Newly diagnosed Rosacea - Looking for advice/tips? It's a scary world on Google!

[mandymoomin]

Hello,

I was recently diagnosed with mild Rosacea & Am waiting to see my GP again this week. I'm 29 (Nearly 30) & am trying not to Google too much as it's scary!

I wanted to ask for some advice/tips - Where to start? Skincare routine? I've always had quite sensitive & combination skin & am keeping a diary to see if certain things trigger it. I've read it is very common & I think the biggest thing is getting my head around it all :(.

Thanks in advance!

[StrawberrytallCake]

Hello! Don't worry too much, it is quite common - I was diagnosed a couple of years ago (around the same age as you).

Do you have the type with what the Drs describe as with papules and pustules? And flushing? Or just flushing?

I got rid of all p&ps using soolantra and although it's not supposed to help redness it seems to have somewhat. This is in relation to the theory that those with rosacea have an increased number of demodex mites, and soolantra is ivermectin which kills them.

Before soolantra was available (it's a new treatment) I tried metro gel (an antibiotic) and finacea, I was also given oral antibiotics. None of these worked for me but I think the best thing to do is try out a variety of treatments, what I've found from on here is that everyone reacts differently to each treatment.

Skincare is also really important, but again it depends on what works for you! At first I used cetaphil but never felt clean, I tried sulphur soap which I'd read about online as it gets rid of mites - and my face felt too dry. Using oil cleansing for a while seemed to help but I've now just found for me Emma Hardie is good - foam cleanse in the morning and oil cleanse in the eve. If I leave out moisturiser my skin doesn't like it.

I have now flushed only twice in the last year and found cheap wine, tomatoes or feeling anxious and embarrassed in combination does it for me

Sorry - this was an enormous post. Just thought I'd reassure you it's not so bad, just a case of trying stuff out.

[mandymoomin]

No thank u - It's just learning about Rosacea & seeing how everyone is so different with it.

[Tattoosandteadresses]

Don't worry too much about it. I started getting it when I was pregnant. I rarely get proper breakouts where my skin gets bumpy, more flushing. Tried the antibiotic gel for it but now use erythromycin lotion the odd time. I don't want to take oral antibs as I'm prone to thrush with them.

I simply cut back on the type of skin care I was using. Stick to cetaphil lotion and moisturiser now, only moisturise at night and use La Roche Posay sunblock on my face. Triggers for me are stress, heat, sun, exercise and alcohol. If I get embarrassed I flush sooo easily too.

Make up wise I use Dermablend now although I have been looking at the veil cover as I have a few broken veins from it on one cheek and I find as the hours wear on, they start to show through which I hate. Considering laser therapy for it if I'm honest. No one else really notices it I don't think but I do.

[zippyswife]

Hi. I started getting it at 27. It was really bad and wrecked my confidence. I eventually was put on rosex which has cleared it up. Through trial and error I have found that my skin is best maintained with avene products. My skin is dry and I use almond oil too. Touchwood I haven't had a bad flare up in years! I also know and avoid my triggers which are central heating and air conditioning which causes much argument with dh as he likes it hot in the house! If I avoid triggers and stick to my skincare I am grand. Try not google (easier said than done) and don't be scared. I'm sure you'll get this under control soon. By the way I'm 40 now so it's been years that I've had it but as I say it hasn't bothered me in years. Good luck.

[TheCatsBiscuits]

I'm going back to the GP this week to ask for Soolantra - so far my rosacea's been kept at bay with antibiotics and finacea cream, but I don't like being reliant on AB's, even though I only use them now when I have a breakout. Hormones seem to trigger mine: i get big red painful spots on my nose and other impossible-to-squeeze places. :(

Skincare has to be gentle, so no aggressive anti-ageing products for me - Cerave cleanser, Paula's Choice 2% BHA lotion, and Eucerin moisturiser for very dry skin. And sunblock. And lots of water.

[mandymoomin]

I've got mild rosacea (With the odd pimples) but I suspect I have probably had it for awhile.

Do u cleanse morning & night as well?

[user1475253854]

There's a youtuber called talonted lex who has rosacea. You might find her videos useful.

[ChickenVindaloo]

I vote for:
Finacea cream (prescription)
Avene skincare from Boots
Dermablend make-up

Don't bother with: green corrective make-up

Try Dr Sam Bunting videos on youtube.

[Pupsiecola]

Another sufferer here. Red wine, tomatoes, spicy food, extreme temperatures triggers mine although it is mostly under control. I am 47 and was diagnosed about 6 years ago. I have just switched to Neostrata products. Don't exfoliate. Gentle products and the less the better imo. Oh and drink lots of water - I've been drinking 3 litres a day (recording it in my Fitbit app lol) for a few weeks now, and wow what a difference.

[fresh]

Can I also add..Rosex gel. It has cleared my rosacea up after years of oral antibiotics, which I forgot to take regularly so ended up using as an emergency treatment when it flared up. Not ideal. I got Rosex online with a private prescription, I use a tiny amount if anything appears and my skin is clearer than it has been for about 15 years. Life changing!

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

I use Finacea as well. Beware - it is horrible, it irritates your skin and it takes 3+ months to work. However, one it does start to work you can just use a 'maintenance' dose - once or twice a week rather than twice a day (you reduce down as you go). Don't exfoliate, don't use acid toners etc, use a little as possible. I use Body Shop cleansing balm, any old soap to wash. Oil to moisturise.

Green make up doesn't work and has the capacity to irritate more. My skin has never looked better than once the Finacea started to work and I only use oil as a moisturiser and primer. I'm using Nars Monoi oil which is gorgeous but vvv spendy!

I'm 34 and was diagnosed only this year although I think it'd been coming on for a couple of years. It was only when I posted a pic of my face after I realised I could no longer use Mac F&B as my daily foundation that I came to the conclusion it wasn't normal to have a completely red face all the time. I can now wear it again

PS - I did ask my GP about the antibiotics but she said that my case was mild enough that she didn't really want to give me something with contraindications. So far, so good!

[Pupsiecola]

I've just started using Emma Hardie cleansing balm (M&S, recommended when I met Caroline Hirons last week). It's utterly lush.

Also, SPF50. Always.

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

Oh yes SPF. DON'T be conned into the redness solutions shit by Clinique - I bought damn near all of it and it's totally generic. The green in the face cream isn't green at all and none of the products bar the horrible primer have SPF in them. And the SPF is either 10 or 15. Very disappointing.

I use Ponds BB facepowder (from Amazon) which has 50 SPF as creams break me out.

[SweetChickadee]

I had one 3 month dose of oral anti biotics and have been pustule free for 10 months! YAY! No side effects, thank god. Still flush like a bugger if I get embarrassed.

I use Simple cleanser and Nivea Q10 moisturizer. Don't exfoliate.

I find Clinique anti redness foundation really good.

[FeliciaJollygoodfellow]

I didn't like the foundation but I'll concede that is the one bit of the range that is ok everything else is a scam.

[Pupsiecola]

Agreed re Clinique.

[TheCatsBiscuits]

I was talked into the Clinique correcting primer. I put it on underneath my usual foundation, and actually gave myself a shock when I walked past a mirror later - I looked like Grotbags ill.

[mandymoomin]

Thank u all for the advice/tips - A lot to think about. Gives me some glimmer of hope!

Am going to see my GP tomorrow for other things so will see what she says.

Definitely am not going to try Clinique! It's just hard working out what suits as I have some pigmentation as well.

[TheCatsBiscuits]

I've found GOSH Cover & Conceal very good at covering up my redness - from Superdrug, £9.99.

[mandymoomin]

Saw GP who said I do have mild rosacea & prescribed Rosex - Has anyone used that?... She said to use it when I get a flare up.

[BWatchWatcher]

I use lily lolo green 'blush away' powder and senna mineral makeup.
I also tried Kiehl's gel moisturizer and that is very good.
No experience with rosex.
What about laser treatment...

[LakeFlyPie]

I had a few months of lymecycline tablets which cleared up the redness and pustules brilliantly but long term usage started to cause constipation so stopped it.
It's now pretty much under control apart from occasional red wine induced flushing / redness.
Switching to cetaphil cleanser and moisturising lotion has made a huge difference day to day (to my skin and my wallet!)

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Cetaphil face wash and daily moisturiser work well for me.
I use Estee Lauder doublebase maximum cover camouflage makeup. It covers the redness really well. You don't need much, a tube lasts me 3-4 months and I use it daily.
Strong sunlight and alcohol are my enemies!

[PosiePootlePerkins]

Lake cross post about the cetaphil, it has made a big difference to my skin too. So pleased to have found a reasonably priced product which has really helped to clear up the pustules.

[LIZS]

Has anyone tried Dermadex Rosacea? It seems pricey to get on the off chance. Abs didn't work for me after initial success with metrosa.