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Rosacea. What works and what doesn't.

81 replies

FindingMeno · 07/04/2021 19:42

It seems rosacea isn't an uncommon issue to deal with.
Sometimes its difficult to know what will help and what will cause problems, so I'm hoping we can pool experience to avoid costly mistakes.
I'm thinking more of over the counter products rather than prescription.
I can offer CeraVe am cream, Neutrogena hydro boost cleanser water gel, and L'oreal revitalift filler (+ hyaluronic acid) night cream and serum as helpful for me
And I have found Nivea moisturiser and micellar water extremely irritating.

OP posts:
stormageddmum · 09/04/2021 21:05

Is it soolantra?

Blahblahblahyadayadayada · 09/04/2021 21:13

Stormageddmum, effaclar or effaclar h cleanser by LRP were very helpful for me during pregnancy breakouts (and in general when not pregnant or trying) and someone from here recommended it for their rosacea.

Eloisedublin123 · 09/04/2021 21:24

www.skinshop.co.uk/kalme
This range has changed my life

Pantheon · 09/04/2021 22:05

@justanotherneighinparadise I remember how unpleasant it is and hope pulse dye works for you too! I noticed a difference after the first session but three got it completely under control. Since then I've just used dermalex and spf50. It was £200 per session where I live. I had a consultation with the dermatologist first too which I would recommend. It was genuinely life changing for me. I think you could even get it done on a Friday and be ok for Monday but obviously everyone will react differently.

FinallyGotAnIPhone · 09/04/2021 22:14

I have had rosacea for 6/7 years or so. Various creams prescribed by the GP (can’t remember which. Once was definitely Finacea). Nothing had any positive effect. Eventually I was prescribed lymecycline which I took for a couple of months and it completely cleared it up. However when I came off the antibiotics the spots came back. I now use Soolantra every night and I have no spots. I’m on my second tube of Soolantra now.
I’ve never noticed any difference- positive or negative- with any products - be it prescribed or just shop bought creams / moisturiser etc - apart from the antibiotics or Soolantra.

supercatlady · 09/04/2021 22:35

Lymecycline works for me too but I don’t like to take it all the time. Just started Soolantra - bought some very expensive REN moisturiser after a recommend on here and it caused bad flare ups so switched to Nivea which is working fine.
Use Emma Hardie cleansing balm as I love it.

ParvaAvis · 09/04/2021 22:59

My rosacea and acne treatment regime. It’s taken decades to get to this point. I’ve been on this regime for 5+ years now and my skin is clear. I’m aged 52:

Lymecycline antibiotic tablets.
Micellar Water to remove makeup.
Epaderm for moisturiser, morning and night.
Jane Iredale Pure Pressed base/mineral powder foundation. Plus random/non-mineral blusher, concealer and mascara.

That’s it! I’ve tried a ton of sunscreen products over the decades: all of them make my skin worse so I don’t bother anymore.

Moonwatcher1234 · 09/04/2021 23:45

@supercatlady

Lymecycline works for me too but I don’t like to take it all the time. Just started Soolantra - bought some very expensive REN moisturiser after a recommend on here and it caused bad flare ups so switched to Nivea which is working fine. Use Emma Hardie cleansing balm as I love it.
Yes I bought the ten cleanser and moisturiser for sensitive skin and it was honestly terrible. My skin felt so sore...it’s so expensive for a product that was so bad...
MegsSmeg · 10/04/2021 00:05

A very helpful thread! I have just signed up to the Superdrug site and requested some Soolantra. Really hope it works. The only thing that worked for me is Lymecycline tablets but my GP is not keen for me to take them long term and as soon as I come off them the rosacea comes back. I find Aveeno cream as a moisturiser really helps in terms of not aggravating anything. Do other people find that their rosacea flares up as part of their monthly cycle? I have redness all of the time, but in the build up to my period the spots and bumps get really bad and the redness increases. Just wondering if this is a common issue with rosacea, or if in fact I have rosacea AND something else like hormonal acne! I find it impossible to find an SPF for my face that doesn't block my pores, make me sweat and exacerbate the spots/rosacea. I try to stay out of the sun as much as possible but dread this time of year as it gets harder and harder!

Etotheipiplus1equals0 · 10/04/2021 09:24

Does this look like Rosacea? It’s not actually that bad at the moment, it gets a lot worse, but basically I have lots of thread veins and spots plus my nose is very red with flaky skin in the bits where is meets my cheeks if that makes sense! I always thought I had psoriasis but now I’m not sure...

Rosacea. What works and what doesn't.
BumBurnerBum · 10/04/2021 09:37

Well my La Roche-Posay Rosalind cc cream came this morning and I must say, I'm rather disappointed. It is too dark for my skin tone and also doesn't absorb well.

I will see how I get on with the moisturiser over the next few weeks.

FourOnTheHill · 10/04/2021 09:41

I have had the papulopustular kind for a few years now. I’ve tried a lot of things and this is what I’ve settled on- it keeps the spots to a minimum.

  1. Tea tree face wash
  2. Very small amount of moisturiser on my eyes (I use one from peace for the wild as I can’t use mineral oils on my face due to milia- different problem to the rosacea)
  3. Zz cream. I can’t believe no one on here has mentioned it- it’s well loved on the rosacea forum. It really works for the spots (not for redness)
  4. Bare minerals foundation powder. The zz is a good base for this and it covers some of the redness

I would definitely go for ipl treatment if I could afford it for the redness.

I have used soolantra and rozex too. Soolantra was good but zz is more effective. Rozex was useless. I have avoided antibiotics so far.

FourOnTheHill · 10/04/2021 09:43

Also face masks really don’t bloody help 😷 I have to wear one for 12 hours a day for work and travel

Blahblahblahyadayadayada · 10/04/2021 09:58

Face masks give me a Rudolph nose that is only Rudolphy when I’m out in the cold. At other times it’s just normal red. And the red nose comments drive me nuts- people think they’re being funny but they’re not

stormageddmum · 10/04/2021 11:00

Thanks @Blahblahblahyadayadayada will give them a try. I get the bumpy kind with underlying redness showing up to the party when I'm too hot or drinking. Nothing is working per se, but CeraVe foaming cleanser is nice and gentle and doesn't aggravate, and Weleda Skin Food at night feels like it's calming. Plumping for ironing out the odd wrinkle too!

RandomDent · 10/04/2021 11:06

I used to have the horrible pustule kind, the only thing that shifted it was two weeks of metronidazole and amoxicillin prescribed for a gum infection - the spots all went away and never came back! The redness is helped with gentle oil free moisturisers. Everyone responds differently so it’s trial and error I’m afraid.

BigBobBoots · 10/04/2021 12:37

Soolantra cream has arrived! Am now wondering if I should see a dermatologist before starting with it though. I mean, if I'm going to see someone about it, it may as well be while it's at its worst.

Blahblahblahyadayadayada · 10/04/2021 12:59

I find my skin is rather dehydrated but I can’t quite get the balance right- gels or hydrating creams rent enough and oily lotions don’t hydrate. Very frustrating. And a flushing red nose, grrr.

MissSmiley · 10/04/2021 13:46

@sadie9

Rosex cream on prescription. Spots all around my nose and chin. Mine cleared up and has never returned - so far! Takes about 3 months to get it completely gone but it does work.
I agree, this worked for me too
littlepeas · 10/04/2021 14:02

No alcohol has made the biggest difference (unfortunately). Also Lush Ultrabland really helped - it’s very gentle but also contains honey (which I think is a natural antiseptic) and I think this has made a difference.

justanotherneighinparadise · 10/04/2021 14:15

[quote Pantheon]@justanotherneighinparadise I remember how unpleasant it is and hope pulse dye works for you too! I noticed a difference after the first session but three got it completely under control. Since then I've just used dermalex and spf50. It was £200 per session where I live. I had a consultation with the dermatologist first too which I would recommend. It was genuinely life changing for me. I think you could even get it done on a Friday and be ok for Monday but obviously everyone will react differently.[/quote]
Can I ask how long ago did you have treatment and was it VBeam? I honestly can’t remember what laser I had done all those years ago. I don’t think it was pulsed dye but can’t remember exactly what it was.

justanotherneighinparadise · 10/04/2021 14:18

Actually I’ve just found it in my emails from 2007! It was Nd: YAG 1064nm laser. It did give me some benefit, I don’t flush beet red anymore, but I do flush and it has ruined many a social function.

Pantheon · 10/04/2021 16:51

V beam rings a bell but I can't say for sure. Certainly pulse dye. Last treatment in 2016.

sundayistheday · 24/05/2021 22:27

Following

ladybirds111 · 25/05/2021 21:58

My triggers are chocolate and alcohol, all the favourite things ffs. Sleep also helps it clear up, I don't get enough...

Original trigger was a supposedly natural lavender cleanser, it has never been right since.

Current regime is oil cleanse and gua shua (it's a Chinese jade facial tool, it makes my face red when I use it, but it seems to draw out the heat as it is less red than normal afterwards), then La Roche Posay Toleraine cleanser washed off with cold water. I use The Ordinary EUK (antioxidant and in oil, it is great for my dry skin), then The Ordinary squalane oil and finish with Balmonds moisturiser as it is very gentle and chemical free.