Article by beauty expert about her skin problems.

[Peter]

Hello

I saw this article in the Daily Mail "YOU" magazine this morning and thought it was worth posting up. I think of all of us who have suffered from rosacea or acne etc can relate to what she has written especially "The thing with skin conditions is that they're not life threatening. To most doctors, they're not even especially interesting" How true that is. Also she mentions about the amazing success she had with Accutane. Anyway here's the link and the text in full:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/you/article- ... meron.html

Thanks

Peter

"Working in beauty on magazines felt somehow fraudulent. I thought people must wonder what kind of expert could I be with such rubbish skin?

In my mind’s eye I can still see the hurtful pictures they drew of me on the desks in the sixth form at school. I knew it was me because the body was wearing my distinctive black and white checked mohair jumper and the face was manically dotted with black marker pen to illustrate my terrible acne.


My tormentors also gleefully took every opportunity to say words such as ‘boil’ or ‘pus’ loudly as I passed them. And of course the line ‘Out, damned spot!’ from
our A-level text of Shakespeare’s Macbeth was often recited for my benefit outside the classroom. My teenage diaries were a catalogue of blemishes, embarrassment and self-loathing. I hid under a thick layer of make-up, a curtain of hair and a confident exterior (faked).

Fast forward to today and I am astonished to find myself starring in a TV skincare commercial (and not as a ‘before’). Despite, or perhaps because of, my skin issues, I write about beauty for a women’s magazine and as such am considered an expert, hence my involvement in the Olay Regenerist ad. My skin is no longer ravaged by acne (I don’t think they would have hired me if it was) but while the scarring on my face is minimal, the psychological scars have endured. Even now I examine my skin closely for any signs of eruptions and have familiar feelings of panic and despair if a bump appears under my skin. The tag line of the ad, ‘Love the skin you’re in’, has particular resonance for me. You see, I never have.

My adolescent pimples developed into full blown acne by the time I was 16 and hung around throughout my 20s and into my 30s, when wrinkles joined the party. I hated my skin. I spent hours in front of the mirror, squeezing and scrubbing, and applying various spot-healing creams and masks. I roasted for years on sunbeds in the misguided belief that the fake sunshine would dry up my spots. I cried over my ugliness and slept with men I didn’t much like simply for validation.

I saw beauty therapists, homoeopaths, nutritionists and even a few conventional doctors in the quest for a cure, which was all to no avail, though various courses of antibiotics did leave me relatively clear-skinned for decent lengths of time.


The thing with skin conditions is that they’re not life threatening. To most doctors, they’re not even especially interesting. Friends and family will reassure you that you don’t look too bad, but you know they’re just being kind. You know you look like a kissing cousin of the Elephant Man.


As anyone suffering these conditions knows, acne, rosacea, eczema or psoriasis in exposed parts of the body can be all-consuming conditions with a real psychological impact. People stare. People flinch. People feel the need to comment when you really don’t want to draw attention to your affliction and give you their helpful observations, like you’re probably eating too much chocolate. Skin conditions knock your confidence.

Apart from the emotional impact, having acne impacted on my work life too. Working in beauty on magazines felt somehow fraudulent (not to mention downright depressing at times when surrounded by gorgeous models with picture-perfect skin). I felt self-conscious and thought people must think that I was clueless or that I didn’t follow my own advice. What kind of beauty expert could I be with such rubbish skin?

My life changed when I finally got myself referred to one of this country’s leading acne specialists, Dr Tony Chu. He put me on various drug combinations before deciding to give me Roaccutane, which contains the active ingredient isotretinoin, a derivative of vitamin A. It’s a powerful drug and gets some negative press, but for me was the miracle I’d been waiting for. By my mid-30s I finally had what I wanted – clear skin. For the first time I went out without make-up. People even started to comment on what great skin I had.

My only regret is that I didn’t see him years earlier because I spent far too much of my life wishing it away for when I had better skin. At least now I really am seizing every day and every opportunity that comes my way. That’s why doing the TV commercial was so important to me. It’s just so deliciously ironic. It’s facing up to my personal demons, and those schoolday bullies. I’d love to see the look on their faces when they see it."

[Aurelia]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for that interesting article. The writer sure was amazingly honest about the emotional impact on her life.

I have read that Dr Chu regards Accutane (Roaccutane in the British market) as pretty much a treatment of last resort, something that should not be tried as a first step. That is confirmed by her statement: "He put me on various drug combinations before deciding to give me Roaccutane ..."

Kind regards,

Aurelia

[Peter]

Hello Aurelia

No problem - yet another article about skin conditions from a Daily Mail publication.

She was very honest and as she pointed out it was very difficult for her in her profession to have problematic skin.

Accutane is a very powerful drug but for some people with acne it can appear to switch the condition off and transform their life, as was Eve's case. As you say it is a last resort case for those who haven't responded to other treatments and as far as I was aware can only be prescribed in the UK by a consultant dermatologist.

I know Tony is reluctant to prescribe it for rosacea, as he feels it can worsen the condition or for some people actually be the cause. However as we well know we do get reports back for some (yourself included) of good results with rosacea when taken in lower dose form but I don't really know enough about this drug to comment.

Thanks

Peter