Rosacea? What now..

forestfruits

Just back from the dermatologist who tell me I have Rosacea. She has put me on antibiotics but I gather from what she tells me and what Ive looked at online that its not going to cure me and it will probably get worse over time!

Any body have any experience with this- My skin is fairly clear at the min (first time in about 18 mths) Ive always had itchy eyes and redness around my nose but thought nothing of it, now my chin is quite red, it was only when the spots started on my chin that I really noticed it. (Im 29 and the spots only started last yr)

Now what.... is there anything I should be doing to reduce the likelihood of it worsening

Silverfish

We can't actually give you medical advice.

However there are green foundations which reduce the redness, and natural mineral makeups such as Sheer cover or Everyday minerals (cheaper!) which give fantastic coverage.

Probably not what you wanted though

Scarinae

My sister has got rosacea, it's fairly common from what I can gather. Things that can aggravate it include alcohol and spicy foods, as well as extreme temperatures especially switching suddenly between hot and cold environments. My sister found it worse in winter, when she would be walking outside in the snow and then go into her heated office/flat (that's why football managers, eg, Alex Ferguson, often have rosacea! Switching between the pitch and boardrooms). Stress, certain facial creams/makeup, coffee etc can set it off with her too

It is different with each person though I think, when she first found out she had rosacea someone suggested that she keep a kind of diary of when it flared up so she would identify what was aggravating it by looking at patterns. Funnily enough her alcohol-fuelled weekends away were a big trigger, so she's a lot more careful about drinking now. It might be useful for you to try that for a while - if your rosacea flares up and you realise it's often not long after you've had a curry dinner, for example, it could be helpful. It also could be helpful in identifying what doesn't set it off, so you're not denying yourself things you like! I hope that helps a bit

LadyW

Hi forestfruits, I've had rosacea for years and it is manageable if you learn to recognise what triggers your flare-ups (as a previous poster also mentioned). These vary from person to person but the ones that affect almost all sufferers are spicy food, alcohol (for me it's red wine), stress and extreme heat/cold. I use skincare products by La Roche Posay and can recommend them highly. Make-up wise, I use Max Factor Lasting Performance foundation and it is fantastic for covering up my very red cheeks. Send me a PM if you want any more info... Probably won't be able to reply until Monday though.. sorry.

Sinall

My brother has rosacea and has a top-up laser treatment every 6 - 9 months. He initially had 3 or 4 a few weeks apart (this was years ago) and now keeps it under control with a laser treatment every now and again. He tried the antibiotics/tablets prescribed by the doctor as well as a cream called Rosex. He found the Rosex quite good, but the laser treament definitely helped him to get a quality of life back. He found it very, very debilitating when it was at it's worst (about 5 yrs ago).

Homeopathy has also been a great help and it helps a lot of other issues in the body/emotionally at the same time.

mood

I have it as well and am getting referred to a dermatologist. From what I have read antibiotics only work when you are on them and it comes back when you go off them. Hopefully this is not the case. I don't want to go down the antibiotics road and hope I will get laser treatment. Let us know how you get on.

bills

I know you can get special moisturisers that minimise redness such as clinique anti-redness & la roche posay rosaliac I think its called. If you are looking for cheaper options-see the brand aveeno/roc also do specific moisturisers.These might help a little. You can also get a daily protective base from clinique. Hope this helps a little

smelltheglove

My mam developed it recently and had laser treatment for it which seemed to work quite well, she hasnt suffered a second time yet anyway.

mood

smelltheglove wrote: »

My mam developed it recently and had laser treatment for it which seemed to work quite well, she hasnt suffered a second time yet anyway.

Did she get treated by a dermatologist or in a clinic? Do you know what type of laser was used?

smelltheglove

mood wrote: »

Did she get treated by a dermatologist or in a clinic? Do you know what type of laser was used?

I must check with her but as far as I remember she got it in a beauticians. I will check though.

smelltheglove

It was diathermia she got, Chathan Medical Beauty in town do it, she had it in Dundalk in a medical beauty place.

Sinall

My brother had his initial laser treatment in 2005 with a dermatologist in the Bons Secours in Dublin and the second lot in a health/beauty clinic in Waterford. He found the second place better and that's where he gets the top up laser treatments now.

30lady

smelltheglove wrote: »

It was diathermia she got, Chathan Medical Beauty in town do it, she had it in Dundalk in a medical beauty place.

Is this treatment expensive?

smelltheglove

30lady wrote: »

Is this treatment expensive?

Couldnt say the price but I do recall my mam saying it was expensive.

30lady

smelltheglove wrote: »

Couldnt say the price but I do recall my mam saying it was expensive.

Thought as much! Must look into it in Galway. Cheers.

Fragglefur

Hi Jane Iredale mineral make up is supposed to be great www.janeiredale.com

mood

Fragglefur wrote: »

Hi Jane Iredale mineral make up is supposed to be great www.janeiredale.com

It's good but not a cure or treatment.

soundbyte

I suffer from rosacea (particularly bad in winter, as you'd expect), and absolutely SWEAR by Eucerin dry skin replenishing face cream (about €8 in boots). Try it for a week (apply sparingly) and it may make a massive difference. Meanwhile, stay away from icy breezes and spicy foods!

Síle28

I have it too, same as a previous poster mentioned re her brother, had 3 or 4 laser treatments a week or two apart at the beginning and now I have a top up one once every 6 months or so and it keeps my skin from being red. I also use la roche posay moisturiser and never go out without it or at least some moisturiser with sunscreen in it on, it's the cold and wind that can cause it as much as sun in Ireland but spf seems to help for that too, so my dermatologist told me anyways I really think the laser is the way to go, not too painful, its about €150 a go though but after the initial few once its only every 6 months its not so bad.

Idina

Hey all,
I have just come across this thread. Delighted with some of the advice.
I am a rosacea sufferer & wondering if any of you ladies found that the pill made the condidiotn worse?
I was on microlite until christmas when I stopped taking it just to have a break. I have found that my face cleared up so much! I didnt know myself. The itching & burning went, the spots went & I was just a little red. I started taking microlite again a month ago again not thinking anything of it & my face is in a dreadful way again. Its burning, spotty & generally really bad & upsetting!
Im off to the doc anyway in a few days to change my pill & discuss it but just wondering if anyone else noticed theis?

Dinkie

Hi,

I sometimes suffer from Rosacea. I found that using my mobile phone made it worse (have it on my right cheek). I think it was the heat from the mobile. Also stress, red wine (with tannin), and studying (I kept putting resting my face on my hand) made it worse.

I hardly ever got spots before this, and had nice skin so when I got rosacea it was a bit of a shock! I now have a boots sized collection of green cream and supreme coverage foundation.

I did keep a diary though and that seemed to work in order to determine what was causing the problem.

forestfruits

Thanks for all the replies, I still havnt gone to get the antibiotics- I dont have any spots at the min- I have scars and redness but that I can live with- nothing angry or sore.

I must try the La Roche Posay products as suggested, I was using dermalogica special cleansing gel and the daily microfoliant in an effort to clear up my skin- Couldnt be using anything worse- I was obviously just irritating my skin further. Im now using the ultraclaming cleanser and its much better.

Also have figured its not actually the end of the world! Its just a bit of redness:D

smelltheglove

If you are looking for good makeup any good chemist that stocks Vichy will have Dermablend makeup which is specially formulated for skin irregularities and sensitivity. There are 3 parts to the product. I use it daily but have no scars or anything so I just use the foundation although there is a concealer, this even though expensive would last a fair amount of time, followed by the foundation and finally the setting powder. All in a set will cost around 60, powder and cleanser will last quite a while though. I get about a month out of a tube of foundation using it 5+ days a week.

mood

mood wrote: »

I have it as well and am getting referred to a dermatologist. From what I have read antibiotics only work when you are on them and it comes back when you go off them. Hopefully this is not the case. I don't want to go down the antibiotics road and hope I will get laser treatment. Let us know how you get on.

Does anyone know which private health insurance companies cover laser treatment for Rosacea or how I could find out?

Sinall

It depends where you are getting the treatment done. My brother got his first lot done (5 years ago) in the Bons Secours in Glasnevin and that was covered by Bupa (which is now Quinn). That was the one that he didn't find great though and we paid the initial consultants fee ourselves - apprx €150 I think. His more recent laser treatments have not been covered by Quinn - he got these done in the Genesis Clinic in Waterford. It is pricey but definitely worth it. And now that he just gets one done every now and again the cost is fine. It made such a huge difference to his confidence and general happiness. I rang Bupa/Quinn to find out which places are covered so you could try that perhaps.

mood

Sinall wrote: »

It depends where you are getting the treatment done. My brother got his first lot done (5 years ago) in the Bons Secours in Glasnevin and that was covered by Bupa (which is now Quinn). That was the one that he didn't find great though and we paid the initial consultants fee ourselves - apprx €150 I think. His more recent laser treatments have not been covered by Quinn - he got these done in the Genesis Clinic in Waterford. It is pricey but definitely worth it. And now that he just gets one done every now and again the cost is fine. It made such a huge difference to his confidence and general happiness. I rang Bupa/Quinn to find out which places are covered so you could try that perhaps.

Could you find out what type of laser he got done. There are a few different types. Thanks.

Sinall

Will do. He's in Canada at the moment but will get back to me today hopefully!

Sinall

Sorry for taking so long to respond on this. My brother thinks it was just a regular IPL laser in the Bons in Glasnevin. He thinks the one in Genesis in Waterford might have been a Lumenis or Polaris laser but can't remember for sure. Their number is 051 854445 if you want to check with them

mood

Sinall wrote: »

Sorry for taking so long to respond on this. My brother thinks it was just a regular IPL laser in the Bons in Glasnevin. He thinks the one in Genesis in Waterford might have been a Lumenis or Polaris laser but can't remember for sure. Their number is 051 854445 if you want to check with them

Thanks. I'll ring them as soon as I can.

NYCityBabe

Hi guys,

Just thought I'd throw in my two cents...

The only laser that will totally get rid of the redness associated with rosacea is the N-Lite laser.

I know this from wasting over €1,000 having the chromalite IPL done in one of the major private hospitals in Dublin. It just does NOT work for rosacea. It's great for skin rejuvination and hair removal, but will do nothing for redness. As I believe is the case with most of the IPL systems.

I have now had three sessions of N-Lite laser and 90% of the redness on my cheeks and nose has totally disappeared. I'm due one more session for a few very stubborn thread veins.
Now this laser will leave most people quite bruised for up to ten days, so be warned! And, it is not ideal for everyone because of this. Make up will help to disguise the bruising.

But I cannot recommend the N-Lite enough. It has transformed my complexion and my confidence!

I would also recommend having it done by a medical trained doctor/dermatologist rather than the beauty clinics.

Hope this helps.

seensensee

forestfruits wrote: »

Just back from the dermatologist who tell me I have Rosacea. She has put me on antibiotics but I gather from what she tells me and what Ive looked at online that its not going to cure me and it will probably get worse over time!

Any body have any experience with this- My skin is fairly clear at the min (first time in about 18 mths) Ive always had itchy eyes and redness around my nose but thought nothing of it, now my chin is quite red, it was only when the spots started on my chin that I really noticed it. (Im 29 and the spots only started last yr)

Now what.... is there anything I should be doing to reduce the likelihood of it worsening

Google "rosecea tea tree oil"

forestfruits

GRRrrr Im breaking out again!! Got sunburn a few weeks ago (stupid stupid accident) ended up with only one big sore spot and a very red chin for ages after, thats now only a scar!

Had a few dental issues - ended up needing a load of fillings and was stressing about the first visit for the first 2 fillings and there started the major breakout on the chin!!

Having a party for my birthday next week and would love to be almost spot free---- Any ideas??

(I find tea tree irritates my skin)

mood

Does anyone know which health insurer will cover treatment for Rosacea? My insurance is up soon so will change to get treatment for Rosacea and my doctor said they don't all provide cover for it!

Will they tell me if I phone and enquire (I'll use private number)?

Sinall

I think the health insurers make a decision by where you get it done. When my brother got his done in the Bons in Glasnevin, Bupa (now Quinn) covered it. When he got it done in a clinic in Waterford they didn't. We rang them and they went through which places in Dublin (the Bons) and Waterford (none) were covered by them. They wouldn't tell us by treatment - ie, we asked where did they cover laser treatment, but by location eg, if we mentioned a specific hospital or clinic they would say yes or no.

in your face

I developed it a few years ago, and got an awful bad dose. I used to go redfaced after a shower etc and thought nothing of it. Then over the space of a week I had what appeared to be spots on my temples that turned into small lumps. I also got what looked like hundreds of whiteheads on my forehead and my cheeks went purple! My doctor identified it quickly and was put on antibiotics and referred me to a dermatologist. I was left with scars on my temples after the spot/lumps died down. I then got referred for IPL therapy. I'm now thankfully pretty much back to normal, and get IPL every so often, am still on antibiotics.

The key thing is not to panic, psychologically it can be stressful and you wonder if it will ever go away. Unfortunately it won't, it can only be managed. Different people have different triggers. It is essential though that you use a moisturising sun cream even in dull, winter days. UV still gets through clouds. La Roche Posay is the best.

Its a more common occurance for women but men get it worse. Just don't let it get the better of you, use moisturising sunblock during the day and keep to whatever antibiotics are recommended for you. If its an ongoing thing, ask your dermatologist about IPL.

Apologies for the long spiel folks!

AndyC555

Sorry to bring an old thread back from the dead but I think I have this problem too. (and yes I know this is the ladies lounge :-)

I have not been to see a doctor (yet) but this red rash, dry itchiness, red "bumps" have appeared on my cheeks, between eyebrows and on my chin.

It flares up every 4 to 6 weeks and last for maybe 1 week. It is terribly embarrassing and really gets me down.

I do not drink coffee or alcohol or eat chocolate (triggers for Rosacea from what I have read). I do not use soap or other cleaners on my face at all. The only product I put on my face is Nivea Cream (white kind of thick cream similar to Sudocrem) after a shower or shaving. This problem started maybe 18 to 24 months ago. I am 31 year old male.

When I have an out-brake the areas affected swell slightly and are sore to touch and are itchy (feels like pins and needles on my skin).

Shaving is a nightmare and painful and only makes the redness worse.

I have had a look at the La Roche-Posay products but there a number that seem to deal with Rosacea. Which one should I get?

thanks.

forestfruits

Andy

Im using thr la roche posay rosaliac xl moisturiser its kind of green so takes away from the redness a little also doesnt seem to irritate my skin at all and is spf 15 which is a bonus.

The sun over the last while has played puck with my face - its factor 50 time of year again Im going to give the la roche posay fluid extreme for face.

Ive found that leaving my skin alone as much as possible is the key for me- I use ultracalming cleanser by dermalogica and nothing else just moisturiser. I also will only was my face if Ive been wearing makeup or have been exercising etc and only once a day. I found it hugely improved once I left it alone.

I was going overboard with all sorts of scrubs and masks and lotions and potions.

This may mean growing a beard for you though!!

p.s the la roche posay stuff is cheap enough on chemistdirect