Rosacea - what has worked for you?

[evilharpy]

Mine has flared up again - it's red and bumpy and I hate it. Not sure what has triggered it this time.

In the past I've tried all sorts including various skincare like Avene, prescription creams including ivermectin and metronidazole, doxycycline etc. None of it really seems to help much. I've never tried laser treatment.

Does anyone else suffer from it and have you found anything that made a significant difference and/or helped in the longer term?

I have/did have the type 2 rosacea with pustules and redness on the lower part of my face. I had all sorts from the GP over the years and the only thing that has resolved it is the Dermatica rosacea treatment. After a couple of months the pustules and redness reduced and it just got better and better. I still use it now 2 years later as I never want to go back to what it was.

Honestly, the only thing which has dramatically improved my rosacea in 15 years was following a high fat, low carb diet (effectively reducing sugar). It took around 2-3 months of consistently following it, but as well as reducing weight (my main goal), my very red, bumpy skin disappeared too.

Soolantra, if yours is caused by Demadox that will get rid of it.

Soolantra will kill it dead. Don’t even try anything else.

You can get Soolantra online from Superdrug. Dermatica also contains Ivermectin which is the active ingredient in Soolantra.

Soolantra, my gp prescribed it when I asked for it (seen it recommended so often on mn).

Dermatica worked for me.

Two months of a low dose of roaccutane, followed by a maintenance dose of one tablet a week.

IPL laser (ouch but effective)

soolantra was a life saver for me, my face was terrible and it cleared it up and touch wood not had any flare ups since

Second vote for dermatica. Used their online prescription service and it cleared up within about 8 months. No longer need their formula but wouldn't hesitate to get it again if needed.

Another vote for Soolantra here my gp prescribed it and within a month it was gone with no further flare ups

Castor oil.

I put it on my face before bed and wash it off with soap and water in the morning.

It was all gone in 3 months.

@Ouchmyarse could you share a link to a castor oil you’ve used please ? I’ve not used it and no idea which one to get.

As long as it’s organic, cold pressed and in an amber glass bottle you are good. I get mine from Amazon.

Soolantra didn’t work for me, neither did rosex. I don’t think they did anything at all.

Ktp and lighter lasers did work but v expensive. Ktp needs downtime too. It worked perfectly for a while but not forever. I still have rosacea but couldn’t afford/ be bothered to keep up with laser treatments forever. However 3 years after my first treatments (think I had 4 Ktp and 6 laser genesis all together) it is much more under control. I get occasional flare ups but prior to the lasers it was getting very bumpy on both sides of my face. It’s pretty smooth now (touch wood).

Red wine, stress, hot food, hot rooms do still bring it on. I don’t doubt that any good diet for the gut would also really help as PP said.

Sorry for not replying, I completely forgot I'd started this post.

I did have a Dermatica prescription for a few months (maybe 3 or 4). It didn't do much. Soolantra also didn't do much. When it's flared up and calmed down it doesn't seem to have correlated with anything I've actually been using. I'd be willing to try either/both again though, probably Soolantra first because it's free.

@Borracha I've never heard of anyone using Roaccutane for rosacea. I'm assuming you saw a private dermatologist? Was it a last resort when other treatments had failed?

@Ouchmyarse interesting about the castor oil, that's not something I've tried. Do you mind me asking whether your skin is naturally oily? Mine is (so is my hair) and I wonder if it would make it greasier.

High carb low fat makes me want to cry! All the things I like best are carbs haha!

Yes, I'm not in the UK.

If you Google it, it actually seems quite common - it works as an anti-inflammatory so quickly reduces the redness. It's a very low dose so apart from slightly dry skin (easily cured with a decent moisturiser) I had no adverse side effects.

Castor oil is amazing stuff. It doesn’t make your skin more oily. it balances everything out.

Soolantra didn’t do anything for me either.
Have you tried Lymecycline? I find it much more effective than Doxycycline.