"Guaranteed" skin care products making skin worse - advice please!

oopsadaisydoddle

Hi,

I suffer from polycystic ovaries which means that I am susceptible to acne particularly on my chin. Over the years I have had numerous antibiotic treatments from my GP which either lose their effectiveness or end up drying out the skin not affected by acne.

I decided I would treat myself to some new products in the hope that the acne would die down if I was using something 'decent'. The salon I get my nails done at uses the Dermalogica products and after reading about their guarantee (if 'prescribed' by a trained dermalogica therapist), I booked in for a prescriptive facial and left with £150 worth of stuff.

Now I know that it's a lot of money for skin care but I'm quite happy to pay that if it gives me the desired result. You've probably guessed that that's where the problem is....since I've used the products, my acne has gotten worse. I used to only get it on my chin and now I get it on my nose, forehead and upper lip too. It is really getting me down because it looks awful and can be painful.

I've spoken to the salon a couple of times and they said to persevere because it could just be my skin settlin into a routine with the new products. They said it can take 4 - 6 weeks on average for things to settle. This is my 5th week of using it and it is actually getting worse.
I don't know what to do. I just want something to help my skin, not make it worse.

Can anybody advise what I can do. The products actually say on them they are guaranteed so do I try and get my money back. Shall I wait for the next week (to bring it up to 6) and then reassess? Like I said, I don't mind spending the money if they work so not just after a refund for the sake of it. And the only reason I'm asking now is because of the discomfort.

Thanks for any advice you might be able to give.

pinksk8

Also a PCOS sufferer here, and also suffer from chin acne, and also shelled out a fortune for Dermalogica. My skin did get worse for approx. 2 weeks but since then its been beautiful, but I would say give it until next week and if its still no better, go for a full refund.

X x X

oopsadaisydoddle

pinksk8 wrote: »

Also a PCOS sufferer here, and also suffer from chin acne, and also shelled out a fortune for Dermalogica. My skin did get worse for approx. 2 weeks but since then its been beautiful, but I would say give it until next week and if its still no better, go for a full refund.

X x X

Thanks for replying! It's awful isn't it? - it really gets me down when it flares up. I also get excess hair which is another story lol. Make myself sound so attractive!!

I was thinking it'd probably be best to wait until next week but then I'm worried they'll say I've used too much product to have a refund!xx

angelil

I'm also a PCOS sufferer who has trouble with chin hair and acne (again especially around the chin area) so I sympathise completely.

I also found Dermalogica made no difference but did not spend as much as you on the stuff.

I would give it another week to bring it up to 6 as you say and then contact Dermalogica directly if you have no luck with the salon that sold it to you.

oopsadaisydoddle

angelil wrote: »

I'm also a PCOS sufferer who has trouble with chin hair and acne (again especially around the chin area) so I sympathise completely.

I also found Dermalogica made no difference but did not spend as much as you on the stuff.

I would give it another week to bring it up to 6 as you say and then contact Dermalogica directly if you have no luck with the salon that sold it to you.

Thanks for replying. It's actually getting worse by the day - a couple of new spots keep appearing on a daily basis. The salon owner said it could be all of the impurities coming to the surface of my skin because of the 'purifying' action of the products.

Can I ask whether you have found anything that actually works?!

scooby75

Sorry, but as soon as someone mention "purifying actions" or something similar then all I can think of is quack medicine and the nutters promoting it- nothing is purifying - nothing.

Ask yourself what is in this stuff you have bought and what claims does it make? I do sincerely hopes it works, but I am totally against mickey mouse claims.

oopsadaisydoddle

scooby75 wrote: »

Sorry, but as soon as someone mention "purifying actions" or something similar then all I can think of is quack medicine and the nutters promoting it- nothing is purifying - nothing.

Ask yourself what is in this stuff you have bought and what claims does it make? I do sincerely hopes it works, but I am totally against mickey mouse claims.

I think it's just beauty salon speak for very cleansing!! As in the ingredients have very good cleansing abilities and all of my 'impurities' are being brought to the surface of the skin and causing the spots.

I do believe there are some products that use decent ingredients that can do some good. The general tone and appearance of the rest of my skin is actually a lot better...it's just since using the stuff, there has been more skin that has spots on it!

slimsia

Hi there I'm a huge fan of Dermalogica. V expensive but the only thing that has worked. I have Roscea & V sensitive skin. I found the Ultra Calming range immediately calming. Also love their moisturisers.

Now I'm no expert and I know things can take a day or 2 to settle but this has been some time now and you sound like you are in agony. I'd ask for a full refund now and wouldn't wait. But I would contact dermalogica and explain your situation. They can't refund goods that weren't bought directly from them, but may be able to help you as to were you stand with the Salon. Also I would discuss with them the products you were prescibed to see if they feel that was accurate.

http://buy.dermalogica.co.uk/pages.php?pageid=8
Before you return any Product to us please contact our Returns Support Staff on 0800 917 7147, who will email you a personalised return label and arrange for the Product to be collected at a time and place convenient to you.

Good Luck

bod1467

So, tell me, how is a "trained dermalogica therapist" better-placed to treat skin problems than a GP who can prescribe much more potent treatments than over-the-counter products can provide?

oopsadaisydoddle

bod1467 wrote: »

So, tell me, how is a "trained dermalogica therapist" better-placed to treat skin problems than a GP who can prescribe much more potent treatments than over-the-counter products can provide?

I'm not actually sure, although all the GP (and previous) GP's ive had actually do, is dish out a prescription for antibiotic creams/lotions which as stated in my OP, dry out the skin around my acne areas which causes problems in itself. I have also got private healthcare and have asked if my skin can be treated via that but apparently, because it's cosmetic, it's not covered.

I forgot that my GP has previously prescribed a certain type of contraceptive pill which is known to help with the hormones, however, the contraceptive pill makes me violently sick so is no good!

I'm not suggesting a therapist knows more than a GP and I did my research on the products first (they get great reviews and also have this 'guarantee').

oopsadaisydoddle

bod1467 wrote: »

So, tell me, how is a "trained dermalogica therapist" better-placed to treat skin problems than a GP who can prescribe much more potent treatments than over-the-counter products can provide?

Also, was there a reason for your question? Was it so I could give you more information which you could then use to pass on some advice which was the reason for posting in the first place. I can happily give you more info, if needed, if it will help you to offer the advice I actually need!