"Longstanding skin conditions"

After suffering for almost 5 years with 2 separate skin problems around my eyes and on my chin, and sending photographs to my GP and later to a Benenden doctor, the conditions were wrongly diagnosed as one disease  by my GP as eczema and the Benenden doctor as rosacea. This despite my explanations of the immediate onset of symptoms of one condition after I had my eyelashes dyed. 

I queried the use of hydrocortisone cream  (from my GP who, when I queried the use of this around my eyes, assured it me it would be OK as it was used for nappy rash). After using the hydrocortisone, neither condition improved and when I read the leaflet included, I quickly stopped using the cream around my eyes as the advice was NOT to use around the eyes. 

The Benenden doctor prescribed Ivermectin cream for rosacea. I also queried if this was OK for the eyes and was told it was. Again, when I read the accompanying leaflet it said NOT to use around the eyes! The ivermectin did, however help the skin condition on my chin. 

I finally asked for a referral to a dermatologist.

I attended an appointment today after 2 cancellations (understandable due to more urgent cases during a difficult time). Dr Bailey and her assistant Emma were knowledgeable, professional and reassuring. Dr Bailey immediately confirmed that they were indeed separate conditions, identified them, showed me confirmatory online photos of examples of each of them, told me they were easily treatable and gave me a prescription for one and details of what to get from Boots for the other. 

I was also told that the GP had sent the photos to the hospital when requesting the referral and a dermatologist had written back recommending a treatment in April. I knew nothing of this as I was not informed about the letter. I consider this as unacceptable conduct from my GP. 

I was so relieved to get an accurate diagnosis and have confidence that the courses of treatment prescribed will rid me of these distressing facial problems and I can only thank Dr Bailey for her help and advice.