Rosacea and mature skin

[GerbilsAteMyCat]

Hi Folks,
My mother is over 70 and has rosacea. Her skin seems to flare up and produce great flakey patches (which she then removes while watching the tv in the evening eugh).
Dr has prescribed a cream which she applies when it is v bad, but she washes her skin with soap.
Is there anything I can gently suggest she try? I think the soap is too harsh which is one reason for the flakey patches.

My mum (70) has rosacea, the weepy, burning, flaky, spotty kind, plus irritated rosacea eyes and it seems to run in the family as I've had the same on and off since my early 20s (now 40) and one of my sisters is prone to it too. It comes and goes for us, and our triggers are almost always stress.

We have found the only thing to get rid of it is Oxytetracycline antibiotics, which clears up a bad attack really well in a matter of a few days, but I don't want to keep taking these so I'm looking into some alternatives.

I've just found out that a lot of research points to a relationship between too many demodex mites in the skin and rosacea, but I don't think anyone has proved which causes which. Masses on MN about it.

I happened to be with a dermatologist this week for an unrelated issue and I asked her about my rosacea, and she suggested more antibiotics, which I refused. Then she was non-committal about the demodex possibility, simply getting the nurse to give me an 'information' sheet about avoiding common triggers like alcohol, chilli and hot drinks. Personally I think these triggers are more likely to affect the flushing sort of rosacea, rather than the one I have, so I wasn't v impressed.

The flaky patches are just another joyous part of the condition I'm afraid, but sticking to products for sensitive skin (ie no soap) can help lessen irritation.

I would try some of the Avene products for rosacea prone skin: www.avene.co.uk/Rosacea-Products

I would probably skip the water spray to start with.

Great! Thanks folks. I would certainly believe stress is a trigger. Alcohol/chillies not so much.
I will get some of avene products and strategically plant them.
Antibiotics do clear it up, but again that isn't a long term solution.
I will google the dermodex mites!

I know one of the really annoying things about rosacea is that it's different for everyone, but what's worked for me (as well as the antibiotics, which I'm not keen on taking permanently either) has been finacea gel - but I get the spotty kind of outbreaks, rather than dry skin - and Paula's Choice rosacea-targeted skincare, specifically the 1% BHA lotion which is salicylic acid based. It seems to clear out the pores so that when I do get the occasional outbreak, the spots are smaller and pass more quickly. Some face washes have it as an ingredient so maybe that'd be better, rather than soap?

I found metro/rosex gel extremely drying on its own. Is your mother using a moisturiser afterwards? The Avene ones are very gentle and might stop the peeling/flaking. (ew.)

Wildfig, thanks so much for your reply. She has the metro cream which she reckons is a god send. Do you think it is a side effect of the cream then that is making everything flakey? She uses no extra moisturizer with it.

Yes, I found it really drying - didn't work very well for me. It has to go on bare skin, so I think needs a moisturiser on top, once it's sunk in. Maybe something very gentle, like the Avene comfort cream? Has she used moisturiser in the past? I found anything with anti ageing active ingredients was too irritating, esp combined with Rosex/Metrogel so had to scale right back on that until my skin was less reactive.

Eucerin anti redness night cream is amazing. When I get very dry and flaky I use Nivea in the blue tub.

And no soap on the face EVER!