The One Thing I Wish I Was Told About Treating Rosacea

150 Comments over 4 pages ↓

#56830 Julie on May 10, 2011 at 9:35 AM

Oh Yeah, I really wish I had stopped exfoliating!!

#56838 Sally on May 10, 2011 at 9:15 PM

Julie, I’d posted this awhile ago, but no one has replied as yet. This really helped my skin immensely: getting a pillow case that is anti skin-mite. The pillow cases (or you can use the zippered inner pillow cover) are really cheap and made a huge difference for me. Really worth trying. And I’m so curious as to whether this helps anyone else.

#56842 Julie on May 11, 2011 at 3:17 AM

Hi Sally!

Thanks for taking the time to repost that to me – yes I did see it, but I don’t think there is such a thing as anti-skin mite pillow cases. I think mfg’s just use that as a gimmick especially with the epidemic of bed bugs these days!

I do think that using cotton pillow cases & changing them every single night is a must for reducing the mites, & I bet that is why you have seen a difference – lucky you & thanks for pointing that out! I am going to buy some more pillow cases!

I have noticed my cheeks are more red in the morning too & I read on another website that the mites come out at night & I bet they are all over our pillow cases – it’s really quite gross when u read the websites about the mites – they really thrive off of your oils & the hair follicle & make me wonder if I have them in my hair since my hair is falling out!

I think you are on to something – I think if we don’t change our pillow cases every night that we are re-infesting our faces every night & that might be why some don’t get results or not enough, or it comes back.

There is no way to kills the eggs, so if you aren’t dedicated to eradicating everything – then in 15 days or so, new ones hatch & start the cycle all over!

I think it would be interesting to know if our pillow cases need to be washed in bleach and/or hot soapy water.

I’ve just started researching & not even sure what to use on m face – but zinc oxide & sulphur products are very top on the list.

The best to you!

J.

#56967 David Pascoe on May 12, 2011 at 10:00 AM

comment via email from Coleen.

“I don’t know where you live, Julie, but I had two laser treatments for broken capillaries and my insurance took care of it.”

#56969 Julie on May 12, 2011 at 10:21 AM

Thanks Coleen!

I don’t have insurance so it’s not an option for me right now. I did try it a long time ago on a tiny one on my face and it didn’t work. Got a zit instead that didn’t heal right!

I hope you keep us posted – the laser treatment seems to be a mixed review that they just come back somewhere else. I also read that the flushing/blood has to go somewhere so they will come back in New broken capillaries.

I really hope it works for you – there’s so few remedies.

Thanks David for forwarding the message.

Sally – I was thinking of something else – I wonder if just buying new pillow cases helped – I don’t think regular washing kills the mites – hot water and/or bleach is needed, so maybe that’s another reason it worked for you.

Good luck to all!

#57064 David Pascoe on May 13, 2011 at 12:02 PM

comment via email from Coleen.

“I had no problem with the laser treatment at Duke except that my face was black from bruising for about two weeks. However, it healed nicely and the redness has not returned. I use Eucerin for redness relief to wash and moisturize. Main problem is ocular rosacea since I cannot take Doxycycline, Minocyclin or Oracea. Coleen”

#57080 Julie on May 14, 2011 at 5:31 AM

I think I have a solution that will work for most of you, with thanks to some of u that have made excellent suggestions! This is not a quick fix, but might be a more permanent cure. Not all products work the same for all of us, so that will make a difference, but the KEY is your immune system & gut – you can’t just work on your face – I think that’s why so many don’t get results or don’t have long term success!

Every time u have anything wrong with your skin, there is something wrong in your body! That’s why Dr’s give out antibiotics which in the long run make the problem worse. Sugar and wheat products are our biggest culprit, especially sugar – it makes your body very acidic. I have eliminated sugar many times & have completely cleared up any acne – but like most of us, it’s hard to give up!

# 1 on the list – Diet – drink tons more water; start using a colon cleanse – even something as simple as taking a spoonful of organic aloe in your morning water will help! Eat more green vege’s – they are very alkaline for the body too. I also think the suggestion somebody made about Olive Leaf is excellent – it has always helped me out. Colloidal Silver is excellent but controversial – it is a natural antibiotic & doesn’t mess up your colon as much as perscription antibiotics do. Take a probiotic to clean up what years of pills & bad food have done to your gut.

Your face is infected, which means your body is infected & lots of inflammation. Take quercetin for that – it’s natural & also good for your caridovascular system which should help the broken capillaries. Take a multi-vitamin, & garlic is very important.

#2 – Topical Stuff – I think it is imperative to find something that kills bacteria, more natural and mild. Sulfer is also listed in almost every product that Dr’s are trying to promote. There are sulfur soaps. Lately I’ve tried something more mild and have broken out – that can’t be good and hopefully some of you aren’t doing the same! I have had really good luck washing my face with Zest soap – it is antibacterial and mild – you have to kill the bacteria that the mites are causing. Also, Kiss My Face makes excellent mild soaps with Olive Oil and Chamomile – I would use that instead of Dove & Cetaphil – there’s nothing good or healthy about either of those products.

The PH & natural health of your face has been destroyed – you have to fight from the inside and outside.

I think Prosacea is a good product, but it’s not enough.

Use a dandruff shampoo or tea tree shampoo on your hair – the mites live in hair follicles, including on your head! Just because you don’t have problems (yet) doesn’t mean they aren’t multiplying on your scalp too!! I also think that when you reduce the mites on your face, they migrate more to your scalp & that’s Another reason why people are having recurring problems!

Change your pillow case every night and wash sheets and everything in hot water and bleach. Most of you have pets and should be familiar with fleas – it’s the same principle – you don’t just take care of the fleas on the pet, you clean where they sleep and the carpeting and everything!

There are cases of people becoming infected that are around dogs and cats that have mange – it is the SAME mite – demodex! The animals don’t have to have extreme red conditions to have the mites or for you to get them – eradicate them.

There were some women that were trying to help a stray cat that had mange – the poor thing looked so sick and horrible! They were trying to catch the cat so they could bathe the cat in olive oil! I had never heard that – someone had commented on this site to kill the mites by drowning them in oil which they feed off of – that might work!

I hope this helps – it is no fun having a red or inflamed face!

#57083 Sally on May 14, 2011 at 11:07 AM

Julie, thanks for all the good advice and information. Also, I have actually found a great cleanser and moisturizer that work for me. They are from the company Essensa, the ones for “sensitive” skin (of course). They are expensive to buy but last such a long time, as you only use the tiniest amount. This was the first stuff I found that actually didn’t irritate my skin, so I’ve been using it for years. If anyone is interested, just go to Essensa’s web site.

#57092 Julie on May 14, 2011 at 1:57 PM

Hi Sally – You are very welcome – I hope some of it helps!

And thanks for sharing your facial products – I’ve never heard of Essensa, but if they have been working for years – that’s a very good sign!

I’ve been noticing too many products that are for sensitive skin actually have alcohol in them which is horrible as far as I’m concerned.

I also forgot to mention that taking a zinc lozenge every day or every other day would help build up the immune system too. Research will show that keeping your body alkaline is the single most important thing you can do to stay healthy & that disease can not grow in an alkaline body.

Dr. Perricone is very big on reducing the inflammation in the body – it might be interesting to read his website or book – I saw his specials on tv.

I hope this means you have won the battle with rosacea Sally!

Good luck to all of you!

#57393 mo on May 17, 2011 at 1:10 AM

nicola,

Thanks so much for responding. I am going to look for prosacea and give it a try. I have always had reddish cheeks(I have fair skin and red hair), well at least since being a teenager. And I am just now starting to get little white pustules, but what bugs me the most I think is my skin texture. I really hate it, its like fine grade sandpaper, I don’t know how else to describe it, and it just gets worse and gradualy covers more of my face. No one else seems to mention it, and its now starting to go down under my jaw! UGH! I wish I could share a pic and see if anyone else has it and what they’ve done for that specifically. I have just started using the Yes to carrots cucumber soothing line. I like it, it doesnt irritate my skin at all. I also found that Sonia Kashuk foundation doesnt bother my skin at all and doesn’t have parabens. I don’t know about the rest of the ingredients but most foundations make my eyes water and my skin dry and itchy. So I use that, I have an organic tinted moisturizer from Physicians Formula that I have just started using and I like it too. But I have to put moisturizer on under it cause it makes my skin feel a little dry, but with a fresh coat of moisturizer its fine. I would like to try mineral makeup but it just looks terrible, dry and cake-y, so I have to go for a dewy look instead of dry, which makes the texture of my skin less noticable. I wonder about laser treatments, if they could change the texture of my skin. Anyway, I haven’t seen a dermo in forever cause I don’t have insurance, so I can’t do anything other than my own investigation. But I will try prosacea and see how that works. I am glad it worked for you! I am worried that I am heading into stage 2 and will have to take oral meds, but in the mean time am really trying to find other solutions. Thanks for the response! I have also thought about a sugar fee/dairy free diet, but I just don’t know how I would do it – have you ever seen the cook book The Kind Diet? I want to adopt this life style but just seriously doubt my own will power and I have young children who have a very limited palet right now and am not sure they could swing it either – have you changed your diet at all?

thanks again
Mo

#57394 mo on May 17, 2011 at 2:06 AM

Does anyone have a list of things to look for and avoid in skin care/makeup products? It seems like they all have similar ingredients, I know about parabens, what else should I look for?

#57396 Nicola on May 17, 2011 at 2:27 AM

Hi Mo,

when i was reading about your white pustules and sand paper like skin I was nodding my head because this is exactly what I had. I couldnt wear any type of powder and most foundations because it would emphasize the bumps more and powders would make my skin dry and flaky which made it look worse! I too had to go for the dewy look. I would try to stay away from all makeup wherever possible at the moment.

I have been clear now for more than a year and counting and my skin has healed so well you would never know i had a problem. its now as smooth as a baby’s butt!! I did try to change what I eat. I do drink alot more water and I fresh fruit and veg and I also avoid wherever possible artificial colours and preservatives and flavours too. Although this is verrrry difficult.

I dont want to hog up this page too much as I have said a fair amount previously. I have changed a couple of things in my skin regime and they are relatively inexpensive so please feel free to email me at nayonoadu@gmail.com if you want to know more. Prosacea is a must in my opinion though
Nicola.

#57460 coleen on May 17, 2011 at 9:01 PM

I have used Eucerin products for facial redness-cleansers and moisturizer-for years–no problem. Use Clinique super city block sunscreen and that’s it.

#60867 Diana on June 30, 2011 at 5:57 PM

My doctor said that she suspects me of rosacea and prescribed me a treatment. That’s it! No advice, no thing. I have used Finacea for months without sunscreen! She didn’t tell me about the right products I should use (I don’t mean recommendations, jut in general about a good skin care routine), she didn’t give me any information about what rosacea is or if you ever get rid of it… That’s NHS for you…

#60912 Jasmine 215 on July 2, 2011 at 1:52 AM

Hi,
Pesonally, I believe that if you know AHEAD OF TIME, before you EVER have symptoms that you are at risk for this disease, THAT is the time to start prevention measures. I wish I had started using topical honey masks and oral tetracyclines back in around 1981 or 1982, before I got symptoms. Then, if the current Laser treatments available now were available then and in the early 1990s, that would have, no doubt, prevented my symptoms from starting up in the first place. (I don’t know this for sure, but I think the laser treatments could have prevented the start of the symptoms).

All it takes is for one of your parents, grandparents or another relative to show symptoms, that may be all it takes to corrupt your DNA and pass the disease on.

In my case, both my paternal and maternal grandfathers had the disease or had the genetics to pass it on. One of my maternal uncles and several cousins on my mother’s side seem to have it, we are all fair-skinned.

#64040 Gini on August 28, 2011 at 6:14 AM

First of all thank you for all the comments. It’s been enlightening reading all of your advices. I, too, wish I had been told that no amount of exfiolating and harsh chemicals for acne would clear my skin of rosacea. One treatment I tried was so bad I’ve had a flare up that lasted, well, years.
I’m tried Finacea, no results, and Metrogel, burned like nothing else.
I’m glad that some of you indicated that antibiotics and steroids were not the only solutions. My dermatologist is pushing these and I held her off because I became pregnant, then breastfed, then pregnant again, and breastfed again. What she wanted me to use was not considered safe to use at these stages of my life. Part of me wonder if there are ever safe, then.
I’m due to see her again and having ran of “excuses”, I was afraid that I would have to cave in and tried steroids. I’m going to try some of the more natural options here and see what happens.
Thanks again.

#65215 Dee on September 22, 2011 at 9:32 AM

I am 68 years old and was diagnosed with rosacea last spring (2011). So far I’m having very little success in finding a treatment for it. My regular doctor has put me on Metrogel but I had to quit using it in less than a week because I broke out and my skin actually became oilier. Has anyone else had this kind of a problem with Metrogel?

I went back to simply washing my face 2X a day with Oil of Olay Foaming Cleanser and using my moisturizer on the dry areas of my skin and my skin calmed back down.

Any information and help will be appreciated.

Dee

#65216 g g on September 22, 2011 at 9:47 AM

Hey Dee

Are you using the gel or cream, I first tried the gel and find it very irritating, then I got the cream and had no problems good luck

gg

#65218 Dee on September 22, 2011 at 9:53 AM

I’m using the gel. Did you have problems with your skin becoming oilier? I thought it was an odd side effect when Metrogel can actually dry your skin out.

Thx,
Dee

#65219 g g on September 22, 2011 at 10:01 AM

I have just been told by the doctor I have raynaurds syndrome in my hands and feet and of course I still have rosacea. Also I am seeing a Rheumatologist for the first time for suspected Rheumatoid arthritis. Does anyone else have these conditions with rosacea? The treatment for raynaurds is vascular dilators which I know will not be good for flushing!!!
Frustrated g g

#65220 g g on September 22, 2011 at 10:05 AM

Yes my skin always becomes oilier when irritated, I think it is like Seb Dermatitis, oily and dry flaky and the same time, what a confusing condition. I would try the cream I dont think you have to get another prescription, the chemist will just change it to the cream.

#65232 lizaliza on September 22, 2011 at 3:14 PM

Hi

Camomile herbal tea has been very helpful lately. I drink two cups of it before going to sleep and it calms me down as well. It seems that camomile contains antihistamins and maybe this is the way it helps. Be careful, you have to buy roman camomile not the german one. My face is still quite oily but has ceased breaking out.

Good luck

Liza

#65498 Erin on September 26, 2011 at 1:35 PM

I have rosacea, probably stage two. I do what I can to keep inflammation down and keep my skin calm, usually successfully. This is what works for me. 1) I mostly stay out of the sun and wind. Yes, I go for beach walks, but not on the sunniest or windiest days. More likely to go for a walk in the woods or neighborhood. I wear a broad brimmed hat when I go to a festival or fair. And use sunscreen. I left the southwest and moved to the northwest coast, and I am SO MUCH more comfortable. 2) I changed my diet. The better I am at that, the less general inflammation I have and the better my skin is. I go through periods when I don’t do this well. “Recreational sugar” is hard on my immune system and it leads to inflammation, and is consequently hard on my skin. I feel and look SO MUCH BETTER when I avoid it. What is “recreational sugar”? Well, a pint of ice cream (my personal favorite), or doughnuts, cookies, cake, candy……..shall I go on?……………are recreational sugar. Kind of like recreational drugs. And guess what? That is why it is so hard to avoid the garbage. Plums, strawberries & bananas are not recreational sugar! My skin does better if I eat very little or no recreational sugar, dairy and wheat or other gluten grains. I eat a LOT of fresh vegetables, especially green vegetables, moderate amount of meat (any meat from any animal, except processed meats), eggs, beans, moderate amount of fresh fruit (no juice), some grain (brown rice and quinoa) and some dairy. No soda pop at all. 3) Get enough sleep, get enough sleep!! Go to bed! Sleep! This rejuvenates me and nurtures me. 4) I do not smoke. Smoking robs your skin of Oxygen nourishment and builds up a carbon dioxide level that you carry in your blood. Rosacea is a vascular problem and smoking effects your vascular health a lot. 5) I change my pillowcase and towel every two days. I change my sleeping T-shirt every single day. I have some rosacea on my chest and back, too. Skin mites are supposedly an underlying problem in rosacea. 6) For years I have washed my face twice/day with Basis Soap for sensitive skin, which I find at Walmart most reliably. From time to time I try something else, but my skin always protests. Then I moistureize all over my face, neck and chest with Burt’s Bees Radiance EyeCream. It is the very best cream I have tried. I use a few drops of water with it on my fingertips, so it will go further and cost less. I put very little on my nose because my nose is still somewhat oily and a lot on my jaw line and neck were I need it most. The main thing is avoid anything which reddens or inflames my skin, unless it is worth it, like making love! No scrubbing of skin, no exfoliation. About three times a week I gently use a soft washcloth all over my body, other days I just use my hands. Very clean but gentle, and nourishing is what I shoot for. 7) I take a lot of Omega-3 (not much Omega-6) AND OTHER NUTRITIONAL ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES for my joints and skin. I had to experiment for several years and find what workedfor me. If you want me to list what I take, ask me. Read up on inflammation, nutrition, rosacea. I use the computer and books at the health food store. Love to everyone out there. Namaste. I appreciate any feedback, comments or questions. I will answer, but not promptly, because I do not live with a computer.

#66409 Georgia on October 9, 2011 at 11:09 PM

Loved finding this site! The information provides some new products and lifestyle changes to try, thank you all for the posts! I was misdiagnosed with acne about two years ago by a GP. I went to a dermo shortly thereafter…Oracea and Metrogel. Neither did much, I continue to use Metrogel, and sometimes it works? I am a 47 year-old female and serious marathon runner in Florida…Sun, wind, sports, humidity and yes, I love my WHITE wine at night. I really am of the ilk that regardless of how well we live/eat/sleep, triggers and all, this skin disorder has a will of it’s own. Heritage (I am of Irish, Russian and Slovak decent) and stress are what I consider the lifetime indicators of Rosacea severity. I have had the clearest of skin after eating a spicy treat and drinking a few glasses of wine, sitting in the balmy WINDS of South Florida in 90 degree weather. My point is that yes, we need to reduce triggers, eat better, change pillow cases, find best skin care for our unique needs. BUT, we also need to chill. The stress and constant thinking of this disorder really can flare like nothing else. During my pre menstrual days, the flushing is beyond pink, so I just add some Bare Mineral bronzer and it covers the facial redness. Men, this is fine too…”Taning” in powder form and mineral based seems to soothe my Rosacea. Sephora sells various brands, about $25. I realize there are some who have very severe rosacea and it can cause some social/psychological issues given the appearance of our skin. BUT, for the most part, if this is the biggest health issue we have, it “ain’t” that bad, considering the full spectrum of health problems. Again, CHILL and manage, your skin will thank you.

#66410 Eldictator on October 9, 2011 at 11:37 PM

It’s actually good to get random emails from this page from fellow sufferers now and again.
A year on from my last post I have to say I’m doing quite well. I changed from metrogel to the metro cream about 2 years ago and noticed a big difference. I’m actually scaling back my use of the cream, if I run out and have to wait a few days fro a prescription then I go without the cream and have very few flare up problems. when I do use it i often find a very small amount spread thinly often works well.

I have to reiterate what other posters have written, once you tackle the main problem with meds it is then a case of lifestyle changes. In the u.k I use eucerin products, I use the new facial cleanser cream because that doesn’t cause irritation.I drink less alcohol now and try and eat a more heallthier diet which I suppose is a blessing in disguise on the flip side.

#66425 David Pascoe on October 10, 2011 at 9:08 AM

Thanks for checking back in Eldictator. It is great to hear how people get on down the track.

#66523 cara on October 13, 2011 at 4:20 PM

miranda, would love to hear more about your triggers. my derm told me in no uncertain terms that i was allergic to lactose, AND (for reasons to complicated to discuss here, to also avoid nuts, fish, dried fruits, gatorade, and of course the normal things like alcohol, sugar, heat, coffee, chocolate, orange juice, fried foods, perfume, etc.

It’s been since December 2010 that I avoid lactose, on my own i gave up gluten, and I now eat 1/10 of the aforementioned that i use to eat. my skin is wonderful, i need blush for the first time in my 53 years….I might add that after reading a GREAT article called “the four horsemen of the Apocalypse” (gluten, casein (cow’s dairy), soy and corn) I do my best to avoid all four of those as well.

Avoid boxed and prepared foods, fast foods, etc. I eat a little meat/poultry, and lots of fresh veggies and salads…..fresh green juices, olive oil, and occasionally sheep or goat cheese and butter. organic when possible.

Baking soda, (anti fungal) and cat’s claw, are also things to consider.

It was one thing to deal with flushed/blushed skin all my life, quite another to have to suddenly, 3 years or so ago, to have full on stage 2, bumps, p’s and p’s. it was such a heartbreak to have to deal with it, but I am so grateful and now want to share my success.

#67262 Vickie on October 25, 2011 at 10:02 AM

I am at my wits end. I just can’t take it anymore. I feel as though I have tried everything under the sun. I have only slight redness in cheeks and nose, but what kills me are the bumps. I swear I have hundreds upon hundreds of bumps all over my forehead lower cheek area and jaw line every day of my life for years now. More often than I would like, I also get cyst like ones on my jaw line or on my ear lobes. Along with all this, my head itches on and off quite a bit. I have tried to pay attention to my diet and I believe that milk and nuts are a trigger for me, but determining food triggers is hard because most people eat more than just one thing a day. I am of Irish, Scottish and Lithuanian descent. I inherited this from my Dad. I have tried all sorts of gels and creams and washes. I have had some sort of blue light therapy thing and laser treatments. The laser treatments helped some, but the white bumps under the skin with no heads always come back and never go away. I’m afraid to try acutane and I think it’s more for regular acne anyway. I was thinking of trying Oracea, but I’m alittle worried about prolonged antibiotic therapy. If this is possible at all….my skin looks dry, but feels oily to the touch in the T zone. Makeup is also a problem as liquid foundation seems to make more bumps, but coverage with just powder isn’t always great. I’ve been trying different kinds of mineral powders and I have not found one yet that works well. Like I said, I’m at my wits end.

#67346 Julie on October 26, 2011 at 2:46 AM

There are more products out there that cause more harm than help, including what Dr’s perscribe. I have still had good luck with tea tree products and now that’s the only thing I will wash my hair with, so now I also have no hair loss in the drain! Diet is still key, your skin is always a reflection of what’s going on inside. Yes, stress makes anything worse, it also compromises the immune system, which then makes the skin suffer. Excess heat and acidosis in the body is caused by sugar and meat, which then causes inflammation of all kinds and leads to a lot more diseases than just rosacea. If your immune system is strong and healthy, triggers don’t happen, and rosacea doesn’t happen.

#86344 Lara on January 13, 2012 at 11:34 PM

Info, info, info. I would have appreciated a booklet with info on several questions that awaken, such as Will I ever get rid of the symptoms? Can my nose get smaller again? Also I would really appreciate if someone tried to find out, in a methodological way, what impact different kind of foods have on rosacea, and the possible connection of rosacea with other types of syndromes and diseases.

Thanks for these informative pages

All the best
Lara

#86553 Teresa on January 14, 2012 at 7:57 PM

Hello, I have recently been told that I have Rosacea too…Im not having much luck with the antibiotics, I cant take Minocycline or Doxycycline, side effects are to bad. I was given the metrogel, and I guess it helps some but it makes the areas where I use it red and gives me a headache. I guess my point is I can use it if thats my last resort. I do believe alot of my flare-ups is stress, working on that, but I would like the more natural solutions….

#86582 Gemma on January 14, 2012 at 11:03 PM

I love prosacea and finacea. Jane eirdale makes Dream Tint – zinc oxide base, tinted. I think the zinc oxide helps (think baby bun creams!). Strangely I have found that dermalogica’s sebum control lotion (salicylic acid) helps, and I wonder if it is because it controls the oil without being abrasive. Something else, which I’m still testing myself. When I am super pedantic about flossing and gargling with a ‘dry mouth’ wash and brush 3x/day, my skin seems to improve. I know it sounds weird! But there was that study re heart disease and flossing (look it up). I’ve been retesting this theory and it seems to work (few months on, then off, now on again).
Also, agree with the alkaline thing. I actually have pH testing paper in my bathroom.
One thing I have noticed – what works for one 3 month period may not work at another time. Frustrating! But then I try again and it does work! I have so many creams/washes.
Good luck!

#87467 Terry on January 18, 2012 at 8:26 AM

I just came home from my dermatologist, who gave me my first diagnosis of rosacea. Even though I suspected it, it’s a shock because it means so many changes in my life. I have maculo-papular lesions, and i think my trigger was the cold wind. Trouble is, I love my glass of wine, I love being outdoors, and I can’t imagine going without either. I just took my first dose of doxycycline, and almost felt like throwing up a short time later.

Like others here, the first thing I noticed, months ago, was the sandpapery texture of my skin. Then the red bumps showed up. I didn’t realize I had pustules until my derm looked at my skin under a magnifying glass.

I have a public job, so I’m going to have to be slathering on the makeup. I guess I should just be glad I’m not a guy, who can’t even resort to that.

I’m so glad to find this site, for all the suggestions of alternatives in case I really have to stop the doxycycline. My dermatologist also put me on metrogel. I guess the real key is to reduce stress, but — well, it’s part of life!

#87543 Caffreys on January 18, 2012 at 2:37 PM

Terry,

It takes a while to get used to the fact that you have rosacea and that it is incurable. I wish my doctor (general practitioner) had told me that I would see the best results from Rozex (Metrocream) after 9 weeks! I thought it wasn’t helping and stopped using it after 2 weeks.

#87547 cara on January 18, 2012 at 2:47 PM

i wish that doctors would not tell people it’s incurable and that they have to get on antibiotics and take meds for the rest of their lives. i wish they would tell people that there are great ways to manage it, and that most people are eating foods that are irritating their systems and if they ate closer to nature, if they ate living foods instead of animal products, sugar, cow’s dairy and genetically modified grains and packaged and processed foods that more than half the fight would be won. i wish they would tell people that green vegetable fasts clear up many health conditions and that many people with rosacea are allergic to cow’s dairy. well, that’s more than one thing, but it’s kind of one idea!

#87749 James on January 19, 2012 at 8:14 AM

Doctors privided next to no help for my Rosacea, infact some made it even worse. I used prescriptions from Advantan (very bad), Sigmacourt and Rozex for long periods of time, initially these all worked to an extent but in the end it seemed to make my condition much worse. I remember one particular doctor told me to avoid hot showers, sun, alcohol, spicy food and citrus. This did help when I realized what was causing my Rosacea to flair but it was also another kick in the guts because now, not only had I lost complete confidence in my appearence, I was now losing virually all my favourite things in life. At the time of this advice, i’d had Rosacea for a number of years and this was pretty much the best advice I had recieved from anyone. Previously going to a doctor simply became a process I needed for a script, not help! Maybe I get back luck with the doctors I see but even unrelated to Rosacea, doctors always seem to just fill in a script, ask my to sign a piece of paper and send me on my way. Even after trying vigorously change my lifestyle and re adapt to my social group, my Rosacea eventually continued to get worse and all prescription medicine stopped working. That’s when I found this website and realized seeing doctors was only ever bad for me and I haven’t been back to a doctor since. Now instead of using presription drugs two to three times a day, which made my skin taste like fly spray (according to a woman), I use Purple Emu blemish control about twice a week. My Rosacea is virtually gone and I now regularly go to the Beach, fishing on a boat all day, drinking and partying with my friends, eating spicy food and squeezing lemon juice on my fish is something I missed like you wouldn’t believe, sometimes my Rosacea flares slightly but given my lifestyle i’m not suprised, a quick slap of my cream and it’s virtually gone the next morning. I still avoid putting my face under hot water but I do have hot showers again, it feels amazing to be able to do all these things, words can not describe it.

#87760 Teresa on January 19, 2012 at 8:38 AM

I like everybody else….been through one thing and then another…..it was killing my skin! So i have been washing my face with Cetaphil cleansing bar for dry sensitive skin. And I have just started taking Flax seed oil..seems to be helping, I dont want to jinx myself, it taste kinda bad…ok, its nasty….but even after a couple of days I really can tell a difference. The hardest thing for me is giving up the hot baths, it was my way to relax after a long day and gave me time to destress…..

#88435 Teresa D on January 25, 2012 at 10:38 PM

Is there anyone living in Australia who can recommend gentle cleansing products/treatments or even moisturisers? My diet is very good as I am a recent cancer survivor so try and stick as religiously as I can to an alkaline diet. Changing pillow slip every night certainly sounds like a good idea but I’m thinking I need to change face products??

#88436 David Pascoe on January 25, 2012 at 10:46 PM

Hi Terea,

Have you already tried Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and Cetaphil Moisturising Lotion ?

dp.

#88489 Ann on January 26, 2012 at 12:08 PM

I now clean my face only at night and use QV Wash. During the day I use Garnier BB cream which is a tinted moisturizer and sunscreen and Clinique Redness Solutions foundation. My skin really likes both products. At night I use Aqueous Lotion to moisturise.

I take half a catapres tablet daily for the flushing and one doxycycline tablet to keep the spots at bay. Follow a low fat low sugar diet for other reasons and eat a lot less carbs than I used to. My skin is pretty good now and I can eat cheese and drink wine!

#88527 Carolyn on January 26, 2012 at 10:32 PM

I have had rosacea for over a decade…I don’t have acne, just red and heat most of the time, and one-sided deep redness with stress or triggers (even sitting at a table with a lit candle!!) I just came across several sufferers online saying they were using regular selsun blue 1% shampoo on their faces….I tried it yesterday (leave on for a few minutes and then rinse off) and I saw a difference right away! this morning my usually red cheeks are only pink…apparently there is a connection between sebb. dermatitis and rosacea. I was told by the dermatologist that I had a mild case of it (but not given any advice) along with the rosacea…I still consider my skin to be dry ( and have terribly dry hair) but from what I read here and elsewhere, there is a mite or fungus which is striving on facial oil and causing redness (?!!) I will keep using the selsun blue for a few days, and then every couple of days and avoid usual triggers (red wine, spicy food etc.) while dealing with pillow cases as mentionned above and see if this is too good to be true! :]

#88536 Teresa on January 27, 2012 at 2:47 AM

Dp,
I am only using Cetaphil gentle cleansing bar – for dry sensitive skin, and I follow with CeraVe am. I tried the PM at night, but my face doesnt like it. So I use the Am in the morning and night. It seems to be keeping things under control…..I do this every morning and night, Im still at the stage of trying something new. I have also really started drinking more water.
Teresa

#88607 Teresa on January 28, 2012 at 6:46 AM

Carolyn,
Please let us know how its working….My Rosacea sounds just like yours….. Red, hot and dry…Stress is my biggest trigger, followed by the heat and sun.
Teresa

#88609 JJ on January 28, 2012 at 7:58 AM

This was just on the news and I thought it was a perfect example of the “junk” we eat that poisons us and our skin. Chicken nuggets are only 50% meat!

And, anything deep fried is an automatic carcinogen to our bodies.

This week 17-year-old British factory worker Stacey Irvine was rushed to the hospital when she collapsed, struggling to breathe. During the exam, doctors were stunned to learn that Ms. Irvine had never in her life eaten fruit or vegetables; instead she had eaten almost nothing but fast-food chicken nuggets since she was two years old.

Her mother, ….(is an idiot).

What’s so bad about nuggets?
They would be bad enough if they were merely chunks of chicken that had been breaded and deep-fried in oil. One documentary describes McDonald’s nuggets as chickens “stripped down to the bone, and then ‘ground up’ into a chicken mash, then combined with a variety of stabilizers and preservatives, pressed into familiar shapes, breaded and deep fried, freeze dried, and then shipped to a McDonald’s near you.”

Aside from chicken and oil, those “stabilizers and preservatives” are said to include dimethylpolysiloxane, a form of silicone also used in cosmetics. Another additive is tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), a form of butane. According to one report, chicken is only about 50 percent of a McNugget; the remainder is a mixture of corn-derived ingredients, sugars and synthetic substances.

If a four-piece serving of Chicken McNuggets carried a nutrition label, at first glance it wouldn’t seem too scary: 190 calories, 12 grams of carbs and 12 grams of fat. But consider that more than half of those calories (56 percent) are from fat—and protein accounts for a mere four percent. Add a whopping 360 mg sodium, and its image as “the more nutritious fast-food snack” fades.

What’s the worst that can happen?
Aside from collapsing and gasping for air, as Stacey Irvine did? Doctors also discovered that the veins in Ms. Irvine’s tongue were swollen and she was diagnosed with anemia. Further, such a high salt intake can increase a person’s blood pressure (which ultimately can put them at risk for a stroke or heart attack).

McNuggets are low in nutrients everyone needs, such as calcium, fiber, vitamins, antioxidants and healthy fats, so a steady diet of nuggets means missing out on the health benefits of those ingredients.

#88614 Terry on January 28, 2012 at 10:28 AM

My second entry here — I wrote that I was diagnosed about 2 weeks ago, and it was the day before I left for a much-anticipated holiday to Iceland! My dermatologist put me on Doxycycline and metrogel, and told me to avoid hot baths, alcohol, hot liquids, coffee, spicy stuff, cold temperatures — all the things I planned to indulge in while in Iceland! It was too late to cancel the trip, so I left but felt very depressed about the changes in my life. But on the plane trip over, I realized I DIDN’T want to give up all the things I enjoyed. So even though I looked like I had diaper rash on my face, I did exactly what I wanted. I drank. I soaked in thermal hot springs. I ate what I wanted. I hiked on a glacier.

And four days after arriving in Iceland — my skin was looking SO MUCH better. Even though I was doing all the forbidden things.

Then I flew home after a wonderful trip, and suddenly … a flare-up within 48 hours of getting back. In desperation, looked through the comments here and noticed several of you found dandruff shampoos or creams with sulfur helpful. And it hit me — Iceland water has some of the highest sulfur content anywhere. While on holiday, I was soaking in it and showering in it! So I bought some dandruff shampoo with selenium sulfide and slathered it on my face.

The flare-up seems to have reversed, and my skin is looking better within a day.

So I wish my doctor had told me more about the benefits of sulfur-containing meds. And I also wish she’d told me that 30% of rosacea patients also have seborrheic dermatitis. I think the sulfur compounds really help with that, too.

#88636 Carolyn on January 28, 2012 at 9:51 PM

Hi again,
just following up on the selsun blue shampoo ( selenium suflide)…I used it for 3 days ( about 5 minutes on a damp skin) and then rinsed. It absolutely makes a difference! I am still getting my mind around the idea of the redness being partially about “the outside in” and not just an abnormal trigger. I also changed the pillow cases and plan to buy more so I can more regularly change them. I found an interesting site the other day about sebb. dermatitis which CLEARLY shows the connection between reddening and and the dermatitis and the irritating affect dermatitis has on the skin – it is http://www.aafp.org/2000/p2703.html . It mentions the various products containg selenium sulfide and describes the process that makes the skin red. It doesn’t change the tiny spider veins under the skin from years of dialating, put I will take whatever improvement I can get ! :}
I also have a little pray bottle of witch hazel, which is great because it is not as irritating as alcohol, it is calming on the skin and you can feel it work right away.

In connectin to what Terry said, I can understand that because having had eczema on one had since childhood ( more or less gone now) I did always notice an improvement after going swimming ( the chlorine…) What surprises me, is not only how much digging has to be done to find out information on medical things sometimes, but also the lack of information doctors share sometimes.
For example, if they are prescribing Metrogel for the acne component, ( and I just found out Metrogel has an anti-fungal type of ingredient) then why don’t they go a step further and suggest something like sulfer 1%?

I have also come across info stating that sebb. dermatitis is connected to hair loss but when I mentionned this to a former doctor I had, she was insistent that using anti-dermatits shampoo (like selsun blue, head and shoulders, or stronger ones) would not hair counteract hair loss! (I have since made great friends with minoxidil with my front hairline.) but my point is that sebb. dermatitis is obviously a bigger problem than a lot of people probably realise.

As for the emotional part of rosacea – which is so hard – I really try hard not to think about it when talking to people, as I KNOW they are thinking ” why is she blushing?” amd with friends, I’ve told them that we all change temperature all the time for various reasons, but with rosacea that temperature change shows on the face unfortunately.

I try to avoid over heating and warm environments as much as possible. Living in Canada I am lucky enough to only have 1 hot season to deal with- from about June to end of August at its hottest. One last thing – I think that as well as red wine and hot or spicy things, that overly sugary things quickly increase redness, so I am trying to avoid as much as I can, and drink more cool water and less hot coffee and tea. Hope this helped. C.

#88638 Carolyn on January 28, 2012 at 10:19 PM

PS. sorry for the spelling mistakes! I meant to add also, that I plan to use the selsun blue every other day or so, and maybe for only 3 minutes, and see if that keeps it in its improved state. If it feels a bit dry and tight after, I use the smallest amount of OLAY “age defying intensive nourishing night cream” which simply put, means not irritating and non-oily, and is not very expensive. Another product I use sometimes just to cover redness before water-based foundation is La Roche-Posay Rosaliac “skin perfecting anti-redness moisturizer”. It is green which counteracts the red. In summer I use SPF 50 Coppertone oil – free sunscreen and the Roche Posay on top, covered with a bit of face powder. I think it actually insulates from the heat a bit! :]

#88645 Terry on January 29, 2012 at 12:25 AM

The mechanism is becoming clearer to me. Here’s what we know:
– Anti-bacterials (e.g. doxycycline and topical metronidazole) help clear rosacea.
– 30% of rosacea patients also have seborrheic dermatitis, which may be related to a fungus called Malassezia. This can be treated with dandruff shampoos containing sulfides.

When a rosacea patient is treated with doxy/metro, it changes the skin flora, allowing colonization by fungi. No wonder so many rosacea patients also have seborrheic dermatitis. I think that every rosacea patient who’s given doxy/metro should also be advised to use shampoos with sulfides, to head off the resultant dermatitis.

It also makes me wonder if seborrheic dermatitis — or eczema — can also set off rosacea. Dermatitis leads to microscopic fissures in the skin, which can allow the bacterial culprit causing rosacea to invade. I have a feeling that in time, we’ll discover that rosacea, like so many other previously unexplained illnesses such as peptic ulcers, is actually caused by a microbe.

I also question whether rosacea is actually related to whether or not you’re a bright blusher. Blushers are also fairer skinned, and more prone to sun damage. Could it actually be that it’s the sun damage (with fissuring) that leads to infection?

#88651 Carolyn on January 29, 2012 at 6:57 AM

To Terry,
thanks for your thoughts – they are helping me understand things better, and I agree that there may be a connection between all these skin conditions. I was always an easy blusher, and then, in my mid 30s the blushing just wouldn’t dissipate very fast…now it’s a minor obsession. My grandmother had “red cheeks” most of life, but it did finally fade away in her 70s! I also think extra weight is either a factor or just makes one feel hotter, because I most often see overweight women with this problem…

#88727 JJ on January 30, 2012 at 1:55 PM

I found a really great website that validates a lot of things I’ve posted on here – maybe reading it from doctors will convince more people.

This website called “alkalizeforhealth.net” is more about cancer, but it has an excellent page regarding how an “acidic” body is the cause of all disease. It also lists foods and if they are acidic or alkaline, and how to test your ph.

It also states how important calcium, magnesium and postassium are to alkaline your body – I have posted that before too.

It validates how important the foods you eat are, the water you drink, and how important the liver is to health.

I also have been reading more about “iodine-providine” – it’s cheap and one of the best bug and germ killers. It’s actually used for skin cancer with great results. Understanding how lack of oxygen in your cells and skin open the door to disease have made me pull out an old bottle of iodine’P. I hope it alleviates the redness in my cheeks. There are many doctor sites, including WEBMD that talk about the benefits of iodine, the forgotten antimicrobial.

Maybe taking calcium and mag and potass supplement or increasing the foods that highest content will help alleviate having to remove all the trigger foods, but first a healthy body is needed.

I really hope this helps someone out. All the websites can be overwhelming.

I think curing fungus is a big part of curing Rosacea.