Any advice about rosacea before I have to wear a bag on my head?

[MaryWiselyornotatall]

I have recently been diagnosed with rosacea, a skin condition which causes red flushing and broken veins on the nose and cheek area, and which can lead to that horrible red, bumpy nose which is often regarded as a heavy drinker's complaint. The doctor says it isn't bad enough for antibiotic tablets, thank god, because at the moment I don't have the horrible pimples which it can cause, so has given me some metronidazole gel to apply twice a day.

I do have one tiny, bumpy patch on my already fairly noticeable nose, and am desperate to try anything which might minimise the chance of it getting worse. Does anyone have any suggestions, apart from nose amputation? I would try anything, whether skin products to help, or cosmetics to disguise the redness. It is apparently very common, but I don't find that particularly consoling. I don't want to look horrible!

TIA.

Not read the whole thread so excuse me if someone has already said this but Bare Minerals transformed my skin. I get fewer flare ups and their Bisque concealor is incredible for covering up high colour. You really need to see a make up lady as their is knack to applying it but then you can order more cheaply on Feel Unique website. I have been using it for 2 years and it has made such a difference x

THERE

Rosex and metro gel is same thing. Not that effective. I have seen 3 consultant dermatologists for my rosacea and none of them rated it.

Oral ABs can work well but you have to take them long term and change the actual ABs for a different kind as they all eventually stop working. Obviously no good for pregnancy and BFing either.

You could get your GP to prescribe you some Finacea gel/cream. It's excellent. It continues to be effective long term and does help redness (my problem as I don't actually get any bumps).

My tip with Finacea is to apply it over your chosen moisturiser. The instructions tell you not to but a dermatologist told me to as it can sting on application. Also applying it once a day (ie at night) rather than twice works well. I found my skin would be quite dry if I used it twice but once works really well.

Found Liz Earle stuff good but recently had a bad flare up and couldn't use it.

I struggle with make up. I have used various things successfully and the after a while I develop sensitivity. Even mineral make up doesn't work too well at present. I can only use Inika. I used to use Lily Lolo and it was great coverage and colour match but became sensitive to it. Ditto matte version of BE.

The Liz Earle skin tint works well but I also suffer from seborrhoea dermatitis and for some reason the zinc sunscreen contents sets that off. Probably the problem with LL and BE too. Argh.

In the interest of science I am tonight trying the avene moisturiser mentioned on this thread and am going to try both Vichy dermablend makeup and la Roche posay make up and the moisturiser too.

I will come back and let you all know how my face feels.

Btw I now have permanent redness on cheeks and chin and throat and chest (nice). So anything that works even a little for me has to be close to miraculous.

Thanks all. Fortunately for me, the metro gel does seem to be having a good effect, and I have switched to an Avene moisturising emulsion with spf to use on top.

My problem is more bumpiness than redness, so I am still finding Bare Escentuels a bit tricky to use as it seems to accentuate open pores - and also the brushes feel a bit scratchy on the skin.

I am having to avoid Liz Earle in all forms, and have also cut down hugely on wine, which is helping a lot. I think it is all trial and error, really. Will be interested in how you get on skandi. How does the seborrhoeic dermatitis manifest itself, by the way, as a doctor mentioned that to me some time ago, but didn't suggest anything to use, and I can't really remember what it was like.
Wonder if that might be a factor for me as well.

Hi Mary

The SD starts as the skin seeming rough as if all the pores are tight and raised forming the rough surface. This then moves on to the crusting and scaling (lovely). Oral euthromycin ABs work well to rid me of it and I have taken those in the past. However the Finacea gel works on it and gets rid of it much quicker than other meds.

I find that using oils on my skin works really well against both the rosacea and the SD. All the dermatologists advised against oil but I find OCM and pure oils such as argan and borage work great.

The avene experiment so far is ok. No difference in sensation but I think slightly redder so perhaps it doesn't work as well as they claim. I will see how the day works out before ditching it. I did read the ingredients and frankly none of them look like they would help redness. Oh well at least I can say I have tried everything on the market.

Thanks, skandi. That does sound like my symptoms some time ago, but nothing like that has happened recently. Mainly a bumpy surface at the top of my nose, some broken veins across the central part of my face, and the occasional eruption of little spots. It doesn't sound bad, but I am conscious of it, and I really want to avoid the lumpy thing from getting any worse. Don't want to end up looking like a boozy old man!

Will report back if I find any magic potions, but so far, I think cutting down on wine and spicy food - both of which I love - has made a big difference, as has the met gel. Hope we are all looking glorious by the spring.

Hiya

I found this blog thanks to a link on here and it's great - it's written by a skin care expert who herself suffers from Rosacea so there's lots of information on the blog pertaining to that:

www.beautymouth.com/

Glad the metro gel is working Mary.

It seems it's as much about finding your own solution.

The annoying thing about medication is that eventually they stop working and you need to move onto another type. Eventually you run out of options.

Mine is bad. No spots or pustules or bumps. Just red red red. I am like some odd inverse panda with white circles around my eyes and everything else bright red.

I have not found anything in my diet which makes a difference. I have cut out cheese dairy wheat caffiene sugar etc to no avail.

Worse of all I have never drunk alcohol. I have been teetotal my entire life which makes this so absolutely unfair. People even medical professionals assume I am an alki I look so bad.

I try my best to be positive and try new ways of dealing with it. It's very hard to hide because it has spread beyond my face to neck chest and top of my arms and shoulders. That is the reason I have seen more than one dermatologist and had a barrage of tests as its unusual for it to be so wide spread and they wanted to be sure.

For me triggers are stress mostly and some sun but mostly stress. Very hard to control with a baby and toddler intow.

Can I join in & ask for advice?

Would love to wear a bag on my head. Have had rosacea for years. Its back with a vengeance after my second pregnancy. I have been prescribed anti biotics & have a referral to a dermatologist (hurrah).

But now I am looking for alcohol free moisturisers & cleansers. I think most of the one that have been mentioned in this thread contain alcohol. Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks

ARK anti-redness serum from arkskincare is supposed to be amazing according to someone i know who suffers from the same problem

I am finding the Cetaphil cleanser absolutely brilliant, and it is recommended for any type of sensitivity. Cheap as chips, as well. Used only to be available on line, but now lots of Boots and independents seem to stock it.

I am also finding the Avene moisturiser very calming, and my skin is certainly a lot less inflamed than it was. Still not getting on very well with BMinerals, so a long way to go.

I am more worried that the top of my nose is a bit bumpy, to be honest, as I would hate to end up with my huge elegant Roman nose looking any more gross noticeable than it already does.

It's a right pain, as the gp also says it is related to stress and anxiety, and I am generally pretty wound up about something or other. Poor DH must find me very tiresome to live. Must try to relax drink more.

Kabba Thanks for the recommendation. Off to Google now.

You can get the smashbox green primer from qvc. Bare escentuals will cover up rosacea in a jiffy and won't irritate.

My experiment with Avene and la Roche posay has not been a happy one.

Both made my face luminous bright red and sore.

For moisturiser without any alcohols in try a company called Pai. Their stuff is great for rosacea but terrible for my seb derm. Can't win. And my face is now like this

Tried the Vichy derma blend make up. Looked a little odd and masky. But it certainly does cover everything.

Back to drawing board for me. Perhaps I will just stick to OCM with argan oil which has worked well.

I have googled extensively and Apparently studies have been done on niacinamide gel which is meant to work for redness.

Am miffed at how products who are supposedly "anti redness" makes my face positively beet root.

Thanks all for your help, will have to try some & report back.

Scandi I had the same experience with the Roseliac products by La Roche Posay. My face looked as if it had been scalded within a few minutes of applying it, coupled with unbearable itching and itchy eyes.
I do though use Nutritic by La RP every day, and have done for years, following my dermatologist's advice, and it is wonderful.

Pink. Thank you for tip. Will try that.

Hi, I suspect I have this - noticed how red I had become about six months ago when I turned 45. DH and I had a rare trip out for dinner over Christmas and I was horrified to see what colour I had become after a Chinese meal and two glasses of red wine. I saw a story yesterday about a potential breakthrough in rosacea treatment, but now cannot find it. Sounded hopeful though.

In the meantime I have very recently found I cannot tolerate my usual Avene products and on pharmacist's recommendation switched to Laroche Posay, Toleriane Cream. Too early to call it rellly, but so far so good. I used to get on fine with She Uemara cleansing oil, but not having bought it for ages, recoiled at the price in January... perhaps once my tax return is over

I had not even thought to mention this condition to my GP - I am red from cheekbones to collarbone - but having read this really helpful thread, perhaps I will.

My rosacea was diagnosed at 32 and I'm now 48... . I've been on antibiotics (oral and Rosex cream) on and off for all these years but am not happy being on them long term - and I think the Rosex cream can thin your skin with prolonged use, and you have to wear sunscreen because it makes your skin more vulnerable to sun damage, so not a brill solution. The very best thing for me was Evening Primrose Oil, it worked a treat for about 2 years then didn't seem to have much effect, so I came off it for a couple of years and this weekend have just started taking it again. The only other time my skin really improved massively was when I was pregnant - the opposite to other posters here!
The second skin specialist I saw said I was a classic case of wide-spectrum acne - redness, itching, flaring, lumps etc and it will probably last til menopause. It really has caused me so much anguish over the years, really knocked my confidence. Anyone else had it this long? Is anyone else this old???

I was diagnosed with pustular rosacea last year at the age of 52, and suspect it's hormonal/stress/sun related. I was given 3 months of antibiotics but it did go away after a few days.
I don't get redness, but bumps under my face, neck and chest...gets aggravated by sun cream and heat. clinique city sunblock is good..I use Dermalogica ultracalm and have had IPL.

It's horrible when it flares up...hope it buggars off after menopause.

Hi Scandi, PinkHousesarebest, I was really interested to read about your beetroot reactions as I had a similar awesome reaction in about 2 minutes to La Roche Posay Kerium DS!! Skandi have you found that Nutritic has worked for you? I have just been told that I have rosacea and am trying to find a good moisturiser and preferably one that does not make my eyes water. The only cream I have found so far that stops watery eyes is Boots Protect and Perfect. Which suncream is best? Know it should be high factor, zinc oxide based and no parabens but would like a non greasy one. Was going to try SunSense Daily Face SPF50+ Invisible Tint Finish Sunscreen. Any other recommendations? Thanks