My face

[phlika29]

Hello

Although I've been posting a while I have never put up a picture of myself. I have attached one to see if it works. It shows my cheek during one of my flairs. Hope it works http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n60/phlika29/DSC_0429.jpg[/img]

[phlika29]

Ohh thats rather big, oh well at least it worked. I'm gonna try to upload some more.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n60/phlika29/DSC_0381.jpg

This attractive one shos how a small pap can really ruin my day.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n60/phlika29/DSC_0006.jpg

This shows me 5 days post IPL after a seb derm flair. Nice

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n60/phlika29/DSC_0015.jpg

A flush post IPL mixed in with seb derm.

[Quench]

Thanks for sharing your pics.

can I just ask how you know you have seb derm? I thought seb derm skin was flaky but yours doesn't seem to be.

[Twickle Purple]

Hi Phlika29,

Thank you for posting your pictures. It's good to see the different "faces" of rosacea. I was wondering if you had perioral derm and then read that you have seb derm. I know that can affect the skin creases. It's a nasty combo to have. There are other folks on the forum that have both Seborrheic Dermatitis and Rosacea, you can check out what they've done for it and what works, or doesn't. The frustrating thing with these skin conditions is that what works for one may not for another. And our facial skin can be so tender.

Best of luck!
Twickle Purple

[francois]

There is some redness and oiliness in the eye brow area. Is it itchy? I have the same thing, its seems that u have seb derm too. But mild, I believe a good diet can take care of it? How is your diet?

[phlika29]

well I've just come back from seeing my laser Dr and he confirmed that the redness on the cheeks was a seb derm flair and the area around my mouth was a herpes outbreak. Both of these were brought on by an IPL treament. Normally I have no real evidence of seb derm and have never had any cold sores but there you go.

Diet is healthy if not a stictly a rosacea diet, I avoid dairy, chocoalte and never eat tomatoes, strawberries etc. To be honest I don't remember my eyebrows, I was more distracted by my checks! and once again although my skin is on the dry side I don't normally display any evidence of seb derm.

[redhotoz]

Thanks for sharing your pics Sarah. Are your cheeks normally that colour or was it just post IPL? How scary that you had a Herpes outbreak after treatment. I wonder why? Did your doc explain this?

Jen

[phlika29]

I would say that the second picture down shows my normal resting redness (the one with the papule on my cheek). The very first one shows my usual morning wake up flush. The last two are 4/5 days post IPL and ofcourse with the herpes/seb derm flair so yes they are definately abit redder than normal during a flush.

[redhotoz]

It does look sore Sarah. Did the doc say why the Herpes/Seb Derm break out happened after treatment, or is this usual? Sorry for the questions, I don't know enough about it.

Have things calmed down a bit for you now?

Jen

[phlika29]

Sorry I forgot to answer this part of the question. Any form of light (ie IPL, laser or even strong sunlight) can apparently trigger this type of reaction. I have had laser before and hadn't had any reaction so I was a bit surprised after the IPL. Treament consisted of 1% hydrocortisone cream for a few days, although I know now that zovirex (I haven'tspelled that right ) would also have helped the cold sore stuff.

Took a while for my face to finally calm down but it didn't seem to have any major long term effects.

I just had an ND:Yag treament and am waiting to see if the flair returns (fingers crossed).

[Bradley]

Hi phlika, sorry to bump up your old thread but having just viewed your pictures I'm not sure why you feel you have seb derm on your cheeks. Your skin doesn't really show signs of oiliness or flakiness which are usually the tell tale signs of seb derm. I think the redness on your cheeks is the result of rosacea and dilated blood vessels and definitely not any yeast or seb derm problem. I would say that your increase in cheek redness was just the result of the laser antagonising the epidermal layers. The majority of rosacea sufferers experience this redness post IPL.

Seb derm usually manifests itself around the nasal flaps and in the T-zone. I have seb derm in my T-zone and on my scalp so am quite familiar with the problem and it doesn't resemble your cheeks. But I have heard that IPL can aggravate seb derm which is annoying..

[phlika29]

Its really hard to explain how it felt at the time (as 9 months since) but it definelty wasn't just rosacea. It didn't look flakey but it was. Every time I have any form of laser treatment I suffer increased oiliness and slight reaction. Although it is hard to tell the reaction was in a defined area on my skin that was immediately relieved with hydrocortisone cream. The reaction arrived within the space of a couple of hours. I showed the photos to both Dr Crouch and Dr Chu and they both thought it was seb derm/dermatitis.

I'd forgotten how bad the photos looked :shock:

[Bradley]

Well of course those two doctors are going to know a hell of a lot more than me, and are likely to be a better judge :). But as a seb derm sufferer it just doesn't seem to resemble the condition I have. It's probably more likely to be dermatitis or just the skin's reaction to IPL treatment. It's good to know that it cleared up though, but I would definitely be careful with the steroid cream... :arrow: any rosacea sufferer's Dr. Evil!

[phlika29]

I thought that I would post some pictures of my latest KTP/Yag treatment. This time the setting were turned up high to try to deal with the persistent base redness. KTP 532 was at 12 J/cm squared, 30 msec pulse width over 10 mm diameter spot(1 pass) followed by the Yag 1064: 40j/cm squared, 55 msec pulse width (2 passes).

4 days post laser:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n60/phlika29/4dayspostKTP1.jpg

11 days post laser:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n60/phlika29/11dayspostKTP.jpg

The spots are fading really slowly but I'm hoping that they will do the job.

Sarah

[moomy]

Wow Sarah,

that is great!!


best wishes
Moomy

[redhotoz]

Looks like a great improvement Sarah. Are you happy with the results?

Can I ask what other things you are trying at the moment? I'm sure you've posted it somewhere, but would be helpful to be in the one thread with your photos.

Do you expect to go back for more treatments?

Thanks for up-dating. It's always so encouraging to see people's faces clearing up.

Jen

[phlika29]

I just wanted to clarify that the red spots are a result of the laser. The skin in between which looks quite pale in comparison but is a pink colour.

These series of laser treatments have had quite a large effect on my resting colour and on my flushing.

First the general diffused redness has faded to a pink colour and the lasers have faded the honeycomb effect of the old pulse dye laser.

Flushing is now not painful and at times I canot tell if I'm actually flushing. Flushing tends to last less time and is relatively easy to get rid of.

I still have the majority of my dilated veins but they are lighter and less pronounced.

What else I use/do:

Wash face in plain water only.
Avoid all mosturisers
Drink lots of water/white tea
Eat a very healthy diet: None of the usual suspects ie no prepared foods, no sugary foods (except the odd easter egg :D )
Supplemets: pycnogenol
Prescription meds: Cilleste B/C pill and propranolol
Avoid all hot and stressful situations :cry:
Spend lots of times on this forum :)

Sarah

[princess_illusion]

Looks great!!

& What pretty eyes you have! :)

[tompkin]

Sarah, those are great results! I'm more and more impressed by the potential of the KTP laser for diffuse redness.

I'm going to see some Toronto area doctors re IPL and V-Beam (we don't seem to have anyone local doing KTP). I have been told by the doctor who zapped some of my visible veins with a YaG that, at best, IPL could reduce my general erythema by about 10%. She says that if she can't see a visible matrix of little blood vessels -- if its the very tiniest vessels that are dilated -- then no current IPL or laser treatment can do anything for me.

Have you seen the apparently smooth areas of pink on your face become paler? If so, by how much? And has Dr. Crouch said anything about a visible set of small blood vessels in the areas that have lightened?

Thanks!

[Yvette]

You look great Sarah - I'm happy for you!!

Yvette

[phlika29]

Since those pictures I've had another treatment combining IPL with low level pulse dye laser (to try to knock out the seb derm reaction I get with IPL).

My seb derm flairs usually about four days post IPL and so I waited to see what happened. The pulse dye laser defintely helped me avoid this sort of major flair although my nose still got quite greasy and has stayed that way.

If I had IPL again I would always have it with pdl (and it also helps with spots aswell) but when I go in a few days time I think I will opt for yag and pdl as christmas is coming up and I want my skin to be as calm as possible.

[Melissa W]

Hi Sarah,

How often do you usually get treatments? I know it varies and all but in general how many do you get in a year? I'm trying to guage (besides based on my flushing returning full force and all) what's a good # of lasers per year to keep things in check.

Thanks,
Melissa

[phlika29]

Melissa

I am still getting them done about every three months but after next week I plan to space them out, but I think six months will probably be my maximum as like you I dont want to allow the backslide to set in too much.

I will still be having my laser at Hammersmith for my seb derm as this is actually as much as a problem as the rosacea itself. So all in all I guess it will probably continue to be every three/four months for the time being.

Tompkin

My condtion is complicated due to the seb derm which over the years I have come to realise is a big part of my surface redness.

I have both broken veins aswell as smooth diffuse redness (which may also have the odd vein visiable in it).

What I have found that has helped me:

KTP 532 using both larger spot sizes for the diffuse redness and smaller spot size to trace individual veins.

Old Pulse dye laser-blasts everything in its path but risks leaving dermacraction lines between treated and untreated areas.

IPL using the shallower filters has lightened the redness and got rid of some of the visible veins. Actually I think it has worked really well and the majority of the redness I have left is due to the seb derm (thats where low level pulse dye comes in).

Really it has been a combination of things that have worked. If one hasnt worked over a few sessions then try something different. Of course it helps having someone like Dr Crouch to work with. He carefully balances out the need/enthusisam for the patient to see results with the need to tread carefully.

http://forum.rosaceagroup.org/viewtopic.php?t=10530

I hope this helps

Sarah

[phlika29]

Well its been a while since I updated this thread but as I am being forced to watch some rubbish film I thought this might be a good time.

LAst week I went to my usual laser appointment with Dr Chu at Hammersmith hospital where I have low level n-light for acne and seb derm. On the spur of the moment I asked for a couple of higher zaps with the laser to try to get rid a a couple of dilated veins that I have had for years (i have many more but thought this would be a sort of trial).

The result:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n60/phlika29/DSC00051.jpg

a day or so later
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n60/phlika29/DSC_0062.jpg

I have forgotten to take anymore photos but suffice to say that the patch has nearly gone-8 days later but in it place appears the same veins as beforefist:doh:

[Twickle Purple]

Ouch!

Still, it doesn't detract from your very pretty face. yes:

Your skin seems to be doing so much better than those first pics you posted a while back. I know you post this sort of info in various other threads, but I hope you don't mind me asking here: In general, are things improved? And what have you been doing for it?

[man_from_mars]

I'll agree to that! whistling1:
...and let us know when you put out another album with the Pretenders.

mfm

[man_from_mars]

[quote=Twickle Purple;182827]

Still, it doesn't detract from your very pretty face. yes:

/quote]

I'll second that! whistling1:
...and let us know when you put out another album with the Pretenders.

mfm

[phlika29]

Thanks TPgrin:

I have been having quite a lot of laser over the last few years.

At the moment I am seeing Dr Crouch approx every six months for whatever laser we think will suit me at that point in time but over the last year this has always involved the low level n-light aswell.

In between that I have been going to Dr Chu at Hammersmith and having n-light laser (low level) for seb derm and acne. This means that I have had some form of laser every three months for the last two years.

I have also avoided sitting under a fluorescent light for the last four months and again this has made quite a big difference.

Besides this I have been taking pycnogenol tablets daily and trying to eat a good diet.

I tend to wake up hot still but find it much easier to cool down. I tend to flush still when I get anxious or hot but this is much reduced. I flush perhaps once a week (not counting waking hot). I take 160 mg of propanolol daily and cilest BP.

I wash with plain tepid water and use eucerin about once a week.

I was prescribed remeron but never plucked up the courage to take itlaugh:

[phlika29]

mfm
laugh:

[pennya]

Hi hi:

When you say you wake up hot, do you mean you wake up flushed on the face?

PS. I agree, skin looks much better!

[allibear]

Sarah your skin looks amazing. You have such a good bone structure and strong attractive features that I don't think these conditions that you suffer from, even in those earlier pictures, can take way from that in anyway thumbs:

I notice that you are from the UK. Have you had to pay for all this treatment privately?

[phlika29]

Thanks you two.

Pennya

Sorry yes I usually wake up red/flushed. In the past I have found pau d'arco helpful for this (but I dont have seb derm aswell).

Alli

Yep all private. I gave up with the NHS a few years ago. Dr Chu is a consultant derm at Hammersmith hospital and I was referrred by another derm. Dr Crouch I referred myself. Over the years the bill has grown quite big (I previously had laser elsewhere in Dorset) but thanks to my flexible friends I tend to ignore that bit of it.yes:

[allibear]

Alli

Yep all private. I gave up with the NHS a few years ago. Dr Chu is a consultant derm at Hammersmith hospital and I was referrred by another derm. Dr Crouch I referred myself. Over the years the bill has grown quite big (I previously had laser elsewhere in Dorset) but thanks to my flexible friends I tend to ignore that bit of it.yes:

I don't have much faith in the NHS either, especially with something ongoing. My Mother more or less gave up when it took the best part of ten years to go through all the channels for arthritis . The consultant appointments had about a three year wait between them and she had to see a few. By the time they finally gave the go ahead for the hip replacement she more or less told them where to go. thumbs: She had hit 70 annd said she wasn't putting herself through that at her time of life. Just lives with the pain now. Ridiculous when you think about it.

Maybe you won't have to worry about the 'flexies', looks like all the banks might go bust anyway laugh:

[Peter]

Hello Sarah

Man from Mars is right - you really are a dead ringer for Chrissie Hynde - a younger version of course grin:

Looking at your recent pictures there is a huge improvement from the first ones you posted nearly 2 years ago, so congratulations. I know all this laser treatment can work out to be very expensive but I would imagine you are well pleased with the results? Now you seem to have gained an element of control what is Tony's view on future treatment?

Bye

Peter

[phlika29]

I assume Dr Chu will want me to continue as I am.

[sparrow-legs]

Phlika, may I ask hw much a consultation with dr.chu is at the London Hammersmith?

[phlika29]

Okay this will show how bad I am around money, I dont know. All I could find was the prices from 2004 blush:. They will have gone up since then but I dont think its that much (maybe £10-20). With regards paying for treatments I tend to whistle as I hand over my credit card and low and behold within a few minutes I have convinced myself nothing happened.whistling1:

Anyway to get to your point:

Initial consultation £240 (with laser)
Initial consultation £165 (without laser)
Follow-up appointment £90
Laser session £165 (with consultation)
Laser session £90 (laser only)

Actually I just found a note I made on the most recent letter and it says £90 for laser so perhaps it hasnt gone up at allthumbs:

You my like to ring them to discuss getting an appointment on 020 8383 1398. I would highly recommend him, he was recently on a Dispatch program talking about skin care.

[sparrow-legs]

Yes i saw it, about how crap beauty creams are. Thanks for the info phlika. With regards to the plastic, i'm a student. I just hand my card over and walk out of the store with a huge bag of food/clothes/whatever. I only start to panic when i receive bank letters saying my cheque has bounced! My preference towards Marks and Spencers food does not help!

[phlika29]

Hey a girl after my own heart. I have banned myself from going to any of their stores. Although I must admit I have become a little tired of the stupid women in their adverts with her mock sexy voice trying to caress me into buying some 1000 calorie chocolate dessert.

[sparrow-legs]

My friend Charlotte and I go in just to LOOK at the dessert isle. It's like a day out.... :p

[The taff]

I have to say your skin looks amazing now.

Just out of interest, how long have you been taking the pycnogenol for and are they tablets or capsules?

Thanks T.

[phlika29]

I have taken pycnogenol for about 8 years of so. I take whatever brand is on offer (way too expensive) so for the last couple of years I take it in tablet form because the health food shop I go to has them at two for 1.

[pennya]

Phlika...

Do you take pycnogenol for flushing? Thank you.

Penny

[phlika29]

I have found it useful for surface redness and slowing down the rate of new dilated capillaries.

[yogataz]

fantastic results Sarah.

U must be very happy;)

Terry

[allibear]

My preference towards Marks and Spencers food does not help!

Jez sparrow, I am out of college 20 odd years now and I still couldn't afford Marks and Spencer's food. laugh:

[phlika29]

Students nowadayslaugh:

[JanetLG]

Hi Sarah,

I'm curious - you said you were on the zovorax for a bit. How often do you take it and does your rosacea calm down as well as the cold sores when you are on it? I'm wondering if the info that was posted about a year ago saying that when your body is trying to fight off a virus or bacteria of some sort that this overactive immune system can cause rosacea to get worse. I don't know if I'm interpreting that right or not. But I'm wondering if the anti-viral drug might in turn help your rosacea as well. Sorry if I've missed something in your posts.

Take care...

[phlika29]

Janet

No I wouldn't use the zovirax for rosacea. Dr Crouch thought that the area around my mouth post IPL may be related to the cold sore virus (although I have never had a cold sore) and suggested I get a tube just for this area to see if it helps. In the end the hydrocortisone cream did the job but the little tube is there for me to try it it ever happens again post IPL. I would not use if on anything else.

[JanetLG]

Thanks for the reply. I was just curious. I was thinking you were taking it in pill form. I had been reading stuff about what causes rosacea. It seemed like maybe it is your body working over time to fight off something and it caused an overage of some sort of peptides in the body and that caused the rosacea? I don't know much about it but I was wondering if your body was trying to fight the virus the causes the cold sores and maybe that was causing the rosacea reaction - the inflammation. This probably makes no sense but I was just curious. Thanks again and take care!

[phlika29]

Okay so to update my thread this is a photo of the last time I went to have n-light at Hammersmith. Initially the laser was used at sub purpuric levels to help improve my seb derm and then the doc went back over the top part of my cheeks at a higher level to try to target broken veins. If I remember correctly the photo was taken on the Friday or saturday after the treatment on the Tuesday and so the areas have begun to recede already. The level used on the second pass did not induce bruising in all areas where it hit (ie it was on the cusp of being purpuric) and I think I am going to ask her to turn it up slightly when I next go in October.
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n60/phlika29/Photo160.jpg

[sparrow-legs]

Oooh, phlika, how long did the bruises take to heal? How many laser/light treatments have you had in total now, and would you say you've had considerable improvement?

I'm still trying to get in touch with Dr Crouch's clinic to book my first treatment, but I keep getting the answerphone.

[phlika29]

A few weeks for the it to fade to yellow colour.

Re Dr Crouch I would advise sending a message via email and address it to christineyes: I tend to send an email saying I would like a treatment at the beginning/middle/end of ?? month and then she gets back to me with dates and times.

[Tom P]

You and I are having identical experiences. This condition is just awesome isn't it? I marvel at people who have normal clear skin. I often wonder what it would be like to get up in the morning and not have to look at the red swollen mess. I find my self esteem has reached such a low I can't even look at people when I talk to them. I actually have an additional problem in that my skin is so oily it's comical. I always look as if I just ran a marathon. People always ask me why is your nose sweating? I love that question as mush as why is your face so red? Oh well, we just have to continue on as best we can.

Tom

[J-Mill]

Your looking good Sarah, obviously the bruises go away in a few weeks.

Next time show us your smile! grin:

So am I correct that the n-light has successfully beat back the seb derm or are you still having some issues with it and decided to attack the Rosacea more aggressively anyway?

[mattdog323]

Ur initil photos look alot like kprf,

If not even though have u had much success in treating Ur red cheeks?My cheeks are the same Ive had succsess in treating them but they are stubborn and just keep coming back!!

Ps this might sound wired but u look pretty much exactly like my mum,

Its so uncanny,

Kind regards matthi:

[phlika29]

Your mothershock:laugh: in agelaugh:

I answer the questions later todaywink1:

[mattdog323]

laugh:

[phlika29]

Your looking good Sarah, obviously the bruises go away in a few weeks.

Next time show us your smile!

So am I correct that the n-light has successfully beat back the seb derm or are you still having some issues with it and decided to attack the Rosacea more aggressively anyway?

Jhi:

Well smiling would involve showing my teeth, I am from the UK you knowlaugh:

The n-lite does help with both the spots and the seb derm. I still get flairs and it is not usually until the next laser sesson that i can get rid of them. Nowadays I always ask her to go back over the top part of my cheeks to knock out the broken vessels. It has worked quite well so far.

The last time I saw Dr Chu he prescribed mepacrine but I am yet to make up my mind about it.

My rosacea is mainly affected by the seb derm, if I didnt have that as well my flushing would be alot less.

Ur initil photos look alot like kprf,

If not even though have u had much success in treating Ur red cheeks?My cheeks are the same Ive had succsess in treating them but they are stubborn and just keep coming back!!

Kind regards matt

Matthi:
My cheeks do sometimes look like KP but I think it is mainly seb derm. I know what you mean about it coming back. Since treatments my flushing doesnt tend to be so intense but then every so often I do flush badly and it can set me back until I have another treatmentmad1: I am afraid it is just a matter of plugging away at it.

You and I are having identical experiences. This condition is just awesome isn't it? I marvel at people who have normal clear skin. I often wonder what it would be like to get up in the morning and not have to look at the red swollen mess. I find my self esteem has reached such a low I can't even look at people when I talk to them. I actually have an additional problem in that my skin is so oily it's comical. I always look as if I just ran a marathon. People always ask me why is your nose sweating? I love that question as mush as why is your face so red? Oh well, we just have to continue on as best we can.

Tom

Tomhi:

Glad that you found it interestig to read my thread. I was thinking about reorganising it so there is more info. The oily nose is one of the reasons I gave up with IPL, helped my flushing but affected my seb derm.

[boyandhisdog]

Ps this might sound wired but u look pretty much exactly like my mum,

Its so uncanny,

Kind regards matthi:

Hey Matt-

That's the worst pick-up line I have ever heard!laugh:laugh:

Rob

[phlika29]

Surely that is an anti pick up linetart:

[J-Mill]

Surely that is an anti pick up linetart:

Well if he knew about your past what with the all girls school, he might try harder laugh:

Seriously though lets get back to that topic, it was one of the more interesting ones here in the last few months. wink1:

[boyandhisdog]

Well if he knew about your past what with the all girls school, he might try harder laugh:

Seriously though lets get back to that topic, it was one of the more interesting ones here in the last few months. wink1:

Here, here J-mill! Well said! Boy, that attorney mind is like a steel trap. Glad you reminded us of that.

I think I will use my mod superpowers to update the name of this thread to "My face and my naughty school girl stories...photos attached".

Phlika if you could just start flushing out some of the stories a little better, that would be great. The tenative sidelong glances, the nervous laughter as you begin to...go on now, don't be shy all of a sudden.shock:

[man_from_mars]

I take neither of you already got a PM from Sarah then?
guess you need to try a little harder and put up your own RH videos laugh:

[phlika29]

I take neither of you already got a PM from Sarah then?
guess you need to try a little harder and put up your own RH videos laugh:

Shhhhh those sort of favours need to be earnedclosedeyes:whistling1:

J, I could give you a round up of all the things I have tried over the years if that would be of interest??

[phlika29]

Phlika if you could just start flushing out some of the stories a little better, that would be great. The tenative sidelong glances, the nervous laughter as you begin to...go on now, don't be shy all of a sudden.shock:

Now rob girls are not nervous around other girls, inquisitive maybelaugh:

[phlika29]

If I started a new thread this photo would go up as first as it showed my skin at the age of maybe 21/22. I dont really have any other photos of that time and this one is scanned in from an old print I took to show a doctor (hence the creaselaugh:). Flushing was vey bad, the only diagnosis I had at that point was some type of dermatitis:

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n60/phlika29/face-1-2.jpg

Was given an anti fungal cream and then hydrocortisone 1%. they never worked and I would get these sharp bumpy lines down my face every few weeks. I dont think I am flushing in the picture my skin was just very upset.

[Melissa W]

Hey Matt-

That's the worst pick-up line I have ever heard!laugh:laugh:

Rob


Believe it or not, I have heard worse yes:

laugh:

[J-Mill]

Shhhhh those sort of favours need to be earnedclosedeyes:whistling1:

J, I could give you a round up of all the things I have tried over the years if that would be of interest??

Don't spare on the details!! woot:

uhhh...we are still talking about the girl-girl thing right, not Rosacea treatments? laugh:

[phlika29]

laugh: indeedlaugh:

[boyandhisdog]

Poor Sarah-
just realizing that J-mill was in fact not interested in her face ordeal, and in fact due to the nature of the turn this thread has taken, had forgotten briefly that Sarah even had a face.shock:laugh:

[phlika29]

laugh: wish I could forget it to sometimeslaugh:

[chenoarae]

So not to go off topic of the off-topic, but Sarah, the picture you posted at age 21 or so - you would agree that your skin looks better now than it did then?

[phlika29]

offtopic:

yes skin looks alot better now. Everything is improved-surface redness, veins and flushing. It was at its worst in my early to mid twenties and then as I found the things that worked and people that helped.

Unfortunatly it is not just a one way process, I am not as good as I was a couple of years ago due to the fact that I can only afford to go for n-lite at the moment. I would prefer to also be treated with either IPL or yag but for now I try to get as much out of the n-lite as possible and hence the purpuric settings.

[boyandhisdog]

So not to go off topic of the off-topic, but Sarah, the picture you posted at age 21 or so - you would agree that your skin looks better now than it did then?

laugh:

Now, that's funny.

[J-Mill]

So not to go off topic of the off-topic, but Sarah, the picture you posted at age 21 or so - you would agree that your skin looks better now than it did then?

To be fair I did want to talk about skin...wink1:

[chenoarae]

To be fair I did want to talk about skin...wink1:

lol! laugh: However I have the feeling that face skin is not the titillating subject you had in mind...

So Sarah, you said you'd prefer IPL or yag? I know you've done IPL, have you done yag treatments? I think earlier in the thread you'd said you did PDL; do you think yag is better?

I've read some people saying that they found IPL to be best for diffuse redness. Is that why you like it?

Lastly, have you noticed an improvement in papules since you started doing laser? I don't know if p&p's are much of a problem for you - from your pics it didn't seem so? BTW, you have really nice lips. lol I don't know if that's a funny thing to notice, but I thought I'd mention laugh:

Sorry about all the questions, I'm trying to weigh the different options.

[phlika29]

Well the reason I prefer yag and IPL is the lack of down time.

It is easier if I just list out what laser I like for what:

IPL (triple pass)-great for attacking both flushing and surface redness. After having treatment my flushing intensity and duration was reduced and permanernt redness became lighter, more pinky.

It didnt do much my broken veins and not great for seb derm (see photo). I had it done 2 or 3 times and each time my skin became noticeably oilier for a few weeks, seb derm flaired and thus flushing temporarily increased. Treatment with n-lite at the same time did help to knock back the seb derm flair.

ND:Yag- minimal downtime and little pain during treatments. Helped to reduce pain associated with flushing and increase flushing threshold (sorry cant think of right description, long day).

No noticeable affect (good or bad) on any surface redness or veins. Cant remember how many treatments I have had with this machine but maybe 4 or 5??

KTP-532- had numerous treatments with this machine, with 2 different doctors. One doc was very aggressive and used a painting type motion with a small spot diameter. The other doc used a larger diameter, not sure it was in paint mode but I think not (see previous photos). Not wholly succesful but did reduce some redness/ veins.

No lasting affect on flushing.

n-lite pdl- had numerous treatments with this machine. Aim of treatment primarily to reduce seb derm and keep acne under control. Works well to this end. Have taken to asking for purpuric treatments in order to target broken veins, seems to work for the most part.

Does not have a massive effect on flushing except to reduce flushing associated with sed derm. Significant down time with the purpura, for me it can take 3 to 4 weeks for them to fade.

About 10 or so years ago I had treatment with another pdl (dont know name) and it left some demarcation lines between treated and none treated area. For years when I flushed the treated area stayed pure white. This looked worse than anything else and so I always would advise that people go for the newest machines that seem to avoid this side effect. It took maybe five years for it to settle back down but even now it can still flush strangely. It was not until I had other laser treatment and then finally IPL that the harsh dots created by the laser were feathered out and I didnt feel I had to cover it up.

Other lasers-cynosure, only one time. nothing major to report. would try it again.

[phlika29]

Sorry didnt answer you:

papules have not been a massive problem. Acne yes, papules no. i have noticed that they have got better since all the lasers though

as for the lip commentblush:

[J-Mill]

uhhh...we are still talking about the girl-girl thing right, not Rosacea treatments? laugh:


BTW, you have really nice lips. lol I don't know if that's a funny thing to notice, but I thought I'd mention laugh:




as for the lip commentblush:


See, now this is more like it!! laugh:

[chenoarae]

boys. :roll: laugh:

Thanks Sarah. It sounds like yag would work well in conjunction with IPL (I suppose if cost weren't an issue). It also sounds like laser treatments don't have much an affect on acne?

I booked a consult for IPL in a couple weeks, the person who does it is a technician, not a doctor or derm but she does work in a derm's office and has 10 years' experience. I also asked if she had much experience with rosacea and the desk girl said yes. Do you think it's trustworthy? I've heard people advising to only see derms/doctors for laser.

[mattdog323]

boys. :roll: laugh:



I booked a consult for IPL in a couple weeks, the person who does it is a technician, not a doctor or derm but she does work in a derm's office and has 10 years' experience. I also asked if she had much experience with rosacea and the desk girl said yes. Do you think it's trustworthy? I've heard people advising to only see derms/doctors for laser.

Id sertainly be spectical,Laser/ipl can be risky,

Going with a derm or plastic surgen is always safer.

Regards Matt.hi:

[mattdog323]

I just learned to use the quote buttonlaugh:

Of topic x5blink:

Regards Mattyes: