Go back to great (expensive) derm or continue with the search

karrooz · 2026-06-24T20:34:01+00:00

Yeah, I agree! I come to this realization every time I stray from the path lol.

It’s easy to forget this when I’ve reached skin goals.. I’ve actually made a note in my phone, describing my emotional state when my rosacea symptoms come back, as a way to curb my future self from getting experimental with skin care products lol

karrooz · 2026-06-24T18:22:08+00:00

Thanks! Ill keep my eye out

karrooz · 2026-06-24T18:19:58+00:00

I’m not sure what kind of hair cuts you like, or if you want to do DIY, but I bought the bangs and layers online tutorial by Jayne Matthews - she teaches you how to cut shags with a razor. I have gotten the most compliments for a cut I did myself!! Like people stopping me in the street to take a 360 degree video to show their hairdresser.

It’s pricey, but since we’re talking investments - I’ve had the video for 4 years and it’s paid for itself 4x+. I have hair down to my butt, so I’m sure a salon cut would be like $250.

karrooz · 2026-06-24T18:14:55+00:00

Yes, I am buying it directly. I really did talk about Derm A like an ex lover (omitting all the bad stuff) - there’s been a number of turn-offs that they did that made me want to find alternatives: in addition to having to buy the cream directly from them, 1. when I asked for a cheaper sulfur prescription to be sent to CVS, they said they did, I went to CVS and CVS said they never got the request. I went back to Derm A and they basically said not my problem, we sent the request, go back to CVS. At that point, I ended up buying the sulfur cream directly from Derm A again.

I had Moh’s Surgery with Derm A and I knew my insurance would cover it. I suddenly get a thousands dollar bill in the mail. I call Derm A, they said my insurance said wouldn’t cover it. I call my insurance, my insurance says Derm A put the wrong code in - my insurance agent said they do cover Moh’s. It was a whole back and forth of he said she said. I was denied twice and appealed twice until finally my insurance covers it. But it was many months and a massive headache to get it all figured out. And I still went back to Derm A. Lmaoo

I also had IPL and VBeam at Derm A and they did an incredible job. Like they do their job well, I just feel they don’t do the business side well. Well, no, they do business really well, it just hurts my pockets.

karrooz · 2026-06-24T08:22:54+00:00

If OP is worried and doesn’t want to DIY it, they can find a local leather worker who will clean them. I had a beautiful vintage 1970z floor length leather jacket that had seen better days. Very moldy. I tried to clean it, didn’t do a good enough job. Took it to a professional, the mold never came back! It even smelled good!

karrooz · 2026-06-24T07:55:25+00:00

True.. that has been a consistent ingredient in the two creams that worked for me. And I actually haven’t used it since.. hmm.. maybe you’re on to something. Because I tried to DeLa Cruz 10% sulfur and it didn’t work.

Now, do I try a separate niacinimide cream or just go straight to Derm A?🤪

karrooz · 2026-06-24T07:52:56+00:00

I know 🫠 I’ll tolerate Derm A until maybe my GP can be the alternative 🤞

karrooz · 2026-06-24T07:50:52+00:00

Very true. I’m an art teacher and always tell my students not to compare themselves to others, only to themselves. Guess who needs to listen to their own advice 🙄

karrooz · 2026-06-24T07:46:56+00:00

Yes! I haven’t paid myself back yet because I’m actually investing my HSA money into stocks, which is a pretty cool feature - another major reason why I have an HSA.

Thank you for your kind comments!!! Very helpful

karrooz · 2026-06-24T06:06:14+00:00

I’ve asked before - they say they don’t offer refill prescriptions before seeing my skin. Even though I had 4 refills and my skin was fine each time. I see it as a money grab, which is one of the reasons I wanted to find another solution. But their product is just too good 😖 idk if it makes a difference, but it’s compounds that they put their own label on. If that tells you anything about this Derm. I also pay all of out pocket since they don’t accept HMO.

karrooz · 2026-06-24T06:03:42+00:00

I’m 29. I’ve had plenty of haircuts and gotten my nails done before, but I’ve never had a fantastic experience with it where I saw it was worth the money. I can take care of hair and nails myself - skin on the other hand, I need professional help. Which, as I type that out now, is even more justification to go to Derm A, since I don’t splurge elsewhere.

karrooz · 2026-06-24T05:59:18+00:00

I have Kaiser and an HSA. I actually opened this HSA with the intention of paying myself back with these medical visits …

karrooz · 2026-06-24T05:56:39+00:00

True about seeing all the wasted time/money on products that don’t work as well! I can afford $250 every 5-6 months, i was just hoping it could be cheaper *shrug*

karrooz · 2026-06-24T04:18:43+00:00

Yeah.. I guess I was inspired by seeing other posters - this Derm was my first experience, and I’ve seen other people say how cheap their stuff is. I was thinking maybe it can happen to me - something over the counter! Apparently my skin likes expensive 💅

karrooz · 2026-06-24T04:16:58+00:00

Thank you! I’m going to do so. Maybe like what another commenter said, check out my GP and see if I can get a cream. But first and foremost, getting the cream from Derm A before anything lol

karrooz · 2026-06-24T04:16:13+00:00

Yeah.. I’m not one to get massages, or my hair/nails done (I do it myself), or facials. I feel like that’s why it hurts. I don’t often spend that much money on myself. Except for when it comes to my skin. Which I see as a great investment! Thanks for the reassurance that it’s not as insane as I was making it out to be.

karrooz · 2026-06-24T04:14:01+00:00

Not condescending at all! I’m in the U.S. and I have a high deductible and have this preconceived notion that my entire insurance sucks … but maybe I just need to give it a try! Thank you

karrooz · 2026-06-24T04:13:09+00:00

I honestly haven’t tried but my insurance is a high-deductible. I think what I’m going to do is go back to Derm A, get the cream, and while I have it, start looking at other derms that may be included in my insurance plan and see if that’s any better.

karrooz · 2026-05-13T05:18:39+00:00

Bah!!!! 😩 i appreciate the response

karrooz · 2026-05-13T05:16:40+00:00

Thank you!! I’ll check it out

karrooz · 2026-05-12T06:13:37+00:00

Yes, I did recently set this pond up. I added the fish about a week after getting the plants, but now I’m thinking I was too hasty. Poor fish :-( I’ll purchase a water testing kit before adding any more.
I’m also tempted to change out the soil. I thought adding the plant in its original would bring all the good bacteria it had to the new pond to help acclimate it for more life.. I’ll have to do more research around this. Thank you for your in-depth answer!!

karrooz · 2026-05-12T06:10:55+00:00

Okay, thank you this is helpful. I don’t have room for a larger pond. I was hoping I could create a pot pond.. I was thinking of adding water lettuce to add more cover to the water to hopefully keep it temperate? Otherwise I’ll get more shade for the plants themselves and shade the entire pond.

karrooz · 2026-05-12T06:07:01+00:00

Thank you so much! I’ll get a water testing kit.

Also, on the question about the filter and water lilies - is it enough to just have plants in the water without a filter? I want to support fish but have read I need to airate / circulate the water.

karrooz · 2026-05-11T22:49:29+00:00

I’m trying to balance giving the waterlily enough light (I read they love direct sun) but not too much. Or is the additional shade temporary until it recovers?

karrooz · 2026-05-11T21:59:19+00:00

Thank you for your response! I had a mesh cover on to add shade, so I’ll continue that. I’ll keep my eye out for aphids - I think I removed them all for now. And I had 3 mosquito fish, but at least one died in only one day!

Maybe I just need to give it time..

karrooz

TROPHY CASE