Rosacea - the gift that keeps on giving - can't wear eye make up

[Comfies]

And I'm very fair. Blonde eyelashes and brows. I'm having some quite upsetting skin problems which have made their way to my eyes. I have noticed these things flare up when I've been wearing a lot of makeup.

So, with a heavy heart, I am going to attempt not wearing makeup other than maybe some light foundation.

This 🐷 is how I look without mascara. How can I look less porcine please? Thinking eyelash tint and maybe something like brow lamination? Is that a bit less harsh looking than a brow tint (which I don't suit - always too dark).

I've also invested in some new skin care and think maybe will go for facials?

I use no 7 make up. It doesn't react with my rosacea and the mascara is fine. I can't put concealer or anything on that dark circle area under the eyes or my eyes sting/dry out/get heavy and tired as you describe. Once I had worked that out I could more or less stick to my normal make up routine.

Metronidazole cream from the GP is worth getting too

Thanks. I've had Rosex and been on long term antibiotics several times - it's quite severe when it really kicks off! It's looking ok now but my eyes are buggered. I am now really prone to bloody great styes 🤢 and the other one that I can't remember the name of. Under the eyelid big blocked ducts. It is seeeexy as I'm sure you can imagine 😂

I'm not prepared to try different makeup ATM, so am looking for ways not to use it, at least for a while. But I'm sure I'll come crawling back at some point (I love makeup) and I like No7, so will definitely give it a go when I do

Have you tried soolantra? That’s been such a game changer for my rosacea!

I keep meaning to @ellesbellesxxx but my skin is actually ok ATM - it's my eyes which are the problem now 😩

I have rosacea & IPL treated it very well (intense pulsed light, but not the same treatment as the kind to get rid of hair)...
Anyway, I also have blepharitis - which can be associated with rosacea, and my optician says they can provide IPL treatment for my eyes /around my eyes and that this should help. I think I will do it.
Just sharing in case you weren't aware they may be other non-topical treatments which could help, so worth seeing the optician.

Thanks @BlackSwan, that's really useful. I will definitely look into that as this is so annoying

I had the eye IPL done today Comfies. First they thoroughly cleaned the eyelids & scanned my eyes & meibomian glands... mine are shorter than they should be/some missing & my eyes are drying out too quickly. The IPL was easy, I had it around the eyes (though there's apparently a hardcore version where they can put a metal contact in your eye & zap closer to the lash line. I declined...
Then they squeezed the lash line to express the gunk from the glands. It wasn't comfortable but it was bearable and I really hate people messing with my eyes.

I'll go back again in 3 weeks and in the meantime i'm using soolantra on my lids & steroid drops. My eyes are feeling fine & I'm glad I'm doing something about it.

Hi BlackSwan, thanks for the update, can you tell me how much the IPL was? I have persistent blephartis and might give it a go 😊

I'm in London - and the price for the first session was £350. For subsequent sessions it will be £275 and I'll need another 2 by the sound of it. I see there's also a 'Dry Eye Centre' in London which offers slightly better prices.

I am sure I need this though... my eyes are always bugging me.

Thanks BlackSwan, I’m in Glasgow so hopefully a bit cheaper but that kind of cost sounds doable anyway.

I’ll look into it - thanks again.

Ive had quite a productive weekend on Mumsnet as on another thread someone recommended using eye makeup remover to get rid of the glue marks HRT patches leaves behind and it’s worked a treat 😀