u/Historical_Battle468

I have been using tretinion for many years now. I have very large pores and very oily skin. I still get break outs but it's one here and there. Not a bunch all at once. I use a hydrating cream everyday as well and always use sunscreen every single day. My texture is pretty bad and tretinion never really helped with that but I continue to use for it's anti aging and help keep pores clean. Does this look dehydrated? Some lighting can really emphasize the texture and my skin seems to look so different depending on the lighting. Should I back of the retin-a? I use it almost every night and my skin doesn't feel tight and I thought after all these years it had adjusted to it. So the skin feels normal but looks like crap. What do you guys think? Dehydration?

I have that orange peel skin. I already use tretinion, sunscreen and take really good care of my very oily, large pores and still occasional break out skin. Is this considered severe scarring or is this considered really severe orange peel skin? I may do an ablative laser but scared because it's so much money and I'm afraid I could make things worse. Thank you for your reply!

This is so embarrassing as my skin looks awful and gives me some anxiety. I took this pic up close using raw picture format to capture my skin texture. I have always had acne oily skin since my 20s. Im on hrt, excellent medical grade skin care including tretinoin, stay out of the sun and wear sunscreen year round. My blood work came back great. I eat mostly healthy although I'm over weight. I've tried a lot of the years. People keep recommending co2 laser and the ebrium laser. I'm about to do it this fall because this has really taken a toll on me. I don't like looking in the mirror anymore and I feel like people are looking at me trying to figure out why my skin looks so bad. It could be in my head but I don't know. My skin looks inflamed. It's always red but I don't think it's rosecea it just always ruddy looking. Do you think a deep laser would produce noticeable improvements for me? It's a lot of money and a commitment. Thank you.

Not sure what to do at this point. Maybe co2 laser but been putting off all these years since I do have some melasma and could make worse. I for the most part accepted my scarring. It took me many many years to try to be okay with it. Now that I'm aging I now getting wrinkles and I hate it. My texture is awful. I'm 50 but see much older woman with much better skin. I actually can't stand looking in the mirror nowadays sadly. I use retin a and have for years. I use sunscreen everyday stay in shady spots. Never tanned but over the years I do have some sun damage despite my being diligent. I just feel like I look old with bad skin. As you can see I'm over weight and have been for years but I don't eat junk food much. Try to eat mostly healthy proteins, vegetables and fruit. Am I perfect, no but I do try most days. I'm on hrt. Been on it for about 4 months. Still in perimenopause. My parents, siblings have great skin. Honestly I'm embarrassed by my skin. I want to hide sometimes. Not wanting anyone to feel pity for me truly just expressing myself here cause it feels like a safe space. I have spoken to my mom about this. She thinks I might have been but pics don't lie. I have taken these pics in some more unforgiving lights to show the texture I see when I look in the mirror. Sorry for the rant. Maybe laser is going to help...not sure....it seems like mixed results. Thank you for listening. Any ideas what might help?