11 replies to this topic

[Callum.]

For example, my back is covered in white raised scars. Mainly noticeable on my shoulders, they cause me more distress than anything else and still I have to go private when I can barely afford home chemical peels or something. Why is there nothing we can do?

[DainBramaged]

Well, cosmetic procedures are like that eveywhere in the world

[justmeuk]

This is something that i feel really strongly about. I think it's disgusting that treatment isn't offered on the NHS. If we had scars from an accident or similar the NHS would offer treatment to improve the scarring. I really don't see why it should make any difference that the scars were caused by acne. The fact that is viewed as cosmetic is an insult.

[Nope.avi]

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Edited by Nope.avi, 08 August 2012 - 08:37 PM.

[Dirtbag]

I certainly do! The psychological damage caused by scarring is tremendous. My GP recommended a course of Person Centred counselling. It did nothing. The Person Centred counsellor suggested Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I'm waiting for that. The belief, I think, is that I have Body Dysmorphia. Sorry, Doc, but I do not agree. If I do, then probably, too, does everyone else with acne scarring. I believe people who don't suffer acne and the subsequent scars have no idea the about the mental pain it causes. There may even be a chance that the cost of therapy to supposedly 'cure' me of BD will not be substantially less than the cost of all this therapy. Particularly when you calculate the cost of medications which are prescribed to compelement the therapy. We would never have chosen to have acne!

[Callum.]

This thread should be locked because it's going to turn into a flamewar and politics once someone disagrees with you guys. Doesn't really have a place in here anyway.

No it shouldn't, this is a forum, a place for debating and discussing. It has a perfect place here.

[Dirtbag]

Precisely my sentiments. A topic like this is perfectly placed. The only way change can ever happen, if there's ever a chance, is through debate and opinion. Nothing ever happens without these.

[KATE75]

I completely agree that acne scar treatment should be taken more seriously by the NHS. I remember when I first went to my GP many years ago to ask for help with my acne he actually refused to treat me for it and told me he didn't like to "waste his time" with such "trivial matters". Needless to say I changed my doctor.

Although my acne is about 90% under control nowadays I have a lot of rolling and boxcar scars on my chin and I am very aware of everyone I speak to looking at my chin in repulsion. I am pleased my acne is no longer so bad but the scars left behind on my chin are affecting my life in quite a big way.

[softly_softly]

Cancer patients are refused drugs that are too expensive ergo non-threatening cosmetic issues are way down on the list of priorities. If it means that much to you, just save up some money... even if you're on a pittance of a salary, half a year of saving will cover almost any treatment. Then there is derma stamping which is extremely inexpensive if you execute it yourself and in my opinion one of the best and safest scar revision procedures one can pursue, regardless of money.

[dx4567]

Yes. I think fillers should be funded too. I also think more research is required to determine the most effective treatments, much to the benefit of the NHS and the patient in the long run. A lot of treatments these days seem to be offered simply because they are available, not because they work.

If the NHS offered scar treatments this increased competition would also drive down the cost of going private.

The way scar treatments are regulated and offered in this country is a joke.

[ClearDreaming]

Well I think we should count ourselves lucky that anything falls under the NHS now days. The reforms are suggesting that any non essential treatment should be done privately, and while I believe they will be subsidised, the patient will still have to pay the brunt of the cost.
At the end of the day, it's nice we have the NHS, and I'm not going to complain about not getting acne scar treatment (while I see your point), when the money could be spent on say cancer drugs. The NHS does incredibly well to pay for everything it does with the money it spends, you simply have to draw the line somewhere.

[justmeuk]

The thing is that the NHS are paying for obese people to have gastric bands and for people to have boob jobs which in my opinion is wrong. I think that they need to adopt one policy across the board and stick to it. At the moment they seem to treat some people and not others which seems unfair. My doctor point blank refused to even write to the PCT to ask for funding as he said that they will refuse. Yet he has offered me counselling instead to help come to terms with my scarring. How much will the counselling cost as opposed to any scar treatment...? It seems such a ridiculous way of going about things. I also know of two people who have suffered a small burn to the face, one cleared up on it's own and the other is still there, albeit minor. Yet these people were offered treatment on the NHS to improve the look of their scars. It seems that if you suffer a disfigurement in that way then you are offered treatment yet acne scars are not classed as a disfigurement.

Edited by justmeuk, 03 April 2012 - 09:28 AM.