@Lushlala Thank you What sucks is that many of these doctors won't tell you this when you go to them and ask to be on the pill, or if they suggest that maybe you should go on the pill for whatever reason. They will tell you the obvious side effects, but not the ones like this. At least this wasn't explained to me when they suggested that I go on the pill to regulate my periods. But luckily, I refused to go on the pill anyway. I have never tried the lemon juice remedy, but I will if the ABS doesn't work. Thank you so much for those tips. I have made a note of them, and it is nice to know that all is not lost if the ABS doesn't have any effect.
@DreekLass your experience is almost identical to mine, that's why I can relate! I initially went on the pill at the suggestion on my doctor, because of my acne. I was never told anything about possible side effects either !I went on the mini pill, Dianette and my skin cleared up and actually became gorgeous and glowy! Fast forward a few years later, my face became a hot mess of heavily pigmented and uneven skin tone with brown patches all over. I had to wear dark makeup to even it all out. I too hated my picture taken, and even hated looking at myself in the mirror; it was horrible! I don't know whether I was panicking or whatever, but it just seemed to get worse each year. The dermatologist did say it was the pill, and if I came off it my skin would clear up on its own. Well, she lied, because 2 years of doing nothing to reverse it yielded zero results. She put me on antibiotics for about 6 months (not sure why?!) and gave me some topical stuff that didn't work at all. To be honest, she just didn't seem to want to know. In the end I did some research online and self administered a few things, including the ones I mentioned, and even though it took years, my skin is now in the best condition it's ever been. I sure hope you'll get yours sorted too
Thanks missbishi for the list of naturals. I am like dreek and do not want to bleach or use any chemicals. I want to mention that sometimes, discoloration on the face can be due to nutrient deficiencies as well. Mostly with light spots though. Taking vit. A &D drops helps to clear the face in this instance.
Doctors suck!! It is so important to do your research, right? I am happy we can access the internet these days, whereas back in the day patients would have just had to rely on everything that their doctors told them. I spoke to my doctor about my iron deficiency and when she mentioned that my face looked like there was discoloration on it, she didn't seem to want to delve into that or find out why or anything. it was as if, if I was alright with it, then she was, which what the hell?? Who wants marks on their face, you know? Not even that, but who doesn't want to look into WHY the marks are appearing on their face, especially if the problem is a deficiency or hormonal!! She glossed right over it though. Thank you so much. i will get it sorted out eventually. I'm going to change my diet too. I feel that this will for sure help along with using the products. Andrea, thank you for the information. What are Vit drops??
It's a pleasure, DreekLass I know exactly how you're feeling! Honestly, I felt like you are right now. My derm had such aLog In attitude I just couldn't believe it! She just didn't seem to care, and I felt like I was bothering her. Although I can see JosieP's point about doctors being paid to treat, I still think that it's also their duty to make you understand the why and how aspect of your ailment. -and if you have questions, they have to address them and show some empathy. I think doctors these days really do need to work on their bedside manner!
@Lushlala My doctor was just a regular doctor, but you'd think that she'd put me through to a derm doctor, or at least run some tests to see where I was deficient and what could be causing the issue. Yet, when it came to my iron deficiency, they wouldn't leave me a fucking alone. They wanted to find out why I was so deficient all the time. I was like, does it matter? I know I'm deficient now and will be doing something about it, now focus on why my skin is acting up lol. I don't think doctors are paid to treat.
DreekLass honey, I have a feeling you may have to ask or even beg to see a derm! I was also being treated by a GP, and I put it to him that it may be best if I saw a dermatologist, and asked him if he could please refer me to one. He wasn't happy but as I put him on the spot, he had to oblige. I mean, why do we have to beg, shouldn't he have worked it out himself that as he doesn't specialise in skin ailments, he needs to refer me to someone else who does? I lived in Bolton at the time, but I remember that I had to do a bit of travelling to get to the hospital. Oh, it was a nightmare. -and even after that, nothing the derm didn't sort my skin out and didn't seem interested at all! The NHS as a whole is ok, but I find the doctors are getting more and more disgruntled and miserable.
I cannot believe that you had to beg :O It's not like it is effecting his salary is it? And if he doesn't seem to be able to get you the resolve that you need, then why not willingly refer you to someone who actually knows what they are doing?? The doctors literally do not give a stuff. That is why we are seeing with alarming frequency, more and more people going into hospital for routine treatment and getting sicker in there or not leaving at all. They just cannot be bothered.
Exactly, DreekLass! But It actually differs, depending on where you are. Some NHS clinics/hospitals have outstanding service, as I discovered when my husband was suddenly taken ill at work and was hospitalised at Macclesfield hospital. You'd be forgiven for thinking that you were in a private hospital, the way those people, every single one of them treated us! They were sympathetic, courteous and just lovely the whole time he was there, even concerned that we lived in Bolton, so far away from Macc and used their initiative to let me spend a bit more time with him beyond visiting hours. My cousin who lives in London says they have great service all the time, too!
The main hospital in my area is absolutely terrible. Most of my family members, including myself, that have had to stay there for one reason or another, have had to end up staying in there longer due to something that staff did wrong. My mother ended up with a disease after giving birth to her last child, my auntie ended up with a disease after she had a hysterectomy. They left some of the infection in my stomach when I had my appendix out, and I had to have another operation. I try to stay healthy because I don't want to end up in there again.
I'm really sorry to hear that, DreekLass! it's annoying that we have all these inconsistencies. No wonder my cousin found it hard to believe when I told her of my experiences. I don't know where you are in the country, but I suspect it's a lot better down South. Then again the hospital where my husband was hospitalised is up North, but in a posh area. Who knows how these things work, ei?
I don't live in London or anything. I live in the Midlands - just a small part of the UK, but big and suburban enough. My area is not particularly posh, but we get all sorts of different type of people up here. I only really have experience with that hospital. They messed my operation up so bad, i had to be rushed to another one, and they were brilliant.
So you're nearer where I lived, where my husband's from. I'm not surprised that you have the same crappy service from your doctor's. It's always bad up North, and even worse the further up North you go in my opinion. They're very lucky that Brits aren't a very litigious nation! I'm happy to hear that you survived that nasty operation minus too many lastings "scars".
I live in the West Midlands. So I guess that you'd say that I live in the West of the UK? We don't even get that much sun up here, and even if we did, I do not spend a lot of time out in it, which is why I don't think that the skin discoloration is caused by sun damage. I actually think that I am seeing a slight difference in the marks on my face after using the African Black Soap though.
I totally agree with you, because when I got mine, I was up in Bolton where as you'll know there's even less sun than the West Midlands. So I fully attributed it to the pill, which the doctor backed. Keep using the African Black Soap, I've heard very good things about it, although I have never actually used it myself. I've heard it's very good, but the patches will take a while to disappear altogether. Maybe you could pair that with Vitamin E oil at 1 000 mg, very potent! I tried the Vitamin E oil but as it's quite thick, I found it a bit of a chore to spread on my face. Alternatively you could take it orally at the same strength. Eventually, I went the most aggressive route after trying everything under the sun, because like you, I was also looking for the most natural alternatives and didn't want anything that could potentially bleach my skin. Alas! when I got desperate, I caved in and used a product I was dead set against, but which ultimately became the only thing that cleaned up my face and left it looking decent, the best it's ever looked since I hit puberty and got all manner of skin ailments, made even worse by the pill.
Yeah I know that the patches will take a while to vanish altogether, if they ever do. But they are most definitely fading after two weeks of use. They are , of course, still noticeable. But they are lighter now. As long as they keep headed in that direction, then I'll be happy How much approximately did you pay for the Vitamin E?
I think you're going about it the right way! Nothing that works overnight is to be trusted! The route I took also took months to get to where I am, too. The Vitamin E oil I used was from Holland and Barrett, and I actually meant to say it was 1 000 iu, not mg...sorry! The topical one is considerably cheaper than the capsules. You can get the topical version for under £15. Holland and Barrett are always running promotions, so you could even get it cheaper. Here's a link for you. Log In
I don't trust anything that works over night when it come to skin issues like this one. I want something long term. Ideally, I would be able to go to the doctors and have them assist me to correct whatever is going on internally with me that is causing the discoloration in the first place. But since I feel like I wouldn't get that assistance, I am focusing on the exterior symptom. Thank you for the information about the Vitamin E oil. I am shocked that it is so cheap because H&B are an expensive shop.
I too feel that things that work too fast can often lead to further complications a bit further down the line. Ideally, I also wanted something to work from the inside, but never did find it. I did take a few supplements including Vitamin E and Vitamin C supplements, not that I could tell if they made any difference to my skin LOL When you're desperate you'll try just about anything
