows especially. Applying the Exfoderm this morning was extremely uncomfortable and even the moisturiser was burning. My plan is to go for a run later but I'm slightly worried the sweat will sting and that my face will go even redder... (it shouldn't be possible!) I think today is the worst day so far. My neck has gone blotchy red too over the last few days, but I understand that's normal as the Tretinoin travels in the skin.

Day 8 red blotchy neck

Day 9 - I feel a bit better today. The Exfoderm application was stingy and uncomfortable this morning but my face feels a bit better. It's still bright red but overnight I've peeled everywhere and my "new" skin feels smoother. Neck is still blotchy. I'm seriously considering getting a clarisonic face brush as I think it will help wash off the flaky, peeling skin better. A nurse I met yesterday asked if I had a peel as the skin looked so smooth. Yay! I told her about Obagi and what's going to happen to my skin and the rigorous regime.

Day 10 - I'm excited as a dried out spot I've had for about 2 months near my mouth is now almost completely gone. I've been watching it shrink over the last few days. This stuff is definitely working (not that I ever doubted it with all the peeling going on!). The Exfoderm is still the most painful application in the mornings. Stings! I've attached some pictures from this morning, before washing my face. I'm very, very flaky. No sign of the redness disappearing either yet. My neck currently looks the worst. I noticed during the day my nose has a few tiny red spots on it and my blackheads look worse than before. I take this as a good sign, everything gets worse before it gets better! Dr Sarah told me to avoid using the moisturiser in the evening unless red and peeling. Well, I'm red and peeling all the time but I stopped using the moisturiser a few days ago on my face. The reason for avoiding it is that the skin will learn how to moisturise itself as the new skin comes up to the surface so the less of moisturiser you use, the better.

Day 10 AM before washing face

Day 10 AM before washing face

Day 11 - Maybe it's my imagination but my face felt less flaky this morning, after washing it was more pink than red but after about 30 minutes it starts heating up and getting red again. After a few hours the redness has eased back to more of a pink colour. This is small but welcome progress! I have a red spot on my nose and the nose is getting worse with blackheads and pore size being more prominent. My neck is still blotchy but less angry red and settling down a little bit. I have put moisturiser on the neck in the evenings as it's been so itchy and flaky. My social life is suffering, as the peeling is bad in the afternoon and evening around the mouth and nose, I don't really want to go out for dinner and drinks and put loved ones off their food. 

Day 10 AM blotchy neck  

 

Day 11 AM neck getting better

Day 12 - I have a few tiny red dots on my forehead and along the jaw line. Not sure what they are as too small to be spots. The spots on my nose has disappeared with the exception of one that is now drying out. Worst part of the morning routine is still the Exfoderm as it stings. My neck is still blotchy and the redness is spreading a bit down to the upper chest. The neck is still itchy. I've been putting the Retinoin and blender under my eyes over the last few days again and my wrinkles are therefore a lot worse, adds about 20 years to my age. My skin is still flaky once the sunscreen (final cream to go on) has dried. I will say that my skin is more "glowy" and looks fresh. I'm also looking at two sunspots that have annoyed me for years and I can barely see them, I can't wait for my face to be less pink so I can see if they really are disappearing.

Day 12 AM

Day 13 - My skin definitely has a glow to it and is more pink than red now. I feel like I've turned a corner! Even applying the dreaded Exfoderm this morning didn't sting. Hurray! My nose is now peeling too, the last part of my face to do so. The pores and blackheads are looking slightly better. The only downside is that the redness keeps travelling down my neck to my upper chest and it's itching quite a lot still. I am yet to wear any mineral make up on my entire face as I'm so flaky. Hopefully I can start wearing make up in the next 3-5 days if the improvements continue. Most of all I wish the unsightly neck would stop itching.

Day 13 AM blotchy itchy neck area

Day 13 PM more peeling

Day 14 - My skin feels quite dry and flaky today, even after applying the moisturiser. There is a new little spot on my nose this morning and the nose is continuing to peel. My nose is the last part to really take to the regime so I'm excited to see if the pores and blackheads will improve in the coming week. The blotchy neck is very dry now so I hope it's going to get better soon as the itching is annoying and it's unsightly! I'm really happy my face is pink now as I'd rather peel than be bright red all the time to be honest. I'm much more comfortable being seen in public for the last couple of days. I still get bright red during exercise though but that's not too bad. Tomorrow I'm meeting Dr Sarah for my follow up consultation to see how my skin is adapting to Obagi. To sum up the end of week two, I can definitely see improvements in my skin tone as it's glowy and the pores on my chin and around my mouth look smaller. My two sunspots that I've despised for years have faded significantly as I can barely see them. I can say the same for the tiny sunspots that were dotted around my hairline. I'm looking forward to see what other improvements I will see going forward!