Please recommend a seriously good dermatologist .....I've had enough!

[Fatrascals]

I live in the SE
I'm willing to travel to London or anywhere within a reasonable distance.
I have just reached a point where I have no energy left to try to address my skin problems myself. I just have bad skin in that I have spots ...sometimes bad, acne style spots. But ......at 46 years old and this being a problem (off and on) for 16 years.

I've tried so hard....so many things. I want help now but I want a professional. A good one.

[Fatrascals]

Bumping 2 months on ....... Anyone?

[Deux]

Sam Bunting perhaps. She has a website if you google.

[Cassimin]

Is your GP no help?
My daughter has put up with years of acne and been prescribed pills, creams, lotions. At last the dr has referred her to dermatologist to get roaccutane.
Her brother had great results with this a few years ago.
If you haven't already just be persistent with GP

[Wolpertinger]

Have you seen any dermatologist at all? You prob don't need a special one, acne is their bread and butter. Dr Sam Bunting is the famous one and people who have seen her on here have loved her.

I haven't seen her but followed her advice for over the counter stuff and it has completely cleared up my acne.

But probably almost any private dermatologist would do, they will have seen gazillions of women with adult acne who have had bad advice from beauty counters and other heapth care professionals and sympathize.

If you have a bit of energy left to let us know what you have tried, we might make a few suggestions while you are waiting.

[taybert]

If you haven't seen any dermatologist at all then it certainly doesn't need to be a private one. Just go to your GP and say what you've said here.

[Fatrascals]

Hi and thanks very much for answering ..... I woke up to another spot and just felt completely and utterly fed-up and deflated.

1. I haven't been to my GP (years ago I did and had a topical treatment). I don't really feel like this is where I want to go ....rightly
   or wrongly (and I'm willing to listen) I feel like I'll be offered stuff that I don't want. I don't want contraceptives, roactune, or even retin A at this stage. I'm scared of retin A becuase I've tried some RETINOL and had red marks very easily and I think I got more spots.
   
   
2. a bit pathetically I really don't think I can face "it might get worse before it gets better" (see retin A again)
   
   
3. I've tried dietary changes with no conclusive evidence
   I think I'm fairly healthy but I eat dairy, meat, wheat etc.
   I am currently on dry jan and I thought my skin looked good but it's stopped looking good in the past few days. (Spots on jaw-line)
   I am probably ovulating (could be an influence)
   
   
4. last year I had great results (initially) from folloŵing skin care thread and Caroline Hiron's advice..... I started double cleansing and stopped using foaming cleanser. I use acids.
   
   I got right into it and bought various products but in the end my skin ended up spotty and probably worse than it had been previously. This was despite paring it right back to the basics of cleansing and acid toning.
   
   
   I feel depressed about my skin and fed up with the brain space it takes up wondering if I should be changing supplements or eating less wheat or blah blah blah) I have googled local skin clinics/dermatologists.
   I don't want sk:n becuase they will just want to flog me products (Been to them before)
   
   There's a dermatologist clinic near me but web-site less than professional and lots of laser and Botox references.
   
   
   I really want a individual and holistic approach. I feel over-whelmed with all the possibilities of what could be affecting it ..... I could write about it for hours but that's the basics.
   
   
   Thanks for asking!

[PolovesTubbyCustard]

I am a similar age to you OP.

I have struggled with spots/acne since being a young teen
The only 'cures' being the combined pill and pregnancy.

I have paid to see private derm as I figured I needed roaccutane. My skin wasn't bad enough to be considered for that treatment by my local NHS derm department.

The private derm referred me to an NHS derm who specialises in adult acne. She wasn't v local. I had a 90 min drive to get there but she sorted me out straight away.

Realisong that the reason for my skin problems is predominantly the oily skin (face, neck, chest, back and shoulders) she prescribed spironolactone. This acts on the way the body processes excess testosterone. It's the testosterone whivh causes the oiliness hence acne.

One month in and my skin was normal. Virtually perfect.

I started taking it last March
Since then I have had only a handful of notable spots.

It's not a cure, so once I cease taking it the skin will revert back. I'm just hoping that once I get through menopause years my skin will naturally dry out.

It's worth reading up on. Spiro is used to treat patients for fluid retention. (pulmonary oedema etc) so can make one need to pee a lot, so need to drink more water. I can't be 100% sure, but I do think o have laid down more fat on my hips and belly. I used to be less wobbly. But I can put up with it if my skin is ok.

[Wolpertinger]

Hi - I would suggest an NHS derm or a private derm at a non cosmetic clinic is probably the way for you to go.

If you go to a cosmetic clinic you are going to have the risk of them trying to sell you their stuff. If you go private but not cosmetic eg at your local Spire you will have the benefit of a long appointment to share your worries etc but no big array of Obagi products in the corner of the room.

Dr Sam definitely sells stuff like Obagi but also comes across as if she is very sympathetic and supportive during the worse before it is better stage

NHS - similar but shorter appointment. And again no big sell.

Derms tend to think the diet and drink water advice is equivocal for acne ie if it's worked for you that's lovely but it isn't a big thing for them.

If I had the money in your situation, I would see an NHS derm working privately who specializes in acne at my local private hospital in your situation. Usually about £200 ish an appointment.

[PollyPerky]

You may have to see your GP anyway for a referral letter to a dermo- certainly for NHS and possibly for private.

Depending on where you live and your budget, I'd suggest you start hunting down dermos who specialise in your skin problem- look at main London private hospitals for a start- Lister, King Edward 7,etc- and check out the drs. Many consultants work from multiple locations so look at your own private hospitals too.

[SparklyTinselTits]

I've suffered with chronic acne since I was about 12 (I'm 21 now).
I've tried absolutely everything. Contraceptive pill which made things worse. Antibiotics which worked wonders for a short time, but they aren't suitable for long term use as the body builds a resistance to them. Topical treatments (benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, retinoids etc), they all worked to an extent, but my skin is very sensitive, so I was left with itchy, dry, irritated, raw skin. I don't want to go down the to acutane route, so I've now started tackling my diet, and using natural treatments - which have all been more effective than the medications.
I had to cut out dairy due to IBS, but I also noticed a massive improvement in my skin as well! Nowadays I only get breakouts around my period. I also use coconut oil on my skin for everything (removing make up, cleansing and moisturising if I need it). My skin has improved drastically.
I would suggest you see your GP first. Treatments that didn't work for me may well solve your problem! If that doesn't work, I would try natural treatments and diet adjustments before shelling out hundreds of pounds on a private dermatologist!
I wish you luck OP! I completely understand how acne affects people emotionally

[hollieberrie]

I went to see Claudia Louch in London. She is £££ & tries to sell you a ton of products you probably don't need BUT she did some extensive blood and urine tests which really got to the bottom of my problem - yeast overgrowth in gut causing allergic fungal acne.

My gp and 2 other derms missed this and kept prescribing antibiotics which only made it worse.
Now I keep it under control with diet and know what to take if I have an outbreak so it was really beneficial to see her.

[GeorgieB89]

Tony Chu is a renowned acne specialist -works out of Hammersmith Hospital and has his own private clinic - West London Derm. They also do loads of anti-ageing stuff so try to look past it.

[Fatrascals]

Thanks so much for answering everyone. I am reading all the replies and am really gratfeul. I just feel so fed up to day that I'm not able to formulate an opinion as yet!

However, if an Private derm in a hospital might cost £200 per appointment does anyone know how much for eg Sam Bunting or tony chu would be ? Just out of interest please

[hollieberrie]

Is it body acne as well Fatrascals? Or just face? Mine was everywhere - neck, ear lobes (!), chest, shoulders - which is apparently a symptom of it (possibly) being a fungal folliculitis type thing rather than straight forward acne. Good luck, i understand how depressing it can be, hope you can get it sorted. Dont give up hope - mine is so much better nowadays, it just took getting the right advice. Like you i had a few false starts before that happened.

[Ridingthegravytrain]

www.dermclinic.co.uk/

Tony chu here is amazing and such a lovely man

[Ridingthegravytrain]

Couldn't say for sure how much it would cost now. Usually an initial consult with a private doc is anywhere from £150-250

[PollyPerky]

Guys and St Thomas' in London has the biggest dermatology dept in London.

Otherwise, look at the Lister, Chelsea bridge and King Edward 7,

I'd not go for 'celebrity' drs who also sell products because there many excellent low profile consultants who do a wonderful job.

[Frankmonkey]

Roaccutane. My dd took it, had almost no side effects and now has beautiful skin. Wish I'd pushed for it earlier.

[Tadpoletoatoad]

I have days of despair like yours. For ages I tried to ignore it. Then I went to Boots for some face cream and the No7 lady pounced on me. I was really wary. She was very nice and asked if I have Rosacea. I looked blank as never even considered it. She went on to give me some samples and we narrowed my worst days down to when my skin was really dry. I was thinking I had oily skin so using products to counter that. But it was only oily as it was so dry and trying to compensate.
I have to say that it has made a difference. I can even go some days with make up which is unheard of since I was 14. I have looked a lot more into Rosacea and it does seem that's what I have.
Anyway, probably not a lot of point to my post but to say I know how you feel.

[Wolpertinger]

I would second that - there are many many low profile docs who will be see loads of acne patients all the time. It's when you get into high profile that you start getting the upselling and non-mainstream treatments.

Mostly in medicine, dull and mainstream is good. I know loads of amazing doctors who are not working in big name hospitals for family reasons or lifestyle choices but are just as good as those in the flash places or better - and some utter nobs who are Professors. You just want a nice qualified person interested in acne who you feel you click with, they don't need to be an internationally renowned professor or celebrity. Having an NHS practice is a good sign as it means they keep up to date and see a large volume of cases.

[Wolpertinger]

Oops cross-posted, but was agreeing with Pollyperky

[cathyandclaire]

I took Roaccutane at 40 and it changed my life, seriously. My skin is always clear. All those years of spots, I just wish I'd taken it at 18.

[Frankmonkey]

Dds dermatologist said that nothing you can buy over the counter helps and it is never dietary. In fact dd was so worried that people would think she had acne from not 'eating clean' that she stopped eating in front of anyone

[goddessofsmallthings]

Have you tried Panoxyl and Cetaphil? If not, it could be worth a shot before you shell out for a private consult with a dermatologist.

//www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2543291-You-wonderful-bunch-have-fixed-my-skin-Thank-you

[PolovesTubbyCustard]

Don't give up on the NHS for treatment. Speak to your gp.

I was willing to pay privately for mine, and did so for the first couple of appts with a private derm. Since then though all my appointments and medications have been on NHS.