Just been told i have rosacea

[elizabeth22]

Hello, i am new here

So i hope i am typing in the right section?

it has taken the doctors over 7 weeks to tell me i have Rosacea in the meantime i think they made my skin worse by giving me all sorts of medication.I am only 27 and had lovely skin up until 7 weeks ago i cant understand how and why i have it The doctor has given me oxytetracycline which i have taken coming up to 3 weeks now not really any changes to my face i cant stand the redness i have it makes me feel so horrible and is really getting me down and going outside makes it worse so i put of going out as much as i can.Any HELP or SUGGESTIONS please

[Artist]

Hi Elizabeth: I'm so sorry this is happening to you. Rosacea can be hard to diagnose sometimes since it can look like other skin conditions. Now that you know what it is, the medications should really help. Three weeks is a little too soon to see big results yet, though. It takes more like a month or two to see big changes. While you are waiting, what are you using to cleanse and moisturize your skin? Also, have you tried any cosmetics to conceal the rosacea (while you wait for the improvement..)?

Lastly, I'd call the derm today and make another appointment to discuss your progress (or lack of..). There are several medications they can try, but you will only know what works for you if you visit regularly and work closely with your derm.

That said, there is a lot of great info here about additional things you can do to help your skin. Read lots and ask tons of questions!!

What are you using for cleansing, moisturizing, etc?

Cheers!

Artist

[elizabeth22]

Hiya Artist

Thanks for replying back to me,i was told by my doctor not to use anything on my face just wash it with warm water which feels really strange because i always used to give my face a good wash. before i got rosacea i just used to use e45 which i am still using now as i get dry skin from the redness now and again. I have not yet tried anything to cover it up as my skin is sensitive anyway and i never wore makeup didnt feel the need to.

I spoke to my doctor last week to see if he would refer me to a derm as i feel they could do more for me but he was having none of it he told me not until i have given my tablets 5/6 weeks then to go back and he would consider it. I never go the doctors for anything last time i went there was after i had my child which was over 7 years ago. So for the sake of it costing them money and trying to save it i think i deserve to be refered at least!

I have had a quick wizz through and there is so much to take in and understand and knowing what to do and use best?

You obv know more than me so what would you suggest??

Elizabeth

[Artist]

What'? Your doctor will not refer you to a dermatologist after a diagnosis of rosacea? My feeling is that Rosacea should be managed with regular dermatologist visits. I think rosacea really, really requires an experienced dermatologist. No wonder it took so long for your doctor to diagnose rosacea.

If it were me, I'd firmly ask for a referral several times if needed. If that didn't work, I'd find out how to appeal and send a letter of complaint, and switch doctors. What an outrage! I'd call my insurance company, too. Perhaps a referral isn't even required.

Aaargh!!!

Artist

[elizabeth22]

I know thats what i thought i explained to him that although he has told me i have it it would be better fior a skin doctor to take over as they will obv know more than him. He was quite snotty about it when he said after your course of antibotics come and see me and i will consider but i will still have to wait he said as there is a waiting list!! He got me so mad i even broke down and still nothing

The only way i can see a derm without waiting is to go privite and i aint got that sort of money i wish i had i already had enough time of work.Since my skin problem started i was down there twice a week then 2 weeks ago thats when he told me i have to give tablets chance to work. What an arse i am sure if he or his family had this problem they would not even consider waiting.

so what do you consider i should use for a cleanser and moisturiser then? Also my skin goes worse when i am out what suncream is the best?

[Lisamouries]

Hi Elizabeth.
Are you based in the US or the UK? In the UK there is a limit to the amount of times you can see a professional Dermatologist on the NHS. The key is to ask your dermatologist for a treatment plan which they will then forward to your GP.

I quote:
You can exercise your rights and demand to see a specialist the FIRST TIME to get the correct diagnosis and a treatment plan, after which your GP or a doctor in an ‘intermediate clinic’ may be able to continue your care.

Here is the site I found by the British Association of Dematologists 'Access to Care' where I took this quote from.
http://www.bad.org.uk/public/access/

As for suncreams I use City Block Sheer SPF 25 which is alright but as I work from home I don't need to put it on every day. I heard people prefer the 15spf but that one is not available anymore.

Hope this helps.
Kind regards.
Lisa M.

[elizabeth22]

Hello Lisa

Thats for replying to me i live in the Uk, thats for that info i will look into that i aint going to give up there1 i shall go back to my doctor by the end of next week. i really need to sort this out.

I have to walk my son to school every day then continue on to work,i am an opitical asistant so i have to deal with people all the time and get close to them since having this i have already taken 2 weeks off work because i dont want to go in looking this way. I have already cut back on my social life already and its really depressing.

Elizabeth

[Artist]

I feel terrible for you! At least the doctor has you on a medication for rosacea.

I talked with my derm recently and she confirmed for me that Cerave is a good line for rosacea. In fact, they have samples of it in their office. I've been using it for a few days and must say that it's super gentle and moisturizing, seems to cleanse well, and hasn't irritated my skin. I've seen good feedback on it searching the internet as well. Cerave makes both a cleanser and moisturizer and I've seen it at Rite Aid and Walgreens. For both coverage and sunscreen in one, you might consider mineral makeup. Physicians formula mineral makeup is made for ultra sensitive skin and can be found easily - in drugstores. It's cheap, too!

Even with these gentle products, you may experience difficulty at first. However, I wouldn't give up on them immediately if you do. I'd set them aside until my skin was ready for them. If your skin is really, really inflamed and raw, you might have to wash only with with lukewarm water and put nothing on it until the antibiotics start working (hopefully within another week or so), like your doctor said. Then, once the antibiotics calm the inflammation and the skin barrier starts recovering, you should be able to cleanse and moisturize and use gentle cosmetics.

If it were me, I'd really try to move toward cleansing and moisturizing as soon as my skin could tolerate it. The dermatologist honestly needs to look at your skin and tell you what to do and when. I have dry rosacea skin, so if I don't moisturize the skin barrier is weakened and cracked and "alarmed" much more easily. But, that's just my skin... Yours may need slightly different care..

I hope that helps!

Artist
Not medical advice.

[elizabeth22]

Yeah i must asmit the tablets i am on has helped a bit but not a great deal but as you said earlier it normally takes a while longer.Hopefully when i go back the doctors he will refer me then i can have a derm that will advise me on whats best or not good for my skin by looking at the condition its in.I will defo look into the creams that you suggested in the meantime just dont want to make it any worse thats all!

Thats the thing by seeing the type of rosacea i have they can put me in the right direction and hopefully help me so i can get my life back to normal.In this day and age you would think they would put more time in trying to find some sort of cure for it as they can do some amazing stuff just unfortunate they have not found anything for this yet

Thankyou for your time and your advice

Elizabeth

[yoli]

Hi, Elizabeth!!!

I am so sorry that you have to deal with this but don't feel bad. I am 35 years old and have always had perfect skin never gone to a dermatologist and like 2 years ago decided to use some exfoliating pads and also this new powder and all of the sudden i had Rosacea, I hate myself for doing that to myself but now i must live with this. I was misdiagnosed for 2 years they thought I had dermatitis but in reality i don't itch but burn. My case is more severe than yours because I have pimples, i don't get that red but i more pimples. I have been on Oracea for 5 months and also on Noritate my skin still very dry but I am trying to use things that don't irritate my skin and I don't use make up. I trust in God that one day this will go into remission i don't ask him for my perfect skin again but at least for this horrible skin condition to go into remission one day. I hate to take medications but i have no choice for now. I put on my face for 2 years Elidel but that is not for Rosace no wonder everytime i would stop using it everything would come back, i didn't use any moisturizer, etc.....now i have a totally different regime of skin care. I still need more but at least i am better than what i was 5 months ago. I went into a deep depression, crying not wanting to go to work or out, etc...and you know what it will get better totally better just do what the doctors tell you. I live in the US so I don't need a referral to go see the dermatologist i went straight to it but it took me 6 dermatologist in order to get diagnosed with Rosacea. I still have my up and down days but I just trust God that it will get better and not worse. Any questions are welcome don't feel bad. I still have many questions myself.