What a terribly sad story. Rosacea can be an all consuming disease and there is definitely a danger in becoming obsessed with your skin. The struggle to look normal can be too much for some, sadly. Please everyone realize that other people really aren’t as interested or worried about your skin as you are. If you feel you aren’t coping with your anxiety or feelings about yourself then please be brave enough to see a doctor and ask for some help.
Your mental health is just as important as your overall health. Also, please be encouraged that there are some wonderful treatments for rosacea out there, you just need to reach out to find them.
From: This is London, from the Evening Standard: Train suicide of woman depressed by her wrinkles
A woman who became depressed that she was losing her youthful looks committed suicide by lying down in front of a 90mph train, an inquest has heard.
Amanda Barr, 44, had become obsessively preoccupied with the condition of her skin.
….
She would not even let her partner of 13 years kiss her on the cheek for fear it would inflame her rosacea, a skin condition causing redness, the Norwich jury hearing was told.
…
Mr Thirsk said Miss Barr’s obsession with imperceptible skin blemishes had snowballed since their relationship started in 1994 and it became apparent in the months before her death that the problem was a psychological one.
But she refused medication for her problems in case it made her skin worse.
Her rosacea was actually nothing more serious than a “slight red mark” on her face, he said, but she was unable to keep it in perspective.
“She felt it was huge and that everyone was staring at it and saying: ‘Look at her!’ She became very, very obsessed with it, really, and the way she looked.
Mr Thirsk said his partner would not even walk ten yards to the bins from their front door for fear of the wind inflaming her skin.”
Further Reading ;
3 comments ↓
Wow! What can I say? Poor lady, the worst about skin problems is whe you realize you have no control over them. That happened to me many years ago, I am 28 know with possible rosacea on my face, great! When I was a teenager like 14-15 I may get one or 2 big pimples that bugged me 4 a while but I don’t remember being that depressed about my face like I am now. I always had oily skin and people used to tell me: you are cute but have oily skin, is that a compliment? What me made really mad was people telling me why don’t you do something for that oil as if I wasn’t doing enough. I remember feeling OK having acne free oily skin because I really was all that bothered by the oil while the skin was clear. Then when I was 20 I started to see a couple of cystic acne on the sides of my forehead that were not responding to BP meds I used since high school so I went to a derm which injected me the FABULOUS CORTISONE yeah right. It was the 1st year but then it leaves redness and marks because I would get the same pimple in the same place. To make the long story short I even used ACCUTANE which made feel ridiculous afterwards cuz I was thinking OH MY GOD what am I going to do when I’m acne free?!! Duh, I only made my skin not oily for a while and I got less breakout later.
After that I used Murad in 2002, which even out the skin tone but was to harsh sometimes (to expensive 4 the not amazing results) Then in 2004 I used Proactiv which failed in 2001 probably bc I didn’t follow instructions, and after a couple of bleached tshirts and pillowcases I was 90% clear 4 more than a year and enjoyed life. It was great not worrying about yopur face but the honeymoon was over in 2005 cuz I felt a little burning on my nose area (beginnign rosacea?????? probably) I switched to their sensitive salicilyc acid line and used it 4 a year or so but its not as good as the original. Now since 2006 I am getting flushing of the face, pimples pustules in the nose cheeks and chin that Im sure are rosacea. My derm was no good and kept prescribing Differing 4 the acne that I was getting back and never really diagnosed Rosacea. I hope that tomorrow I can go 2 a cousins office, he is a derm but was sick today. He was the first that treated me back in 2001. I am so depressed, pushing 30 and not being able to clear my skin 4 good. I feel I only accomplish things when I am clear but when Im not I feel like nothing matters but my skin. Its terrible, and I ask God for help. Sometimes relatives are no good cuz they tell u that great ??? Why dont u go to a derm???? Why dont u treat ur face?? Like u r doing nothing already. I wish I could control my skin like I control my allergic rhinitis with a pill and a spray once a day. Please some advice and prayer will help. God bless you!
I am a rosacea sufferer and I would like point out to those who are not aware, that just because the skin is only pinkish, does not mean it isn’t painful. What you see on the surface is often only an indication of what is happening underneath. At times, this pain can be debilitating.
It is often helpful to read inbetween the lines and regarding the above article about the UK woman who took her own life, I have the feeling she was suffering real, physical pain.
Rosacea is one of the most under appreciated medical conditions there is.
Personally, I experience several types of discomfort. Heat, tingling, burning, pain and severe neuropathic pain. This might, or might not be accompanied by terrible flushing of long duration.This can lead to further damage, including facial swelling. If the initial discomfort/symptoms are not brought under control promptly, they can quickly escalate out of control and once this happens it can be extremely difficult to put into remission again.
I take antibiotics and I undergo IPL treatments at regular intervals, which until recently were working very effectively. Rosacea did not rule my life, but I was careful to avoid triggers. For some time now I have been going through the battle again, to get the disease under control. At times I feel great despair at the constant pain. It just goes on and on…..and can intensify at the least trigger.
The comment about the UK woman not walking to the bins in the wind, for fear of her face becoming inflamed, sounds reasonable.
Someone who lacks knowledge and has no desire to understand, could deem this type of behaviour as ridiculous. Shame on them. There is no excuse for such ignorance in this day and age.
Many people on the rosacea forum speak about the negative impact a burning face has on their intimate relationships, as standing next to another person can be like sticking your head up close to an oven.
Other suffers might only experience persitant basal redness with no accompanying pain.
It is hard to say how much the UK woman focused on the visual aspect, but I bet she didn’t like it. None of us do.
However, to say it was obvious her problem was a psychological one is completely ludicrous and unprofessional.
A point of interest, some of the worse offenders are doctors, including dermatologists.
This is commonly known by most rosaceans and it proves a source of frustration and suffering as they seek out and gravitate towards the few medical professionals who really understand the disease thoroughly and who bring relief to hundreds of people.
Hey Kayla and Erik…just want you to know that I’m with you on this stuff…i’ve suffered through both acne and rosacea and whats worse to me is that I only got it later on in my early 20’s after it seemed like everyone was already over it. Its not as bad for me now 8 years later but it still bothers me and when people say not to worry or who cares about it…i just think that if it was their own problem they wouldnt be just saying that. It is a real problem and it affects people in so many ways that you can only try to understand if you’ve been there yourself. Anyway just wanted to say keep the faith to both of you and if you ever want to discuss this topic we can always email. take care!
Leave a Comment