Newly diagnosed with rosacea - what do I need to know?

[myfaceisatomato]

Well I finally have an answer for my constantly red, sore, flushed face - rosacea. I went to the GP thinking I just had dry skin and came out with a prescription for Rosex.

Having now extensively googled rosacea though, it seems to suggest the Rosex will help with the spots (I get a fine red rash on my cheeks and over my nose) but not the redness.

I don't drink caffeine or alcohol (though I look like the pub wino), but am outdoors a lot. Is there anything else I can do to help. I don't wear makeup at all, too nervous of getting another skin reaction. Is there anything else I can do to help with this?

i had to stop wearing my contacts too and now have to use eyedrops to lubricate my eyes every day. its a pain.Just recently,i dont know if its due to stress or not but i have had a few red cheeked dyas...i hope its not coming back

Let's hope not. Thanks for your help alypaly. x

anytime....the eye drops you can buy over the counter...hypromellose and sno tears are the thinner ones and viscotears make your eyes initially a bit blurry ,but they really helped my eyes. They are about £5

Its a nightmare!

I used to have lovely skin and I started getting lots of blushing.

Got Eurythomycin antibiotics and it sorted me out for many months. Then I got pregnant....

I wasn't allowed anything thru pregnancy and breastfeeding (6 months).

My face is now permanently bright red.

I've never drunk alcohol or been a sunworshipper.

Tried Rosex which is totally totally useless and has made my face an even more angry shade of red (didn't think it was possible).

About to start another course of Eurythromycin again and am hoping it will clear it. I don't have spots but my chin and nose feel "grainy".

As there has now been some damage (red veins) I am considering IPL or vascular laser. The dermatologist recommeneded vascular laser but have been doing the recearch and IPL has less risk of scarring.

I found the LILY LOLO www.lilylolo.co.uk/ mineral make-up perfect to cover it up in the meantime.

If you use the foundation (takes seconds to apply - faster than the liquid stuff I used to use). and then use their PEEPO concealer (yellow sort of powder) on top on the red bits, I look normal.

The great thing about this stuff is that it stays on even if you sweat or it rains and looks good all day without top ups. And it doesn't irritate at all.

I even go swimming with it and stays on (more or less) until I use the shampoo in teh shower after and it washes off.

Its not expensive (£12 for large jar of foundation but you do need to buy a brush to apply the powder with so it looks even) and a jar last for ages.

I've been so embarrassed about the red face that I've tried to hide it from DH by applying the make up at night too and leaving it on. Its better than all that green gloopy stuff.

I hope you find something which works for you!

If I go for the IPL, I'll come back and let you know whether it was any good.

I'd be really interested to know if the laser treatment works. I know what you mean about sun worship, I've never sat in the sun in my life but hate looking red in the summer as several people have rather gleefully said to me "oooh look your nose is burned" when I've sat there in a hat and factor 50 suncream!

Will look at the makeup too, thanks - I need a confidence boost at the mo.

Littlejo67 - sure do. and it's amazing.

Search the archives for tons of threads about the stuff. Sudocrem it ain't.

Hi again,

Also forgot to say that I've have some calming of the skin by using certain cleansers and moisturisers. And also never ever use toner (expect you know that as you say your face is sore).

What will work for you may be very different to someone else but I've found the Neals Yard Frankincense cream and serum calms the face. I'm still very red but I don't feel sore so thats a plus.

I've also used Nude oil cleanser which is lovely and gets you clean without irritation. Other people have said that Liz Earles cleanser (think its called Hot Cloth Polish or something like that) is great.

Was told by an aromatherapist to avoid products with Rose in them as new reseach says it can be an irritant.

My DH says he can't see it the redness when I'm wearing the mineral makeup and says he's always shocked by how red my face is when he catches me without the makeup. So it must do some good in the camouflage department.

I think I've tried every product known to man and whilst I can use some of the above to solve the stinging and soreness, nothing take the redness away.

Sorry I bet you were hoping for a miracle and I wish there was one. Didn't mean to be so negative. I know how depressing the red face is. My confidence has been shattered by it and I'm often tearful about it.

Also meant to say that the Lily Lolo do a green based cover up powder too for rosacea but I have yellow based skin and find the Peepo concealer which is yellow much more natural on me.

I find that any time I've not had time to apply the make up first thing (have 7 month old DD so time sparse) I feel much worse about it whereas when I get the makeup on first thing I feel much better and can almost ignore it all day long.

Dermatologist I saw said vascular laser most definetely works and takes the redness. But.... Not available on NHS and its expense much more so than IPL. Its also not very gentle and scarring can be a small risk. Personally I'm not keen. IPL does sound better and am trying to pluck up courage to try it.

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear you're suffing from this as its totally rubbish and the "no cure" thing certainly doesn't help.

I hope you find antibiotics which work for you and take some if not all of your redness and you're able to keep positive.

X

Thanks skandi1, I'm going to look at the products tonight when I get a chance - I did see the green concealer when I had a peep yesterday which I thought looked good - the other problem is that apart from the redness I'm very very pale so any make up has to be very light in tone otherwise I look caked in it. But I also saw your products come in trial sizes so maybe I can try a few things.

Hi myfaceisatomato

Despite the yellow udnertone to my skin I'm also of pale variety. You can get the mineral make-up in Porcelain which is one of the palest Porcelain shades I've come across.

The sample size bags are great! There's plenty for you to experiment with so you don't have to waste money on a full size which isn't for you.

I've spent so long and so much money trying to find something to help despite only having suffered for a bout 3 years and of that my face has only been really bad the last 7 months (breastfeeding so no antibiotics allow grrr). before that a 3 months course of antibiotics would clear any blushing for many months after. So you may gte lucky yet and find that a course of antibiotics will help for longer periods of time.

And don't wait around get your treatment now from GP. As I said, it wasn't too bad for me until I had to go 9 months thru pregnancy followed by 6 months breastfeeding without a top up of antibiotics.

Here's to the day they find a cure!

Thanks skandi1 - I'd drink to a cure, but definitely no alcohol for me .

Sorry all, there is a cure, not eating the acid forming foods;much cheaper than laser treatment for example . is there a problem with checking what the cause is?

You can also try googling earth clinic ; they have a lot of natural remedies for everything!!

ppeatfruit

That sounds very interesting - am going to google immediately!

Nothing like this was mentioned by any doctor or dermatologist i've seen so something new I can try.

Do you have any experience yourself with rosacea and avoiding acid forming foods?? If so really keen to hear more!

yes skandi thanks for being open minded!

i have followed a healthy eating plan for years starting with avoiding eating fruit on a full stomach. that really helps keep toxins at bay.

i also follow the blood type diet See Dr peter D'Adamo; he has scientifically proved that our blood types are important when eating Eg DH is type O so should eat red meat and not wheat, Iam an Atype so should not eat red meat but ok with some carbs.

But although i have nothing like arthritis, and it runs in my family as does breast cancer, i have had the odd red spot on my face after eating burnty foods (i think)! one on my nose AAAAAAAH!!

I know i sound like an obsessive I'm not really I just want to stay healthy

I just remembered Hauschka's cover stick it works well.

ppeatfruit,

that sound very exciting. I'm going to do some research on whether to go for bloodtype diet or similar.

hoping i'll find something which works.

Each person's skin is different so what works well for one may not work at all for another.

What you put on your skin can either help it or cause problems, depending on what it contains, so it's important to look at the ingredients in ALL the products you use on your face, body and hair.

Research is showing a buildup of chemicals on the skin can cause acne, dryness (which leads to prematurely aging skin and makes acne worse) and skin cancer. Skin with rosacea is even more sensitive to these toxins.

With so many manufacturers using chemicals in their products, almost any product - cleansers, moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners, hair gels, sunscreens, etc. - can be causing breakouts on your face and body, or drying out your skin.

The ones advertised to clear acne can contain the most chemicals. Look up the ingredients in the products you use and see what they do. I think you'll be shocked.

For example, here are the ingredients in a Clearasil product (which contains ingredients similar to most other acne products) and what they can do to skin www.best-mens-skin-care.com/ingredients-in-a-clearasil-product.html

To find chemical-free products, read labels and research ingredients - or start with certified organic products which don't contain harmful chemicals.

Mayo
www.best-mens-skin-care.com

I also have rosacea. I have tried different gels prescribed by my gp. Nothing seems to help.
I recently had a course of laser treatment, it reduced it a little but I am still red across my cheeks and nose.
I don't leave my house without my slap on!!

check laser (ipl or yag) to get rid of the redness
My mum got rid of it entirely by obsessive use of metronidazole gel

Cream For Rosacea - www.rosaceareliefserum.com/ct/99781 Having tried quite a few rosacea creams before this i wasnt expecting it to work like the others but i am pleasantly surprised. their price was very good and the cream worked wonders on my face.