I have three deep lines on my forehead, and it makes me self conscious. People have told me they thought I was 35 when I'm actually 20. :(
So Here is my story:
I had oily skin, but the acne was virtually non existent due to preventative care. I currently do not have acne anymore.
PRE SKIN PROBLEMS:
AM 2014 MAY:
Wash face with 2% Target brand apricot scrub Salicylic acid wash
I would put nothing on my face afterwards
PM 2014 MAY:
Wash face
A tiny bit of Atralin (tretinoin)
2% Hydroquionone on dark spots
I went to the Florida for the summer and when I came back up north, I felt tightness when I would wash my face and I saw the 3 deep wrinkles on my forehead. I blame the hot Florida sun and my ignorance of sunscreen and Atralin.
I did not stop Atralin because I still had acne. And I feared if I stopped my acne would explode like it did in my teenage years. My acne at that was slim to none. But acne isn't the issue here.
To combat the wrinkles I used more Atralin and used salicylic acid more frequently. After all what better to use for wrinkles than Atralin. All that did was make my skin tighter and more dehydrated.
I did some research and found my skin to have a depleted moisture barrier and/or dehydrated skin.
I stopped using Atralin and salicylic acid immediately.
So for the first time in my life at the age of 20 I began using moisturizers. I used plain Vaseline after washing my face, but I saw no change. So far I used:
1)St.ives timeless skin (for two months)
2) Cerave moisturizing lotion (~two months)
3) eucerin skin calming (~two months)
4) Vaseline Deep moisture (~ two months)
5) caveman method (for a week)
*Everything mentioned in this post is a rough timeframe it is not exact.
No change whatsoever. Every time i would put these moisturizers on my face it would burn. I looked at the ingredients and figured it was because of the alcohol. I was so tired of these chemicals destroying my face, I started to go the natural route.
AM JUNE 2015:
I don't wash my face.
Neutrogena spf15 oil free sunscreen
Argan oil
Aloe vera gel
PM JUNE 2015:
I wash my face with cold water.
Hyaluronic acid
Apricot kernal oil
Aloe Vera gel
Plain Vaseline on top of it all
I have remained faithful, but No results :(
I cleanse my face about twice a week with a honey and brown sugar scrub. I refuse to use these harsh cleansers on my face.
I tried OCM, but that cleaned my face a little too well. It left my face dry like the Sahara and it felt stripped. OCM works for many but not for me. I know my skin is weird.
Miscellaneous:
My skin doesn't produce oil anymore. I sweat on my face when I RUN, but thats it.
I drink about 64oz of water a day. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I drink two tablespoons of olive oil per day and I eat lots of fruits and vegetables. I do not eat out.
Questions:
My skin type was oily, now I classify it as dry-dehydrated. My moisture barrier is comprised. Does that seem to be correct?
I haven't seen any results what should I do?
What treatment would a dermatologist recommend? I don't want to waste time and money to go see a dermatologist if he is just going to say use Vaseline or use Eucerin or Cerave.
Advice?
Tldr: I have tried everything for my dry dehydrated skin but nothing seems to work. Advice?