[F]Hi! My skin has really changed since I hit the big "50th birthday. It has become dryer, flakes, thick patches and seems like the dead skin cells don't slough off and just pack into my pores creating hard tiny bumps (sometimes dark color) below the surface and the skin thickens over. My guess is that I need some type of cream that encourages faster cell turnover or something. I have tried things like cleansers that have the little buffing grains but they don't seem to help and sometimes irritate my skin. Tried all the buff puffs, loofa type pads, the nylon puffy scrubbers but none really help. Moistures don't really help either. If anyone has any suggestions I sure would be grateful! Thank you, muggrn:confused:

I don't know much about skin conditions, except that most of them really bite.
Have you tried getting an appointment with a dermatologist or a doctor? They probably see stuff like this more often than you think and can prescribe you a lotion or medication that will work.
I heard once that there are new warning signs or risk factors of skin cancer (NOT SAYING THAT'S WHAT IT IS) and that could be one of them... can't for the love of me think of the name though. So talk to your doctor and get it checked out, it's probably just age though and can be sorted out with a simple cream.

Hope it turns out all right!

Tretinoin is the best for skin turn over, they come in different brands and different strength, they are tough in the beginning but great
what works better? - HealthBoards.com Message Boards (http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=583390&highlight=retin+A+antiaging)
Some prefer different brands, some like Renova better for wrinkles than Retin A or Stri-vectin, you have to ask your doctor
Tretinoin topical - Yahoo! Health (http://health.yahoo.com/skinconditions-medications/tretinoin-topical/healthwise--d01244a1.html)
retin-a or strivecton???? - HealthBoards.com Message Boards (http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=584271&highlight=retin+A)
Retin-A Wrinkle (http://www.retin-a-wrinkles.info/retin-a-wrinkle.html)

Besides any creams you use also try taking flaxseed oil
Flax and the Skin (http://www.budwigflax.com/Articles/Flaxseed%20Oil%20and%20Skin.htm)

As you get older, you will start to notice dry skin, patches, age spots, wrinkles and discolorations on your skin. You will need to use an exfoliant to increase skin cell turnover. Look for face creams containing retinol, glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy acid. These ingredients will help stimulate healthy cell turnover and will help improve your skin's texture, tone and clarity.

Skin Care Myths and Misconceptions: Retinol vs Retin A (http://www.smartskincare.com/smartchoices/myths/myth_retinol_retina.html)

Like I said, using creams containing retinol, glycolic acid or alpha hydroxy acid will help stimulate healthy cell turnover and improve your skin's appearance. Retinol creams can exfoliate dead skin cells and increase cell and collagen production. Alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acids) are also great exfoliants. They can exfoliate dead skin cells from the outer layers of your skin and encourages cell turnover and new cell growth. Tretinion is another derivative of vitamin A that can alter skin cells. Tretinion is also good for controlling acne by unclogging the pores.

This article is helpful as well
Anti Aging Important Skin Care Products (http://911skin.com/anti-aging-important-skin-care-products.html)

A few sessions of microdermabrasion will sort your skin out. The beauty clinic I go to applies a cream with a higher concentration of glycolic acid first then they do the microdermabrasion (diamond tip). After leaving the skin to recover for a few days, you use an exfoliant daily to remove dead skin cells. Your face will have new skin all the time.

Try Clinique's 7 day scrub.. use it daily for exfoliation.. you will see the difference in 4-6 weeks