To think Dr treated me unfairly?

[dawsonjunior]

I have dark circles around my eyes (have had them since 11). I am extremely self conscious about it. I've been to a private clinic about it and had some treatment. It was suggested by them that I also visit my GP.

A friend I know goes to the same local surgery, she has an issue with spots and has always raved about the different treatments she's had and how wonderful they are.

I make my appointment, and get told by the Dr "basically what do you expect me to do?", I replied I'd like to be referred to a dermatologist. She then says in quite a patronising way that they probably do not have the budget for this.

I left feeling humiliated. It's hard to share my problem, and I know it's only cosmetic and not life threatening but neither are spots.

I can't help but feel I was treated differently and unfairly.

Did your friend see the same GP? I am not sure what to say surely dark circles are a result of either anaemia or sleep issues? Or possibly excess pigmentation

Spots are treated different. Dark circles (assuming things like anemia has been ruled out) are entirely cosmetic. Spots can cause scaring and respond to a dermatologist treatment.

Dark circles don't really. This is coming from someone who has been trying to beat the dark circles since I was 14.

What did the private clinic say was causing it?

Generally pigmentation.

dawson when I turned up at A and E suicidal with PND the doctor on duty said ' What do you expect me to do?' - seems like the standard response with some doctors

Anyway, back to your OP - have you tried camouflaging with make up? Peepo is fantastic by Lily Lolo.

Is ot dark circles. Meaning you look like you are knackered or is it hyper pigmentation,waning the skin is going brown for example?

Unfortunately, it's the way that treatment is outlined for the NHS.

Bad spots are seen as being a medical issue requiring a referral or treatment. There's an infection risk, chance of scarring, etc.

Dark circles are seen as a symptom of some conditions, such as anemia and sleep problems, where the underlying condition should be treated. Dark circles caused by pigmentation are entirely cosmetic and therefore you wouldn't be able to get treatment. You might be able to see a GP/dermatologist privately about them, but that could be a big waste of money if the dermatologist can't help - and if they can, you'll have to pay for the treatment, and possibly keep it up to make sure that they don't reoccur.

It's rubbish, but your chances of getting anything NHS funded for this are very slim.

I think spots can be more than a cosmetic problem. One of my pupils has absolutely awful skin, and it is painful, gets infected and as another poster mentioned, can cause uncomfortable scarring.

Yes but spots are not life threatening?

Neither are dark circles?

I have fought with this all my life too. No, a Dr can't do much. Things that do help; less salt; more sleep; drink enough water; really good, expensive cover up applied lightly (I use Christian Dior) so that you use very little but because it is expensive, it has a lot of bang for it's buck.

But dawson the risk of scarring and infection puts them further up the 'pecking order'.

NHS don't only treat life threatening illnesses.

I am happy to be corrected but I don't think a dermatologist can actually do anything as its more about whats going on under the skin rather than in the skin.

So the treatment you had done privately - did that work? Why not go again? You're surely aware of the cuts affecting every part of the public purse?

Well that wasn't very tactful of the GP, but there is not much s/he can do. I've had undereye circles my whole life - good makeup is your friend :) I use Bobbi Brown's peach-based corrector, then a bit of BB cream stick concealer, with mineral loose powder to set. Honestly, it can make such a difference.

It is a genetic disposition, but not normally an illness.
I also noticed at the age of 11, and still have them decades later.
Mine are due to flat and low cheek bones grrrrrr. A good concealer can help in many cases, but not mine, as mine are hollows in the bone structure.
Not a case for the GP

Yes but spots are not life threatening?

The NHS do not only treat life threatening conditions. Also, as someone has said; spots can be more than purely cosmetic.

I don't mean to be horrible but did you really expect to be referred for something purely cosmetic at a time when people with illnesses have to wait for treatment?

Have you tried speaking to the Red Cross? They do camouflage makeup sessions for free. They match your skin tone and then write to your doctor so you can be prescribed the makeup. It's special camouflage makeup that will cover nearly anything. I think the brand is Dermacolour off the top of my head.

Oh it's actually Dermacolor.

And yes, I think your doctor was mean. Even if he couldn't help, he didn't have to be a bell end about it.

www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/Health-and-social-care/Health-and-social-care-in-the-UK/Skin-camouflage

Hope this works!

You can treat acne. There is no treatment for dark circles other than makeup. The NHS is not going to pay for you to see a dermatologist for them to tell you this.

Sorry but your GP wasn't being unfair but factual.

I agree with your doctor - my boss goes to meetings where they have to turn treatment/medication down for illnesses which are life limiting or life prolonging because there is not the budget - it breaks my heart to hear what they have had to turn down and so your dark circles come very low on the pecking order and I for one would be pretty pissed off if the tax I pay went on treating a cosmetic issue like this that can easily be remided with make up.

It doesn't take a referral to give out spot treatments. If your friend doesn't have an exemption on paying for prescriptions then she cost the same as you did when she got her spots looked at.

And spots can actually be sore and cause discomfort, dark circles don't.

You are being very silly. You have already seen a specialist, keep having private treatment if it bothers you.

seriously? your dark circles dont hurt, cant get infected, wont scar. spots can and will.

Has the doctor made any effort to see if you have other medical problems that can cause dark circles? Anaemia, other deficiencies, allergies, did he look for anything?
Mine have improved, I was very anaemic with no signs an symptoms that I could tell, but now I'm back to my hyper self like when I was in my early 20's I take B12 complex, Iron and some fish oils that the doc recommended. The increased energy has led to me getting active and 12 lbs in weight loss.