Rosacea News is starting a new series of articles that I’m calling “My Rosacea Story”. There is real power in hearing other people’s stories. We’d love to hear from you too. Feel free to send me an email, and to use the following questions as a starting point.

Thanks to Susie G for sharing.

How long ago, and how did you discover you had rosacea.

I was diagnosed with mild rosacea about 25 years ago.

What feelings can you remember from when you first found out?

I cried, the dermatologist at the hospital painted a very glum picture and I was terrified I would end up with a bright red face and pimples. Before the condition started I had really beautiful clear skin and I felt depressed for some time.

What did you start doing to find relief?

I tried antibiotics, I can’t remember the name it was so long ago, and yes, the condition cleared up, but I did not want to spend my life on antibiotics.

What things did you try that didn’t help?

I was prescribed Rozex which made my skin worse, sore and itchy. I tried specialist cleansers off the internet which claim to help the condition, but they made it worse.

I honestly believe that a lot of people are jumping on the bandwagon with this condition and only in it for the money. That said I am sure that there are creams and lotions out there, but I have not found them.

The worst mistake I made in the beginning was thinking the sun would help. Stay out of the sun and wear a hat, some of my worst outbreaks happened when I was on holiday.

What things did you try that did help?

I use Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser and moisturiser and NOTHING else on my skin. If I get an outbreak I use Finacea, prescribed by my dermatologist. At first I was disappointed but after a few weeks the pimples really improved.

Also I do wear foundation which makes a massive difference. Stay away from green based creams, trust me on this, as an editor of a magazine I know what works. All green based creams do is make the skin look ghostly. Go for a base with yellow in it, it kills red stone dead.

I am not on the payroll of YSL but their foundation Touche Eclat foundation is awesome. It has no powder, its silky and does not sit on the skin, and it does not look thick unlike some other bases recommended for this condition. Just dot it on the areas most affected, not all over the face.

Where did you find the best advice?

To be honest, its trial and error and every sufferer is different, so what works for me may not work for you.

Please tell us what advice you would offer newly diagnosed rosacea sufferers?

First of all don’t panic, the condition CAN be managed. I will say this, worrying and focusing on the condition will make it worse. And I would also say too much information does not help either, its frightening and only makes sufferers of this condition fret more.

Don’t be taken in by all the creams on the internet, find a gentle cleanser, that is half the battle. Ignore anyone who says don’t wear make up and that it makes it worse. The right product will not, and will make you feel better. I just feel a bit sad for all the men who suffer from this condition, as its a lot harder from them as they can’t hide behind make-up

What hopes do you have for the future for yourself and for rosacea sufferers in general?

I am sure that a cure will be found in the future. For me, understanding the condition, ignoring the internet with its terrifying images, and finding the right products have helped me. To be told I have beautiful skin, even though I have this condition is progress indeed and I hope this brings hope to other sufferers of this condition.

Related Articles

• RRF: Rosacea in Real Life
• Read more My Rosacea Stories.