Bright and early last Monday (19 October), I travelled from London up to Manchester to give a presentation called ‘Living with PCOS’ for Lynton Lasers, who make cosmetic laser machines. Lynton regularly hold workshops for their clients, so this was a great opportunity for Verity to raise awareness of the condition with those in a position to see and help PCOS women on a day to day basis.
I felt it important to cover how PCOS makes us feel on a day to day basis; affecting self-esteem and quality of life through its many wonderful symptoms. Laser treatment for excess hair and / or acne scarring is a very common form of treatment for PCOS women, but it can often be an intimidating first-step for a woman who may have very low self-esteem caused by the day to day drain of having to manage / maintain these symptoms. Informing laser clinicians on the syndrome, and also how they can help better understand / treat their patients can make that journey a bit easier.
My presentation is below:
I was very pleased that there were lots and lots of questions after the slides, and we discussed things such as:
- How they can broach the subject of PCOS with a patient if they suspect she has it
- What the diagnosis process of PCOS is
- How they can assist their patients in potentially getting NHS funded treatment*
- How lifestyle changes and prescription meds such as Vaniqa can also assist the patient getting better results from treatment
- That PCOS means that hair removal will most likely not be as permanent as it is for other women, and that they may need regular top-up treatments for maintanence
- Offering a discount on treatment to PCOS patients / to Verity members can be of great benefit
I received an email back from Lynton following my trip and despite my nervous-presentation-style, the delegates attending, by all accounts, found the session very very useful which was great to hear.
Just today, I got an email from Norann Rozario of A NU U Cosmetic Therapy Clinic who attened the Lynton workshop:
“Many thanks for a great talk on PCOS last monday. Found you gave a very realistic view of PCOS. My backround is in nursing therefore I am very intested in PCOS and looking at ways that would make life a little easier for my clients. I always give discount and often a free treatment to support them. I will take on board your advice about giving them a letter for GP so that they can seek funding.”
Mission accomplished!
Lynton have kindly invited me to guest speak again in London in February March time, which I am looking forward to. It’s all part of the process of slowing building awareness of PCOS.
*Verity published an article in our In Touch newsletter discussing NHS funded hair removal which is below
Verity - The PCOS charity 