Rosacea - alternatives to antibiotics

[TunipTheVegedude]

Arsing cunting rosacea is trying to ruin my life.

I went to the doc about it last autumn, and he put me on antibiotics, and for a while I looked like a normal person but it also made me very nauseous and I lost a fair bit of weight because it was hard to get food down when I felt so sick.

Have been off the antibiotics for about 2 months and it's come back with a vengeance - I don't just look so hideous I struggle with going out in public, it is also quite itchy and painful.

What other treatments are there? I have another appointment this Fri. Does anyone have any experiences of successful treatments they can share?

[MrsMushroom]

Have you heard about the association with mites? Specifically Demodex Mites....their poop

I have a mild case of Rosacea and it's horrible...there are some people who are trying ways to kill of the demodex mites...in order to stop the allergic reaction. I am trying marigold moisturizer with a few drops of teatree oil in it...apparently the teatree kills demodex in a test tube....but teatree is too harsh to apply directly to skin...so you have to mix it with a carrier oil. I asked a herbalist who told me Marigold cream is good for rosacea and that a few drops of teatree will also help.

I've seen some improvement but I've only been doing it for a week...plus antibiotics.

[mankyscotslass]

I'm joining this thread, I was diagnosed with Rosacea about 10 years ago, and the only times it cleared was when I was pregnant, or on antibiotics.

I am in the middle of a terrible flare at the moment, and can't stretch to forking out for a prescription for the next few months, so am interested in any other ideas!

[TunipTheVegedude]

That's interesting MrsMushroom.
It's been known for a long time that there was an association with mites but he seems to have pinned it down: 'Kavanagh notes that one kind of bacteria in the mites' guts, Bacillus oleronius, is killed by the antibiotics that work against rosacea, and not by other types of antibiotics. His lab reported in June that 80 per cent of people with the most common kind of rosacea have immune cells in their blood that react strongly to two proteins from B. Oleronius, releasing triggers of inflammation. Only 40 per cent of people without rosacea have this reaction.'

Teatree/calendula didn't work for me unfortunately - I tried it before I had the antibiotics.

[milktraylady]

My beautician treats people with this problem. She recommends an antihistamine avoidance diet & really calming oils on the skin. Like avoiding strawberries etc.
Let me know if you want her details.

[dadditlass]

I've been using coconut oil, sometimes I add teatree oil to it. I also put a tsp of coconut oil into hot milk or my hot chocolate. My skin has defiantly improved since I started doing it.

[whenwillisleepagain]

Hi, watching with interest. Got diagnosed by my GP 10 days ago - and started on antibiotics. GP said topical treatments would irritate my mild eczema. However, the same day, various cat-loving friends came round and I started to itch (v allergic to cats) and took antihistamine. Next day noticed the rosacea, which had been sore and inflamed, looked better than it had for ages. I only went to pick up my prescription later that day and didn't start the ABs till the following day. Something is bugging my allergies at the moment, so I'm carrying on with the antihistamines. When I take a break I look a bit pinker again, so it's hard to tell what improvement is due to antihistamine and what to AB - never knew about the mite connection, as I'm just starting to try and learn about rosacea. But this is all my long-winded way of saying, have you considered antihistamines?

[TunipTheVegedude]

That's very interesting, WhenwillIsleepagain.

Are the antihistamines on prescription or can you get them over the counter?

[MrsMushroom]

Yes...very interesting! I might try some too if they're ok with my antibiotics.

I also have had blepharitis which is linked to the same mites...so it makes sense!

I only got a disgnosis last week and am going to throw all my makeup away...and I have also begun cleansing my face more regularly...morn and night...apparently you're meant to wash all your bedding on a hot wash....

[SCOTCHandWRY]

I think some people find that gluten is a big trigger.

[TunipTheVegedude]

I've never heard that MrsMushroom, re cleansing and hot washes. Makes sense - except the advice I've seen on cleansing is not to do it too much....
There is so much contradictory advice around re rosacea. It's a bloody nightmare.
I find it really hard to pin triggers down when there are so many that are unavoidable (eg going out in the cold) or very everyday things (hot drinks).

[mankyscotslass]

Is it just over the counter antihistamines?

[MrsMushroom]

I think the best thing is to keep a diary, but whose got the time!? Not me....I am hoping the antis help and if not I am looking into laser treatment. Mine is acne rosacea and there was some fungal activity on the slide according to the dermatologist....they took a biopsy as they thought I had lupus!

I knew it wasn't lupus...my sister has that and I just knew it wasn't somehow.

Gluten link is interesting Scotch...off to Google!

[HarrietSchulenberg]

I find that lavender oil and e45 cream help and I never ever use soap on my face. Didn't know about the mites thing so will investigate - my sheets could probably do eith a good hot wash!

[TunipTheVegedude]

What do you do with the lavender oil? You mean mixed into the E45?

[MrsMushroom]

I was told to mix the oil in with the cream Tunip...

[Ruprekt]

Since giving up alcohol my rosacea has cleared up really well.

I am also low carbing and avoiding sugar which has helped too. Just not sure which new thing I am doing has fixed the skin!

[mankyscotslass]

Mrsmushroom I keep getting tested for Lupus, my mum is seriously ill with it. They take one look at my face and assume I have it too.
Would tea tree oil in E45 work the same as lavender oil?

[MrsMushroom]

Well the herbalist told me to try that Manky...I suspect it's trial and error. I was pretty relived not to have Lupus! It's a shocking thing though my sisters has bizzarrley gone dormant...so she's much better.

[mankyscotslass]

I'm glad your sister is ok - my DM has all sorts of complications.

I'm going to try the E45 and tea tree oil - I have some of both at home.

[TunipTheVegedude]

That's the trouble isn't it Ruprekt - so hard to isolate a trigger.
I tried giving up alcohol in the past with no effect but maybe I have several triggers of which that is one.
I'm considering giving up all the things on the lists of major triggers and reintroducing one at a time - except that would include giving up exercise, and I can't entirely give up going out in the cold air what with school runs etc. If I give up all the things I love like hot baths, hot drinks, coffee, alcohol, going for walks, my life is going to be quite a bit worse and I'll be well pissed off if I still get rosacea due to the school runs.
And now people on this thread are talking about dietary things, which is a whole other ball game! I have a really good diet but giving up gluten would still be a major change.

[SCOTCHandWRY]

Tunip, the diet link is interesting tho! I don't have rosacea, but I do have other immune/inflammation issues caused by gluten containing grains (not just wheat). Some symptoms like ibs I suspected were due to gluten, for years before i cut it from my diet.

But other symptoms i had no idea gluten was the cause until after I stopped eating it ?? ! That includes arthritis pain in many joints, diffuse hairloss and marked horizontal and vertical lines on my nails, and sore gums! All these symptoms had crept up on me over the years and were getting worse...

Those problems have resolved now I'm on a grain free diet, and I've been reading into the role of grain proteins (gluten but also others such as lectins), which seem to have a very strong link with ALL conditions with an autoimmune component - from arthritis to diabetes to ms, many many conditions and the weird thing is, the inflammation caused by the grain proteins may trigger multiple other sensitivities which then makes it harder to point the finger at grains as the cause, it's very interesting stuff, and well worth a google.

[MerylStrop]

Can you ask your dr for a different antibiotic?

I get rosacea and I find if it flares (usually change of seasons) anti-bs are the only thing that address it quickly

Then keeping it at bay:
Avene diroseal/antiredness treatment cream - little miracle for me
cut out sugar and caffeine (or at least cut back)
cut down on alcohol esp red wine

I don't trust topical stuff really, not with inflamed skin

[SCOTCHandWRY]

Interesting mrs mushroom, lupis and rosacea in the same family, I've noticed that a lot - if one family member has a condition with an autoimmune component then there are usually lots of relatives with other, often seemingly unrelated autoimmune conditions!

My family (excluding my various autoimmune issues) - atopy, IBS, diabetes, coeliac, arthritis, HSP (immune system attacks walls of blood vessels), chrone's disease... Some family members have more than 1 of these . All may be caused by, or linked to grain consumption??!

[secretscwirrels]

I have had it on and off for 15 years.
Nothing topical works, nor to be fair, does it make things any worse. Antibiotics work well for me and there are different kinds which can be used for Rosacea so maybe you could try another one?
I now find I can go roughly 3 months on and 3 months off the Lymecyline.

[MrsMushroom]

Scotch it is odd isn't it? We have deafness, autoimmune thingies and dodgy hips! I'm not surprised....we've been in the same bloody square five miles for about 300 years! Probably need fresh breeding material!

I don't drink alcohol but I love coffee, tea and sugar! The herbalist told me to take some probiotic....she said once you get your gut sorted, it goes...she's seen it time and time again...she told me to get the STRONG one...it's nearly thirty pounds though which is a lot for me....I may have to go for it,