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Do you have something that you just wish you were told when you were first diagnosed with rosacea? What little pearl of wisdom would have made the biggest difference to know straight up?
Often when someone is diagnosed with rosacea, their first trip to the internet is a scary one. Those pictures of the worst cases of severe rosacea are enough to depress anyone.
So what do you wish that you were told when you were first diagnosed?
What one thing has made the most difference to you that might help someone else?
My 2 Cents Worth
I took a long time to get on a treatment path that saw me getting consistently better.
I wish I was told about the importance of a physical sunscreen and of a gentle cleanser and moisturizer.
My skin was so inflamed and so un-cared-for that the regular rosacea treatments like antibiotics and Metrogel struggled to make a decent impression on my symptoms.
Only when my skin was able to recover and heal and be supported by a gentle skincare regime was it able to say goodbye to rosacea.
For me being a bloke I would probably never have thought of this as being important. I took a long time to believe it for myself. I could have saved so much time and grief if I had known this one tip.
Please Jump In
OK, even if you have never posted a comment on the Rosacea News Blog before, please help out everyone who has just been diagnosed with rosacea.
Leave a comment below and tell us the one thing that you think was the best bit of advice that you have gotten since you started in your quest to beat rosacea.
Thanks on behalf of everyone who comes to this page looking for good advice!
I stopped drinking hot liquids such as coffee. And using mild soap. I take a antibiotic daily.
I use castor oil mix with tea tree oil, it has helped a lot with the redness and has help diminish the bumps. The oils do a great job moisturizing and killing the mites. I saw results after the third day. Before going to bed a mix one spoon of castor oil and ten drops of tea tree oil and put it on my face, the oils absorbed fast and then in the morning I wash my face with a gentle cleanser, put sun block, make up and ready to go.
I personally think the tea tree oil is what is working here.
I would !like to try this new topical but I had a reaction to mirvaso. Has a gone else? Will you try this new topical?
I find an anti-inflamatory diet, using an omega 3 supplement, Vitamin C supplement along with taking Doxycyline has helped my skin alot. I only use Cal Ben Soap to cleanse my face and use Cere Ve as my moisturizer. I have a sulfur prescription from the Dr that helps with breakouts. For sunscreen, the only product I am able to use is the elta md Broad Spectrum SPF 46. The simpler the better for my skin. I wish my Dr would have been more straight up about how much diet would affect my skin.
I agree! Diet is a huge game changer. Since I gave up dairy it’s totally cleared up my face… Completely!! It’s really worth the pain of avoiding dairy. I would suggest giving this a go to everyone here. It takes a few weeks to notice the effects so stick to it and maybe it will work for you 🙂
I do the non-dairy, also. It is so hard to eliminate the cheese & butter. I hear they have come out with cheese made from nuts so I am excited to try them. And our cooperative has an omega butter which I have also seen in the grocery store called Melt Organic that is OK but tastes like coconut to me. When I just have to have something, I use it, though! I drink almond milk and use it as a substitute in most everything. It works well. It is hard to know what to use at times as so many things cause a flare. I also have other auto immune diseases that cause havoc with my food diet. It is good to know what other people are using
I have stuggled with the skin condition for years. I had accutane in my 30’s and it all went away until my 50’s. My Dr doesn’t like me to stay on the antibiotic forever, but without it, my nose started changing, so back on it again. I can’t afford the laser treatments as I am now retired.
I gave up dairy about 10 years ago. It CHANGED my life….especially with Rosacea impact. I wish the doctors would have identified how KEY diet and food choices impact the severity of Rosacea. Once you get it out of your life and your digestive system and discover SO many non-dairy alternatives easily available these days, it really is NOT a major difficulty at all. Seriously…especially when you with the impact on yoru body with having it…it makes the decision to avoid it easy.I also try to avoid wheats as that was another trigger……in my honest opinion, I bet it is all of the pesticides used on the wheat as a big trigger but I stay away from wheat nonetheless. I had a Derm 10 yrs ago tell me to use Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser of which I did. However, what they did NOT tell me was to use a soft tissue to remove the film from my face. Only recently did a new Derm tell me to remove it this way versus with water as it adds yet another protective layer to skin which is so sensitive as it is. YES…..he was SO right!!!! It has helped make such a difference in my skin by using this gentle tissue removal….AMEN. Something SO simple……if ONLY someone would have suggested it with very clear direction to me years ago, I would be ahead of the game even more so by now. It was monumental the difference it made in helping protect my skin and keep moisture in…amazing. I also find that Origins Brand Dr Andrew Weil Mega Mushroom products are SO very soothing to my skin. I use the “face mask” as my every day morning and night time moisturiser. It works SO well if your face is stinging to calm it down for example if you have been outside on a hike or caught in wind, etc…. The three “can’t live without” items for this line are the face mask, the soothing treatment lotion (really more like a toner liquid….not really a “lotion”, and their serum. Such a huge difference with my face on using this line of products and also learning to tissue off the Cetaphil. Amazing.
WOW! Great info thank you! I was diagnose a year ago but have likely had Rosacea for 3 years. Just 3 weeks ago I had a severe flare up all over my face,k horrible! My Derm put me on Antibiotics & metrogel, which helped but I started researching & reading blogs. Five days ago I decided to give up dairy, grains & just eat green, alkaline foods & see what happened. I saw results in 3 days! I’m now about 60% better than 5 days ago & I see improvement each day. AND you won’t believe what I put on my face – Hemmeroid medication! My friend is a model & she uses it for puffy eyes & other things & suggested trying it as it is anti-inflamatory, anti-itch & has a pain reliever. I was very skeptical but it has worked like a charm. Within one hour of using it I could see a bit of a difference so I used it overnight & the next morning I could see much difference. I’m not using any makeup right now as I’m retired & look after my 2 year old Grandson & he doesn’t seem to care that my face is a mess :). The diet is soooooo important, not just for Rosacea but the health & overall wellbeing. I have another friend who has Eczema & other skin issues & she swears by CeraVe so that will be my next purchase as I’ve read that many others have success with it as well.
Have a great day all!
I’m glad your skin is better. Never tried the hemmeroid cream but may just have it on hand. One thing I have found is dairy is in so many things I don’t know about. Butter inflames my skin just terribly & butter is hidden in a lot of foods. I do use CereVe but I have found Vitamin C serum from TruSkin Naturals works well for the redness, too. Sometimes there is no reason for it to flare, though. I can eat lots of greens, keep on a very strict diet, & boom! there it is again. Heat, wind, humidity, all cause break outs for me. I’m back to washing with the oatmeal that I grind real fine in a coffee grinder and leave it on as a sort of mask, too. It softens the skin & loosens the blackheads. I never thought I would end up with this kind of skin when I was younger. I am 68 & very rarely go out without some kind of cover up on my face.
In addition, I use CeraVe body cream for my body….put it on immediately after a short shower.. It has ceramides which help to keep the moisture locked into the skin. My Derm explained the ceramide importance. It has really helped my a difference in my arms and legs. In the future, all you will hear about will be products with ceramides. CeraVe was first one on the band wagon from years ago in recognizing ceramides in body products. Derms are fully supportive of their products. The body cream in the tub is one of my staples and can’t live without it
Absolutely Dr. Weil Mega Mushroom. Have been using it for years. I would also add to the 3 above, using the cleanser. Also found that using a honey mask first thing in the morning (honey being an antibiotic) and tea tree oil on the pustules before bedtime added to regime has made big and fast improvement.
As a person with auto immune challenges, I also cut out dairy grains and NUTS. Nuts are incredibly inflammatory, for me. Many people, self included, give up full dairy except butter and usually have no issue. Butter is very diff than other dairy. Give it a try, while cutting out the nuts instead. I couldn’t live without butter because I’m on the most restrictive diet. Which, I also don’t see major impacts my rosacea. Some but even on a super low inflammation diet I have outbreaks. Still trying to figure it out! Wishing you the best 🙂
Rosacea is a response from the immune system, your body is in a total attack, is an inflammation caused by a leaky gut, for ingesting LECTINS , is a serious problem that can only be resolve with intermittent FASTING, and I mean 3 or 4 days fasting twice a month, and avoid LECTINS from now on..
Sleep with two pillows. This will limit the blood flow to facial area and thus reduce the problem. Worked for me.
Great idea.
Especially in winter- I find the redness and heat at its worst overnight. For occular irritation (clogged seb.oil glands in eyelids)I have found that wiping the eyelash area ( eyelid rims) with a q-tip in the SLIGHTEST touch of oil, like almond oil, works well and adds a touch of lubrication to the eyes, equalling less dryness and itchy redness.
Oh thanks for this tip. I get styes all the time. Will try this!
I discovered Cliradex tea tree oil wipes, and my ocular rosacea cleared in a WEEK. I got them on Amazon.
Yes, because Rosacea is demodex….
My eyes burned so bad from these. It took weeks to adjust using daily and while I saw it somewhat helping w flaking, it was just so irritating and kept my eyelids very red. I had to stop. Any suggestions how you got through that or did you experience that?
I was diagnosed with rosacea in Sept 2016, and fought it with Metrogel (worked for about 2 weeks, then stopped), changed the way I eat (no sugar, no white flour products, more veggies and fruit and good fats, lots of salmon oil) and decided that I would look up everything I could. Through November to January, 2017, it just got worse. I would feel like my face was on fire, and then I broke out in papules and my nose started getting bumps too, and my eyes were a mess.
I read more and more, and actually bought some OTC ivermectin horse paste, and mixed it with Cetaphil face cream, using only Cetaphil face wash with 2 drops of tea tree oil per tablespoon added. FINALLY I could see some improvement. Enough that I decided to ask my doctor for Rosiver (Soolantra in Canada). He agreed.
I got my Rx in the middle of February, and started right away. At the same time, I ordered (on the advice of my doctor), Cliradex tea tree oil eye wipes, and used them all over my face when cleansing.
It has only been THREE weeks since I started this regimen. Cleanse very lightly with water only in the morning, Cliradex all over, then Rosiver all over, then Clinique Redness Solution (I think it’s the aloe vera that makes this so calming). Then again at night, cleanse with Cetaphil face wash, Cliradex all over, Rosiver all over, then Cetaphil lotion with a little tea tree oil mixed in (2 drops per Tablespoon) and let that dry.
My face is 90 percent improved, with only the slightest redness and a couple of veins in one spot on my left cheek. The nose is smooth, and my eyes are perfect!!
I wish I had gone for the Rx right away, and I wish I had used Cliradex right away. I can see again. I rarely wear makeup when I go out any more (I was using Clinique Redness cover), and my face is smooth. So happy.
Thanks for posting! These are great tips.
Wow hi-this sounds like some great success! Happy to hear it! I’m incredibly struggling. It’s been almost 5 years and I still can’t figure it out. Soolantra worked sort term then reddened my skin too much, finacea same thing, then went to more natural item rose ease relief cream (cinnamon tea based to target the mites) paired w cliradex but had to stop those because while they helped w flaking it made my eyelids too red. I recently went back to finacea (Azaleic acid) and had the most horrible reaction yet. I’m really baffled and not sure what to do. Would love some suggestions or thoughts as to you yours responded and improved so quickly ! Thanks 🙂
I read somewhere that after making green tea (with a teabag; not loose), keep it in a little dish in the fridge, and then use for “hot cheeks” ; dap the wet teabag on your face and leave it to dry. I find that it works, and keeps getting a bit better/cooler for 15-20 mins.! It is also an astringent and is supposed to have good anti-skin damage qualities. Will also be great to use in the summer. I really like the simpler home remedies best.
I seriously advise everyone I talk to, to look into Cliradex tea tree oil wipes and to get a prescription for Soolantra. I’m now 6 weeks on Soolantra (Rosiver since I’m Canadian), and using tea tree oil wipes on my eyes and all over my face twice a day. My redness is 95 percent gone, I’ve not had a papule in 3 weeks, and my eyes are 100 percent cleared. The tea tree oil wipes work for me if I use them TWICE a day, and leave the solution to dry before I open my eyes. Initially, they burned quite a bit, but once the skin around my eyes healed, I only feel a slight tingle.
I had papules all over, intense ‘sunburn’ feeling redness with tingling and sore spots on my nose and cheeks, and nothing else worked. I also changed to no dairy whatsoever (not even butter), take salmon oil capsules religiously, and eat NO SUGAR. I think combined with the skin treatments, that there is a solution that will work, but you have to be consistent. Veggies, wild meats, no sugar, no dairy (I use soy), reduce caffeine to (one cup a day lol), drink more WATER (not juice, no artificially sweetened anything either, no POP). Try those things, and I’ll bet you’ll find a huge difference, too.
Excellent info Thanks Margaret. I’m Canadian also & will be looking into the Soolantra/Rosavir. Have a great day!
Going to check out the products you suggest. Thanks
I was reading a lot about what is on your face and body is also inside your body. So, I began to take probiotics. They have helped the rosacea, but not the arm wash. Still working on that. Also, I bought a good grade of coconut oil, and that has helped a lot.
I am also working on probiotics for some weeks now.
I was taking minocycline for rosacea. My face did clear up. Dr said I was to take the
antibiotics for the rest of my life. I am trying to heal from the inside out. After spending
days on the internet, I too have eliminated sugar from my diet, flour, eat lots of vegetables
and turkey burger and salmon. I have added olive leaf extract and probiotics. I take the
olive leaf extract one dropperful in water morning and night with my meal. At noon, I take a probiotic with my lunch. It has been a slow healing process, 2 months so far, my nose went
from red to normal no pimples now, the upper lip is clear, and now my chin is slowly clearing
up. I still have the bumps but each morning my skin is improving. Patience is definitely
needed. This is a very slow process but I was determined for my body to try to heal itself.
I have lots of health issues I deal with but I was sick and tired of the doctors just giving me
more pills to take.
What probiotics do you take
Great advice from people on this site …… I think for anyone starting out it can be quite daunting – you just have to experiment and see what works for you.
I tried all sorts of things but settled on a strict diet with little or no alcohol, avoiding processed foods like white breads, no fast food – really just seeking out foods good for your gut like good old fashioned vegetables and fruits.
On the skin I use Moisture creams like BB Olay – I found the Manuka honey gave some relief as well – always apply sunscreen ( cetaphil ) and cleanse at night using gentle soaps like cetaphil – you can keep it at bay but very hard to totally get rid of it unless you want to take antibiotics for the rest of your life.
I was using doxycycline and found it damaged my Achilles tendons (a friend who works high up in a large pharmaceutical company said this is a known problem of the drug) so I switched to a topical cream. Works fine as long as I don’t drink red wine – red wine will make my cheeks flush badly and cause the papules to appear regardless of what medical I’m using.
I wish I’d know about the true side affects of doxycycline before taking it. Docs keep saying long term use is fine. It’s not.
I am new to rosacea, unfortunately! I have only had 3 or 4 breakouts, they tend to be brought on by stress, but always a few weeks later?? I recently had a breakout that was the worst I have had. Red face, bumps on my nose, cheeks, forehead, and swelling and heat in my face.
My diet is horrible so no telling what I ate that contributed to it. Oh, like we had a box of chocolate mint cookies I adore! So desperate to get this calmed down, I began reading. I found a recipe for a turmeric mask, I applied and the next day it was much better. I began using coconut oil as I had some organic virgin oil in the pantry. Then I ordered Paula’s choice cream cleanser and moisturizer and within days I have cleared up. I am so happy. Of course I now worry every time I eat something if I might break out again. I would like to know what kind of base make up some of you have tried and what works well without being harsh on our skin.
Also like to hear what moisturizers you are using, I like the Paula’s Choice but it is so expensive for just 2 ounces, don’t know if I can keep buying that. I am definitely going to try to eat healthier. This is very devastating to me and certainly has affected my life. I felt like I could not go out of the house because I didn’t want to put make-up on when it was at the worst stage. Love reading your posts and will check back. Oh and I am a 65 year old, never had this in my life! thanks.
kbingeorgia
There seems to be a definite diet component that varies from person to person but I am quite sure blasts of sugar (were they Girl Guide choc.- mint cookies?) cause a lot of heat esp. facially. Palm oils that are in a lot of refined carb items (donuts, store cookies etc.) can also cause heat and redness because of the organisms on the skin which consume the oils and irritate the skin causing redness (have you ever tried applying Selsun Blue thinly on your face for about 5 mins. before rinsing? I do it periodically- the sulfer kills the organisms I referred to…cuts the redness in only 5 mins. and also use it for your hair and scalp; same oils, same oils contributing to redness-look up Seborrheic Dermatitis on wikipedia – alot of Rosacia sufferers have it to some degree). If that helps, cotinue and always keep pillow cases clean; same issue of the oils . Red wine and alcohol in general can be a problem for redness. I just don’t drink at all anymore. There is also an emotional component (we all heat up as our emotions change but with Rosacia the heat is more visible on our faces). Lastly, weather conditions are a problem – for me cold wind followed by going into a heated room is the worst for creating heat on my face! I actually do a lot better during summer than winter for this reason. We are all different but there are ways to manage the condition. Good luck.
I’ve used Clinique Redness Solutions for over a year now. It’s the only thing that I can tolerate next to my eyes. It was 64 dollars for a jar, but each jar lasts me about 6 months. I only use a small dab a day.
I am almost 68 & my rosacea did not appear until I was in my late 50’s, so I understand completely what you are going through. It is so devastating at times that I will cancel plans and not leave the house until it is better. Mine does seem to be food & stress related. Milk & milk products have a huge impact on my skin. I do not get small blemishes, I get huge bumps that manifest into an infected lump before they are done. I have tried so many products that don’t work. If I watch my diet carefully and eliminate sugar, milk, chocolate, butter, it gets better. It is different for everyone. I am back on a probiotic and an Omega 3 supplement for inflamation. I was trying tumeric but that did not seem to help much for me. I use TruSkin products such as Vitamin C serums. They really do help with redness, but it is not an overnight fix. I have a prescription Metrogell and that does not work for me. Sulfur works sometimes & then it stops working. Since everything comes from our gut, I have now been working on that part of my health. I use baremineral make up as it doesn’t clog my pores. I use CeraVe moisturizer & also their cleanser. It just seems like without an antibiotic, nothing seems to work for me. Unfortunately, I can’t see taking that for the rest of my life. My daughter is a nurse and she doesn’t want me to take antibiotics anymore as there is a problem with super bugs and antibiotics. So, today I am suffering from a break out that actually hurts on my nose. Ate cheese yesterday & had a glass of red wine. Pay back for not eating anti inflammatory diet. I wish you the best of luck with your skin problem. Please post what works for you. I keep trying things other people use in the hopes I will find something that works for me, too!
I can relate to all of this. The breakouts that cause the swollen painful nose are caused by Demodex mites. Look into treatments for Demodex and you will reduce the symptoms. Soolantra medicated cream is wonderful and tea tree oil mixed with a gentle face cleaner and even in your moisturizer (Cereve is my choice) will do wonders for eradicating or reducing the Demodex that live in on the skin. There is a lot more to this but it takes a lot of research and not all dermatologist will tell you all you need to know. Best of luck to you!
Such a distressing time when first diagnosed; I feel your pain. GP’s rarely have the knowledge/sympathy to deal with the fall out of a person suffering the first symptoms. A good dermatologist, a gentle cleansing regime and DIET,DIET,DIET is my tip. Your dermatologist will set you on the right medical approach (oral and topical); being gentle with your cleansing/moisturising/sunscreen will give you skin comfort; diet (look at all the info available online of what causes flashings/outbreaks) will help you find/eliminate YOUR particular triggers. Also a good make-up concealer (just a shade lighter than skin tone) and a battery operated hand held fan for those unexpected flushing that wallop you from nowhere. Good luck.
Avoid extreme heat and extreme cold.Stress too. Going to try eliminating milk and milk products.
I don’t get the bumps, only broken blood vessels on my cheeks and nose with redness. I have never seen a dermatologist for this yet. When I called to make an appointment I was told that their first opening would be in October!
Can anyone give me an idea of the cost for laser treatments since Insurance probably doesn’t cover?
DO NOT DO LASER TREATMENTS. They can do so much damage. Most of the veins that appear actually disappear on their own in like 6 months. They won’t tell you that, just damage your face instead. If you have roseacea don’t do acids, chemical peels, microdermabrasian, microneedling, or anything rough at all.
The best thing I use to treat my rosacea is just simply wash gently two times a day ,moisturize then at night put a layer of vaseline over the moisturizer because vaseline is too greasy looking to wear through the day .The RX used to treat rosacea were way too harsh for me .I didnt have to change my diet either doing this .Give it time,It took about a week or so for me to get completely clear doing this.I had moderate rosacea .
Petroleum jelly (aka Vaseline) is a potentially harmful substance to be using on skin. You might want to do some research. Dr. Axe suggests certain essential oils, raw honey and coconut oil. Check out his site for more information. Also, long term use of antibiotics is not a good idea. They mess with your gut flora; plus the potential to develop superbugs.
I’ve found using only soft cotton pads for washing my face instead of a washcloth helps reduce the inflammation of rosacea. I use coconut oil for cleansing at night, wash with water only in the morning, then moisturize with either almond oil or coconut oil. I made the mistake of using witch hazel as an astringent. It may be okay for healthy skin, but it made my rosacea worse.
I used vaseline successfully about 6 months, then had problems with it. How are you doing now with vaseline?
Please help !
Have not been diagnosed with rosacea .ayear now I have developed lumps under my nose skin ,no pimples more white lumps than red,nostrils different shape s my nose is getting wider and bumpy ,been using aquamol ; medicated moisturiser
It’s really affecting me sleep,confidence
Have done ENT ,Dermatology pharmacist no diagnosis no ttreatment
So if anyone has any ideas I would really appreciate it
I discovered after several years of flushing, papules and pustules that biotin supplements (which I took on my doctor’s advice) were seriously aggravating my rosacea. Within a few months of stopping the biotin, the flushing went away and has not returned. This taught me that what goes into your body is even more important than what you put on your skin.
I agree 100%. It’s mostly internal – whether it’s what we consume or what we feel (emotions).
I was diagnosed with rosacea approximately 6 years ago after seeing several dermatologists here in US. I never had any luck with anything the doctors were prescribing until a week ago and my skin has cleared up almost overnight after going to see another dermatologist!! PLEASE TRY SOOLANTRA and also SODIUM SULFACETAMIDE/SULFUR. The Soolantra is basically ivermectin cream, which I have used to worm my horses with. It is to kill the mites associated with rosacea, and the Sodium Sulfacetamide/Sulfur is a facial wash. They have truly been miraculous for my skin….hope this helps someone who is suffering from this! I tried everything including cutting out certain foods etc…..nothing even touched it until these two products!!
I find Pai Skincare Organic Chamomile and Rosehip Calming Day Cream, to be a total life saver, if my skin is a little dry, I add 2 drops of Pai Rosehip oil to it. I take Efracea (aka Finacea) every day. I wear Bioderma Anti Redness tinted CC cream with SPF 30, its the only one that doesn’t irritate and manages to not look caked or cracked. I remove makeup up with Bioderma Sensibio H2O AR micellar water then give my face a wipe with NatraSan. The latter, I do twice a day, it’s a powerful but mild antiseptic and it’s excellent at cleaning nasties out of your skin, plus its gentle enough to wipe your eyes with. I never apply hot water to my face if I can help it. I also use Soolantra if I get a big break out. My symptoms are now occasional. I was diagnosed 2 years ago and I’m 50 years old.
I stopped taking vitamin B (All B vitamins) and vitamin D and my face cleared up in less than 2 weeks. I had been on these vitamins for over 4 years. I started vitamin C which helped tremendously. The reason for stopping vitamin B and D, I read a blog a while back and this persons face cleared after completely stopping the vitamins. I’m so happy I came across that blog. As always with roscea, try to stay out of hot and humid weather or don’t stay out in it for too long. One more thing, less is more, meaning facial products.
Does anyone have a recipe (using tea tree oil ) for ocular rosacea ?
Not a recipe per se, but here’s what I use, recommended by my eye doc (it’s got tea tree in it): https://www.eyeeco.com/tea-tree-eyelid-facial-cleanser-50-ml.html
This company has lots of great products.