Rosacea Type 2 - Soolantra/Ivermectin/Dermatica

[Chanandlerbong1]

Hello,
Not sure if I have posted this in the correct thread but I’ll go ahead anyway…
Diagnosed with Type 2 Rosacea almost two years ago. Had been self treating for a year or so prior to that also.
I was originally prescribed Rosex/Metrogel and oral antibiotic (Lymecycline). I didn’t get much relief so I then tried Finecea/Azelaic Acid gel. I think I had some relief from the bumps but I didn’t stick with it for long enough to get the full effects.
I was left with awful red marks from after the bumps healed so I used the prescription service ‘Skin and Me’ for around 7 months. This was a gradual increase of Tretinoin. My skin went through cycles of getting better then worse again.
I’ve done a fine of research online and I’ve been finding a lot of studies where patients are treated with Ivermectin cream as there is a belief that type 2 rosacea is caused by démodéx mites.
I’ve just been back to the GP who has prescribed me more Lymecycline and Finecea gel. He wants me to try this again first.
I’ve found that Dermatica will
Prescribe Ivermectin in a mixed cream. I’ve ordered it to try as I am really at my wits end with all of this. My skin is the worst it has ever looked. I am literally covered in pustules.
So… has anyone tried this cream for their rosacea? And what are your results?

The course of Soolantra I got from Superdrug online (private) pharmacy last year was great (2 tubes in total) - I was taking better care of my skin in general, too, and using niacinamide, but the medication definitely helped a lot. My face is still slightly red, but no more pustules etc. I'm sorry some of you are being given the run-around. Good luck OP.

Thankyou… I have started using niacinimde serum. I bought the Revolution one which also has zinc in it. It’s quite nice to use and hasn’t caused any irritation. I’ve been diligent with using the azelaic acid twice daily and it has definitely reduced the size of the bumps. I have also started oral antibiotics. I’m going to give it a month and see where I’m at. I have a bad habit of chopping and changing my skincare so I’m going to stick to the same items for the full month and assess from there.
Thankyou everyone for all your suggestions and help.

It has taken me up to 6 full weeks to really see an improvement OP, if you can hang in there for it.

did you get itching or burning with roscea?

@Starrr123 mine was never itching or burning just really sore and swollen. But I didn't realise my skin was so swollen until the Dermatica started working. I am still using it after 15 months, a tube lasts about 5 weeks and it's a couple of pumps before bed so I don't forget. I can't get over how good my skin in, so smooth, no longer swollen and the redness has gone. I would say I look normal! I don't believe you can cure rosacea and I wouldn't want to stop the treatment in case it did come back. I certainly don't want to be that person again. They are doing a £10 discount at the moment if you sign up before the end of the month. If you haven't tried anything else it would be worth a look.
Try personalised skincare for just £2.90, plus £10 off your next month.

Head to www.dermatica.co.uk and checkout with code 3LW935
www.dermatica.co.uk/referrer/3LW935

Just curious how you got on with this OP? I’m just starting the dermatica treatment others have used. Looking for hope!

I posted way back when I was pregnant and my rosacea was awful. I've now FINALLY finished breastfeeding (yesterday) so I've submitted my pics to Dermatica and was buoyed to see that the pics I submitted to here when I was pregnant are much much worse than it is at the moment. And having a tan helps.
Hope your issues were helped, OP?

I got Soolantra from my GP no problem. She hasn’t heard of it but looked it up and prescribed it for me without any issue. It has worked for me but I do have to keep using it fairly frequently. I agree the spots are not like acne. There are the bump type with no ‘head’ and then the massive volcano type with endless pus underneath which is too deep to come up and very painful as it can’t go anywhere. I have some redness left but make up covers that Ok when the bumps are gone. Neither are like normal acne spots

Still battling away with my type 2! I did finally get Soolantra prescribed by a dermatologist after over a year waiting for a dermatology outpatient. I have been using it for about a month now. At the moment I have a bit of a breakout on my forehead. Unsure if this is the ‘die off’ that I keep reading about, or if my skin is just going through it’s weird clear/breaking out cycle that tends to happen. I am toying with the idea of cutting out milk as have been reading this has helped others. Anyone have any thoughts of this?

Just a thought OP - make sure you use the Soolantra very generously. You probably should get through about 2 tubes a month, if you’re prescribed to us it every night.

Worked wonders for me. Good luck!

Thanks for the updates everyone! I’m liking Dermatica so far, though it’s not worked miracles. (Been on it a couple of weeks.) I’m planning to TTC soon so will she to stop the ivermectin and metronidazole components though, which is a shame. Good luck to you @Borgonzola - and congrats on the baby and breastfeeding!

I have considered a link with milk @Chanandlerbong1 but I cannot give up cheese, I’ll have nothing to eat! Hmm… Maybe dairy IS my problem…

@Chanandlerbong1 I cut our dairy for about a month a year ago and it didn't do much. I've heard it can work for some people with cystic acne, though.

I've recently got a mirena coil so wondering if that will make a difference. My usual POP helped somewhat.

Sorry I should say about 5 years ago, not a year ago.

Me again. dermatica have just got back to me having reviewed my photos and have recommended products including Clindamycin. It says it's for the treatment of acne but... I don't have acne has anyone used that product before? Feeling a bit discouraged!

Hmm that’s strange @Borgonzola I’m no expert but that’s an antibiotic isn’t it, they must think there’s a bacterial element to your condition. Can you send them some more photos? They asked me for two lots before they prescribed anything. What else is in the formula they’ve suggested?

Soolantra is amazing. I’ve had rosacea for more than 10 years and nothing has helped except roaccutane which I wouldn’t take again.

I noticed a difference within days with Soolantra and it cleared up my rosacea spots completely within a month. I still have slight redness (but nothing like I used to have) but my skin is smooth and completely spot free.

Your journey sounds a lot like mine. I dud eventually get mine mainly under control but expected to continue on a topical and an antibiotic tablet (for the inflammatory effect) for the rest of my life.

It was miserable, so I researched a more holistic cure.

It's a symptom of inflammation in your body. So I tried to tackle that. Mine had started when moving house with an autistic toddler and I realised a key issue was stress.
So, worked to reduce stress (and finished moving house) using gentle exercise, meditation, making sure I got sleep and avoiding unnecessary stressful situations at work.
Looked at my diet, cut out grains and milk (not dairy), ate as naturally as I could and started fasting - even just 3 meals a day as opposed to constant snacking made a difference.

It went away in weeks. Now I have to manage it carefully, if I'm not stressed I can eat pizza and hot chocolate without issue and not be too protective of my sleep. When life is stressful I need to be really careful about my diet, no processed foods or grains and definitely not snack between meals.

Worth a try? It'll improve your general health too.

After MUCH googling I’ve read that some studies have shown that the inflammation is caused by too much of a certain type of bacteria (but not the same as acne). Soolantra didn’t work for me in the end so I am assuming I don’t have a skin mite issue. To date oral antibiotics (low dose) are the only thing that stops my red goatee of raised bumps and scales. It’s not acne though, and isn’t treated by any of the assortment of acne medication I’ve been given over the years.
Topical antibiotics didn’t work for me either.

On the dairy issue my skin does seem worse if I have milk or ice cream. Cheese and yoghurt are fine.

I should add that I have a splash of milk in my coffee now, it’s only seems to be an issue if I drink a lot of it.

So interesting to hear from @Slowgrowingelm and @GreyBlackBay about inflammation. I’ve been curious about this for a while, and can see the logic. Actually making the change is harder though! Great to hear positive experiences from you both, that’s encouraging.

Life changing for me was tetracycline, cleared everything up in 7 days and no outbreaks since staying on it.

@NutsAndMay yes it is, and want to avoid unnecessary antibiotics for obvious reasons! I used to take lymocycline as prescribed by the GP. Did nothing except absolutely clear out my gut of any useful flora and it took about a year to get everything back to normal. This is only topical but I want to avoid.

Also recommends adapalene which I have tried with no result, and niacinamide. Additionally, adapalene is a retinoid, which you're meant to avoid if you have rosacea. So... shrug!

What makes it worse is I can't find anything in my account which says NO please don't send me this and take my money!

Hmm I can see why you’d be frustrated! I did have an email exchange with one of their prescribers recently, there must be some way of contacting them to discuss your concerns and ask why they’ve gone down this route instead of the standard rosacea mix of ivermectin, metronidazole and niacinamide that others have had (and which I’m also on). But have they already sent it out?