Do I need to use Obagi forever?

If you are prescribed Obagi Nu-Derm it may be because you have melasma or hyperpigmentation. Damage like this to the skin has usually occurred over a period of time, it hasn’t happened overnight.

Melasma

This is where the DNA of the skin cells has been damaged. It is generally thought that this is due to the melanocytes in your skin producing too much colour. It is often caused by UV light from the sun but can also happen during pregnancy when your hormones change. Melasma tends to affect those with darker skins and most often women – just 10% of those who have it are men.

Hyperpigmentation

This is a fairly common condition where patches of skin become darker in colour than the normal surrounding skin due to an excess of melanin. It forms deposits in your skin, hence the patches of colour. It is common in people with any skin colour.

How does Nu-Derm help?

To suppress the melasma and remove hyperpigmentation some of the Obagi Nu-Derm products contains 4% hydroquinone. It is prescription-strength so has to be prescribed for you, not bought over the counter.

• After your consultation you will start on the prescription-strength kit using seven products, using these twice daily at home for between 16 and 24 weeks.
• Once you are happy and satisfied with the result you can introduce non-prescription products
• You can then choose to follow an ongoing maintenance programme.

The maintenance programme will ensure you can maintain the look you wanted to achieve. It’s different for everyone; you might have to use one or two prescribed products – particularly the pigment suppressing cream and sun protection – to keep the youthful look and suppress existing melasma and prevent future hyperpigmentation. Your clinician will give you the best advice.

So is it forever?

The answer is no, you don’t have to use Obagi Nu-Derm forever. It is of course important that you do finish the 16 to 24 week treatment to see the results and discuss these with your clinician. You may then feel you want to continue with the maintenance programme, or you may choose not to.

However, if you have developed hyperpigmentation or melasma it’s likely that you have skin that is sensitive to these types of pigment changes – using Obagi Nu-Derm won’t alter that fact. So you will benefit from using a milder version of some of the products to sustain the result. And whatever you decide, always, always use an SPF on your face.

Obagi Nu Derm also targets large pores, acne, fine lines and wrinkles so it has other benefits for your skin. Ongoing use of Obagi Nu-Derm will help increase cellular turnover, increase collagen and elastin production and the blood flow to the surface of the skin to give a healthy glow, firmer and clearer skin that looks and acts younger.

How can I make sure I get the right ongoing maintenance?

The key is to choose a clinic which has experienced and trained clinicians who will work with you to make sure that not only does the Nu-Derm kit get you the results you want, but who will advise you in an ongoing capacity.

You should be offered a free consultation and then continuing support during your first 16 to 24 weeks and then help with choosing the best Obagi products to use for the future, if this is what you decide to do.

Check out what results-based guarantees the clinic offers, and look carefully at the reviews published both on the website and on independent review sites. Please feel free to check out our reviews by clicking here – this may help you to compare with other clinics. If you would like to find out more book your free consultation online now by clicking here or call us on 020 868 36730.