It didn't work for me. I posted this in 2008.

Here is a link that might be useful: My Obagi experience.

Sorry, I haven't tried it but have researched it as I'd love a safe dark spot corrector. Even if I were willing to pay, I wouldn't because of the hyroquinone cancer link suggested in studies. A quick check will show concerns that led to its EU banning in 2001, also in Australia and many countries in Asia and Africa despite the FDA's position.

Hopefully, someone will chime in with a safe treatment.

I am mostly a lurker here, but can tell you a little about Obagi. My dermotologist recommended it for me. I was surprised because she is not really into costmetic treatments. I am very fair and had some dark spots and started using the system. Pictures were taken before I started using it and then compared later and it really did work for me. The nurse has lovely skin she showed me her arms which were covered with tiny freckles and said that is how her face used to looked before she started the system. My doctor has a sale 4 times a year and has buy one get one free on the 10th item. You can get it online as well, but have to pay shipping. It is expensive but so are all skin care products and a least you will have some knowledgeable giving you guidence.. Good luck!

Oh graywings, please say the broad band light worked wonders! I am so fed up with my blotches of browm age spots, along with melesma . If it worked, would you share you experience?

I have not used the everyday treatment but have a friend who does. Her skin looks great. I noticed it immediately when I last saw her.

You can purchase Obagi through Amazon at a much lesser price than $400.

The workhorse of Obagi is tretinoin cream which is sold as Retin A. I have been using this cream for almost 20 years and have great skin, no fine wrinkles, I am 59. I buy a generic brand for $20 a tube which lasts me six months, at this point I only use it 2-3 times a week for maintenance.

martinca - I only went for one treatment of the broad band light, so it had no effect. I had a bad experience with the woman who was doing the work and after that I wanted no part of that doctor's office.

This post was edited by graywings on Sun, Feb 24, 13 at 9:38

I've been using the Obagi system for over 4 years and love it! It made a big difference in my skin-the first 6-8 weeks were hard with alot of peeling and redness but after that was done-Wow! I do use the Clear with the HQ about twice a week now to keep the brown spots and freckles at bay, and a 30SPF sunscreen daily. Also use the system on the back of my hands. I highly recommend.

As for cost-I bought the initial system at my doctor's office and have filled in as needed through Amazon so I don't have a huge outlay of money every three months-I do buy the Retin A through my physician though. I find the products last longer than 3 months although I use daily at this point alternating nights since I am on maintenance. One night Retin A and Blender, the next night Exfoderm (twice a week add Clear to Exfoderm). HTH

Roseabby, where do you buy your generic Retin-A? I have tried tretinoin in the past but have a hard time using it because it seems to cause acne - not pimples, but more like large, hard bumps under the skin. But for $20, I might give it another try.

Thanks!

I buy it at Costco. I do have a prescription. The generic brand is called Steiva-A cream. You will go through a period where you will have some pimples and drier skin but if you keep at it, it will much improve. I never had large hard bumps just the odd pimple so I am not sure. You should talk to your dermatologist about that. I started out with 0.25 strength every other night until my skin got used to it and than every night for a while. Now I am on 0.01, the lowest strength for maintenance, which I use ever other night. I even use it under my eyes and have no crows feet. I made a mistake once and applied it to my eyelids which is a no no, they got quite red and sore. Sunscreen is a must everyday if you use tretinoin creams. The other important nutrient for you skin is topical vitamin C, which gives you brightness to your skin. I apply that on the days I dont use the tretinoin cream.

I buy it at Costco. I do have a prescription. The generic brand is called Steiva-A cream. You will go through a period where you will have some pimples and drier skin but if you keep at it, it will much improve. I never had large hard bumps just the odd pimple so I am not sure. You should talk to your dermatologist about that. I started out with 0.25 strength every other night until my skin got used to it and than every night for a while. Now I am on 0.01, the lowest strength for maintenance, which I use ever other night. I even use it under my eyes and have no crows feet. I made a mistake once and applied it to my eyelids which is a no no, they got quite red and sore. Sunscreen is a must everyday if you use tretinoin creams. The other important nutrient for you skin is topical vitamin C, which gives you brightness to your skin. I apply that on the days I dont use the tretinoin cream.

Graywings - Thanks for linking to your previous post. ThatâÂÂs too bad it didnâÂÂt work for you - it was quite a commitment and to see no results must have been disheartening. And sorry to hear even though the office made good on the refund they spoiled it with poor service. Have you found anything that works for you?

AbundantBlessings - IâÂÂd forgotten about the issues with HQ. Since it was recommended by my doctor, and had so many recommendations from other doctors on realself.com, I didnâÂÂt even think about the system being harmful. I guess I have a little tunnel vision right now. ItâÂÂs something to consider but, call me crazy, I am still interested in the product line. IâÂÂll have to ask how it would work without the HQ.

Cran - Yay, IâÂÂm happy to read a good review and IâÂÂm glad it worked for you. IâÂÂm also fair skinned with dark spots. How did you skin react during the first few weeks? I agree about having the guidance from the doctors office during the first phase. At the event they repeated several times that we could call or show up anytime if there were any questions or concerns. They also offered to refund the cost if I had any kind of allergic reaction - thatâÂÂs big in my book due to the cost.

Jerseygirl1 - I believe for the system to really work correctly you need the products that require RxâÂÂs. I was planning on getting the Starter Kit from the doctor but, like you mentioned, buying the maintenance products online to save some money. IâÂÂm curious about your friend and how you knew sheâÂÂd used Obagi. Did her complexion change that dramatically?

Roseabby - I was curious if parts of the system could be separated out or purchased generically. They sell a starter kit that has 7 or 8 products. ItâÂÂs all supposed to work synergistically but I bet after your skin is accustomed to the harsher products you can pick out the ones you really need for maintenance. Do you apply it liberally or just to certain spots? I see you also use Vitamin Câ¦any particular brand you can recommend?

Joshuasamah - Another good review! IâÂÂm glad itâÂÂs working for you. The peeling phase is the most daunting part to me. I was hoping it was only a few weeks but 6-8 sounds rough. At the event they talked about a new moisturizer theyâÂÂve added to help with the flaking/peeling - maybe that will reduce the time for me, if I choose to try Obagi. Did you use the entire line on your hands or just certain products? IâÂÂve always had âÂÂold ladyâ hands and it would be great to get any improvement. Hmm, I wonder if I could use it on my legs.

I have fond memories of my days on the beach but really wish IâÂÂd used more sunscreen.

Jennifer

Thanks graywings. After reading that the hq could darken spots, in some cases, I of coirse, began to see minuscule/ imaginary
Darkening...scard me off. Sigh.

Must look up the edit feature :>\

I use it all over my face, neck and back of my hands.
I dont know what the products are in the line you are considering but I would not pay $$$ for any cleansers. They are not on your skin long enough to really do anything,
The C serum I use, which I have been using for almost as long as the trentinoin cream is Cellex C. It can be costly but I stock up when it is on sale The Shopping Channel.

Jennifer-works great on my hands. I got in the habit of putting the amount of product I thought I needed for my face on the back of my hand then applying to my face. I always had some left over so decided to use the remaining on my hands and was so happy with the results I continue to use it. I also use on my neck and chest area with great results.

I have been using the Obagi Nuderm system for a year, and it has made a big difference in my skin. I don't use Retin-A as I have very sensitive skin. The first 2 months using it were rough, and I have also added the additional moisturizer Hydrate after the steps am and pm. I purchase mine on Amazon.

I just checked Amazon, and it looks like there are a lot of different Obagi products - which are the best to use?

terriks, I do use the Gentle Cleanser as I have dry skin and find it non-drying-I tried the foaming cleanser and it was too drying for me. If you have a cleanser and toner you are happy with you dont need those. The basics of the system are Retin A mixed with Blender, Exfoderm used with Clear. You use a pea size of each. I also use the Obagi C for eyes and face in the morning under my sunscreen. The directions from my doctor when I started were Retin A mixed with Blender every night and Exfoderm with Clear each morning for the first 8 weeks. When that was completed I went to maintenance using the same combinations every other night. Be sure to use sunscreen every day. I know Obagi claims you don't need a moisturizer but see they have now come out with one. I use Cerave moisturizer with a 30spf so don't use the Obagi moisturizer.
A few tips to make the first 6-8 weeks more tolerable-you will peel alot-when my face was very red and peeling, some moisturizers burned so I used olive oil in the morning thinking it was chemical free and it didn't burn. When peeling I used (and still do for the few days a month I seem to get some peeling) a microfiber cloth lightly (stress lightly) on my face to remove some of the peeling skin.

HTH I couldn't be happier with the products and they have made a big difference for me. Prior to using Obagi I spent a fortune looking for the "holy grail" so while this is expensive to start out, I am no longer wasting money on products that don't work.

Facials are a great defense against many skin problems. There are many different type, and you need to find what's best for *your* skin type and condition. I've tried many, and have now decided to stick with the hydra facial, more expensive, but for me great results. I've already had two, and will be getting a third at the end of March, and have already noticed a difference in pore size as well as fine lines. While it is more expensive, after 6 treatments most skin types will have a noticeable difference. After that, it's recommended a product w/ retinol be used.

There are a number of skin care lines that are selling products for fading dark spots -- almost all of the big names available in department stores and at least half of the drug store variety. Have you tried any of those? Seems like they would be worth a try before dropping $400.

I like the Philosophy skin care line and they have a number of products in their Miracle Worker line you might want to try. They are having a 25% off promotion that ends Thursday. Might be a good time to check out a couple of products, a trial size set or a value set for greater savings.

Patty cakes, the hydra facial sounds wonderful!

What about laser treatments? I wonder if anyone has had real success with them. I did a series of them a few years ago for my many spots. (I have freckles, which I don't mind, but now I also have sun damage spots mixed in, making my face look like some sort of sepia-toned map of the world when I don't have makeup on.) The laser turned a lot of the spots darker at first, then they basically fell off. I have one biggish spot in particular on my cheek that bothers me more than anything, and that one didn't go away completely but it was definitely lighter. The problem is, within a year all the spots were back. I can't afford to do laser treatments all the time!

I even had a dermatologist try to "burn" off that one dark spot with that thing they use to burn off minor moles. That didn't work a bit.

I do have the Obagi hydroquinone cream that I bought from Amazon. Unfortunately, I'm not that religious about using it but an aesthetician told me with these products you have to really use them religiously for many months to see a real difference. When I did use it religiously for a while, what I noticed is that the spots darkened at first (I didn't use it on my whole face, just on a couple of really annoying spots) and then peeled a bit, and finally they did lighten up. So I'm trying to do that again. What I really want is a magic instant eraser!

I am in the middle of a second series of microdermabrasion treatments that I started last spring. I go about once a month (I didn't go in summer). I think that has lightened some of the smaller spots, and definitely makes my skin look clearer in general.

No experience w/Obagi but products I've used the past three months which I've liked and will continue with are:

Clarisonic facial brush.
Emergen-c glycolic and clarifying pads
PMD microdermabrasion device

I was given a GC to a Four Seasons spa and now know what I'll do with it (spa virgin). Facial!