Thanks.

It’s been awhile and I am very happy with the NuDerm and ZO Skin Health Maintenance Program you recommended for my skin. The peri-oral dryness/peeling issue is a non-issue. I am still using 3X a week Obagi 0.1% Tretinoin/Blender as well as the NuDerm Clear.

As I alternate the NuDerm with the ZO Skin Health including the Overnight Recovery Creme, I am intrigued by your addition of the Radical Overnight Recovery Creme which contains 0.1% Retinol. I sometimes, as needed apply a thin layer of the Overnight Recovery Creme on top of the 0.1% Tretinoin since I have a tendency towards being feeling dry and tight.

When you have the opportunity, would you educate me on your new ZO product(s).

Also, I use ZO Exfoliating Polish 2X a week, I shelved the Clarisonic as I found that whenever I used it my skin became highly irritated to just about everything I put on my face. At the risk of sounding like a malcontent, is it all right that I am not seeing any visable peeling? As long as I am sticking with the maintenance program, is healthy skin cell renewal still being generated? Granted, I realize this maybe hard for you to answer without seeing me but I can tell you, my skin is not regressing! thank you for your all of your good works.

Fondest Regards,
Anne

Thank you for your feedback. No, you do not need to stop 3-weeks in advance of your speaking engagement. That is too soon. If you stop the Tretinoin Cream/Blender combo., and the Exfoderm 4-5 days prior to your event, that is more than sufficient. The skin around the mouth is thinner than that on the rest of the face. Further, the muscle movement from talking, eating, facial expressions, etc., induces more peeling than you would get on other parts of your face, such as the forehead.

I am quite fond of the ZO Skin Health Ommerse Daily Renewal Crème and the Ommerse Overnight Recovery Creme, as these are “functional” moisturizers – providing stimulative benefits to the skin, while hydrating skin. These can be incorporated into your current program, without any reservations.

Both of these soothe, calm, and nourish skin. There is Retinol in both of these products. Retinol allows skin to stimulate healthy skin cells, such as collagen, without making skin sensitive to the sun.

The soothing Oat and Canadian Willowherb complex reduce inflammation and redness – making either one of these an excellent choice to apply on top of Tretinoin/Blender (to reduce the reaction – but enhance results) OR for use with any prescription oral or topical medication your doctor may have you on to treat your skin.

The Daily Renewal Crème is lighter than the Recovery Night Crème. You can use the Ommerse Daily Renewal in the morning before applying sunscreen and as your last step at night. You will continue to have great results, without as much dryness or irritation as if you excluded the Ommerse from your program. Use Ommerse instead of Exfoderm and the Tretinoin/Blender combo, for the 4 days prior to your event.

Don’t worry; you’ll look great!

Best,
Sandra Obagi, MBA
Medical Esthetician

You should definitely make sure to wash your face for ONE minute prior to working out and immediately after working out. Never wear makeup during your workout as this exacerbates acne. During your workout, pores open up more than usual. Then you combine the sweat, dirt (if your skin is not washed), makeup, etc., and you allow that to all go into your skin, increase bacteria and cause breakouts.

Depending on the severity of your acne, you may need to see a physician for medical portions of the Obagi Nu-Derm system, the Tretinoin & Blender, or the ClenziDerm OR some medical program.

The ZO Skin Health Acne kit is excellent for use with any topical program you are using OR ones that will be prescribed to you.

The four products you need are the Exfoliating Cleanser, Tepads, Exfoliating Polish, and the Oclipse. All of these are in the Acne Kit, with the exception of the Oclipse Sunscreen.

The polish is used daily (one time), whenever you are in the shower (AM or PM) prior to washing your face. You wet your skin and gently massage with your fingertips for ONE minute. The polish has smooth magnesium crystals, a key element especially for acne prone skin. Most scrubs contain polishing agents that are NOT smooth, so they will irritate the skin and get microscopic nicks all over your face. The Exfoliating Polish features potent ingredients including the polishing aspect to slough away dead, damaged skin cells, and to begin stimulation of healthy skin cells. You need to shed the damaged cells in order to regenerate new cells.

The Exfoliating Cleanser is a pH balanced cleanser that has several features beneficial to your skin type. It does NOT induce breakouts or overly strip the skin. It contains salicylic acid, an effective agent to reduce oiliness, blackheads, and whiteheads. The blue beads in the cleanser dissolve and deliver Vitamin-E to the skin, after about 1 minute of use. The white beads do NOT dissolve. However, these round and smooth beads further help to stimulate the growth of healthy skin cells, and provide deeper cleaning. The cleanser is used 2x a day for ONE minute minimum. Use only your finger-tips to cleanse skin.

The Tepads are by far our most popular item in Dr. Obagi’s clinics. They are VERY effective at killing the p-acnes bacteria, the bacterial source of acne, reducing sebum for approximately 5 hours after use, shrinking pores, and preventing new breakouts (which is key in your skin type). They are used after the cleanser. You remove one pad and swipe your entire face until the pad is dry.

The last step you will perform on your skin in the morning is the Oclipse Sunscreen. It’s an effective sunscreen with primer that does NOT induce acne breakouts. The natural melanin in the Oclipse (the primer effect) will help to cover up acne lesions. It will protect your skin from damage, including pigmentation where your breakouts are present.

The Tea Tree Mask, is applied in a thin layer to clean skin ONCE a week, for 10 minutes then rinse off.

The ABOVE 4 products can be used in conjunction with the topical, oral, or combination of both that your doctor prescribes you. If you need assistance locating a doctor in your area (especially, one that carries the Obagi Nu-Derm system) you can go to the doctor locater at obagi.com.

However, proper cleansing, exfoliation, and a good antibacterial might be all that you need to correct your skin. Try this out initially, and see if it’s enough after 1 month. If you still need topical, this kit can be combined and incorporated into a stronger program.
Best,
Sandra Obagi

Thanks for your products and taking the time to respond to users’ questions! I’m on day five of the Nu-Derm system and am beginning to experience peeling/redness around my mouth and on my chin — as I expected. The problem is I’m a guest speaker at a conference in three weeks. I really need to look good for this event, not red and blotchy. Would you recommend that I stop the program, then resume it AFTER the big conference? Or is there anything I can do to limit the side effects? Thanks for the program. I’m looking forward to completing the program and enjoying better skin!

Gina

I am Jamelle L. Santos, a Cosmetic Science graduate of Centro Escolar University Philippines. I am looking for an oppurtunity to be a part of your Research and Development Team.

Thank you.

Best Regards,

Jamelle

If you are using the Foaming Gel (Obagi Nu-Derm) and NOT the Exfoliating Cleanser, you can use the Clarisonic Brush.

Two things… I like the concept of spending 1 minute minimum washing your face and the concept of helping to exfoliate dead skin. The Clarisonic Brush makes sure that you do that. However, I don’t like the Clarisonic Brush, because it is a safe harbor for bacteria. No matter how much you wash the brush head prior to using it, it is always going to retain a certain amount of moisture, which is a refuge for bacteria.

The better way to obtain “exfoliation” of dead skin cells and assurance of the 1-minute rule is the Exfoliating Polish. This is used either daily or 3-times a week (one time a day) depending on your tolerance. You spend 1-minute gently exfoliating your skin in the shower prior to washing your face. It is far more effective at removing dead skin cells and ensuring proper cleansing of your skin. It will NOT harbor bacteria either.

The polish as SMOOTH magnesium crystals, a KEY element especially for stimulating healthy skin cells. If polishing agents (as in most scrubs) are NOT smooth, then you will overly irritate the skin and get microscopic nicks all over your face. The polish features ingredients including Vitamin-A, C, C-Esthers and E to provide antioxidant protection and boost collagen.

It will enhance the penetration of your Obagi Nu-Derm system as well.

Follow, by washing your face for ONE minute with your Obagi Nu-Derm or ZO Skin Health Cleanser.

Remember, this is solely my opinion with respect to your question regarding the Clarisonic Brush… Thanks

Best,
Sandra Obagi, MBA
Medical Esthetician

Thanks for your interest!

Donna Queen