Inconvenient Annoyances

Awww, Jewlz, that sucks. Good for sticking up for yourself.  Is there some way you could get an appointment with a different derm? I've started getting that "mask" as well, I think because I'm on new birth control (and have lost my useful perma tan which used to disguise it), and I had a chat with a nurse at our local sexual health clinic. She gave me a list of things to ask my GP about. Maybe that route would work? They're a walk in clinic so you don't need a referral or anything.
But hey, yeah FIL!

My IA is that we are flying to Sri Lanka today and need to get down to London. We were supposed to leave at 2pm, but DH ended up having to work and I have no idea when were are leaving now. (we have tons of time...but travel makes me mental). Arghh, anxiety.

Awww, Jewlz, that sucks. Good for sticking up for yourself.  Is there some way you could get an appointment with a different derm? I've started getting that "mask" as well, I think because I'm on new birth control (and have lost my useful perma tan which used to disguise it), and I had a chat with a nurse at our local sexual health clinic. She gave me a list of things to ask my GP about. Maybe that route would work? They're a walk in clinic so you don't need a referral or anything.
But hey, yeah FIL!

My IA is that we are flying to Sri Lanka today and need to get down to London. We were supposed to leave at 2pm, but DH ended up having to work and I have no idea when were are leaving now. (we have tons of time...but travel makes me mental). Arghh, anxiety.

Yeah, I get anxious when I travel, too! I hate to fly. I always wish I could just go to sleep and then wake up there. 

I'm not going to press the issue any further. I will try the cream and see what happens, and just keep using the sunblock, etc., as the dark spots have faded some since I stopped the Pill, stopped smoking, and started using heavy duty sunblock for sensitive skin every day. Maybe over time it will get lighter. At any rate, maybe at some point I will have more money and can consider other options like peels and laser therapy. I understand it is just a cosmetic issue, but it has damaged my self-confidence and she really didn't need to treat me like it didn't matter at all. 

SP and Jewlz - HUGGGS
SP - Everyone needs a whine once in awhile and this is a good palce to do it...
Jewlz - thats BS and I agree see if you can't get a 2nd opinion forget the fact of they do it in America <grrrr>

Edit - I would also file a complaint at the NHS - I can find our from Debra she is a manager and will tell you the right route. No one should feel liek they are treated bad

Jewlz - thats BS and I agree see if you can't get a 2nd opinion forget the fact of they do it in America <grrrr>

Yeah, any of you guys would've been livid. You wouldn't have believed it... she talked to me like because I'm an American I expected to be treated like some kind of glamour model or celebrity, or like I was just being vain about my complexion because Americans are like that. I swear I didn't imagine it... I think I should have thought of some more skin issues to complain about just to waste more of her precious time. 

I'm not going to press the issue any further. I will try the cream and see what happens, and just keep using the sunblock, etc., as the dark spots have faded some since I stopped the Pill, stopped smoking, and started using heavy duty sunblock for sensitive skin every day. Maybe over time it will get lighter. At any rate, maybe at some point I will have more money and can consider other options like peels and laser therapy. I understand it is just a cosmetic issue, but it has damaged my self-confidence and she really didn't need to treat me like it didn't matter at all. 

I can understand you being sensitive about your skin, especially with the psoriasis which can be pretty bad. Both my mum and her sister had it (from their mother) and often felt that people looked at them like they had leprosy! So it's just one more thing to undermine your confidence.
Hope the new stuff works.

I'm not going to press the issue any further. I will try the cream and see what happens, and just keep using the sunblock, etc., as the dark spots have faded some since I stopped the Pill, stopped smoking, and started using heavy duty sunblock for sensitive skin every day. Maybe over time it will get lighter. At any rate, maybe at some point I will have more money and can consider other options like peels and laser therapy. I understand it is just a cosmetic issue, but it has damaged my self-confidence and she really didn't need to treat me like it didn't matter at all. 

Jewlz

Sorry to hear about the dermatologist.  I really hate condescending docs.

I did want to comment on your melasma though.  The doc isn't really wrong that not much can be done -- regardless of how badly she delivered the message.

It is a hormone producing reaction.  If the hormone is temporary, you can stop the hormones and wait for what you have to fade.  If the hormone issue is permanent, as in my case, you can just manage the issue.  Topical creams rarely work as lighteners just aren't effective.  The best you can do is wear sunscreen EVERYday, as the sun greatly exacerbates the issue. So if you have stopped the pill and are religious about sunscreen, it is unfortunately a waiting game. You may want to try using lemon juice as a toner, as it will help bleach the area quicker but that still may take time.

Laser could help if you are dealing with a temporary hormonal issue but it can always come back so you may not find the expense worth it (I didn't for that reason).

Anyway, you probably know all this but you aren't alone.  And you may feel slightly better that the doctor wasn't giving you a false report.

Aww jewlz, I hate condensending arrogant docs like that!!!!!!!!   

Jewlz,

That is terrible!  You need to be respected about what you know and feel about yourself and how having psoriasis has affected you. You are your own expert. I would consider contacting PALS for advice http://www.pals.nhs.uk/.

Could you talk to your GP about the outcome once you have trialled the cream and request a different dermatologist?

Sounds like it was a hug in the form of an ice cream, though. Regardless of some idiot person's insensitivity, you are a lovely person inside and out. 

((hugs))

@MLG, BostonDiner, and everyone else - Thank you. I've been having a tough time lately, so that hasn't helped my mood. I am sure I was probably being a bit too sensitive, in hindsight, though she was being condescending. I've let it go now. Thanks for letting me rant, man, I was livid!  I do have far more serious health issues to deal with at the moment, so, it's easier to let that one go just now.

@Sara, I realized what the doctor was saying was true... I wasn't expecting a miracle or anything. The thing is, I have melasma on my cheeks, but also I have lots of broken capillaries there and the GP wasn't sure if I had rosacea or not, or what she should prescribe, which is why she sent me to the dermatologist. So I knew I had melasma on my upper lip and chin, but that's faded a bit, I just wasn't sure if that's what was going on with my cheeks as well or not. I've read about some supplements that seem to work for some people, so I've been trying those, and it seems to have faded a bit in some areas, so you never know. This azealic acid cream she prescribed seems to work for some people, from what I have seen online, but can be very irritating to some people's skin, and mine is very sensitive, so I'll have to see if I can use it or not. I definitely use the sunblock every day and try to stay out of the sun, though they tell me to go in the sun for my psoriasis.  Anyway, I'm sorry you have to deal with it, too, it really sucks and it's hard to cover with makeup.  But I've decided to officially stop worrying about it now. Hopefully if I keep taking care of my skin it will fade away in time, or at least not get worse.

Hugs, Jewlz. I'd complain. Seriously. That is way out of line and unacceptable.

WAIT!  Jewlz and others with skin conditions. 

Do you want coverage stuff?  Because the British Red Cross does free skin camo.  You need to go to a clinic and it takes maybe an hour and they match to your skin tone and it stays on for up to 7 days.

You need a doc's referral.  The clinic is free but the make-up is covered by the NHS. 

If you call your local Red Cross and ask about it they can tell you what needs to be in the letter.  Our area has a wait time of about a month, they only do clinics at the local hospital, but others do them at the centres.

http://www.redcross.org.uk/standard.asp?id=89410

The girl in the pic has some serious skin issues, but they really help lots of people even people with regrettable tattoos. 

So if that is your problem give them a call. 

WAIT!  Jewlz and others with skin conditions. 

Do you want coverage stuff?  Because the British Red Cross does free skin camo.  You need to go to a clinic and it takes maybe an hour and they match to your skin tone and it stays on for up to 7 days.

You need a doc's referral.  The clinic is free but the make-up is covered by the NHS. 

If you call your local Red Cross and ask about it they can tell you what needs to be in the letter.  Our area has a wait time of about a month, they only do clinics at the local hospital, but others do them at the centres.

http://www.redcross.org.uk/standard.asp?id=89410

The girl in the pic has some serious skin issues, but they really help lots of people even people with regrettable tattoos. 

So if that is your problem give them a call. 

I just had a Skincare training day at regional office (for Boots) and one of the presentations was on the skin camouflage products provided by the Red Cross (Dermablend). They've just released the Dermablend products under the Vichy brand, so you don't have to contact the Red Cross any more to get it. It comes in a foundation and cover stick and you also need to get a setting powder to put over the top: Vichy Dermablend - I think you'll have to pay for it though as they didn't mention anything about getting it on the NHS.

You don't need to go through the Red Cross, but they spend quite a while combining different colours to really match your skin tone. 

But if you are wanting something quickly then, yeah.   

Customs is holding my birthday package hostage until we pay VAT and Parcelforce is charging us for having to hold it.

We've always managed to avoid this, but somehow this box was different.  I just want my goodies!!! 

Went to the dermatologist to ask about my the pigmentation on my face. The doctor treated me like I was totally wasting her time, explained how the NHS works and that they are seeing patients with serious problems, etc.... it was unbelievable. And then she even threw in a few "I don't know how they do things in AMERICA...." comments. I completely exploded on her. I've had psoriasis for 18 years and though it may not look like much at the moment, it's been really bad in the past, so I know all about severe skin problems. I wasn't expecting to go in and get a freakin' Extreme Makeover or whatever, I just thought maybe they could prescribe a cream I could try, since my GP didn't know what to prescribe, and that's why she sent me. And then, aside from that, it's not her face! It may not be a big deal to her, but it isn't a minor problem to me. I left fuming and in tears.  She was so condescending and rude.

Oh my gosh, that's horrible Jewlz!! 

On top of being condescending and rude in the first place, the snide comment about America was just absolutely uncalled for.  Unprofessional.