Rosacea and blepharitis

[CoffeeLover90]

Hi all, sorry this is quite long. So just over a year ago I developed blepharitis in one eye, extremely painful. Around the same time I had red patches of dry skin around my jawline, they itched at times. The dryness went away with standard creams but left red bumps. Different to acne spots. Since then my eyes feel dry and gritty constantly. The redness has spread across one cheek. At times it looks like a rash. There's one small red patch on my nose which resembles red views. Currently on my third flare up of blepharitis. Same eye, only once it was the other. I know I shouldn't but googling symptoms, I'm convinced this is rosacea and the eye issues are related to that. I'm not usually bothered about appearance, I very rarely wear makeup however, this look is just ridiculous. I'm embarrassed at the state of my skin but at the same time I'm unable to cover it as any makeup around my eyes caused severe irration. I've since found a mascara I can wear for hours without problems.
I hate anything inside my eyes so I struggle to use drops. I've used optrex spray for a few months. I don't think it's helping. I've ordered finacea cream online but I haven't tried anything else before.
Does anyone have any recommendations for both conditions please? Preferably not drops. Any vitamins that could help? I'm getting quite down about it now. Thanks in advance.

Hello, I have suffered with rosacea for a very long time and nothing seemed to take it awake, I have since discovered Tea Tree oil and Tea tree products help reduce this massively. I use body shop toner, oil and face wash daily and it appears to keep it from flaring up and has reduced the redness massively but not completely. It's Worth a try im no expert but is working for me after trying alsort the last 20 years. Hope this helps

Hi OP I've started to get blepharitis recently it's so horrible isn't it!

I have been having mild success with Blephasol lotion which touch wood, seems to be keeping it quite mild compared to the horrendous looking eyes I've had recently.
Does feel like I'm stuck with it now tho

There is something called Occular rosacea, maybe see if that matches your symptoms

You really need heat on your eyes to help with blepharitis. So either a warm facecloth (as hot as you can tolerate) or a heated eye mask. Morning and evening.

Thick question but I've also read about heat compress on eyes for this ... what does the heat do to help?

The ducts in the eyelids get clogged with a thick waxy substance, so applying heat melts it and let's you wipe it away. This apparently helps stop swelling and redness. Not sure if I've explained that all correctly.

The rosacea needs to be treated with an antibiotic, if it’s affecting your eyes this is important. Go to your gp about it.

You can do skincare things also but the antibiotic is the main treatment.

Thank you everyone. And yes, googled ocular rosacea and found an image matching my eye exactly.
I've been to the doctors a few times fir this and have been refused any antibiotics, should have said this in post sorry.

When my rosacea was diagnosed the doc made me have an emergency appointment at the optician to check it wasn't in my eyes so maybe try that and the doc can take you more seriously. So annoyed on your behalf.

I have both of these, I saw gp about both, he gave me gel for the rosacea who prescribed a gel. He also said I needed a mecs app, which is done by the options. You just ring up ask if they do one and you have to be seen within 48 hours (if I remember correctly). They will look at your eyes and tell you exactly what's wrong with them. It's done on the nhs so you don't have to pay for it. I use an eyelid cleaner m, the make is blephaclean. Which does work. I also have very dry eyes so have to use drops a few times a day with dry eye drops.

www.abdo.org.uk/eyecarefaq/minor-eye-condition-service/

Hopefully this link helps

I’ve had blepharitis for a few years though not had a flare up in quite some time . I do not wear any eye make up at all which has improved things a lot . I massage my eyelids every time I wash my face and use warm compresses if needed .

I’ve recently noticed im
getting rosacea now which I recognised as my mother had it . Not got to grips with that one yet !

I used Soolantra for 12 weeks to treat my rosacea but it also completely stopped issues with blepharitis. Rosacea occasionally still flares up but Zirtek lotion normally helps.

I had awful meibomian cysts on my eyes for a few years related to blepharitis and subsequently developed rosacea. In hindsight think it coincided with the start of perimenopause. I had a few months of lymecycline antibiotics which did help a bit. Ophthalmologist has since recommended regular hot compresses and omega 3 oil supplements. The thing that has helped the rosacea the most is Cetaphil cleansers and moisturisers and Soolantra cream for flare ups. Am now on HRT and can tolerate contact lenses for the first time in years which make me think my irritated eyes aren't as dry / inflammed as before. I tend to blame everything on hormones these days 😄

Interesting. I think I have both as well. I had a granuloma removed from my eye 3 years ago and the Opthalmologist Dr said I had blepharitis in both eyes - I get styes and chalazion in one eye particularly and my skin is awful. All been in last 4-5 years & def peri- meno. I have an annoying chalazion atm which hot compress seems to be helping.
My GP wasn’t sure if I had rosacea. I’m not massively red but I have red ‘bumps’ (not spots), have had dry patches on face and have always blushed and go red easily.
Both eye issues and skin appeared around the same time.
I am a walking ailment these days, it’s awful.,

I have noticed the issues with my eyes began when the rosacea did. This is the third flare up in around 14 months but the dryness, gritty and crusts occur in between. I use the spray before bed and my eyes aren't so bad in the morning. Have bought some eyewash, bletherol, so beginning that from tomorrow. When my skin isn't so bad my eyes are better. That's why I thought tackling the rosacea might help with my eyes too.
Triggers seem to be a lack of sleep and stress. Which are unavoidable at times.

@CoffeeLover90 i am permanently stressed which isn’t helping any of my conditions!! I’ve got some blepharclean wipes but maybe wash will be better?
I dud wonder if hrt would help but haven’t taken the plunge yet.

Mines not linked to menopause (something to look forward to in 10 years or so I suppose)
Can't imagine it's linked to contraceptive, I've been on this type for a long time. I did have a break however, made no difference to my skin.
I do find eye wash more hydrating than wipes.
Even when the redness isn't so apparent my cheeks still feel like sandpaper.
Eye is still swollen, red and a little sore however using the wash and spray my other eye feels relatively normal and there's not as much pain in the one which is flared up.

Thanks cornflake that does make (gross! ) sense

How often do you wash your face? (as in with water, fully immersed not just wiped with a flannel or a face wipe?)

Twice per day, once in the shower and once in the sink. Got a gentle cleanser, no alcohol or perfume. Going to try a tea tree one as suggested by pp

See, I've noticed recently that if I try washing my face in the shower with just lots of fresh water I'll get a mild flare up after. Plain water I get our water has all sorts added but still, it's frustrating, my eyes are such drama queens

I'm currently finding Blephasol is > touch wood < is keeping my worst symptoms at bay.

Sounds like you're doing all the right things. When I got it 20 years ago it was because I was using facial wipes and I don't think they cleaned as thoroughly as proper washing with water.

Yes, up until about 6 months ago I was using face wipes and it was much worse.

On day 3 with blephasol, one eye still swollen and sore although there were crusts this morning so hoping that's a sign of it clearing out. Other than that there's no dryness or gritty feeling. I've been using the spray just twice a day after washing, don't need it in-between.