Anyone experience weird lines/fissures?

[StarryNight]

So, I used GC 6 every other night for one year with no problems. About 3 months ago, I bumped it up to 6 days/week. During this time, I noticed two lines/fissures that appeared. I thought it seemed weird, but that maybe I had somehow overlooked them before. So, about 3 weeks ago, I decided to start using GC 9 since I wasn't experiencing any side effects from the almost nightly use of level 6. I was using it every other day to allow my skin to transition into the stronger level. I noticed 2 weeks in that more of these lines/fissures began appearing. I have large pores and they seem to be connections/grooves between my pores (like connect the dots). They aren't a deepening of already existing lines and aren't in areas where people would normally develop wrinkles. They're all over: apples of cheeks, above lip (horizontal, not typical vertical lines), chin, forehead. I'm trying not to freak out. I haven't used any of the products for 5 days now and have been moisturizing a lot in case it was from dryness (even though my skin didn't look or feel dry). I also used an exfoliating scrub today, just in case it was a layer of dry skin causing an illusion, but I haven't seen any improvement in their appearance. I have changed nothing in my routine besides the GC usage and this is the only topical I use besides a basic moisturizer. I've heard of uglies using CP's, but never retinol. Has anyone else experienced something like this???? Thanks.

Star

[kevin]

Star, in my 10 years of observational data, I have never heard of anyone describing what you are experiencing. My only suggestion is to stop using the product for several weeks and see if the lines go away. if they don't, I can assure you its not the retinol. Please let me know how it develops. Thanks.

[StarryNight]

Thanks, Kevin. I've never heard of anyone having a side effect like this either, but it does seem to coincide with the increased retinol use. I believe my skin is naturally very thin and that maybe it either thinned it more or possibly just completely dehydrated it...I don't know. I have read many stories of Retin-A causing permanent scars and wrinkles, which is why I chose something gentler since my skin does seem to scar easily. I'm definitely discontinuing the use of GC to see what happens...I'm so scared this is permanent. I will keep you updated on how it goes.

Star

[StarryNight]

Okay, so it's been about 20 days now since I stopped the GC, and I still have the weird skin texture. I decided to continue applying it to one small area where I had one line, and I have stopped since I developed another "line" in that area. I actually stumbled upon a picture of someone with the problem I am experiencing.

Here's the link: http://www.acne.org/messageboard/skin-m ... 60274.html

[kevin]

Starry,
I would definitely give 30 to 45 days (that is the average time it takes for you skin to completely go through its cycle).

I can't help but think something else is going on with your skin and that you may want to consult with a dermatologist.

[Radar]

Starry, I have the same problem and have been searching the internet for an answer (with no luck). I mostly have these in my cheek area. Depending on how you look at them in the mirror, you can eaither see a line of pores or if you tilt you head a bit this line of pores turns into a line. The lines are very shallow, but they are there. I've noticed that sometimes they are verticle, other times horizontal, some even actually form a shape (circle, squiggly line, etc).
I used retin-a twice. The first time i applied it on both sides of my face in a upward motion form where the upper part of my nose hits my cheeks and up and around the eyes (i had some very faint lines i was trying to get rid of in this area). I applied it for about a week and 1/2 but found it way too irritating.
A while later i noticed some faint rows of slightly larger pores in these areas. after some time the pores seemed to connect with little fissures. there were three lines, which were about a 1/4 ot 1/2 inch long.
I pondered these lines and was confused how they were formed since they were in an area which is not affected by squining,etc.
A month later i tried retin a again, thinking it would get rid of these lines. I continued the same application technique for another week, but noticed that they got worse and some appeared on the other side of my face. I discontinued retin a.
During this same period I was getting flushing of the face (unrealated) which seemed to come out of nowhere, but became more and more frequent. My dermatologist said it may be rosacea and gave me someting called finacea (azelaic acid, topical gel), which has a simalar effect as retin-a on your face (it is supposed to exfoliate the pores). I began to use this and noticed that the same mirror glossy skin the retin-a gives you after you wash your face.
I began to notice that i was getting more of these pore connect the dot lines of my face. I began to feak out, but continued to use the finacea (thinking it would shrink the pores and help resolve the problem).
So i thnk that these pore lines must be realated to the use of these products on the face.
Last week I had a large number of these (30+) appear in a swooping downward direction from my upper cheek to my nose. It seriously came out of nowhere. However when you look close you can see a ton of large pores in this area whicha re connecting. It is feaking me out. I have not seem a dermatologist about this issue, but imagine he would look at me like I was crazy.
Let me know if you find anything out.

[Karen]

Hi StarryNight and Radar,

I am having the exact same issues. StarryNight I am the same person who contacted you by email. Anyway, I have been searching and searching for answers to this issue. The one thing that I did find today was a brief answer to someone else's online question concerning, I think, the same issue. The online "dermdoctor" who answered indicated that this reaction could be caused by a low grade skin allergy to a skincare product. Does anyone know if this is true? And if so, what can be done to correct the damage that has been done. Please keep me updated on anything you find out.

Thanks,

Karen

[StarryNight]

I am so scared now. I have noticed some new ones forming too, and I have not been using the Green Cream. They sound exactly like what you're describing: horizontal, vertical, squiggly. This is making me sick to my stomach, I just don't understand what is going on. Radar, how long has it been since you stopped using all your products? Thanks.

Starry

[Radar]

I stopped the finacea today. I never put it all together until I read your post.
I've tried google searching for similar things and never found anything, until yours.
The mass amount that formed on the other cheek (in a matter of a day, last friday) happened after I tried proactive. Well im not sure but I tried it twice in a week and it irritated my face so I stopped, then 2 days later, pore line mania.
I have not done retin-a since march but had been using finacea for a few months.
How is your skin in relation to sun damage? I am 37, fair skin and have spent a lot of time outdoors (surfing,etc) but always was careful about sunblock etc.
This all stated for me in January this year. The funnyish thing is, Ive been noticing these things and really stressing out, because my skin has always been very good. It seems like my skin changed over night, I tell my family that I am freaked out about these lines that are appearing on my face out of nowhwere, and they think Im crazy. They say they dont see them and its all in my head, or that is just because you are 37 years old. But if you look in the mirror up close they are definetly there, and I can see them with out any problems at a distance.
On top of this, I have been stessing out about these lines, just when you think, "It's ok I can live with it", another one appears. then I stress out more. I think the stress is causing problems such as large pores, dry skin, etc which leads to more pore-line things which leads to more stress, it is quite lame.
My new attempt to tackle these things is using minimal products on my face, wash with a gentle cleanser and excersize like crazy to flush the pores out with sweat and reduce stress.

[kevin]

Radar, Finacea is not a retinoid so your situation is completely different from the retinoid (Green Cream) that Starrynight is describing. If you want to successfully treat your wrinkles you need to use a retinoid like our product. It will also address your pore issues as well.

[Radar]

This seemed to all start when I was using retin-a in these areas, and now seems to have progressed with the use of finacea (stopped using retin a in march this year). I know they are different, but both act as exfoliants, which seem to be making my skin unhappy. This is just my theory. Is the green cream different than retin a or renova (tried both), other than being the non prescription (OTC) form?

[kevin]

Radar, our product is about 10 times weaker than prescription strength products and we use a gel based delivery vehicle which makes the active much more tolerable. Retinoids are so much more than just exfoliants.

[StarryNight]

I just wanted to update that the "lines" are still there. They have diminished somewhat, but they're still noticeable, especially the deeper ones that look more like shallow linear scars. However, my pores which remained enlarged for a month after stopping the GC went back to normal within a week of adding an alpha lipoic/green tea creme, so this has helped my skin look somewhat better, but it's not back to pre-GC. I know this is not a typical reaction, but, unfortunately, GC made my skin much worse. I just hope it improves with time.