Re: I NEED SOME PERSONAL DR. RITCHIE FEEDBACK, PRETTY PLEASE

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

> HI

*** No need to shout :-)

> FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW

> I WAS PERFECTLY FINE UNTIL I TRIED PHOTODERM IN COLUMBUS, oh

> LAST YEAR

> I HAD VERY LIGHT RED LINES ON THE BRIDGE OF MY NOSE AND UNDER EYES

> THAT I WAS TRYING TO GET RID OF

*** Your story mirrors my own, almost exactly. I had spider veins on my

nose and inner cheeks, but no facial flushing whatsoever. I decided to

undergo Photoderm for purely cosmetic reasons, and ended up with a face

that, quite frankly, looked like shit.

I began to flush. I was extremely sensitive to basically anything. I

couldn't shave without crying from the pain. Not only were the spider

veins still there, but tons more had appeared.

I only had the one treatment and swore that I would never do such a thing

again.

>

> ( THEY ARE STILL THERE, NOT TO MENTION)

> WELL

> I HAD FOUR TREATMENTS

> AND AFTER

> I AM SO MUCH WORSE

> I NEVER HAD FLUSHING BEFORE

> OR EYE PROBLEMS

> OR PAIN OF ANY KIND

> NO MAJOR SENSITIVITY ISSUES LIKE THIS

> MY LIFE HAS BEGUN TO CENTER AROUND THIS FACE THING AND I HATE IT

*** It sucks I know. I got severely depressed after it happened to me.

It wasn't a sudden transition mind you, but a gradual decline until the

condition took over my life and I seriously wanted to die (but had nowhere

near the courage required to actually kill myself). But there is light at

the end of the tunnel. I found a wonderful doctor who cares very much

about me and my condition. Before seeing him, however, I learned to keep

the condition under control by following some key suggestions from this

group and making some discoveries of my own:

- Take a minimalist approach to caring for your skin. Don't put anything

on it that you don't absolutely have to.

- Use a moisturiser.

- Use a sunscreen (Zinc-O from www.lindasy.com is the single finest skin

product I've ever used).

- Drink water. Lots and lots of water. Litres of it per day. Never

stop.

- Exercise (this works wonders for me).

I went to the doctor (this was years after my tragic photoderm treatment)

and we tried some treatments with a Copper Bromide laser that he used.

This doctor was a Photoderm expert, but had switched over to the Copper

Bromide because he wasn't happy with the harshness of the Photoderm

treatment. The laser treatments didn't really help, but they didn't hurt

either. He then prescribed Zoloft for me, to deal with the depression.

Life's been much better since. My condition is still there, but is under

control, and I have hope for the future. My doc is getting a new laser

machine soon, and says that it worked wonders when he trialled it.

So chin up :-) Things do actually get better. I can only recommend that

you wait a long time before going near a Photoderm machine again. Explore

your other options and let your emotions settle down before attempting

another potentially hazardous treatment. Oh, and if you are depressed,

I'd recommend seeing a doctor about treatment.

Good luck,

Stuart