Save My Skin - General Discussion

[Back Atcha]

8 hours ago, seasons said:

On 5/20/2021 at 10:21 AM, Back Atcha said:

Too many "unscripted reality*" shows have added music.  WHY?  It's annoying...and it's just another expense.

*The "Fiance" shows, for example.

Thank You For posting this. The background music on these reality shows drives me crazy. And it is loud, so loud that it is sometimes hard to hear the conversations. All the channels do this, hgtv, animal channels, etc. The shows are too "produced" to me.

Thank you too, Seasons!  And again...WHY?  It's annoying and it's an unnecessary EXPENSE.   Apparently the bean counters have been overruled by someone in Production whose family members are in the music biz.

Sometimes when we're asked to explain what we write--or what we mean, it would be helpful if the person asking responds...or clicks on a reaction:  USEFUL ~ LAUGH ~ SURPERISE ~ SAD ~ LAUGH  ... in my opinion, of course.

[sempervivum]

New season: yikes- poor guy with 'cauliflower' growth on his tailbone! 

But as usual, all the patients claim they've been to doctors, who all say they 1) don't know what it is and 2) can't do anything about it. Exactly how does the UK's socialized medicine system work, anyway? Are these patients being ignored just because these are supposedly cosmetic problems? But it doesn't sound as if the docs are even knowledgeable enough to do biopsies or anything proactive; this seems really scary to me. If true, there must be a lot of patients with complications (or even death) as a result of conditions going untreated.

Excema girl- this is the second time Dr. Emma has cleared excema with just moisturizer, which is certainly not what I was treated with years ago. I wish they'd reveal what's in this moisturizer that's so effective!

[PrincessPurrsALot]

That growth was frightening.  Eek!  I was surprised about how large it was.  I do get the sense that some people see a doctor early on and don't go back when it gets worse. 

For the eczema, I suspect whether or not the moisturizers work has to do with the cause and location on the body.  I have it too, but mine is very reactive to what I eat and exposure to certain substances.  However, it does get worse when I'm in dry climates.  That I can control with good moisturizers.  Okay, so sometimes it's buckets of good moisturizers and when I worked in Colorado I did also use steroid creams. 

[Mondrianyone]

Haven't watched this episode yet--it's still on the DVR--but . . .

1 hour ago, sempervivum said:

But as usual, all the patients claim they've been to doctors, who all say they 1) don't know what it is and 2) can't do anything about it. Exactly how does the UK's socialized medicine system work, anyway?

To be fair, isn't this some version of what most of Dr. PP's patients say, too? At least the ones who've actually seen a doctor. I'm not sure if all the other physicians are criminally stupid or if it's required to make the TV doctors seem like heroic geniuses. It does feel as if no one would ever be cured if it weren't for reality television.

[Back Atcha]

On 6/21/2021 at 4:29 PM, Back Atcha said:

Sometimes when we're asked to explain what we write--or what we mean, it would be helpful if the person asking responds...or clicks on a reaction:  USEFUL ~ LAUGH ~ SURPERISE ~ SAD ~ LAUGH  ... in my opinion, of course.

This is MINE...and it wouldn't let me edit--back in June--or now.   know how to spell "SURPRISE."

[Del Boca Vista]

I'm so glad the new season has started! The one thing I am wondering is why it airs at 11pm? I no longer have DVR and so that is a late start for me. 

[cynicat]

I adore Dr. Emma.  TLC is pissing me off though, because the "coming up next" clip at the commercial breaks are always spoilers, which takes all the fun out of it.

[CruiseDiva]

It's interesting that Dr. Emma focuses on how her patients' skin conditions affect their mental health and social functioning, often even before beginning her examination of them. I wonder if that has anything to do with getting paid by insurance companies and/or the British public health system.

I've also noticed that Dr. Lee frequently asks the same questions about how her patients handle social situations with their obvious skin growths and other shin conditions.

[readheaded]

On 12/30/2021 at 2:37 PM, Mondrianyone said:

Haven't watched this episode yet--it's still on the DVR--but . . .

To be fair, isn't this some version of what most of Dr. PP's patients say, too? At least the ones who've actually seen a doctor. I'm not sure if all the other physicians are criminally stupid or if it's required to make the TV doctors seem like heroic geniuses. It does feel as if no one would ever be cured if it weren't for reality television.

The quality of medical care varies widely in the US. In some rural areas, there may literally not be a specialist to see for some of the difficult cases Dr. Lee has on her show. Even in urban areas, a person may not find the right doctor to take on a difficult case. Add in a lack of insurance or good insurance, and people have to resort to airing their medical woes for others’ entertainment and profit. 

[Mondrianyone]

2 hours ago, readheaded said:

In some rural areas, there may literally not be a specialist to see for some of the difficult cases Dr. Lee has on her show.

I know this very well, as I live in such an area. We lost our one dermatology practice four years ago, and the vacuum has never been filled. My point was that it may actually be true that reality TV is the only hero available to these patients if no other doctors even know what they're looking at. I don't think that socialized medicine is the single villain (or a villain at all).

[readheaded]

4 hours ago, Mondrianyone said:

I know this very well, as I live in such an area. We lost our one dermatology practice four years ago, and the vacuum has never been filled. My point was that it may actually be true that reality TV is the only hero available to these patients if no other doctors even know what they're looking at. I don't think that socialized medicine is the single villain (or a villain at all).

Oh, I'm so sorry; I didn't think you meant that at all and completely agree with you. 

[Mondrianyone]

No, no, it's totally fine! I don't think I made myself clear enough. It's heartbreaking and infuriating that some people can only get help by sacrificing all privacy to a national TV audience. I'm not sure I understand what the problem is in the UK, but I know from personal experience how it is in rural areas of the US (especially compared to NYC, where I used to live and where you could fall out of bed into a doctor's office).

[cynicat]

Is anyone else watching the new episodes?

I was particularly puzzled by the man who had growths on his testicles.  They couldn't show them before the surgery, blurred out the surgery, and couldn't show the after images.  Perhaps it was not blurred out in the UK and they couldn't remove that section from the US version?  I thought it was actually pretty comical.  At least he was happy at the end 😀

[Minivanessa]

1 hour ago, cynicat said:

Is anyone else watching the new episodes?

I was particularly puzzled by the man who had growths on his testicles.  They couldn't show them before the surgery, blurred out the surgery, and couldn't show the after images.  Perhaps it was not blurred out in the UK and they couldn't remove that section from the US version?  I thought it was actually pretty comical.  At least he was happy at the end 😀

I've watched them, but if there was a new one last night I missed it. I was also puzzled by that particular patient. Once I realized we wouldn't actually see the growths, I wandered out of the room for the rest of that part of the episode. 

The practice has moved into a fancy skyscraper, no longer in Harley Street. I enjoy the teeny bits of London street scenes between patients. 

The patients from Series 3 that stand out in my memory are the woman with the horrible itchy sores all over her legs, and the woman who had so much facial har. I was happy for both of them when their treatments helped. 

[cynicat]

The gentleman with the rhinophyma was as sweet as could be, and I was so glad she was able to make him happy.  Dr. Emma hasn't yet fallen under the TLC personality remake, and I hope she never does.

[cinsays]

I watched last night's episode with the 2 ladies with awful scarring on their faces and the 1 lady with some growths on her butt.

Dr Emma and her associate doctor did a remarkable job on these women.

I couldn't stop wondering if maybe the 2nd lady's nose ring might have played a part in her condition.  She said it started with a bump/sore on her nose.  Maybe an allergic reaction? I kept waiting for Dr Emma to recommend she stop wearing that, but she didn't.

[Back Atcha]

5 hours ago, cinsays said:

I couldn't stop wondering if maybe the 2nd lady's nose ring might have played a part in her condition.  She said it started with a bump/sore on her nose.  Maybe an allergic reaction? I kept waiting for Dr Emma to recommend she stop wearing that, but she didn't.

I'm always surprised anyone can keep "jewelry" during procedures.  Seems that everything--including make-up should be removed: patients, doctors, everyone working with the patient.

[Mothra]

Watching this wee show, as well as others like it, has made me so much more compassionate toward people with what I had always considered just "bad skin."  I've never been an unkind person--at least to my knowledge--toward people with bad acne, say, or rosacea, but I did buy into the idea that those big red noses resulted from alcohol, or that a better diet or hormonal treatment would clear up acne, and now I know better.  It's stupid that it took me so long to understand; we've all known for a long time that fat people *know* they are fat and are dealing with it the best they can, or as they wish--why did I need exposure to Back Stories to understand that about bad skin?

The lady (Min or something?) with that dreadful scarring!  She looked so much better and was so much happier after Dr. Emma's treatment, and I hope continued work on removing/remediating that scar tissue will continue to help her.  The makeup the technician applied was awful, I thought, troweled on, I guess to try to smooth out that sort of ledge on her cheek, and I think had I been the patient, I would have figured out something else to do about it.  The color wasn't even right.  But overall, what a successful treatment.

I do appreciate this show because it's made me a kinder person and as a bonus introduced me to unimaginable things that can go wrong with human skin.

[mmecorday]

I could listen to Dr. Emma talk all day long.

[cinsays]

3 hours ago, Mothra said:

Watching this wee show, as well as others like it, has made me so much more compassionate toward people with what I had always considered just "bad skin."  I've never been an unkind person--at least to my knowledge--toward people with bad acne, say, or rosacea, but I did buy into the idea that those big red noses resulted from alcohol, or that a better diet or hormonal treatment would clear up acne, and now I know better.  It's stupid that it took me so long to understand; we've all known for a long time that fat people *know* they are fat and are dealing with it the best they can, or as they wish--why did I need exposure to Back Stories to understand that about bad skin?

The lady (Min or something?) with that dreadful scarring!  She looked so much better and was so much happier after Dr. Emma's treatment, and I hope continued work on removing/remediating that scar tissue will continue to help her.  The makeup the technician applied was awful, I thought, troweled on, I guess to try to smooth out that sort of ledge on her cheek, and I think had I been the patient, I would have figured out something else to do about it.  The color wasn't even right.  But overall, what a successful treatment.

I do appreciate this show because it's made me a kinder person and as a bonus introduced me to unimaginable things that can go wrong with human skin.

yeah, they said something like the makeup was custom blended to match her skintone and it was nothing like her skin tone!  just awful

[auntjess]

On 6/9/2022 at 9:09 AM, cinsays said:

I couldn't stop wondering if maybe the 2nd lady's nose ring might have played a part in her condition.  She said it started with a bump/sore on her nose.  Maybe an allergic reaction? I kept waiting for Dr Emma to recommend she stop wearing that, but she didn't.

I wondered that too, if it wasn't sterile, and an infection started.

[Mothra]

3 hours ago, auntjess said:

I wondered that too, if it wasn't sterile, and an infection started.

I agree, too, and I keep thinking that if I had something seriously wrong with the skin on my face, something wrong enough to affect the way I was living my life, the last thing I'd want is *anything* that called attention to my face, and like you I'd worry that I had some kind of infection related to a piercing.  Plus, this piercing was in her nose, where snot is bound to get on it throughout the day, and wiping or blowing your nose would, it seems to me, spread whatever bacteria you have in your sinuses, no matter how careful you were.

I guess Dr. Emma knows best.  If she's not concerned about that nose ring, I shouldn't be either.

But still.

[Kenzie]

On 6/9/2022 at 11:48 AM, Back Atcha said:

I'm always surprised anyone can keep "jewelry" during procedures. 

What surprised me was that someone dealing with with acute acne would choose to wear "look at me" jewelry at all.

[Rickster]

Unless I missed the backstory,  I was curious about the cause of the keloids on the older woman’s rear end. Usually on these shows, they’re the result of a piercing or some other sort of incision. I didn’t think they discussed it here.

[Schnickelfritz]

3 hours ago, Rickster said:

Unless I missed the backstory,  I was curious about the cause of the keloids on the older woman’s rear end. Usually on these shows, they’re the result of a piercing or some other sort of incision. I didn’t think they discussed it here.

She was from season 2.  Maureen was diagnosed in 2016 with Bullous Pemphigoid (auto immune disease) and got blisters all over her body. She was in the hospital for 4 months and for some reason the blisters on her buttocks formed those keloids. I'm glad they showed her follow up. She seems like such a sweet lady. Glad she got relief!

Her episode is Season 2, Episode 2 if anyone is interested.

Edited June 11, 2022 by Schnickelfritz

[Mondrianyone]

5 hours ago, Kenzie said:

What surprised me was that someone dealing with with acute acne would choose to wear "look at me" jewelry at all.

I said exactly this to my husband while we were watching. She supposedly was studying fashion and design, which normally would mean you understand how a color in a certain area plays up what's already in that area. If you have flaming red blisters on your cheeks and chin, you don't wear beads the exact same color around your neck and hanging from your ears. No fashion degree needed.

[Rickster]

On 6/11/2022 at 10:00 AM, Schnickelfritz said:

She was from season 2.  Maureen was diagnosed in 2016 with Bullous Pemphigoid (auto immune disease) and got blisters all over her body. She was in the hospital for 4 months and for some reason the blisters on her buttocks formed those keloids. I'm glad they showed her follow up. She seems like such a sweet lady. Glad she got relief!

Her episode is Season 2, Episode 2 if anyone is interested.

Well the show is back and if I’m not mistaken, one of the patients last night had the same rare auto immune disease. Interesting that they traced it to a diabetes medication which triggered it.

[Mondrianyone]

I'm very glad to have this back. 

Unless I blinked and missed it, we didn't get to see a follow-up on the wrestler's healed lipoma. Just me?

[Back Atcha]

On 12/22/2022 at 12:19 PM, Mondrianyone said:

Unless I blinked and missed it, we didn't get to see a follow-up on the wrestler's healed lipoma. Just me?

As far as I know, we simply saw his stitched wound and he went happily on his way.  I don't think we get to see ALL the happy customers.

[Back Atcha]

I wanted to comment on the interesting young mother with the dangerous PULSING artery/bump on her forehead.  She was SO self-conscious about it that she refused to appear in photos taken with her new baby (who's now a year?? old).  YET...when she enters Dr. Emma's office, her (wig?) bangs were combed to the side, looking very nice--perfectly hiding that "bump."  I think the young lady overdramatized her discomfort for the viewers.

I was surprised the procedure seemed so complex...but happy that the outcome was great.

Edited December 23, 2022 by Back Atcha

[Mondrianyone]

On 12/23/2022 at 5:11 PM, Back Atcha said:

I don't think we get to see ALL the happy customers.

I think we usually do, which is why I was surprised we didn't get to see him all healed.

On 12/23/2022 at 5:17 PM, Back Atcha said:

I think the young lady overdramatized her discomfort for the viewers.

This probably happens a lot. I often find myself thinking, "Well, that would be pretty easy to conceal." Not that anyone should have to, if it's something that can be fixed. But the drama adds to the effect of the transformation, so I'm fine with that.

[Minivanessa]

I'm reporting in from the UK. On a much-postponed trip, but finally here for a couple of weeks. I'm watching TV in my hotel room tonight - and this show is on, titled "The Bad Skin Clinic." I watched an episode tonight that I hadn't seen before, and a promo said they're airing new episodes on Wednesday nights (this is Sunday). I hope this means that we'll see more seasons in the US. 

[auntjess]

I see Dr. Emma is coming back, and I set my DVR to record, but not sure which day it was.  
Now, bring back Dr. Mercy, and maybe dump one of the many find a mate somewhere shows.

[badgerwoman]

12 hours ago, auntjess said:

I see Dr. Emma is coming back, and I set my DVR to record, but not sure which day it was.  
Now, bring back Dr. Mercy, and maybe dump one of the many find a mate somewhere shows.

Wednesday at 9 central.  Right after Dr. Pimple Popper.  

[auntjess]

Yep, watched the new one.  
She and patient discussed what I'd wondered about.   National health doesn't cover anything considered "cosmetic."  

 

[sempervivum]

After watching last night's (new, I think) episode, I'm now curious about 'bleach baths'. Dr. Emma did a great job with the Hailey-Hailey lady and the rosacea girl. 

Dr. Emma's has Princess Kate-quality hair.

[CruiseDiva]

I really like Dr. Emma and her patients' cases are often more interesting than Dr. Lee's. Plus, Dr. Emma comes up with some unique treatments, like the bleach bath.

I just have to fast forward through all the woe-is-me emotional stories on both programs. While I understand that the patients' skin conditions are very concerning to them, it's not like they have a fatal illness.

[cynicat]

4 hours ago, sempervivum said:

After watching last night's (new, I think) episode, I'm now curious about 'bleach baths'. Dr. Emma did a great job with the Hailey-Hailey lady and the rosacea girl. 

Bleach baths are definitely gaining popularity because they're an alternative (or at least and adjunct) to antimicrobials, to help decrease resistance.  Cool stuff.

[libgirl2]

I watched last night. I don't know if it was a repeat but that man did have really gorgeous and silky hair! I also liked his accent. Almost Sean Connery like. 

[sempervivum]

6 hours ago, libgirl2 said:

I don't know if it was a repeat but that man did have really gorgeous and silky hair!

Agreed- but those ridiculous skinny jeans!

[libgirl2]

13 hours ago, sempervivum said:

Agreed- but those ridiculous skinny jeans!

Yea, the look did not look good on him. I don't think it looks good on any guy. 

[Rickster]

21 hours ago, libgirl2 said:

I watched last night. I don't know if it was a repeat but that man did have really gorgeous and silky hair! I also liked his accent. Almost Sean Connery like. 

I’m about 90% certain he was Welsh. The rugby injury confirmed it.

[cynicat]

Just when you think you can't like Dr. Emma more, she does a show where all the patients are children.  So sweet and that baby was freaking adorable!

[Texasmom1970]

On 7/20/2023 at 6:29 AM, cynicat said:

Just when you think you can't like Dr. Emma more, she does a show where all the patients are children.  So sweet and that baby was freaking adorable!

I loved this episode so much. Both my daughters had severe eczema when babie. I remember having to bandage my youngest girls legs. My poor girl would scratch till it bled. 
She really was wonderful with all the children.

[cynicat]

I don't know if this is new, but I'll share in case it impacts others.  On my YouTubeTV, the title of this show changed to "Bad Skin".  I couldn't figure out why it wasn't being recorded anymore and that's the reason.  The more you know  🎵

[Rickster]

4 hours ago, cynicat said:

I don't know if this is new, but I'll share in case it impacts others.  On my YouTubeTV, the title of this show changed to "Bad Skin".  I couldn't figure out why it wasn't being recorded anymore and that's the reason.  The more you know  🎵

Interesting. I have Optimum cable, and while the name of the show is the same as always, my DVR would not automatically record this season until I went in and set it up as a new show to record.

[Mondrianyone]

Funny, I had a similar issue with this show, but on Dish satellite. I had to go back and find the ones I'd missed by searching On Demand, even though it was programmed to record.

I just checked the Bad Skin title, and what came up was Bad Skin Clinic on YouTube but no indication of a name change on TLC. I watched a couple of them (each is one case, treatment and follow-up, about nine minutes long), and one I'd seen before on the regular show, one I hadn't. No idea what's going on here.

[cynicat]

I can't explain it, however this is what comes up on YT:

 

[Mondrianyone]

I don't have YT TV, but on our smart TV, a global search takes me to her individual YT videos with that same title. At least they're consistent within YT, so that makes sense. Maybe she can't legally use the TLC title on YT.  🤷‍♀️

[Schnickelfritz]

The show comes up on a search under both names on Spectrum. Never realized that. Thankfully, the DVR was merrily recording it, though episode one of the new season never recorded. Not sure if it aired or not.