Rosacea - what works for you?

[SnackBitch2020]

I am 37 and have had rosacea for a number of years. I have no formal diagnosis but that’s what it is. It’s on my cheeks and nose. My cheeks in particular often feel hot and look red. It’s definitely getting worse as I’m getting older, and I’m now getting a lot of fine lines around my eyes too.

I would really appreciate your advice please on what products and lifestyle choices have helped your rosacea.

At the moment I’m using simple bar soap and simple rich moisturiser. It’s what I end up going back to. I’ve tried other products over the years (can’t remember which, but e45 is a no!) but they never seem to wash off properly, or are too greasy and give me spots. I used to use Clinique 72 hour moisture surge but that doesn’t agree with me now. I wear glasses and find that greasy creams give me a lot of spots around my glasses (which I keep clean).

My rosacea triggers are caffeine, exercise, sun exposure, stress and taking showers/baths (that are not too hot!). Do you find diet helps in any way? What products work for you? If you have seen a dermatologist what did they recommend? I’m going to go the GP I think if it gets much worse but want to try and manage it better myself first. I’m prepared to try most things.

Thanks so much.

[GreyBow]

The only thing that worked for me was antibiotic tablet and cream. This has been an utter life saver. If you PM me, I can share a before and after photo if that would help convince you, but the difference is unbelievable. My triggers are stress.

I did it all via phone calls and photo messaging to the GP.

I still find myself stroking my smooth cheek in awe. It was so horrid at the end of July. I barely need makeup now at all.

[pangolina]

The main things for me have been The Ordinary Azelaic Acid and Niacinimide.
My routine is:
AM
Superdrug micellar oil
The ordinary hyaluronic acid
Nivea moisturiser
Spf50

Pm
Body Shop camomile cleansing balm
The ordinary niacinimide
The ordinary azelaic acid
Nivea night cream

I also drink loads of green tea and water and and get enough sleep. Lack of sleep/ sleeping irregular hours is my main trigger.

The azelaic acid has got rid of the bumps and redness almost completely, my nose is currently irritated by mask wearing but I will never not buy that stuff!
Nothing I got from the GP worked at all.

[GreyBow]

@pangolina it just shows how differently people react to treatment I guess 🤷🏻‍♀️ I am glad you found what has worked for you.

Would you recommend I change products to the ordinary, etc as I am aware it may all come back again after I have finished the antibiotics course?

[slipperyeel]

I use a clarins cleanser and dermal moisturiser on prescription. Anything else burns.

[pangolina]

@GreyBow it's so frustrating isn't it? I hate it. The Ordinary stuff is so cheap I would definitely recommend trying it because it has helped me more than anything.

[Outwithreason]

I have found La Roche Posay Rosalia AR Intense serum very effective. It was recommended on one of Sali Hughes' beauty articles in the Guardian a few years ago and I have used it since.

I did find hot cloth cleansers made the redness worse and so you might want to avoid them.

[Outwithreason]

Also I now wear sunscreen every day - La Roche Posay Anthelios shaka fluid.

[Yawningyawning]

Soolantra from Superdrug doc online

[newlabelwriter]

Agree with poster above who recommended The Ordinary Azaelic acid, it’s been amazing for my rosacea. I tried many things before this and it’s the best thing I’ve tried. It’s quite often sold out everywhere so I buy from eBay.

[FlowersAreBeautiful]

Following for tips as I also need to see the GP for what I think is rosacea. I've found that soap and water twice a day and also a small amount of sudocrem twice a day is helping to keep it from getting worse until I can get to the GP

[GreyBow]

Oh, I have also just remembered that in July when particularly bad, I ordered a silk pillowcase and some small cold chill pads to keep in the fridge.

Both of those helped.

I am investigating la Roche and the ordinary products now 😁

[Fluffycloudland77]

I’d see the gp. Might save you a lot of trouble in the long term.

[Countmeout]

Rozex cleared mine up but I have to still use it at least every other day.
I use Beaute Mediterranean Dragons blood moisturiser (sadly run out as I normally buy it in Spain for €5 in supermarket on holiday - currently using ulay) and Marks and Spencer formula night cream at night. REN perfect canvas or the ordinary primer. This is currently working for me.

[superstar63]

My problem I think is general redness on the nose mainly (Rudolph) and I dont think it is roseacea as Soolantra did not help at all, more broken veins but sometimes it is redder than others so I use concealer but do you think The Ordinary Azaelic acid would help my problem?

[JingleCatJingle]

Get Soolantra, seriously, anything else is throwing your money away and just treating the symptoms.
You can order it online.

[justhereforthecraic]

i am on a prescribed tablet called lymecycline. it works wonders. GP also suggested the Cetaphil range which i use.

i also used the Clinique anti-redness stuff but i havent bought that in ages as the tablet are working great.

[SnackBitch2020]

Thank you so much for all your help and advice

Regarding Soolantra, is that what the doctor prescribed some people? I will look into all the other products mentioned too, thanks.

I have cetaphil which I'm going to try tonight, thank you!

Here are some photos of my rosacea, not the best quality but it gives you an idea of what it's like. Forgot to mention my chin is aggravated too. I can't wear sunscreen on my face as it burns it. My holy grail would be a soothing cream that isn't greasy!

[Sandytoes86]

Hi OP my rosacea looks similar to yours only mine has more spots on cheek. Thanks for the thread some useful things to try

[espeegee9]

My husband had been on oxytetracycline for his rosacea for years when I met him. He started eating a vegetarian diet with me and it cleared up quickly and has never returned. He is convinced that cutting out meat was all he ever needed to do to rid himself of the rosacea permanently. I think diet has a big part to play and it surprises me that GPs and Dermatologists don't focus a bit more on this as a possibility for their patients.

[SnackBitch2020]

I agree that diet has a big part to play, not just in rosacea but in most health conditions. Not wishing to sound like a "big pharma" conspiracy theorist (!) but I guess diet doesn't get emphasised as it doesn't bring money in like drugs do.

Ok so I went to Boots today to get some products. I'm going to try cetaphil gentle cleanser, certraben cream and dermalex rosacea treatment. The original products were all sold out - they must be good! I'll try and get my hands on them when they become available again.

I bought a few others but this is where I'll start - hoping something will work or make a difference!

Thanks for the tip about sudocrem - I tried it last night and it really calmed things down!

[RustyLeesBogBrush]

I was prescribed Skinoren from the dermatologist at the hospital clinic. It is for rosacea and also for the ‘mask of pregnancy’ - producing too much melanin which left brown patches all around my eyes and cheeks.

It is a wee bit nippy when it goes on but is amazing stuff. Removed all the brown patches within months and the redness started going after about three months. My skin looks the best it ever has to the point people were remarking on how young I looked and how good my skin looked it at a wedding I was at (before the lockdown).

I also have QV cream and wash for every day. It is very gentle and doesn’t irritate my skin.

[Anotherlovelybitofsquirrel]

Get Soolantra, seriously, anything else is throwing your money away and just treating the symptoms.You can order it online


I'm going to get this I think. I use Azelaic Acod which clears it right up BUT I have to use it every single day or it just reappears.

So would Soolantra clear it up totally @JingleCatJingle ?

[slipperyeel]

Your GP can prescribe soolantra.
I was so excited to try it as I’d heard it was a miracle cure but it did nothing for me unfortunately.