Trying to deal with my roseacea - desperately need help : (

[KnittingRocks]

I am nearly 40 and have never worn make up (sounds like an AA admission!). I have always had beautifully clear skin, even as a teenager, until two years ago when pg with my 2nd child I developed roseacea and it has never cleared up - in fact, it has worsened over the last year.

I am now desperate to cover it as I am so self-conscious about how awful it looks. I have tried using a tinted moisturiser but I just get that awful line around my jaw where the colour stops and it looks terrible . It also looks very monotone, and unnatural. I know there are loads of other things I could be using but I don't know where to start!

I'm feeling so low and just wondered if anyone could help? Or do you know anywhere where I can go to to learn how to do make up?

Thank you.

[GilbonzoTheSecretPsych0Duck]

I got a fab cream from Boots. I think it was from their No 7 range. I don't have roseacea (I don't think) but I do go red as soon as I get hot. It's made a massive difference. I was very sceptical as I don't go in for miracle cures but it really does seem to have made a difference. I asked at teh counter in there and this was recommended. The writing has worn off my jar but when I find the new one that I put away 'somewhere safe' I'll tell you what it is. They also do a green tint to go under foundation but I've never got to grips with it. They do explain how to use it if you ask though.

[willybreeder]

Hello, I'm a make-up artist and have found that mineral foundations are great at hiding roseacea whilst still looking natural. There are quite a few companies that do it and good ones to try are Lily Lo and Bare Escentials. Always get the assistant to help you choose the right colour and show you how to apply it.
Have you been taking medication for the roseacea as from what I can gather the oral medication works much better than the creams, worth asking your doctor. Good luck

[JustAnother]

you might have already done it, but have you spoken to your GP? the reason I am mentioning it is that I have put up with adult acne for 4 years now. I have every posible cream for it and nothing was helping. I must have spent £££ on cosmetics to cure/cover it. And then, I went to the GP about 3 weeks ago. He gave me a lotion for it and voila!, it is almost gone. Why didn't I go before, I don't know. I wish I had.

[purpleknittingmum]

I had antibiotics that worked, then a different doc wanted to try a lotion and it made it so much worse so have gone back on the antibiotics and it is clearing up again. The next stage is roaccutane

I tend to just put on a bit of green concealer under tinted moisturiser or foundation. I have never used a mineral foundation, thanks willybreeder, will perhaps look into that. Are there any cheap ones about as I am always on a budget!

[sparkle1977]

I have it too and so far I have only tried one lotion/cream from my GP which didn't seem to do a great deal (metradinazole I think?). I am going to go back soon and see what else they can offer.

Make up wise I have just started to use Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation which I am loving. You could try going to your local counter and getting the free 10 day supply to test before buying ?

Also using Avene moisuriser which someone on MN recommended for calming the skin but not finding it much use to be honest.

[Kalypso]

I second the Boots No 7 Protect and Perfect serum. I flush very easily, and while I don't have rosacea (yet - my mum does), I am certain it has helped with the redness and blotchiness.

During my pregnancy, I suffered from severe hot flushes, during which my face would literally go betroot-coloured. I was referred to a dermatologist, as it lasted a few months after I had my DS. She felt it was hormone related and would settle down eventually, and it has, although it sometimes flares up a bit even now.

With regards to the green concealer, I found it very helpful at the time. I mixed in a small amount with my normal foundation, and it did tone down the redness. On particularly bad days, I would also dust a little bit of Revlon ColorStay mineral foundation powder where I was particularly flushed (I would blend it in on top of my normal foundation). It comes with a brush built into the lid and it covers really well, without looking like you are caked in make-up. The brush enables you to softly blend it in.

[DonaAna]

I have mild rosacea - the redness doesn't enhance my naturally very pale skin. First, get your treatment right with your GP or dermatologist.

I'm generally wary of very powdery or mineral-based products - they accentuate the flakiness of my skin (I used to be a loose powder junkie but had to give that up). Unfortunately, rosacea seems to cause increased skin cell turnover, ie, flakes, and scrubs, tonics and masks only irritate more my already red and irritated skin.

For coverup, Revlon Colorstay liquid foundation is great - it really covers the redness and doesn't cause breakouts (and on my skin it works better and looks more natural than Estee Lauders DW and DWL - they are a bit orange on me and cause that horrible streak at jawline). It can be drying, so I remove with an oil-based product and then use my normal cleanser afterward. (Evening only - splashing my face with water increases redness, so I never do it in the morning.). I also moisturize at night with Eucerin. La Roche-Posay do a lot of rosacea products, but I haven't needed them yet.

[KnittingRocks]

Thank you all for your lovely replies - it helps to know that there are solutions out there. I haven't been to see my GP but I will do that - and I have made a note of the lotions and potions and will go shopping tomorrow!

Are the antibiotics long term? I didn't think you could take ABs long term - would it not just come straight back?

[KnittingRocks]

Supersunny, that's very hopeful - thank you!

[TheOnlyWayIsEnfield]

I have a cream called rosex, prescribed by my gp. It took me about 3 miserable years to go to the docs about it, wish I had just gone in the first place! The cream cleared it up within weeks and I feel liberated by it! Also had spent a bloody fortune on creams to make it go away, to no avail. You do have to use the cream for the long run to avoid it coming back, but it made my skin so much clearer that I can now put foundation on my skin without it just flaking off. I feel fabulous. Go to the GP! Good luck.

[MrsRobertDuvall]

Have you tried the ultra calming range by dermalogica?
It is very good for roseacea...

[iloveeverton]

I've had awful skin since my dd was born. It's always been dry but it was red and spotty!

My gp prescribed Metrosa cream. I used it twice a day. I also cleansed at night with clinique redness solutions cleanser and used the redness solutions relief cream.

I was advised to avoid hot baths, yoghurt and alcohol. I use mineral make up and the garner bb.

My skin is almost clear now.

[lovetomatoes]

Hi Knitting
I've had this the last couple of years. extremes of temperature; hot and cold can set it off.
I got antibiotics from the GP and first thought I'd found a miracle cure but the rosacea returned as soon as I stopped taking them and I don't like the idea of taking anti-biotics for years at a time. The GP also didn't mention that the ones they ues for rosacea can stain your teeth. It's not caused by a bacteria anyway.

The thing that inadvertently has worked the best for me has been moving house. A very drastic step I know but the improvement in my skin was an unexpected side-effect. I'm not suggesting you up sticks but it did confirm to me that something in my environment was causing the problem. I still I have no idea what this might have been. I suspect chemicals in the furniture or some kind of invisible mould.

It hasn't gone away entirely and some foods cause a flare; cheese, curry and alcohol. On the whole though it's way better.
Skincare wise I haven't found a magic bullet. dermalogica's Ultracalming is good but pricy. I use Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish (as long as the water's not too hot) or Clinique UltraMild Facial Soap to cleanse. Make-up is Clinique's redness solutions which I'd really recommend. It's heavier than make-up I'd used previously and you have to blend well along the jawline but it does give excellent camoflage (sp?). haven't tried the mineral make-up. Not using a moisturiser at the moment but find the No.7 factor 50 sunscreen doesn't bother my skin. One thing I do avoid is anti-aging creams as the active ingredients can be irritating.

Skincare and medication are only part of the answer. Keep a food diary to identify triggers and notice does your skin improve when you're away from home.

[Collision]

I did a Mumsnet product test a couple of years ago for Nutrasea fish oils and the result was clear skin and lovely long nails!

I still use them now and it definitely calms down the roseacea.

here

[KnittingRocks]

Thank you everyone - interesting about environmental factors, and also what I eat/drink. I am in the process of cutting certain things out of my diet - starting with wheat.

I have been away in Scotland for two weeks and my skin was certainly better than it is now (live in SE of England) but moving not an option unfortunately!

I have looked at the dermalogica stuff which looks good and will also look out the fish oils. Think all this is going to cost a lot of money and I've recently lost my job but I need my confidence back if I'm going to job hunt so will need to invest in something.

[Ilovebagsandbruuuce]

im a sufferer too :-( IPL treatment through a private hospital works well (but expensive) with antibiotics. I tried various prescribed creams but seemed to make it worse.

I used the Dermalogica range - ultra calming cleanser and a moisturiser for a couple of years but it all gets quite expensive. Now i dont use cleanser at all and use a moisturiser from marks and spencer for sensitive skin which is great for me.

for cover - Clinique Even Better foundation is great - brill coverage and quite moisturising too and i use Benefit Boing concealer on my cheeks - its described as 'industrial strength' and is very good. I live in fear it will be discontinued as its by far the best concealer i have ever tried (i have tried many expensive brands of both foundation and concealer).

I really recommend the antibiotics, it took a couple of months to start to notice the difference and i go back on them every now and again after the initial 3 month course.

I've had this for about 3 years now and whilst it hasn't gone, i can live with it - mine was really awful and now i can get away with just a bit of concealer sometimes. Good luck and dont lose hope - theres options that really help.

[fraggle73]

Would anyone recommend Clinique Redness products ie makeup and the cleansers and moisturisers?? I currently just use water but need to start using something soon.

[Ilovebagsandbruuuce]

fraggle I did try the clinique non-make up products for redness but found them to be awful for my skin but the actual foundation 'even better' is the best i have tried.

[fraggle73]

Well I am off to the GP tomorrow after using Zineryt for 6 months and no improvement, can anyone tell me the names of any oral medication they have had prescribed for rosacea?

[wideawakenurse]

I have had it for 10 plus years.

I have never really had much luck with topical or oral
Antibiotics, despite taking them for months and months.

For me stress is a big trigger, and sugar too.

Skincare wise, I have recently started using Cetaphil cleanser which is excellent and is similar to Dermalogica ultra calming cleanser but at a fraction of the price. Amazon will get you the best deal with it.

[fraggle73]

have been prescribed Tetralsyl, oral tablets. Will try and see if it helps. Is caffeine also supposed to be a trigger?