I wonder what they think of CITP studies on tretinoin extending lifespan in various strains of worms?
You and @medaura (and perhaps others here) have purchased these low cost Tixel machines from China. Can you and medaura please share your experiences with these devices, where you use them (what skin areas) and what the results have been (good and bad)?
Given the prices and cost effectiveness (compared to services) it seems these might be good solutions for many people, if they are effective, reliable, and relatively trouble free.
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@RapAdmin, yes I bought my OEM Tixel device about a year ago, at almost the same time as @eli , and weāve been swapping notes on setup and parameters ever since. Iāve completed roughly five full sessions so far.
Results
ā On my skin, the outcomes are very close to what I used to get with the original branded system: steady, visible resurfacing and softening of fine lines, but nothing as dramatic as the āone-treatment miracleā images you see in ads. Progress is gradual.
ā Pre-/post-care and dialing in the right parameters are absolutely critical. Iām still experimenting with time and tip protrusion, plus using the open micro-channels to infuse actives that encourage neocollagenesis.
Areas treated
Face (including the delicate periorbital region around eyes) and dĆ©colletĆ© - on myself and a couple of family volunteers. With strict disinfection and sensible after-care, weāve had no adverse effects.
Verdict
No regrets at all about the investment, and Iād recommend it to anyone whoās comfortable learning the device and respecting the hygiene basics. If youāre thinking of buying, Iām happy to share the seller who knows how to navigate customs, along with my starter settings / setup details.
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How frequently do you use the device in a given area? And what was the total US$ cost of the product plus shipping?
How does it compare to any other approaches to skin care, skin rejuvenation, etc. you may have tried?
How long does it take to use? What are the side effects (does it hurt?, leave your face red for a while, etc.?)
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I am also curious how it compares to microneedling, since both are essentially the same principle of creating temporary microchannels and stimulating dermal repair. Tixel does it with fancy heating. The needle just shoves a piece of stainless steel into your skin.
However, a good microneedle pen setup gets you accurate depth control, different speeds, lots of different needle sizes and coverage areas, and costs like $200. Iāve self-administered maybe 7-8 sessions so far, and I think it works really well. Iāve also extended it onto my hands, arms, trying to repair sun spots etc and I believe itās working.
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Iāve seen some doctors claim a dermaroller is safer and as effective as a microneedle pen. The roller prevents dragging the needle through the skin causing unnecessary damage.
Iād be interested in seeing a study comparing Tixel to microneedling.
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How often? I hit the same area about once a 6-8 weeks. That break gives the skin time to close up and start making fresh collagen. New collagen starts forming right away, is busiest in weeks 2-4, and keeps building for roughly three months according to studies - so treating again after ~4ā8 weeks lets you layer the benefit without over-doing it.
Price of device was 1400 euro and price for delivery and custom clearance was about 550 euro (Incoterms: DDP Germany). In the meantime, you can buy device 300-400 euro cheaper.
How to compare it with other interventions? The biggest head-to-head study found that Tixel works about as well as a 1565-nm non-ablative laser around the eyes, causing slightly less pain but producing a bit more surface crusting. In broader terms, both Tixel and RF-assisted microneedling typically soften wrinkles by roughly 25ā35 % - about one to two clinical grades - whereas plain microneedling alone usually achieves closer to 15 %.
How long does it take for 1 interventions and side effects. A full-face session lasts roughly half an hour. Higher energy settings can be quite painful, but a lidocaine cream takes the sting out. Expect the skin to stay red for two to three days, and keep it out of the sun during that period and afterward.
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@relaxedmeatball and @SilentWatcher (or anyone else who has tried these)
@medaura ā¦ I know itās new to you, but do you know?
I am curious about these.
My biggest skin issue is that I developed HUGE pores on my cheeks in my old age. I oddly donāt have little fine lines that are there when my face is at rest, but of course I do have wrinkles from movement that Botox addresses.
Do these gadgets work on reducing the look of pores?
(I do have a roller that I used twice, so I could find out for myself, but I worried it would be a lot of time spent for no result)
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This study briefly touches on Tixelās effects on pore size. If Iām reading it correctly it did have somewhat of a benefit:
Results
The objective assessments demonstrated statistically significant improvements in the following parameters: roughness, wrinkles, pore size, elasticity, pigmentation, and erythema (p < 0.001). The FACEāQ results demonstrated high patient satisfaction, with a response rate of 68.4%. The MAZDA analysis confirmed significant texture improvements across most facial zones, with the exception of the medial forehead.
This one also:
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I donāt have Tixel but a lot of devices can help with pores. If thatās your only concern, the most cost effective solution is probably RF microneedling as the device costs around $300 and then consumables less than $10 per use, uses spread 4-6 weeks apart. I didnāt have problematic pores but some enlargement over the front of my cheeks and 0.1% tretinoin has been the most effective intervention for them. I noticed the pores looking much smaller in about a month of use.
@RapAdmin I love the results Iāve been getting from my devices, but yes, itās never as impressive from a single treatment as what you see in the before and after images on Google for any particular modality under the sun. It takes 4-8 treatments spread weeks apart to really go wow and have people start asking you what youāve been doing. Itās also ideal to have non overlapping modes of action. For example while I do have and use quite a few energy based devices (RF, tecar, ultra former / hifu, RF microneedling) I like now adding local dynamic micromassage and shockwave. Once a certain dial is turned up via controlled heat damage, you canāt do more without overtaxing your skin and probably more does more harm than good. But you can layer these others as they are independent of heat based denaturation of collagen. Iāve learned from people I know who perform treatments professionally that itās often the folks with the worst baseline skin condition that get the most impressive initial results. Call it the catchup effect if you will. But once your skin is in very good shape thereās diminishing marginal returns that set in so itās easier to go from skin score, if there were such thing, of 40 to 70. But much harder going from 90 to 99.
I think Iāll make a separate post about what Iāve got out of using devices. One thing I know though. You donāt need Bryan Johnson budgets to make it happen. You do need to buy the device and get it direct from the Chinese manufacturer. That way you can afford to buy more than one so address multiple needs and the marginal recurring cost is negligible, often zero. Thereās no one and done to any of it. Itās like a fitness regimen. My calendar has skin treatment dates blocked off. Once you start seeing results itās easy to keep going. Kind of addictive actually.
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I agree. Tretinoin definitely reduces pore size. I have been using tretinoin from India for about 9 months. I am not sure how long it took to reduce pore size. Fortunately, I donāt have any bad reactions from tretinoin, so I use a lot. It is dirt cheap from India.
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Thatās true. And Iād like to take this opportunity to thank you, @medaura, for your posts ā before I read you, it seemed unimaginable to me. I thought these devices could only be operated by medical professionals. But clearly, itās not rocket science, and Iām glad I gave it a try.
No one can take care of you the way you can take care of yourself.
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Thatās a strange article of faith, pounded into us by the mainstream messaging weāre steeped in ā that you need to have a professional handle it. I see plenty of horror stories on RealSelf or on skincare centric FB group about the āprofessionalā fucking up and the patient is left holding the pieces. In the U.S. at least itās not the brightest tools in the shed who end up as aestheticians by and large. A lot of these providers are simply ignorant and not that smart to boot and have done little more training on a device than a weekend seminar or YT playlist binging (and far less in depth than you probably would yourself). At times thereās MDs or surgeons providing the treatment but theyāre not infallible either and you pay a very steep premium for their credentials. Still theyāre a small minority of the providers as itās more profitable for them to outsource the procedure to staff whose time is far less valuable than their own. I feel much more comfortable and in control performing my own treatments. The only exception is injection. Iām not going to risk vascular occlusion for anything. Learning how to inject in the right plane is also something you can only get proficient at through practice and I have no one to practice on but myself so no. The only exception within the exception is mesotherapy and still I havenāt taken the plunge yet. But all these heat based devices are very simple to operate and much better at getting results from if you do it yourself so you can see what settings or techniques your skin responds well to.
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Absolutely valid point!!
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I just started using it. I started with adapalene a month earlier.
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Stick to it. Itās so good! And make sure to not skimp on sunscreen now.
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Bryan Johnson recently released a video stating hbot was one of the best anti aging and skin rejuvenating protocols heās done. I think he did 90 sessions in 3 months iirc. Consistency is key with hbot to build the effect. Said you can tell when someone has the āhbot glowā
Iāve been wearing sunscreen most times I go outside. Is it necessary if it is overcast? Itās winter in Australia right now and I walk to work. It was overcast yesterday and I didnāt bother putting sunscreen on.
Every single day!!
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You can check the UV index for your area, which is probably the best bet. And then couple that with your skin type (something called the Fitzpatrick scale: Table: Fitzpatrick Skin Type Classification-MSD Manual Professional Edition )
There are apps which will tell you when itās sun-safe outside or not. There are even some that can approximate your rate of vitamin D synthesis based on UV index, skin exposure and skin type.
For me personally, Iāve started wearing sunscreen religiously. Iām a Type II and I develop freckles (and cursed sun spots, urgh) very easily.
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