“After 15 years on the Pill, I decided to come off it last year in hope of having a baby one day and to give my body a chance to experience its natural hormone cycle.
I immediately broke out into cystic acne, predominantly along my chin, and got very bad rosacea on my cheeks and nose.
I tried prescription ointments from the GP and booked in an appointment with a dermatologist, who told me that my only option was to go on Roaccutane — even though I had explained to him that I wanted to try for a baby in the next few years and I’d read that it could increase the chances of a miscarriage.
He also told me that Roaccutane could make my rosacea worse.
I immediately broke out into cystic acne, predominantly along my chin, and got very bad rosacea on my cheeks and nose.
I tried prescription ointments from the GP and booked in an appointment with a dermatologist, who told me that my only option was to go on Roaccutane — even though I had explained to him that I wanted to try for a baby in the next few years and I’d read that it could increase the chances of a miscarriage.
He also told me that Roaccutane could make my rosacea worse.
When I replied that surely that can’t be the only option then, given there were so many side-effects, he shrugged and told me that I could try laser treatment but that I would always have acne and rosacea and that I would just have to accept it if I wasn’t prepared to go back on the Pill or on Roaccutane.
I was so disheartened but booked in for a $400+ per session laser treatment plan (and was told I’d need at least 4-6 to see results) when my mum came across the idea of a “skin naturopath”.
She’d read that acne and rosacea could be to do with diet and hormone imbalances and found Linda’s website.
After chatting to Linda on the phone, I immediately cancelled my laser appointment.
Unlike the dermatologist, Linda didn’t think I’d just need to accept life with acne and rosacea, nor that I needed to go onto any form of medication to cure it.
She gave me hope that my skin would get better.
I especially loved that she was all about evidence-based practice.
She didn’t want us to just guess what was wrong and try a million different products to see what would work — she ran comprehensive tests that gave a clearer picture about why my body was reacting this way and THEN provided a treatment plan.
She’d read that acne and rosacea could be to do with diet and hormone imbalances and found Linda’s website.
After chatting to Linda on the phone, I immediately cancelled my laser appointment.
Unlike the dermatologist, Linda didn’t think I’d just need to accept life with acne and rosacea, nor that I needed to go onto any form of medication to cure it.
She gave me hope that my skin would get better.
I especially loved that she was all about evidence-based practice.
She didn’t want us to just guess what was wrong and try a million different products to see what would work — she ran comprehensive tests that gave a clearer picture about why my body was reacting this way and THEN provided a treatment plan.
Fast forward 4 months and my skin is completely different to what it was.
I don’t have the awful cystic acne that used to hurt and be like a rash across the bottom of my face. I don’t feel hot and flushed all the time. I still occasionally get the odd pimple here and there and my rosacea flares up sometimes after I’ve eaten something that I probably shouldn’t or I’ve had a particularly hot shower … but I feel so much more on top of my skin and like I don’t even have to think about it much anymore. That’s the best gift I could get — to not be aware of my skin or feel like people are staring.
Thank you so much Linda. I am so grateful for everything you’ve taught me about diet, healthy habits and hormones.
I would encourage anyone who is battling with skin issues to get in touch with Linda ASAP.
I’m so glad I didn’t waste thousands of dollars and many months lasering off my skin only to realise that I needed to address what was going on inside my body to fix the outside.”
I would encourage anyone who is battling with skin issues to get in touch with Linda ASAP.
I’m so glad I didn’t waste thousands of dollars and many months lasering off my skin only to realise that I needed to address what was going on inside my body to fix the outside.”
Melissa Spurgin | Kew Victoria
