Just wanted to add my two cents to this, as I've had the make-up for a few months now and I think my experience is a bit more up-to-date. You don't go through the Red Cross any more, for example - it's through Changing Faces. Having said that, I got the impression that this is an administrative change more than a practical one - the staff and even the clinics don't seem to have changed all that much. I still went to a Red Cross office for my appointment.
Originally Posted by
AJ303
I've done the red cross route (In UK) before, The appointment it's self was a scary but the staff were tactful & kind (more so that the GP that I asked to refer me).
I had my appointment with a softly-spoken older Geordie woman who didn't flinch when she saw my scars - I took my cardi off while she was out of the room because I was too nervous to do a "Ta-Da!"-type reveal, and when she sat down again she simply asked "And what can I do for you?". She tried to chat a bit about uni and stuff and didn't push me when I wasn't being very talkative, instead nattering about her grandchildren and the problems with keeping the clinic going when no-one locally was trained to do the work. She did seem to recognise how I'd got the scars, and asked whether my family was supportive, etc, but again, didn't push things. She also recommended some silicon gel that had helped with her breast cancer scars (dermatix). With the make-up itself, she let me decide whether I was going to let her apply it or whether I wanted to do it myself. There was a small mirror on the desk and a full-length one in the room with us that I think she'd brought with her, so I could check how happy I was with the colours.
Originally Posted by
AJ303
The actual stuff they give you is the same Derma Blend concealer people have mentioned a Lot already.
Pro Points about Derma Blend /Vicky Labratories
-Through Red Cross you get it free
- Now available in the larger Boots stores in UK inlcu Scotland (Called Derma Blend /Vicky Labs)
- Hypo-allergenic/safe for sensitive skin & does seem to stick to scars
I don't know if things have changed, but the rule now seems to be that you can get it on prescription. If you're a student or whatever and your prescriptions are free, then the make-up is free. If you pay for prescriptions, you pay for the make-up, although it's still much cheaper than just buying it.
On the last point... I've found that for my newer, raised scars the make-up is less adherent than it is for normal skin. It still covers them, but it wears off faster, and gets stuck in the ridges/flaky bits of healing scars. That might just be me, though.
Originally Posted by
AJ303
Negative
- Redcross process can be very slow So I never did it again but it was useful to find tone so didn't waist money buying the wrong one & when I did it it was then only available online or via US sights
-They are expensive (£20 a stick)
-This is not a solution for covering large areas it just doesn't look natural enough especially if like alot of people you have ladders of scars and normal skin in-between (you would also get through too much of it & it would take ages to apply)
-It's not waterproof really don't believe them when they say you can swim in it or have it still on for day two.
It is slow - I got told three months from referral but it ended up being upwards of six. It's not something you can really apply for at the start of summer hoping to be able to get your arms out straight away, unfortunately. But for me it was a decent long-term goal when I was trying to stop, as they don't let you go with open cuts. So I'd recommend using it that way.
Again, it's expensive to buy but you can get it on prescription if you go through Changing Faces.
Agree about it not not looking natural on large areas - it's just too heavy, sadly. Although one thing I'e noticed is that I am more picky about it because I know it's there. If I apply it to most of my forearm (sparsely-scarred, but they're red and raised), then I'm acutely aware that it looks a bit fake and that you can still see scars. But if I'm just gesticulating like normal, the people I'm with don't give me a second glance because they're not looking for it.
Agree that it's shower/splash-proof rather than waterproof. And it will rub off on clothes - it won't survive you repeatedly rolling up your sleeves or resting a made-up forearm on a desk.
Originally Posted by
AJ303
Conclusion
Great to own a sick for covering up the specific scars (or face/neck scars) or to hide & make red/purple scars less obvious. Also consider RedX for finding your skin tone (though remember if your skin tans then it will no longer match).
But If SI & Scars are something you hide Derma isn't good enough to keep your secret & it's not practilce for large areas/whole arms/thighs.
(PS*One thing you could do if you do RedX is at the appointment ask for an insider way to get a refreshed prescription for when it runs out so you don't have to start back at step 1 asking the GP for a referral that might make it quicker to get more for free so you don't have to buy it, I didn't have the energy to do it all again when I don't use it much as just wear LSleeves). Hope this helps people know more about Derma & Red Cross. X
My GP let me put the make-up on repeat prescription, so I'm not sure why you're worried about having to get a repeat referral. Did they not talk about prescriptions with you?
So yeah... that's my experience with it. I'm glad I got it because it allows me to go incognito and feel more secure in situations where I'm not the focus of attention, but it's not the magic wand I was hoping for.
