Congested sensitive skin and so so unhappy

[BethMaddison]

I have terrible skin it’s reactive and I have pcos so have spots but it’s also v sensitive
Have only ever been able to wash face once a day or it gets worse I also am pushed for time so need a quick routine

My skin was perfect on simple face wash and rich moisturiser till they changed it and it stung my skin and burnt it so I changed to avene but it has made my skin disgusting. Lots of bumps and little spots (it’s the skin recovery one)

I need some help ! Nothing harsh or complicated and no fragrance etc
It’s really getting me down but I’m almost scared in case I pick something and it’s gets worse

JMAngel I do have a repeat prescription for soolantra but honestly it scares me. I used it a few times and had this massive break out of bumps come up over my entire face, at the time I'd tried a bha and wasnt sure whether it was that or the soolantra but then I patch tested the soolantra a couple of months later and I got bumps again and my skin ended up dry and itchy.

Since then I've read that the demodex are dying and that's what's causing the bumps but honestly it was that bad that I cant brave it again unless my rosacea ends up terrible and I don't have an option. Honestly I've never looked so awful in my life, I'm mostly a flusher but I do get a few bumps. I'm just not brave enough to stick soolantra out through the bad times. I couldn't look in the mirror for 2 weeks after I used it and feeling the texture all over my face when I washed was horrible. Funnily enough though after I stopped using it my bumps cleared up and my skin was the best it had been in a long while for a month or two.

Try antipodes range. Organic and really soothing and gentle. Nourishes the skin really well. I particularly like the rejoice day cream - which I use at night also!

Oh that's a shame Mustbethin yes I had the die off too but it only lasted a few days and then another die off 3 weeks later as the demodex life cycle is 3 weeks - definitely confirmed the demodex theory for me - eeeek! The worst die off symptom I had was raised lynph node limps all around the base of my skull - one got infected, the die off was so bad - but it's a good thing - need to reduce the demodex load. After the first 3 weeks, skin became amazing and I now genuinely don't have rosacea any more. Bite the bullet maybs?

JMAngel I know I really should do it, I definitely think demodex are my problem. It's just so hard to muster up the courage to make myself look like an ogre before it gets better. 😂 your die off sounds awful. Did your entire face get covered in bumps and spots too? My face also gets so unbearably itchy and rough when I use soolantra, its like its drying it out and shedding a layer of skin. Awful, I'm such a chicken.

Well when I first started using it, I was in the middle of the worst rosacea flare of my life - beet red and bumps all over nose and cheeks and between eyebrows - so in a way, the slight increase in rash with the die off wasn't too bad given that I was starting off in such a bad place iyswim.

Rosacea is awful isn't it. Are you pretty much bump free now then, hows your flushing since using soolantra? I'm currently struggling with little bumps on my nose at the min but they are skin coloured rather than red so I'm confused as to whether it's my rosacea or not. My nose does flush, nothing with my skincare has changed and in normal light you wouldn't know they were there but they are noticable with makeup on. its driving me mad I also get a few skin coloured bumps on my cheeks too but my nose is my main problem at the min.

Simple have a range called Water Boost now that doesn't have SLS. I use the face wash and moisturiser and use it for sensitive skin!

Everyone's skin is different but for me, nothing beats Eve Lom cleanser. I've got sensitive skin and get eczema but Eve Lom works wonders.

Mustbethin no flushing or bumps anymore - rosacea gone. I still get hormonal spots on my chin and jaw sometimes if I have sugar and or dairy but that's it.

JM OMG I really need to get the courage to use it don't I, I just can't bring myself to destroy my skin and live through it until it gets better. I need to not be a whimp, I'd love to send it into remission. Glad its worked for you.

I’ve ordered the avene tolerance emulsion so fingers crossed it helps

Beth, it’s my second day of using the tolerance emulsion and so far so good. I find it quite light, so hopefully won’t congest pores. However, the cleanser I bought is a different matter. It stung my face. The thermal spring water spray feels lovely and soothing.

Mine should be arriving today I also ordered the tolerance cleanser and water spray too. I’ll give it a try (I’m so nervous as my skin feels ok with the skin recovery cream but clearly isnt due to the bumps spots etc)
I’m so nervous I may just try it on my neck today then face tomorrow if no reaction. If I react to any ill use them for something else like shaving my legs as they are too expensive to waste. I’m just hoping it works as my skin is so unhappy and it affects my mood I just look lumpy and blotchy.

I rarely wear make up anyway as I find it dries and irritated my skin and I used to be ok with that but with my skin so bad now I wish I could just to at least even the tone a bit

The Kalme range is really good for Rosacea . I've been using it for the last year. I also have really reactive skin with Rosacea and have been having laser treatment on my face. Soolantra works really well on my chest and Azaleic acid really reduces redness on my face. It does sting initially the first couple of times but I don't find it drying. I'm also fine using Certaphil or Cerave face washes and Clinique city face block.
The worst thing is using anything harsh or abrasive so masks, face cloths, exfoliaters are the worse things to use. Also keep to a really simple regime and use as few products as possible.

The tolerance cream seems to be fine. My face doesn’t look any better but it’s no worse which is good
Been trying to drink more water in the hopes that helps

Same here. Have laid off sugar, dairy and wheat too for a few days and my redness seems to be going down the past 2 days. My skin is less greasy too.. I’ve started taking evening primrose, vit D and cod liver oil. Struggling with not habits alcohol as off on leave and can’t seem to refuse it as a treat!

I am going to stick to a good diet for a few weeks though as I NEED to get to the bottom of what’s doing this to my skin. The annoying thing is, the skin around my eyes is, and always has been, normal, lovely and white and smooth, not greasy or dry or red. I look like a panda in reverse! I just think that if the skin on the rest of my face was like that I would look quite good!