Derm said retinol for smoother skin - what is everyone actually using?

Skidude

Skidude

Explorer
Joined
Mar 12, 2025
Messages
566
Reaction score
0
Location
Texas
So I am 59, sunblock was never really my thing, the outdoors is where I like to be, and some skin imperfections have turned up on my cheek bone around the nose area.

Not quite acne, closer to pore issues and some bumps?

Asking for the technical name is something I should have done, maybe next week I will.

A Korean site had a few things I was looking at, but whether it is what I need is unclear.

If I have it right, first the serum than the creme.. am I overthinking this? will it work?

An orbital sander with some 220 grit paper is also in my possession, is that better?

Seriously, for a guy who will not be spending much more than 5 minutes, what would everyone recommend

The ceraVe is already bought and started today..





55d43a853cd52888b956558ad2cb4e42ced55d13bf20122a02a5bb7f98d0b3d9.webp


f52a3338d4e53fad2077b45467d06cb53f64bc3a002506a96f88bfad6c0ef38a.webp


EDIT

Sebaceous hyperplasia is what I think it is, like 99% sure.. I was in for another treatment and forget what she said.

Here is what it resembles

c2fba8c09aa8a252b43819cbf74f926a8128348a5dccec1b917a55956d6e973c.webp
 
The orbital sander idea works for me. Although starting at the 220 grit and working slowly up to maybe 1000 would give the best results.

You have years on me. 29 here. That said, a decent 'clean face' look has come from a cetaphil shower scrub with glycerin in it. My pores look smaller because of it. A run of GHK-Cu also started this week but there is no evidence of anything yet.
 
Skidude said:

So I am 59, sunblock was never really my thing, the outdoors is where I like to be, and some skin imperfections have turned up on my cheek bone around the nose area.

Not quite acne, closer to pore issues and some bumps?

Asking for the technical name is something I should have done, maybe next week I will.

A Korean site had a few things I was looking at, but whether it is what I need is unclear.

If I have it right, first the serum than the creme.. am I overthinking this? will it work?

An orbital sander with some 220 grit paper is also in my possession, is that better?

Seriously, for a guy who will not be spending much more than 5 minutes, what would everyone recommend

The ceraVe is already bought and started today..





View attachment 212

View attachment 213

EDIT

Sebaceous hyperplasia is what I think it is, like 99% sure.. I was in for another treatment and forget what she said.

Here is what it resembles

View attachment 214
Click to expand...
Topical treatments probably cannot reach that. Would cryotherapy be an option?
 
Ahobo1 said:

Skidude said:

So I am 59, sunblock was never really my thing, the outdoors is where I like to be, and some skin imperfections have turned up on my cheek bone around the nose area.

Not quite acne, closer to pore issues and some bumps?

Asking for the technical name is something I should have done, maybe next week I will.

A Korean site had a few things I was looking at, but whether it is what I need is unclear.

If I have it right, first the serum than the creme.. am I overthinking this? will it work?

An orbital sander with some 220 grit paper is also in my possession, is that better?

Seriously, for a guy who will not be spending much more than 5 minutes, what would everyone recommend

The ceraVe is already bought and started today..





View attachment 212

View attachment 213

EDIT

Sebaceous hyperplasia is what I think it is, like 99% sure.. I was in for another treatment and forget what she said.

Here is what it resembles

View attachment 214
Click to expand...
Topical treatments probably cannot reach that. Would cryotherapy be an option?
Click to expand...
Looking into it is possible, but movies are not in my future and I am not vain enough to spend a lot fixing it.

Retinol products were her recommendation, so feedback on those or anything else is what I am after.
 
GLiPtest said:

If that is really how it looks, a nose hair trimmer is where to start.
Click to expand...
lol.. that was a stock photo, but yeah.. my age means weekly trimming..
 
On a

Skidude said:

GLiPtest said:

If that is really how it looks, a nose hair trimmer is where to start.
Click to expand...
lol.. that was a stock photo, but yeah.. my age means weekly trimming..
Click to expand...
Seriously though, let us know if anything does the job. Odd spots like that are something most men (whatever their age) would love to be rid of.
 
For aging skin, retinol is a sure thing. Whether any other topical holds the same position as the mainstay, I am not sure. Work out the strength and frequency your skin tolerates, then slot it into your quick regimen.
 
Tretinoin is amazing. Texture and tone improve, fine line and wrinkles too, and pore size (or how it appears) comes down.

Usage guidance - did she give you any? If not, the guidance my derm gave me is something I can share.
 
moodymama76 said:

trentoin .025% came from amazon one medical, $18 a month. GHK-Cu goes on in the morning and trentoin at night.
Click to expand...
Give GoodRx a try. Cheaper still at the pharmacy near me.
 
HereKittyKitty said:

moodymama76 said:

trentoin .025% came from amazon one medical, $18 a month. GHK-Cu goes on in the morning and trentoin at night.
Click to expand...
Give GoodRx a try. Cheaper still at the pharmacy near me.
Click to expand...
Cheaper maybe, but that means a 15 minute drive into town in a 98 for ranger doing about 17mpg 😂 and then standing in line for 20 mins.. Amazon had it here the next day. Dollar accounts aside, I get that it can be cheaper. Sticking with this is my plan until a GB turns up. One had probably just passed me by.

Still, thank you!
 
Whatever works. India farm is another one to check. Quantity minimums are common there and the shipping is ridiculous.
 
HereKittyKitty said:

Tretinoin is amazing. Texture and tone improve, fine line and wrinkles too, and pore size (or how it appears) comes down.

Usage guidance - did she give you any? If not, the guidance my derm gave me is something I can share.
Click to expand...
She did not, and the more I read, the more the dosage amounts seem to shift with what you need>?

Calling on Monday is the plan. More info will get posted back here once I have it, though tretinoin definitely has my interest.

Cheers everyone!
 
Skidude said:

HereKittyKitty said:

Tretinoin is amazing. Texture and tone improve, fine line and wrinkles too, and pore size (or how it appears) comes down.

Usage guidance - did she give you any? If not, the guidance my derm gave me is something I can share.
Click to expand...
She did not, and the more I read, the more the dosage amounts seem to shift with what you need>?

Calling on Monday is the plan. More info will get posted back here once I have it, though tretinoin definitely has my interest.

Cheers everyone!
Click to expand...
If she does not hand you initial usage guidance along with whatever dosage she prescribes, def. ask how the transition can be made as smooth as possible.

Best of luck!
 
Also irrelevant to men but... the estradiol cream is going on my face as well now. One thing led to another. The GHK Cu cosmetic powder came first and I used that, then the HRT arrived and I figured why not put that on my face too. Then came the trentoin.

For something like 20 years my skincare game sat at 0. Good skin was probably a gift, and I did keep out of the sun or wear sunscreen. Acne was never a problem beyond the rando pimple. My face comes out blotchy, dull ect in a photo. In the mirror, though, it looks good. So maybe this will help with pictures.
 
moodymama76 said:

Also irrelevant to men but... the estradiol cream is going on my face as well now. One thing led to another. The GHK Cu cosmetic powder came first and I used that, then the HRT arrived and I figured why not put that on my face too. Then came the trentoin.

For something like 20 years my skincare game sat at 0. Good skin was probably a gift, and I did keep out of the sun or wear sunscreen. Acne was never a problem beyond the rando pimple. My face comes out blotchy, dull ect in a photo. In the mirror, though, it looks good. So maybe this will help with pictures.
Click to expand...
Some cautionary info on topical estrogen for the face was posted not long ago by someone. Should I come across it again - it may have been elsewhere - I will share it.
 
HereKittyKitty said:

moodymama76 said:

Also irrelevant to men but... the estradiol cream is going on my face as well now. One thing led to another. The GHK Cu cosmetic powder came first and I used that, then the HRT arrived and I figured why not put that on my face too. Then came the trentoin.

For something like 20 years my skincare game sat at 0. Good skin was probably a gift, and I did keep out of the sun or wear sunscreen. Acne was never a problem beyond the rando pimple. My face comes out blotchy, dull ect in a photo. In the mirror, though, it looks good. So maybe this will help with pictures.
Click to expand...
Some cautionary info on topical estrogen for the face was posted not long ago by someone. Should I come across it again - it may have been elsewhere - I will share it.
Click to expand...
The reason is that estradiol is systemic whereas estriol is not. Mine is a low potency cream, but estradiol it is.

Not that long ago HRT was also off limits to women. So risk tolerance may vary.

If you find it, I would like to read it.
 
Back
Top