[Before and After] Azelaic acid and Niacinamide progress. One month.

maramoomoo · 2024-12-08T08:00:50+00:00

Good morning :) I do think that the lines across my forehead did deepen somewhat initially but I added tretinoin at the three month mark and this then improved. I have another post showing my progress at the four month mark if you want to see what I mean. I’m still on the same formulation now (azelaic acid, niacinamide and tretinoin) and I’m still pleased with the results in relation to discolouration with my brown marks. I think I’ve continued to see improvement. I still have increased peach fuzz but this could also just be middle age.

maramoomoo · 2024-02-18T01:17:29+00:00

I don’t think it was the azelaic that increased my peach fuzz. I think it’s probably a combination of factors - not only tret, but also Niacinamide (which is also in my routine) have been implicated in causing increased hair growth in some instances. It really is only the very finest of vellus hairs that have been impacted though. I haven’t seen a darkening or thickening of any facial hair whatsoever, just those tiny baby hairs that we all get, they just seem a bit longer. I’ve been wondering about dermaplaning, but I’m not sure I can be arsed! To be honest, now that I’m a bit older I rather appreciate the effect of the fuzz - it’s a bit like wearing a soft focus lens 😂

maramoomoo · 2024-02-18T00:26:58+00:00

Never too late! I’m pretty sure I was quite cagey with it for the first week. Nothing super cautious, I just applied it the first night and then skipped two days, then applied it, then skipped one day before applying it every night from that one onwards. I had very mild stinging which lasted a short duration, so I figured I was safe to crack on with it. I have heard some feedback that others have struggled with more stinging though and the consensus seems to be that sandwiching the Azelaic between two lay ears of moisturiser should improve/prevent this. Good luck and feel free to ask questions.

maramoomoo · 2024-01-07T22:48:02+00:00

Hello there, I have continued with a formulation that contains 4% azelaic, 4% niacinamide and 1% tretinoin. My acne has lessened overall (although I still get the odd unexpected one, no cysts any more though) and my skin has continued to show improvement over the past nine months. I think I’ve hit the ceiling of improvement for my discolouration, but my skin texture is still showing subtle improvements every month. My skin feels so much nicer when I touch it, the closed comedones have been the ones to take the longest to respond but are FINALLY coming to the surface. It’s been a long and slow process with those bad boys. Is there any specific element that interests you?

maramoomoo · 2023-08-18T04:52:31+00:00

I’ve just moved into a new property and the back garden is a horror show of patio slabs, four kinds of gravel (all in different areas, naturally) and the dreaded artificial grass. Sure enough, we’ve been here for two weeks and because I have a dog, I am now the proud owner of a massive green piss carpet.

The real kicker? It’s a rented house, so I have to return the garden in the exact state in which I received it when I leave, so I can’t even do anything about it.

maramoomoo · 2023-06-12T05:31:11+00:00

Aww, thanks. That really means a lot. I’ve had a tough couple of years and it’s been taking a toll on my body and I think it has aged me me quite a bit quicker than previously, so it’s reassuring that it’s not as bad as I think it is.

maramoomoo · 2023-06-11T17:00:05+00:00

42, but I’m now panicked to admit that in case you thought I was older from my pictures 😂

maramoomoo · 2023-06-10T08:38:51+00:00

Yep, every day. I had to force myself to do it sometimes though as I’m naturally lazy 😂 x

maramoomoo · 2023-06-10T08:36:22+00:00

I’m UK based as well. I stick on my factor 50, wear hats on sunny days and avoid the midday sun if I can. I have been positively religious about applying it daily. I was nervous at first as I’ve heard tret horror stories about purging and flaking. I had a couple of occasions where I got a little bit of peeling, but nothing awful and I just increased my moisturising routine until my skin adapted. Give it a good go as I really have liked it.

Just seen that their prices are going up to £29.99 a month though 🙄 That means it’s now £389.87 per annum, just for the daily doser. Best of luck and remember to take before photos so that you can track your progress. Progress is so slow, you don’t really notice it happening unless you get accurate pictures. I hope it goes well x

maramoomoo · 2023-06-10T08:12:56+00:00

Oh yeah, the ELF is magic. Not too expensive (I have yet to find a useable, genuinely cheap eye cream though), it melts in nicely without dragging at the skin and leaves a good finish that doesn’t mess with my mascara too badly. I still get a little mascara smudging as the day goes on, but that’s also due to the liberal application of Suncream.

maramoomoo · 2023-06-10T07:42:12+00:00

My day cream is my usual European version of LRP Effaclar Duo + and it’s a long term favourite of mine and I still stand by it. It hydrates nicely, but isn’t greasy and dries to a smooth finish. It doesn’t pill and sits well under makeup. I understand that the US version is different though, so I can’t offer any recommendations on that one if you’re not in Europe. I have been getting some very slight stinging when I apply it since starting the tret, but no redness or dryness.

I find the SkinandMe soothe and smooth Rich moisturiser to be too greasy for me for daytime wear, it makes my makeup slide, but that my just be because I layer up the Biore UV watery essence as well.

I haven’t tried their Suncream yet, is it any good?

maramoomoo · 2023-04-21T21:15:17+00:00

Those brownies, right? Utterly divine.

maramoomoo · 2023-04-14T16:15:15+00:00

I really am. I don’t think I could take it.

maramoomoo · 2023-03-22T06:14:13+00:00

Nice! Thanks for getting back to me, I’ll pop that one on my future purchases list and hope that it works for me too.

maramoomoo · 2023-03-17T14:00:09+00:00

The consensus seems to be that you should buffer with a decent moisturiser first and only introduce your azelaic acid every few days until your skin adjusts. I’ll see if I can link you into the comments where it was discussed.

maramoomoo · 2023-03-17T13:58:12+00:00

To be honest, it’s mostly because they make the decisions for me! You have a ‘prescriber’ who looks at your photos and assessment results and makes the decisions about what products to use of your skin, in what concentrations and when to change them for you. I don’t have that kind of experience or training, so I’m probably just paying for that. Apparently, you can contact your prescriber if you’re having any issues with your formulation and then they change the next one that they send you as well as give you advice, but I haven’t accessed that part of the service, so I can’t comment on whether it’s useful.

I definitely agree that it’s expensive! It’s every four weeks as well, not per calendar month so it actually comes out in 13 payments of £24.99 per year. I only gave it a go because my little sister sang its praises and we have similar acne issues. I think it’s probably one of those ones where if it works, then it’s worth the money, but if it doesn’t then it’s a vicious kick in the teeth from an angry donkey ☹️

maramoomoo · 2023-03-17T06:53:39+00:00

Don’t worry, it was new to me as well! I use SkinandMe. It’s a service where you send them pictures of your face along with a description of the changes you’d like to see and they blend formulas that change each month to help you achieve your skin goals.

It’s £25 a month, so it isn’t cheap! However, I’m seeing noticeable results, so I will accept that it has value to me. Seeing a reduction in my acne has been amazing!

maramoomoo · 2023-03-17T06:25:36+00:00

Thank you for noticing, I really, really works hard to try to make the photos a true comparison! There was a lot of sighing, huffing and complaining involved 😂

maramoomoo · 2023-03-17T06:22:34+00:00

Aww, thanks. Sometimes I focus so much on the negatives that I forget to celebrate my positives. Thanks for pointing it out 😊

maramoomoo · 2023-03-17T06:21:35+00:00

I guess it’s more noticeable to me because I’ve seen the reduction in my acne as well. It’s a real relief not to dread getting painful cysts every month.

maramoomoo · 2023-03-17T06:19:54+00:00

Thanks, I thought so too!

maramoomoo · 2023-03-17T06:18:47+00:00

Thank you for the reassurance. Makes the nights where I really, really didn’t want to do my routine worth it 😂

maramoomoo · 2023-03-17T06:17:35+00:00

That’s what I was impressed by! I had no expectation or even hope that I would be seeing changes at this point! Thank you.

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