One sided rosacea?

[Cdoc]

Hi all,

Looking for other views on whether my facial flushing could be rosacea?

GP thinks that’s unlikely given it’s one sided and I don’t have angry spots. No pain, just persistent facial redness on the right side, flares up and down but never completely goes. Main triggers are alcohol (whole cheek goes bright red) and stress/ getting hot and bothered. First appeared 3-4 months ago during a very stressful time in personal life. Also a blurry gritty eye on the same side, but eye test came back fine.

I am 36, fair skinned and mum has rosacea so it feels like the signs are there! Blood test results all normal including ESR and CRP within normal range.

I’ve booked a private dermatology appointment as GP thinks it’s nothing to act on, but can’t get seen for another month!

Rosacea can often flare on one side and you don't always have spots ( type 1 is just flushing). GPs might not know much about it, sometimes dermatologists don't either. Your triggers are absolutely classic for rosacea. Also the dry gritty eye sounds like the ocular type ( which from what I have read is caused by too many demodex mites, or a particular sensitivity to them). However flushing can be linked to other conditions, so good that they have run some tests. I developed rosacea after using a skin cleanser with niacinamide ( hadn't realised the formula had changed) and had quite a time with it. I already had skin probe to flushing and blushing, however, and a touch of dry eye. I've got things under control now (touch wood) mainly by taking supplements and using minimal skincare. Rosacea is a progressive disease so tackling early is key to good results.

@IAmNotALoon thank you so much for taking the time to respond.
It’s reassuring in a way that you mention about type 1 rosacea as I am a bit dumbfounded if it’s not that, and like you say based on everything I have read, there are quite a few symptoms/ triggers.

Yes I am definitely glad other conditions have been ruled out with the bloods, the GP had specifically mentioned lupus so relieved it doesn’t seem to be that.

I had no idea that something so simple as a skincare ingredient could trigger it though. It sounds like you had a tough time with it. Do you mind sharing which supplements you used please? I am breastfeeding which makes things a bit tricky in terms of medication. But glad you are fingers crossed managing it well. I just don’t want it to get worse (which is what happened to my mum) and spread across her whole face (luckily hers is also under control now too following a month of doxycycline).

Thanks again, when she said it would need to be both sides of my face to be rosacea it definitely threw me off!

Yes I didn't really have rosacea before I used the cleanser, it took me four months to make the connection ( I had been diagnosed with rosacea in the meantime by a private dermatologist). Once I stopped the cleanser I saw a big improvement but my skin had become super- sensitive and the rosacea has not completely gone away.
I take a lot of supplements but the most useful for rosacea I feel are high strength fish oils; caprylic acid; oil of evening primrose; sea buckthorn oil; millk thistle ( from Jarrow formulas); MSM ( I take Doctors Best MSM with OptiMSM); oil of oregano capsules ( for gut health) and sage ( for hot flushes). I don't know if any would be safe for breastfeeding though - I know you have to be very careful!
Some people manage their rosacea with diet changes - usually low carb and high protein ( I haven't been disciplined enough to do this). So
Others find avoiding high- histamine foods helps ( trouble is high histamine foods are often healthy foods such as vegetables).I do think histamine can really play a part in making us flush though.I find that heat sources, looking down (particularly at mobile phones!) and any negative emotions ( stress, anxiety anger) can make me flush. Interestingly, mobile phones raise histamine levels in the body.
It's interesting that your Mum has had success with doxycycline - is that for the flushing type ( type 1,) or the one with spots ( type 2)? The derm I saw wouldn't give me antibiotics, only soolantra, which my skin seems sensitive to.