Newbie :) [Archive] - The Rosacea Forum

purplesarah

26th July 2006, 05:55 AM

I have been lurking for a week or two and have decided to bite the bullet and say hello!

I was officially diagnosed with Rosacea about a fortnight ago upon first mention of my symptoms to my GP. He has put me on minocycline, 50mg twice a day. I havne't really noticed a difference yet, but as I said it has only been about two weeks or so.

I have had many symptoms of rosacea for about 12-18 months, but didn't think anyting of them until about six months ago when my face had what I thought was an allergic reaction to a moisturiser that I had been using for about a year. Sine then I have really noticed that my face isn't smooth anymore, sometimes I get noticeable lumps and bums that look like mozzie bites or pimples and they can itch. And the biggest thing is the burning sensation when I am in a flush, and obviously the redness that comes with it.

After reading this forum and some other bits and pieces online, I don't know how happy I am to be on antibiotics...I am worried about the side effects of long term usage. I have a follow up appointment with my GP in about 6 weeks so I think I will ask him about this while I am there.

One thing I would like advice on from the women of this forum, and this should probably be in one of the other sections, is exfoliation of the face. I am having a humongous battle with flakies on my face, and I don't know how to fix it. The best thing I have found so far is Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, which works better than anything else I have tried and doesn't irritate my skin, but the flakies havn't disappeared enough for my liking. And I am finding it extremely hard to find something non irritating.

I think that will do for my first post!

redhotoz

28th July 2006, 03:33 PM

Hi PS

Welcome to the Forum! Hope you can find the info you are looking for here and sorry to hear that you too have been diagnosed with Rosacea.

Antibiotics will help to reduce the inflammation but I don't personally believe that they should be taken long term. Perhaps reducing the dose over time will help to avoid the negative side effects? I did try this not so long ago but I now have systemic yeast infections that are bleeping well harder to deal with than Rosacea! So, I'm treating both by way of a natural healing diet.

Problem with the long term use of antibiotics is that our bodies can become resistant to them over time and they no longer work. Yes, you can change the type of antibiotic you are using but ultimately, it may well happen again. This is what happened to me. Also, antibiotics attack both the good and bad bacteria in your body (they're not picky LOL) so it is adviseable to take a supplement of Acidophilus/Lactobacillus, spaced apart from the time you take the antibiotic, to put good bacteria into your body.

Exfoliation is a difficult one. When your face is sensitive, exfoliating can really ark it up. I remember putting a post together (from other posts) in another group about it...but do you think I can find it now? LOL How about I just quote. These are posts from the Yahoo Rosacea Suport Group, that I have saved:

"This is something very simple and basic, so much so that you may not
think I am offering serious advice but I am. A washcloth. It actually
has definite advantages. First of all it contains no chemicals of any
kind so you do not have to worry if something might irritate your
skin. Also you can buy one that has just the right softness and you
control exactly how hard or gentle to scrub. There used to be
something called the Buff-Puff that works just the same as a washcloth
but i do not know if they are still for sale. I also have flaky and
easily irritated skin and find a washcloth along with a very mild
non-detergent cleanser the simplest and safest thing to use."
-----
"A while ago someone here talked about putting honey on their face and when I mentioned it to my son he told me he had read that honey mixed with cornstarch took dead skin off of lips. Sounds like exfoliating to me so maybe that would be a gentle exfoliator for skin? Just thought I'd toss it out there."
-----
"Have you tried a little (1/4tsp) avenno colidal oatmeal mixed with a little water then rinse?"
-----
"I think someone a while ago also wrote in that plain dry cornstarch on the face also exfoliated and did not irritate"
-----
"Also, the subject of exfoliating. I have read in these letters for years
that it's a No No No topic. However, I could not make it out the door (on
the few occasions I try) if I did not exfoliate the sandpaper from my skin.
I use a very gentle orange-coloured cleansing exfoliater by Clarins. This is an expensive brand and I am dreading it running out as I am only tryinng it because it was given to me by a friend who worked at Clarins in case it helped. And it did. I only use it infrequently, when it's important not to have sandpaper face."
-----
"I put some regular oatmeal in a soft cotton tea bag, ran it under warm
water for 30 seconds or so until soft, then gently blotted and
smoothed the bag (with the "oatmeal juice" squeezing through) over my
face for 30 seconds or so. I was surprised this was effective and did
not irritate."
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"I have very dry rosacea skin and I've been having good luck with manuka honey combined with cornstarch in the shower once a week (coupled with a *very* light touch with a washcloth (which I know is not recommended but seems to be ok for me)."
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"i've been using a microfiber cloth successfully.....easily of course."
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"Yes - regular cornstarch mixed one to one with manuka honey"
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"i had recently tried origins microfriction exfoliant. @ first it made my skin amazingly smooth, but i should've known it would be too much for my sensitive skin. i used it last wk & i'm still trying to get my skin calmed down!"
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"Please test the honey out on a spot before you use it all over. Since it comes from the *New Zealand* Tea Tree there will be some antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties in the honey.

I just put a tablespoon of honey in a bowl and then add a tablespoon of cornstarch and mix into a paste which I later apply and gently massage into my face in the shower - once a week at the most. I cook like that too...a pinch of this, a pinch of that...."
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"I prefer a cooked oatmeal mask once a week or so. I cool plain cooked
oatmeal, apply a very thin layer, allow to dry for 10-15 minutes, and rinse away. When put on wet, it sinks into the crevices of the skin. When it dries, superficial dead skin and residue sticks to it and gets washed away. It must be thoroughly dry before rinsing to be sure the surface residue sticks to it. Oatmeal is anti-inflammatory as well."
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Whew! Sorry, this is so long. I was interested in re-reading as I posted the quotes! :)

Good luck!

Jen