Just diagnosed with Rosacea - advice please!

[Squirrelfruitandnutkin]

I thought I had hormonal cyst spots on my cheeks, jaw line and neck. Lumpy, no head, red, sore and itchy. I’ve always been spotty so assumed this was a new phase in my spotty skin, changes with age etc.

I went to the dr today who said it is rosacea. So now I have metronidazole cream to apply twice a day.

Dr said spf would be good as cream can make sun damage more likely.
Anything to avoid?
Any nice things I can buy that’ll help?
Feeling a bit sulky after reading that I’m stuck with it (obv it’ll ebb and flow) and accidentally seeing some extreme pictures of rosacea.

I think doctors often say rosacea if you present with acne in your middle age. I think mine is the same old acne I have struggled with for years. I seem to be keeping my skin under better control using effaclar range, gel wash, toner and cream.
www.boots.com/la-roche-posay-effaclar-3-step-anti-blemish-system-10181409

I’ve had spots forever in various forms but never like this. The red itchiness and taking months to go makes them seem v different.

Reading a bit online it does sound like type 2 rosacea- with the pustules (lovely word). But no where near as bad as google image results!

I was diagnosed with Rosacea 5 years ago now and have tried everything, metronidazole cream included as well as months of strong antibiotics. The very best thing I have used is Soolantra cream applied every night. Amazing! My skin is now completely clear as long as I continue using it. You may be able to get it on prescription, my doctor couldn’t find it to prescribe so recommended I got it from an approved online pharmacy. Skincare wise I find the less I do to my skin the better although I do love Clinique redness relief cream x

I too suffered and put up with creams not working....for years. Then a change of GP who prescribed antibiotics. My face cleared before even finishing the course and has never returned.

Are there any brands/ ranges that are better?
Or ingredients to avoid?

I do very little to my skin as it seems to prefer that. But will need a moisturiser with spf at least.

Also don’t tend to wash my face in evening but metronidazole instructions said to, before applying cream. now my skin feels tight.

Meant to add earlier I’ve tried la Roche possay stuff before and didn’t like it much. So not sure about trying that again...

Nina can you remember which one you took and how long for? I'm struggling with this too and it's really getting me down.

I use sulphur on mine and it really helps. I have a cream with essential oils and sulphur, but you can get soap and other ointments. Takes the soreness and redness away.

Do not exfoliate! I also had oral anti-biotics that sorted my acne out. I was good for about 18 months and had another course. Now zit free again.

I use Simple cleanser wipes, and either Neutrogena Moisture or Nivea Q10. Cheap and cheerful and don't seem to aggravate my poor skin.

I use Clinique anti redness foundation which I think is excellent.

have a from me, to you. it sucks.

As PP said - with pustules (yum) soolantra will work, it is basically ivermectin in human doses so kills the insects (demodex) which are causing the rosacea on your skin!

madmomma I took them for 3 months but don't recall what they were called, sorry. second course was 6 weeks.

A week into using Soolantra and my rosacea is well and truly in retreat. Brilliant stuff.

I second Sarahlouise with Soolantra, one of my colleagues recommended and prescribed it for me about 2-3 years ago. Nothing else had worked, it was like a tiny miracle over about 4-6 weeks.
I use it now about every third night and find it a good moisturiser.
It's still a bit 'new' to many GP's so you may have to be a little pushy to get it prescribed.

Think I’ll have to give the metronidazole a crack for 3-4 wks first before the gp will try something else.

Feeling grumpy about it all.

Be super religious with the spf. Even on rainy grey days.

Make sure you remove all make up and do a proper cleansing routine every night. Oil is very good for rosecea. The rose darphin oil is wonderful.

I've had it for about 2-3 years, quite mildly but had been told by GP I'd just grow out of it. Never had a problem with my skin ever (I'm now 45).

Had had enough in run up to Christmas and went back to GP. Saw a different GP who prescribed antibiotics (Lymecycline). Within 2 weeks I had clear skin. Simultaneously I also stopped using La Roche Possay and now only cleanse (not wash) with No 7 hot cloth cleanser (think its called Perfect skin?) and then use No 7 Protect and Perfect serum and my skin has never looked so good.

Sorry not sure which anti biotic. I continue to use the Dermalogica, calm cleanser and miosturisers.

Hmmm. My skin was warm and tingly/ itchy all night. Not sure if it’s the cram, the fact I’m not used to washing my face in the evening or maybe metronidazole has made my skin is sensitive to usual moisturiser.

I’m guessing I’m not meant to see an immediate difference in the redness?

Yeah the metronidazole will kill some of the bacteria on the insects on your face. It won’t get rid of the problem, go to your doctor and ask for soolantra - that will kill the demodex and get rid of the cause of the rosacea.

Soolantra is wonderful. You can actually buy it online. It's about £30.

I've used metronidazole and soolantra. My doc said I could only use soolantra for 4 months though ?? Not sure why, so I'm saving it for s bad flare.
If you have an aloe Vera plant, the liquid from the leaves is very soothing on the redness, I leave it on overnight.

Dermalogica have just added two new products to the calming range. Maybe try and bring them into your routine.
Barrier Booster
Calm water gel- this is my fav.

www.mudandsalt.co.uk/collections/ultra-calming

Thanks all!
I bought some Avene anti redness range stuff today in boots on 3 for 2. Dermatologica is too £££ for me.

Less tingling from the metronidazole today, will see how it goes.

I use avene and it's gentle on my skin. I also found washing with simple soap worked well bizarrely.

Laura Mercia tinted moisturiser is great. UltraSun factor 50 tinted sunscreen is a winner too.

I’ve got a factor 20 for now. I’ll probably get a stronger spf for the summer/ outdoors days.

I’ve always found soap really drying so going to stick with something more gentle.

I get on really well with the lily lolo mineral makeup I’ve got. I don’t wear it often though as I’m lazy and make up used to be an acne trigger so I never fitness into the habit of daily wear.