Rosacea - Help!

[Mfer]

Just been diagnosed with Rosacea which is getting me down - my skin is really dry and red - can't wear foundation to cover it up as it looks like sandpaper. GP has prescribed steroid gel as a first attempt to calm it but I'd appreciate any advice - best moisturisers, make up etc - thanks

i can really sympathise i have psoriasis on my face and when i first got it i was really upset especially when i got a few nasty comments! once it has calmed down a bit get a green tinted concealer it will disguise the redness, i find i have to use really expensive foundations as the cheap ones make it worse, i also plaster elizabeth arden 8 hour cream on my face which helps the foundation go on. go to one of the make up counters in a dept store and they will be able to advise you on make up or if you can afford it see a beautician that has trained as a make up artist you should find one in yellow pages hope that helps once you find the right make up no one will know you have a problem i wear make up all the time and everyone is really surprised when i tell them i have skin problems

Hi...I think I have rooseaca on my face but I hate doctors so won;t go I just wear foundation allt he time.I use no.7 radiant glow..covers up but not too thick and doesnt irritate. is the medication making it better..do you think its worth a doc visit?

Mine is so bad I can't use foundation as the skin is so dry it looks like sandpaper - not a good look - only just got the medication which is topical antibiotic and you have to wait at least 6 weeks for improvement - have been on various sites today all v.depressing - if you think you've got it worth GP visit though as the good news is that if they catch it early enough the treatment should help and lessen the "attacks".

My rosacea was quite bad, unable to wear foundation etc. I struggled on as I couldn't have antibiotics while pg, trying to get pg, bfeeding. As soon as I stopped feeding dd I went to the gp and started on oral antibiotics which I've now been on for 7 months and my skin is transformed. Still have a bit of the redness but that is limited to a small area on my cheeks and the roughness and spots have gone completely . I don't like the idea of being on antibiotics long term but if it's a choice between that and looking like I did then I'm afraid vanity wins!! Good luck with your treatment.

Thanks northender - my Gp and I are trying to avoid oral antibiotics as I have IBS and antibiotics only aggravate it so topical for me - however I will def ask for Oral if no improvement.

Mfer I read an article in Vogue a few months ago and the journalist had rosacea and was trying lots of different creams to help, she found that Dr Hauschka was the best (I think it was two different creams/lotions she used from them, but no longer have the article). Quite pricey though, but maybe worth a try? I get a bit of rosacea, it's a pain!!!

Mfer - poor thing! I have had this on and off since I was around 20. I have taken tablets in the past oxytetracyclin from memory which worked, but I didn't really want to have to take tablets for ever. More natural things I have found that work are:

Aloe vera gel - you should be able to buy this from any health store, you can get a massive tube that last well over a year for about £5. You just apply the gel to the affected area, it really cuts down the redness and if the spots aren't too bad cuts down on those too.

Look at the food you are eating - I have found that some foods/drinks trigger off attacks. For me these are prawns, mustard or mustard flavourings, lemon drinks and certain types of crisps. Really worth trying to find out what these are to avoid the flare ups in the first place.

Mine has been alot better since I got pregnant with my ds (now 2), I rarely get an attack and if I do it is only the odd spot so there is hope!

All the best as skin problems can really get you down. If it is really bad, I wouldn't beat yourself up too much about taking tablets long term, as I have had two different doctors tell me that it really should be no problem:)

I own a health shop and I looked into this a while ago for a customer. I got some excellent advice from Solgar, the main thing was to take a supplement called Betaine HCL, either on its own (or if you can't get it on it own then as part of a digestive enzyme complex).
They found that lots of people with roscea had very low levels of betaine HCL and taking the tablets can often help.

several of my customers have had very good results with it.

The one we sell is by Quest, you can get it from a health shop. (possibly not in holland and barrett though as they dont seem to sell the better brands).

also recommend using loads of aloe vera gel.

Can you belive Aloe Vera upsets my skin and my hubby works for a company that sells it!!!
Thanks Gegs for the Food tip - I have been drinking alot of lemon lately, wonder if thats the trigger - would love to afford DR H's preps but just dont feel I can justify it.
Glowworm - does the GP test for levels Betaine HCL? Do you sell Quest on line or by mail order - would save searching for it.
I think the best thing for me to do is process of elimination so I'll start with the antibiotice gel for 6 weeks and if no improvement move to Quest and look at diet at the same time as if I do it all at once I won't know what's making it better assuming something will.
Had a reality check today anyway - my good friend has MS and copes really well that I felt awful about making such a fuss about my new "ruddy" complexion - DH says we should move to a farm to complete the look - such a comfort thanks for all the advice - really appreciate it

i dont think it is something the GP would check, not sure though. I would just try it for a few weeks and see if it helps (wait until after the antibiotics though, or you wont know which one helped!).

I am in Ireland, only a wee shop and not online...sorry!!

you can definatly get it online though.
{http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/944643.html\you can buy quest products here}

\link{http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/944643.html\here hopefully

\link{http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/cgi-local/frameset/detail/944643.html\here hopefully}

why do I never preview?

YEs it was there - and very reasonable too! Thanks so much.

I get a form of Rosacea which seems to be mainly triggered by the sun. I first got it almost 10 years ago and it seems to re-appear every 3 - 4 years. Last year my doctor prescribed some tablets. I have also used Aloe Vera Gel (Holland & Barrett) which doesn't really clear it up but it stops the itching. Other triggers I have found are alochol and anything pickled, espec onions. There are some good sites on the internet which offer advice, I think it is a case of trying different things to find out what suits you best.

Really sympathise as I get mine during the summer and its really hard not to feel paranoid about people looking at you, but I just take a deep breath and carry on.

My previous doctor advised cover up and stay in with the curtains drawn. i said this was difficult with a toddler and a job!!!

Yes - two totango - think mineo is due to sun damages as I lived in Spin and Portugal in the early 80's and probably wasn't aware of the damage sun can do - the good news is day 5 of the treatement and the rash is definitely fading so once it more normal will try and work out triggers!! I have found some useful sites now and realised that its not that bad........ :)

Mfer, really glad its fading. Its good you are feeling better in yourself.
When I first got it I used to try loads of creams etc. before going to docs. Last time I got it I went straight away and he gave me antibiotics, which I only needed one course of and I was clear for rest of summer. next time I get it I will be going straight to docs for tablets instead of waiting(and stressing)!!

I think it helps loads when you realise other people have it and its nice to come on sites like this and get it off your chest. I will definately be referring to some of the advice on this thread in the future

Thanks Two to Tango - you're right the advise on here is great (apologies for bad spelling on last post v.tired). Also treated myself to some Oloy Regenerist as it was on offer (using it on the non-red bits) and its wonderful smooth as a babys bottom!! Have a nice weekend all.

I had rosacea a few years ago and read somewhere that it can be caused by helicobacter, which also causes stomach ulcers. I was diagnosed with an ulcer at around the same time so... started taking something called Mastika from the local health shop. Lo and behold, the ulcer disappared and so did the rosacea. The mastic gum apparently kills the helicobacter. Well worth a try as it doesn't seem to have any side effects.