Rosacea in Australia
Most of the members of the rosacea-support mailing list are based in North America. Thus much of the discussion is about treatments available there. This page aims to collect information about treatments that are available locally in Australia. This may still mean using the internet to order products though.
On this page you will find information about how to find a dermatologist in Australia, how to find a local IPL or photoderm clinic, a few ideas for cleansers and other rosacea topicals.
Photoderm IPL Centres
It is important to find an experienced practitioner when seeking photoderm treatment for Rosacea. I have no information about how experienced these clinics are, so buyer beware: do your research.
The list of IPL machines in Australia has grown and is now on its own page. Last updated 8/7/2005.
- Photoderm IPL Australia
- Photoderm IPL Canberra ACT
- Photoderm IPL Sydney New South Wales
- Photoderm IPL Brisbane Queensland
- Photoderm IPL Adelaide South Australia
- Photoderm IPL Hobart Tasmania
- Photoderm IPL Melbourne Victoria
- Photoderm IPL Perth Western Australia
Dermatologists in Australia
The Australasian College of Dermatologists has a list of Dermatologists in Australia.
You will need to get a referal from your G.P. to visit a dermatologist.
- Dermatologists Sydney, New South Wales
- Dermatologists Melbourne, Victoria
- Dermatologists Brisbane, Queensland
- Dermatologists Perth, Western Australia
- Dermatologists Adelaide, South Australia
- Dermatologists Hobart, Tasmania
- Dermatologists Darwin, Northern Territory
The College has produced quite a nice introductory pamphlet on Rosacea (also available as a pdf file).
Metronidazole Treatments
- Metrogel is called Rozex
- Metrocream is unavailable
- Metrolotion is unavailable
- Noritate is unavailable
Rozex (see US link to Metrogel, or a N.Z link to Rozex) is available on prescription only. It is expensive, but some private health schemes list it under their subsidised pharmaceuticals.
Sodium Sulfacetamide Treatments
Unfortunately the Sodium Sulfacetamide based treatments like Klaron and Plexion are not available on prescription in Australia. If you find a way of getting them here in OZ, please let me know.
Cleansers
Cetaphil
A gentle cleanser is the Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Bar, (see US link at Galderma for more information) which is available from pharmacists, at around $11 a bar.
Ego
Ego `Wash’ is a liquid cleanser and seems to be quite gentle, and not overpriced. Only available from pharmacies.
Linda Sy
You can now order on the net from www.lindasy.com, air mail is expensive so be warned. Her oils, sunscreens and moisturisers have been instrumental in healing my Rosacea. I currently use her Unscented Superfatted Soap for Dry Sensitive Skin, Vita Oil, Moisture lotion for Dry Skin and ZincO cream. The Mosturising Oil for Face and Body is a nice choice also as it cheaper than the vita oil. The ZincO cream is reasonably priced at $29 USD a tube, it will last for many months. I really recommend this sunscreen/protectant as it helps soothe and protect as well as cover the redness. When I am too ruddy for the ZincO cream I reach for Linda Sy’s Acne Cover Lotion - what a boost for self esteem this has been. See the list highlights for more messages about her products. This paragraph sounds like a big commercial for Linda Sy, but don’t be put off, she offers cheap samples for you to try.
Zia Fresh Cleansing Gel
You can order Zia Fresh Cleansing Gel on the net. An Australian found the following when ordering ;
$15.50 Fresh cleansing gel $19.95 Daily moisture screen ------ $35.45 $11.05 Air Mail ------ $46.50 USD, (converted to $74.76 AUD)
The freight wasn’t as bad as I expected, and I ordered on 26/11, card was credited on 2/12, received 7/12, seems OK service to me, and they tossed in a few samples of their toner as well.
Rosacure
Rosacure is available cheaply in Australia from pharmacydirect.com.au and pharmacyonline.com.au.
Rosacure is a “a cosmetic product which may be useful for improving the appearance of reddened skin”. The makers only make gentle claims about its effectiveness. It has received an ok review as a moisturiser from group members. The Australian distributors offer a free sample to Australian residents if you email contact@aurorapharm.com
Antihistamines
You can get Zyrtec and Clarityne (note different spelling to the U.S.) without a prescription from pharmacies. They are expensive to buy a whole month’s worth, but are far cheaper than available in the U.S, where they are prescription only.
Rosacea-LTD Disks
You can order the Rosacea-LTD disks using your credit card and faxing Bass and Boney Inc. They will air-mail them the next day. This product is now is in its 3rd generation, called Rosacea-LTD III. They have worked well for me.
Hyperhidrosis
People who suffer hyperhidrosis have an overactive involuntary nervous system, which makes them sweat excessively or blush in even the most relaxed social situations. It can seriously disrupt their lives.
Following is a list of information that might be useful in your search for treatment for hyperhidrosis. Please do your research carefully, here is just information I have gathered, you need to decide how to proceed - by finding the best treatment for you.
Drug Treatments
It may be worth looking at the usefulness of treating with monoxidine or clonidine. They have been used to reduce flushing with some success. You will need to do your own research on the efficacy, safety and availability of esp. monoxidine which has not yet gained FDA approval in the U.S. but is available in Europe. Geoffrey Nase’s book has a small section with references on this topic.
Known ETS Surgeons.
Dr. Greg Self Suite 1.4 173 Lennox Street RICHMOND 3121 PH. 03 9429 1176
Email: selfvasc@hyp.com.aus
Web: http://www.hyp.com.au/users/selfvasc/index.htm
Dr. Lord, Sydney, Phone (02) 8382 6640
Dr. Nathanson Brisbane, Phone (07) 3870 7172
Dr Chris Hensman: operates out of Valley Private Hospital, Melbourne
Phone: (03) 9795 7700
see http://www.surgicalteam.com/hyperhidrosis/dr_hensman.htm
Perth ETS Contacts
Frank Prendergast, Subiaco
Michael Lawrence-Brown
Marcel Goodman, North Perth
Steve Baker, South Perth
Some Background Web Sites
Usual disclaimers: buyer beware ! These contain a mix of medical, patient
support information.
12 comments ↓
Rosex is available in Australia, so I am not sure how old this information is, you can get both the gel and cream. For me the cream works better, but both are a great alternative to taking medication for the rest of your life.
hi…just wanted to know if the treatments from ‘Zenmed’ work or are just as effective as the ‘disks’ from Rosacea-LTD?
regards cherie
I really need some advice - and would like to attend a help group but can’t find any information. All the websites seem to say the same thing - which isn’t a lot. I have had lazer treatment and it didnt work. Would really like to meet other people in Australia who flush uncontrollably and find out their mechanisms for dealing with it!
Hi Briony,
Last time I looked there were no rosacea support groups registered with the self help registries in any part of Australia. So I registered this one so at least people find something !
It can be hard trying to cope on your own. Rest assured that there are plenty of other rosacea sufferers out there and some good helpful sites on the internet are a great place to get info and learn more.
davidp.
Hi, I am an international student in Australia and also suffer from Rosacea for at least more 10 years. I am going crazy, I cant remember how many products I have tried, none of them worked.The even worse thing is that my skin is not only red all the time, but quite oily, no matter what product I use, they all easily cause irritation…
I have been using Rozex, seems that it is the only product I can use for a longer time.
sometimes i feel life is ruined by this uncurable desease in some way.
So if anyone know any good doctors for treating rosacea in Sydney area, or any product, please let me/us know.
my email is yfsun@gmail.com
Thanks
yifeng
by the way, i found the Jurlique’s Hydrator/Toner Gel for Ultra Sensitive Skin is not bad. It can be used as a toner and wont cause irritation.
just put little amount of gel on figertips and PRESS onto skin gentally
I was prescribed Rosex by my doctor but found that it helped by only about 50%. Then I came across a cream called hydrozole this has been great for me and worked better than the rosex and you can buy it over the counter. I also changed my moisturiser over to Olay NIGHT cream it has been the only moisturiser that hasn’t made my skin flare up and it has improved the dry look I was starting to get.
Ang, please be careful with hydrozole as it is a 1% cortisone. Prolonged use will make your rosacea worse. See http://rosacea-support.org/over-counter-steroids-can-cause.html
for more information.
Hi Yifeng, maybe you could view this website because they say they could cure rosacea completely. I once called this Lady Qian, she told me that it takes around 1 month time to stay at her salon to cure rosacea, and it cost around 1500 USD. For more information just call her.
titi
the link is http://www.yuhuakj.com/
I visited my doctor today and took along a tube of rosacure and he rubbished it for not listing the ingredients on the tube. He has prescribed rozex which I hope does wonders as I’ve used Rosacure for 18 months on recommendation from a pharmacist, and though it worked well initially (more like a non-irritable moisturiser however), it hasn’t been very effective long-term ie I’m still red around the nose.
Please consider that surgery should be an absolute last resort. Do your research very, very carefully. There can be irreversible side-effects from sugery (the main one is compensatory sweating from the ‘nupple line’ down), and these side-effects can be far worse than the original problem. My research indicates that ETS surgery for blushing is more prone to side effects than ETS surgery for hyperhidrosis. Oh, and by the way, I should know how devastating the side effects can be - I had ETS for blushing and my life is quite honestly horrible because of compensatory sweating. Most doctors will downplay this fact, so don’t overlook it - doctors cannot predict the severity of the side effects - it is on a patient-by-patient case, and your life may never be the same.
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