Dermatologist recommendations?

Rachel Brooks27 NewcomerOP

3 messages
joined May 2006

#1 · May 12, 2006

Can someone please point me toward a decent dermatologist in Chicago? I'm dealing with some serious acne issues right now and honestly, I'm at my wit's end. If anyone has had a great experience with a specialist personally, I would be sooo incredibly grateful!😘
Thanks so much

Jerry Walker79 Active Member

69 messages
joined Apr 2005

#2 · May 12, 2006

I heard through the grapevine that there’s some amazing dermatologist over at the Kruge medical clinic (someone mentioned them on a thread here a while back, I think?), but honestly, my memory is shot and I can't recall her name! If anyone knows who she is, please, for the love of god, let me know! 😬

Emily Booth6 Newcomer

8 messages
joined Aug 2006

#3 · May 13, 2006

@Rachel Brooks27/">@@Rachel Brooks27
Finding a decent dermatologist is basically impossible! 😬

@Lisa Barrett22/">@@Lisa Barrett22
I've been bouncing between specialists for over a year now... and honestly? None of their advice has actually worked for me yet...
I'm on a new treatment plan right now, just gotta wait and see if it sticks!

But seriously, everyone needs to realize that acne doesn't just vanish overnight!
I was so naive thinking I’d just walk into a clinic, grab a couple of creams and some antibiotics, and suddenly be totally clear!
Man, what an idiot I was!
It's been a whole year and my skin is still doing the exact same thing!
So frustrating!

vividowl17 Newcomer

3 messages
joined May 2006

#4 · May 13, 2006

I’ll keep this brief. From a dermatologist's perspective, the only real move they can make is prescribing pills to get your hormones under control. But here is the catch—once you stop taking those tablets, the acne eventually makes its comeback.

All those pricey creams and gels? You can just pick those up yourself at any drugstore. Some are actually decent, especially anything containing at least 2.5% benzoyl peroxide... though in our neck of the woods, there isn't much variety to choose from. Similarly, various topical solutions like erythromycin or clindamycin are really just there to soothe the symptoms.
In short, topical treatments only manage the condition; if you want total peace, you need the oral medication—side effects and all.

The true root cause of acne isn't your diet or your stress levels—it's hormonal imbalance, something even the best doctors haven't quite mastered how to fix. If you want a quick fix, take the pills. A long-term solution might involve having sex like rabbits...😬 But honestly, most of those expensive creams and gels are a waste of money... There are a few exceptions, of course, but skin chemistry is different for everyone anyway.

Rachel Brooks27 NewcomerOP

3 messages
joined May 2006

#5 · May 13, 2006

Look, I don't have some massive, life-altering crisis going on right now, but I am seriously losing my mind over all these creams, tonics, and other useless junk. It feels like a total waste of money because my skin is just... weird. One minute it’s an oily mess, the next it’s bone-dry and super sensitive, and then suddenly it’s breaking out in a completely different way every single time. What am I even supposed to do?
I really want to get a second opinion on a few things, but I have no clue where to go. I tried seeing someone at a local clinic near me, but honestly? That was probably the most incompetent experience I've ever had. I spent months struggling with this stupid allergy, and then—get this—as soon as I finally saw a private specialist, it cleared up in like two days! Too bad they weren't located in downtown Chicago, right? So, if anyone can recommend a decent dermatologist around here, I would be incredibly grateful.👍

nimblehawk52 Member

11 messages
joined Jun 2006

#6 · May 13, 2006

So, here’s the deal: I have a friend who saw this dermatologist for her acne, and she was completely clear two years ago—not a single breakout since. A few other girls went there after her too, and they all had great results...

I actually ended up seeing her because of an allergy, and honestly, the woman didn't have the slightest clue what was going on with me; she just insisted it was all stress. Then, just two days later, I saw a different specialist and got a legitimate diagnosis...

Bottom line, if you're looking to tackle acne, she seems pretty capable, but maybe brace yourself mentally, because she really does love to push your buttons... 🙂

Brenda Reed3 Member

11 messages
joined Jun 2010

#7 · May 13, 2006

..you think she just lives to stir the pot?

..honestly, I felt so sick to my stomach when I was visiting this one person..I've been dealing with skin issues since my teenage years, so I finally opened up to her about what I'm going through, and instead of being empathetic, she just shoves photos of people with way worse breakouts in my face and tells me, "Look on the bright side, at least you don't look like them." Like, thanks for the reality check, I guess..
...and don't even get me started on those people who just hawk these insanely overpriced creams, probably because they're getting some massive commission or whatever else is driving them to push junk..

..I was taking some Geomycin that my GP prescribed after a quick consult with a dermatologist..man, I would give anything to have that kind of result again..it completely cleared everything up, though the catch is you aren't supposed to stay on it for more than six months.

nimblehawk52 Member

11 messages
joined Jun 2006

#8 · May 13, 2006

And get this—she actually told me I was just unhappy with my life...
Apparently, I’m stressed because of my boyfriend, stressed because of college, stressed because I don't spend every single morning screaming into a pillow, and supposedly "repressing my emotions"—which is hilarious, because anyone who actually knows me knows that's total nonsense since I'm famously explosive😍...🙄 She basically sent me home without a single skin treatment, claiming things would only get worse until I finally admitted that I'm just dissatisfied with my existence🤣

A friend of mine started dealing with breakouts after puberty, so she went to see someone, and they gave her some Dalacin T to apply (it's about $5 at a local CVS)... It dried out the acne, though she did have to go in for a professional facial cleaning once too. During that time, she wasn't allowed to touch any makeup, tinted moisturizers, or blush... absolutely nothing that could clog her pores
Fast forward about four or five months... and her skin is completely clear. Not a trace left, not even a scar... her face is as smooth as a newborn baby's

Jason Sullivan4 Newcomer

1 message
joined May 2006

#9 · May 13, 2006

vividowl17 said:Also, various topical liquids—like erythromycin mixed with clindamycin—are really just there to manage the symptoms.

Can you actually pick that up at a local pharmacy?

vividowl17 said:The actual root cause of acne isn't diet or stress—it's hormonal imbalance, which even the best doctors haven't quite mastered how to fix yet. If you want a temporary fix, just take pills. A long-term solution might involve having enough sex to act like rabbits...😬

Why exactly though? 😕 😁 😁

Brenda Reed3 said:..I took some Geomycin that my primary care doctor prescribed after seeing a dermatologist once..I'd give anything for those again..they cleared me up completely, though you aren't supposed to take them for longer than six months.

Is Geomycin prescription-only?

nimblehawk52 said:A friend of mine started getting acne after puberty ended, so she used some Dalacin T that someone gave her (you can grab it at a drugstore for about $5)...it dried out the breakouts, but then she had to go in for a professional facial cleaning...she couldn't use ANY powder, or tinted moisturizer, or blush...nothing that would clog her pores...
after about four or five months...everything was totally gone from her face, no traces left, not even scars...her skin was as smooth as a baby's bottom...

So, are you recommending Dalacin T?

Douglas King7 Member

19 messages
joined May 2006

#10 · May 13, 2006

So, what’s the deal with seeing a dermatologist here? Do you have to go through your primary care doctor first to get a referral just to save some cash, or is it easier to just book an appointment directly and pay full price?

Rachel Brooks27 NewcomerOP

3 messages
joined May 2006

#11 · May 14, 2006

nimblehawk52 said:and then, she actually had the nerve to tell me I’m just unhappy with my life...
She claims I'm stressed because of my boyfriend, stressed because of college, stressed because I don't spend every single day screaming into a pillow. She thinks I'm bottling everything up? Please. Anyone who actually knows me knows that's total nonsense, because let's be real—I am an absolute powder keg😍...🙄 So, she sent me home without a single drop of cream, basically telling me things will only get worse until I "admit" I'm miserable with my life🤣

Honestly, most people here probably need a massive abscess where their brain should be🤣

And what is even going on with Dermichma? Literally nobody is happy with them! sick

nimblehawk52 Member

11 messages
joined Jun 2006

#12 · May 14, 2006

Jason Sullivan4 said:So, you're actually recommending Dalacin T?

I can't say I know for sure since my face has always been clear, but I did hit a rough patch where my back started breaking out quite badly. I decided to pick up some Dalacin T on a whim, and honestly, within just a week, those spots had completely dried up. $17 It’s not exactly a huge investment, so you might as well give it a shot; you'll likely see some real progress in a week or two.👍

nimblehawk52 Member

11 messages
joined Jun 2006

#13 · May 14, 2006

Rachel Brooks27 said:honestly, most people probably have one giant abscess where their brain should be🤣

I mean, what is actually going on with this dermatology clinic? Nobody seems remotely satisfied with them! sick

I’ve cycled through so many different specialists...🙄 I was honestly starting to think I was just making the whole thing up in my head, until I finally tracked down my own dermatologist😍 Some guy once told me that when doctors can't figure out what's wrong or how to fix it, they just shrug and blame it on stress... 😁

vividowl17 Newcomer

3 messages
joined May 2006

#14 · May 15, 2006

Look, Dalacin T isn't bad, but man, it really dries you out...

I’ve been dealing with acne issues for what feels like forever. I was on oral medication for a while and things were looking great—really fantastic, actually—but then, after a bit of time, everything just started spiraling again...

For the last two weeks, my skin has basically been under siege by breakouts, and honestly? I’m losing my mind here.

Right now, I’m using a benzoyl peroxide gel alongside some Dalacin, which has left my face feeling completely parched—though, to be fair, the breakouts cleared up in just a few days... It’s just that my skin is incredibly sensitive, so it takes a while to find its balance again. If this doesn't hold, I might just head back to my dermatologist to ask about Geomycin. This really isn't an easy battle to fight, especially when you break out at the worst possible moment (I have my five-year high school reunion coming up soon...)
But if you want my take: a gentle cleanser + plenty of benzoyl peroxide + serious hydration = clear skin.

If that route doesn't work for you, there are also oral medications you can use for a limited time to get some peace and quiet. Accutane is the big one, though it will dry you out more than you probably want... Try the topical stuff first; if that fails, then maybe consider the pills...

Chloe Chase37 Newcomer

1 message
joined May 2006

#15 · May 15, 2006

I can tell you firsthand that the idea that sex clears up acne is absolute nonsense. Everyone loves to claim that intimacy somehow fixes your skin—and while I never dealt with anything massive, a few breakouts were always an annoyance—but it doesn't work that way. It’s just not true. If having sex a couple of times a day actually solved the problem, nobody would have skin issues. Even when I was seeing different people, it made zero difference to my complexion.

Look, summer is right around the corner, and in my experience, the sunshine usually helps things settle down... Plus, most of those hormonal imbalances tend to stabilize once you're through puberty anyway.

Brenda Reed3 Member

11 messages
joined Jun 2010

#16 · May 15, 2006

Jason Sullivan4, you're gonna need a prescription for that Geomycin...🙂

Jerry Walker79 Active Member

69 messages
joined Apr 2005

#17 · May 17, 2006

So, I was using this lotion that had clindamycin and some other stuff mixed in—everything had to be prescription-only, which is just how my dermatologist at the clinic handles things. I also had to pick up some Skinoren cream (I think it goes for about $27 at the local CVS) and honestly, it worked wonders. Especially the cream part! But the second I stop using it, everything just flares right back up. It’s so frustrating. I think I might try seeing a different specialist next time, maybe someone who can give me a more long-term plan so I don't keep stuck in this endless cycle.

Emily Booth6 Newcomer

8 messages
joined Aug 2006

#18 · May 17, 2006

Man, I just really want to find something that’ll actually keep these breakouts under control!
I’m not even one of those people who freaks out over just a couple of spots unless they're super swollen and huge...😬
Honestly, I feel like I’m finally on the right track to finding my "holy grail," even if it's just a quick fix for now... otherwise, it's back to square one!
It all comes down to the actual treatments... like, creams and lotions aren't really the heavy hitters here; they're just there to support the main therapy.
I'm really hoping this is the one because I can already see things looking up!
It’s not perfect yet, but it's definitely getting better!

If this actually works, I'll post more details... because every time I get my hopes up, everything just goes south and breaks out again. Fingers crossed this time!
And yeah! ...it's easy for people who don't deal with major issues to say "it'll pass" when they only have an occasional spot here and there.😠

Laura Williams4 Member

16 messages
joined Mar 2006

#19 · May 18, 2006

Does anyone here actually have experience dealing with vitiligo?
Most people probably don't even know what they're looking at.

If you know what works or how to manage it, reach out. Thanks.

Dermatologist recommendations?

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