Is this Rosacea?

[Malin52]

Over the past few years my usually fair and even toned skin has become redder and redder. Recently I've had a couple of episodes where I've been bright red and my skin has felt like it's burning. A bit like your face feels when you come into a warm room from the cold.

I've suspected Rosacea but I don't seem to have the usual symptoms. No broken capillaries (except round nose which have been there for years) no pustules (the pic shows a couple of spots but that's as I've got period at the moment).

I'm 45 so I've also just suspected it's another lovely peri menopause thing but from this pic does it look like rosacea?

Looks like Rosacea to me...I have it too!

Ugh. Thanks @Saturdayrabbit42. What's the best approach for treatment? I've yet to find any food related triggers and my skincare hasn't changed for years. Weirdly it doesn't feel like any topical things would help. It feels 'internal' if you see what I mean. I could be wrong

I have what I suspect is rosacea combined with keratosis pillaris. I have seen a dermatologist a few years ago who diagnosed keratosis pillars, but as it's getting worse now and affects my nose I think I also have rosacea. I didn't have broken capillaries at first, they developed gradually over the years.

I find nothing really cures it, and nothing I eat makes it worse- alcohol is the only thing which seems to make mine worse. If I feel mu face burning I find drinking iced water brings it down straight away.

Regarding skincare- I do find using a gentle toner with salicylic acid is calming and keeps pores clear, but definitely don't overdo this. I'm currently trying pro-biotic skincare from Aurelia, but not really noticed much difference. My next step is to try oral pro-biotic supplements. I already take turmeric which is ant-inflammetry, not noticed much difference with this but it's not harming and one side effect of this is less severe hay fever symptoms so keeping going with this.

You have my sympathy- I wish there was a cure. There are things I think your doctor can prescribe or IPL or laser treatment can help.

Azelaic acid is meant to be really good for rosacea is it has very effective anti inflammatory properties.

I have acne and I think rosacea, although rosacea not diagnosed. I do seem to have red 'flare ups' when I drink certain types of white wine and perhaps food. My face gets hot and red and then I have an acne flare up the next day, the azelaic acid does seem to help my skin keep calm.

Oh yes- forgot azelaic acid- I've ordered some from Paula's Choice- it hasn't arrived yet- I'll let you know if it helps!

I got some gel which works quite well from my GP. Also trying evening primrose oil atm which is meant to help.

Looks like rosacea to me. Nothing helps mine other than a course of antibiotics.

@FreakStar what helped with your KP? Did you have it on your face? I completely a course of Roaccutane in January and developed KP about 2 months later on my upper arms and the lower half of my cheeks. I think it’s probably my skin adjusting to producing oil again but I’ve never had it before. I started using adapalene again and it’s just about cleared on my face x

I think it's rosacea too (and am also a sufferer) and absolutely agree with your comment about it feeling "internal".

After a period taking low-dose doxycycline, I've had good success in keeping mine under control longer-term by taking a high dose omega 3 capsule each day (also great if you have occular symptoms), B vitamins and horse chestnut (which supposedly helps capillary walls regenerate).

I put very few creams on my face and am also very careful about what I wash my hair with. Mine can itch quite a bit and then I use a strong arnica cream. It smells a bit offputting but it's a great anti-inflammatory.

As a fellow sufferer, I'd say it's rosacea too. See your GP - antibiotics will clear it up.

Looks like it, I do suffer from it but I have the spots to go with it. The only thing that works for me is antibiotics from drs.

For rosacea initially I took roaccutane, which was horrific but did work. Then I had an outburst about 2 years later and was prescribed Soolantra cream and this made it go away. I highly recommend it. Consultant had to prescribe initially but then he said my GP could prescribe if there were any future flare ups - but I haven’t had flare ups since.

I have it quite badly. Stress seems to be the activator for me. It starts by all the nerves in my face tingling and over the next day or so the redness develops. Depending on how bad the outbreak it can cover some of my face or almost the whole face.
Over the years it has ruined my skin.. I agree about it feeling like an internal thing. To me it feels like an internal burn and when the outbreak is over my skin peels. I find Ibuprofen helps a bit with the burning. I am coming to the end of an outbreak that has gone on for almost a fortnight. I can't take the antibiotics.

@RD15- My KP presents as a red rash on my cheeks, not really obviously bumpy like it is on my upper arms. I find salicylic or glycolic type acids work to a certain extent. You have to be careful not to overuse though as they can cause even more redness. Hard to get a balance.

I agree too about it being a systemic thing. I'm convinced at's an autoimmune condition

Strangely, when I had chemo for breast cancer it went away- came back when I stopped treatment though. No idea why chemo would help it- unless it was more KP related and having no hair meant the follicles stayed clear.

I think autoimmune, I get something similar

• keep your stress levels down
• always wear sunscreen
• fasting if you can - helps to calm the skin down (24 - 48 hrs water fasting - buildup to it if you're not used to it - slowly e.g. 12hrs, 16hrs, 20 hrs etc) Google the health benefits of fasting on autoimmune disorders, it really is great for the skin
• avoid over chemically products, or facial acidic products, go for natural if you can. anything too harsh can make it work. I use plain avocado oil, with a homemade toner made from rosewater and glycerine. Anything else sends my skin insane!

*make it worse, not work

OP I've been wondering whether to post almost the exact same post!

My skin looks almost identical to yours except that I do have a few broken blood vessels. I am 44 and my skin has got worse over the past 2-3 years. I saw an old photo of myself the other day and my first thought was how pale and lovely my skin looked ☹️

After doing a lot of online reading I've decided it must be rosacea. People always say see your GP but surely I can't make an appointment in the middle of a pandemic because my skin is a bit red I feel like I need to wait until things calm down a bit, if they ever do, but that's another story.

I agree with you about it being an internal thing; if I even think about my skin I can feel my cheeks reddening slightly. It is infuriating. I've virtually given up alcohol and am trying to let cups of tea cool down so they are lukewarm.

I'm also trying rosacure cream but haven't used it long enough yet to know if it is working.

I'm pretty fed up with it at the moment, just sitting at home looking at my red face all day. I've not worn any make up during lockdown to see if that helped, but I think it's just making me feel worse as my face is just red.

Sorry, that was a bit of a moan. I'm just worried that one day I'll be as red as Prince Charles

OP, just turned 40 and have had the same about 2 years now. It also feels internal, was diagnosed with rosacea but told if possible not to go on medication for it as have extremely low BP. I've tried most of the avene and Roche posay ranges for rosacea as well as the clinique for red skin. I use cetaphil gentle skin cleanser (amazingly soothing I willmever ever be able to recommend it enough and it's less than a tenner), avene skin soothing cream (doesn't tone down redness, in fact makes it worse but it honestly feels beyond fantastic on a particularly bad day) and the Roche posay hydraphase (I think a lot of it is keeping skin hydrated with me so possibly any good moisturiser might do the job!). My biggest thing has been wearing a spf (roche posay sun cream for sun intolerant skin) as your skin is more sensitive to UV but funnily it calms your skin too so so much. I've found when I drink water it helps but definitely too much sugar (fizzy drinks are horrendous) or any sun or tea are the biggest triggers, saying that the skincare I listed above honestly helps and like you I didnt think that was possible, I was honestly giving up, my face just felt like it was on fire all the time and people in pharmacies and doctors just steer you towards avene antirougeurs or Roche posay rosaleic (which might help for you in fairness) but now I'm even back buying normal skin care and make up which I'm thrilled about! Best of luck!

Could it be an allergy?
I get the exact same symptoms you describe every time I eat tomatoes or onion.
I have rosacea too, it’s a bugger.

I tried metro gel which just made things worse!

Thanks everyone!. @yoyomar I totally agree! It's really getting me down but I feel I can't go to the GP with a complaint of 'red face' in the midst of all this!

Funnily enough i'm a long time low carber (3 stone down) and never touch sugar so it can't be that. I smash the water and get through about 2/3 litres a day. I've also been fasting recently and I'm on 22:2 one meal a day. It's actually during this time I've been fasting that my face is felt worse and the burning started.

As for alcohol I've been totally dry this week and again it's felt worse! I had a glass of red wine last night and it actually felt like it calmed it!

Thanks to the person who mentioned potential allergy re tomatoes and onions. We eat a lot of these... that's got me thinking.

@FreakStar In 2010, I was prescribed Roaccutane. The consultant at the time said the chemicals within it were very similar to those used in chemotherapy (I could be wrong but I'm sure it is actually a chemo drug too). Because it destroys the immune system and sebum producing glands, the skin becomes clear; perhaps one of the only positives of chemo.

Soolantra. Life changing. Sorted out my rosacea after 15 years of trying everything. It kills off the demodex mite which is found in far geater quantities on the skin of those who suffer from rosacea,

I have had it for the last few years. I have a few dietary triggers - citrus fruits, cured meats - but Rozex cream (on prescription) has been life changing. I also tried Soolantra but it didn’t do much for me. The GP also suggested a 3 month course of antibiotics but i decided against this as I am trying to limit the number of antibiotics I take far as possible.