Anyone else suffer from rosacea?

[wabuska]

Did you get laser treatment and how were the results? I have occasional trouble with rosacea and am considering looking for treatment. I'm already on Tetracyclene everyday.

[mandal]

I had this in my 20's. My GP at the time said it was a disease of middle aged anxious women!
It rumbled on for ages and eventually spread down my neck as well. I'd had tetracycline but my GP eventually said right lets really knock it on the head and I had oxyteracycline 1gm (I think) four times a day for a month! Never had such good skin Lol and it's never been back. Think I had erythromycin too at one point.
I'd tried a sun lamp myself with no effect but not under medical supervision.

Mta... actually kanga I may have got that wrong it may have been erythromycin at a large does that I had. Oh it's sooo long ago!! lol

[wabuska]

''disease of middle aged anxious women!''.... well, that would be me. Lol. Glad it resolved itself. I only have a touch, but I don't want it to get worse as I grow older and possibly more anxious.

[beany1]

I get it mildly - everything I have tried irritates it more. Antibiotics are ok but who wants to be on them forever?

However, I discovered Sudocrem!! I plonk it on as soon as the redness starts, and more often than not the pimply redness doesn't even come, I really feel I have conquered it

[mandal]

Mine didn't have pimply bits! ;D Started with a red raised area on the top of my cheek which was red and itchy sometimes, everyone you to ask if someone had biffed me! ;D At that age it was really embarrassing especially as it spread to dry red patches/areas all over my face and neck. The normal courses of antibiotics made it subside for a while but it wasn't until I had that huge course that it went completely and has never come back!
My skin was so sensitive too I couldn't even use aqueous cream on it... I still have problem with creams and cosmetics, I use nappy cream now but bepanthol not sudocream... haven't tried that beany1!!! Makeup is a once a year thing so as you can imagine I don't get out much!! ;D

[beany1]

The sudocrem seems to calm the redness down really well. I put on a fair bit at bedtime, either in manner of Adam and the Ants or just a thin smear to keep it at bay! My husband doesn't even bother laughing now he is so used to it ;D

[mandal]

;D beany1, think I'll stick to bepanthol it's a white cream but goes on clear. ;D

[jackiedo]

I had it when I was in the sun. An austrailian suggested that I use a particular sunblock on my face called Sun Sense Daily Facial and I have not had it since.

[Lana]

I don't have it (thank goodness) but my friend at work suffers badly with rosacea so I'm interested in what you have to say about the treatments.
I know they used to tell you that a sun lamp was good for teenage type acne, but I thought that rosacea was exacerbated by exposure to strong sunlight and it was recommended that you use an SPF of at least 15 even in the Winter.
My friend (who is a bloke by the way) was told by the doctor that his rosacea wasn't bad enough to start any treatment yet. I don't know how much worse it needs to be! He has very red cheeks all the time which look blotchy and sore when it's at it's worst, the rest of his face is also flushed, but his cheeks are by far the worst.
I may suggest he tries Bepanthen, I have virtually a whole tube in my cupboard that I could give him.
I use Sudocrem for loads of things, but don't you find it difficult to remove Beany? My friend has very sensitive skin, which is often associated with rosacea and I would have thought you would need to rub quite a bit to remove the Sudocrem as it sort of dries on the skin.

[mandal]

lana, we are talking more than twenty, nearly thirty years ago when I had mine!! Mind you when it got worse I did notice it was worse in the sun.
Also when it became really bad I couldn't really put anything on my face even water would sting. So I don't know if the bepanthol will help your friend. Imo a hefty course of antibiotics is probably the way to go and your friend has obviously got an inconsiderate GP because it is really embarrassing and sore!! I'd suggest he see a different GP at the Practice... he has my sympathies.

[Lana]

I totally agree Mandal, I'd change my GP too.
You'd think the doctor would be a little more understanding, especially as my friend hadn't been to his doctor for about 20 yrs prior to this, so it was obviously bothering him.
It does seem worse in extremes of temperature either very cold or very hot and he does seem to get more flushed if anyone mentions it, although he's not the sort to get easily embarrassed this obviously bothers him.

[beany1]

I put Sudocrem on at night and it soaks in overnight, taking away the redness as it soaks in it seems. It doesn't seem to dry my skin at all, I just wipe it gently with a clean towel in the morning. I only put it on about once a week to keep it at bay.

[lucia]

Hmm. Beauty Therapist here who also has the occasional flare up of a condition called 'pre rosacea' (that is very red cheeks).
Golden rules of any couperose (red) condition of the skin. Treat it gently, use luke warm (not hot not cold) water on your skin, don't rub it or use anything with acids (AHA's) or exfoliators. Your main aim is to soothe and reduce inflammation of the capillaries and cause the Rosacea to go into remission.

Years ago sulfur was prescribed for rosacea that presented with breakouts (which is in sudocreme I believe) but it doesn't work for everyone. Also beware of anything that is occlusive as it can block pores and create a heating effect on the skin (so anything like Bepanthan). While these things may work in some cases PLEASE do a patch test of any new product! (You should anyway even if your skin is good!).
Sunscreen is a must! But be careful of chemical based ones which can cause flare ups. Patch Test!
Keep a diary! List what you did, ate, used on your skin every day for at least a month and note any flare ups - this should help pin point triggers. (In my case being over heated and certain skincare). Drink lots of water to keep skin hydrated and use a PH balanced skin cleanser and a gentle mosituriser but dont' over load your skin. A Hyloronic acid based serum can soothe and will hydrate skin - NOTE - it is not an acid as such it is an ingredient that works like a magnet drawing water into the skin.
Red wine, spicy food, smoking are all common causes of flare ups and some 'cooling products' such as Witch Hazel can also cause problems - as you can get rebound redness so be careful. WHATEVER YOU DO DO NOT PUT STEROID BASED CREAMS on it! It will settle it down short term but will cause the skin to become thinner and more delicate over time potentially making the problem much worse and you will get rebound redness!
Longterm untreated rosacea can cause thickening of the skin and deformaties of the nasal skin (Think what his name out of 'The Royal Family') and generally will worsen if left untreated. The key is to get it under control before any major damage is done.

Products such as 'Metro Gel' (a topical antibiotic) can help as can oral anti biotics.

It is much better to treat it in its milder stages - so in the case of the chap with severe Rosacea - get him to change GP! They tend to be less sympathetic with men too and men are rubbish (in my experience) at making a 'fuss' about what can be viewed as 'vanity'. Tell him to make a fuss - Rosacea can have a huge psychological impact on the sufferer.

There are several websites dedicated to supporting Rosacea sufferers which are worth checking out. While Rosacea cannot be cured it can be controlled and sent into remission sometimes for years but the tendancy to get it will always be there. It is common in people of celtic heritage, those who blush easily and those with a family history of the condition. It usually begins by a blush that last slightly longer than normal (an hour or so) and gradually worsens over time.

IPL can be extremely effective but be warned you will look red immediately afterwards - there may be some scabbing as the little capillaries heal (but will naturally exfoliate off in about 10 days) and some pigmentation can darken and scab too (so age spots/freckles) depending on the settings. Most clinics offer free consultations so its worth popping along as IPL isn't suitable for everyone. Check out the 'White Light Therapy' websites that have clinics all over the country.

Hope that helps.

[mandal]

I can back up the red wine and spicy foods (curry mainly) making it worse!! Also any cause of blushing... heat, cold wind, rain, embarrassment was enough to start a burning sensation and sudden severe reddening.

[mrsrossilini]

Personally I would use laser treatment as a last resort and try and find a cream or gel that works for you in the first instance. I use a calendula rosacea cream that has the added ingredients shea butter, manuka and tea tree oil. I got this from an online shop and the results I have had have been astounding. So you don't always need to go to the expense of laser treatment.