Hello.

[Comic Relief]

Hello Everyone.

Okay, I think I might just about be drunk enough to do this now. lol.

I found this site while searching for online groups with facial scars. I'd never heard of rosacea and I don't really think I have it but the psychological effects are the same.

I'm 37 and over the past six/seven years the skin on my nose has become permanently shiny pinkish red. I used to get a few spots but nothing too bad really. Gradually the spots started to leave flaky skin which, when cleared, left my skin this way. It's mainly on my nose though I do have some blemishes on my forehead.

I've never seen a doctor about it, I just figured that I've permanently damaged my skin and that's that. It gets redder in the heat or after too much alcohol, but even when it's at it's palest, it's sooo depressing.

I appreciate that lots of you have far worse skin than me but (I'm sorry) that doesn't make it any easier for me to socialise or get on with life. I used to go out a lot but I've become very reclusive due to it. I've gradually shut myself off from my friends and now only go out to pop to the shops wearing a peaked cap with my head down, dreading the fact that someone might actually want to talk to me.

I also have a progressive eye condition (retinitis-pigmentosa) which, at the moment, means I'm partially-sighted but I have to say that has never got me down as much as this. ...It's never affected my life a much as this.

Ok well there's my heart, here's some pics.:)

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/pillite/pic3.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/pillite/pic1.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/pillite/pic2.jpg

I'm not really sure how much redness shows up on the pics, my eyesight lets me down a little when it comes to pics. :)

Okay, one more cigarette and I'll hit the submit button....

hic

Barry.

[DukeCity]

Hi Barry, -- Welcome to the group. - Why not see a good Derm in your area, you're in England?? - Has the size of your nose changed in the past few years?? -- If your condition bothers you that much, you should really be pro-active and start treating it ASAP. - The sooner you start, the sooner you'll be better and hopefully back to your old self again.

[redhotoz]

Hi Barry

Welcome to the Forum.

It's a bit hard to tell from the pics, especially with the flash on. I do hope it's not Rosacea. Perhaps you could check with your local doc and if he/she doesn't know, maybe you could get a referral to a Dermatologist.

I'm interested to know what facial scars you are referring to. Can you point them out, please?

Thanks

Jen

[Strive]

If your skin flakes, maybe you have seb derm. Check out the other forum for some good information.

http://forum.rosaceagroup.org/viewforum.php?f=14

Strive

[Comic Relief]

Hi DukeCity, Jen and Strive, many thanks for your replies.

My nose hasn't changed shape or size but I have developed a permanent pimple on the side of it and a pock mark in the center.

Strive - Thanks for that link, I'll have a read through it. My skin really only flaked when a spot was dissapearing - I'd often get a small ring of dry skin around it that would flake and peel.

Jen - I finally worked out how to turn off the flash on my camera and took some pics in the daylight. The sun wasn't out today though and I think the redness shows up better in sunlight. The scaring that I'm concerned about is mainly the shiny pink/redness around the tip of my nose and sort of spreads upwards to the sides.

Here are the pics I took today. I'll try to get some clearer shots when the sun's out...

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/pillite/NOSE1.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/pillite/NOSE2.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/pillite/NOSE3.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/pillite/NOSE4.jpg
http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f34/pillite/NOSE5.jpg

Thanks again for your replies,

Barry.

[phlika29]

Barry

I can see no real pink on or around your nose. But I agree with duke that you should see a derm/doctor if you are really concerned. If it is rosacea then you need to be proactive. For instance if alcohol makes you flush then maybe you should cut it out or at least reduce your consumption, avoid stong sunlight, treat skin carefully.

But to be honest I now loads of people who flush with alcohol who have never progressed to having rosacea.

If you live in England I can recommend Dr Chu who works out of Hammersmith Hospital, but first you will have to go to your doctor to get the ball rolling.

By the way when I was depressed I found that I became obsessed with how my face looked to the point where I couldn't function. I found that a course of antidepressants helped sort this. Ps If you want a laugh have a look at my photos a couple of posts below yours.

Sarah

[moc]

Well I can see some redness/blemishes, not just on the nose but also spreading out to the cheeks and around your eyebrows. It looks similar to fairly mild sebderm to me, which I have had for a long time. Will be interesting to see what your doctor says - please do go and let us know how you get on? Oh, and don't let them fob you off with steroid hydrocortisone cream - prolonged use of that will damage your skin.

[Comic Relief]

Thank you for your replies Sarah and moc.

Sarah - I try to avoid sunlight as much as possible and wear a peaked cap when I do go out in it. I don't drink tooo often, it's just that I've noticed my nose is sometimes redder the day after...but yeah, I guess a lot of peaple get that. :)

I do get depressed but it's only because of the way my nose is. It's kinda frustrating that the photos don't show it the way it actually is... it's red enough to have attracted a number of cruel comments over the years.

Thanks for your recommendation - I live in Somerset and will be going to the doc very soon to see what he has to say - I sooo want to get that 'ball rolling' but I'm finding it really hard to make the first step. I know that seems ridiculous considering how crp I feel now.

moc - Thanks so much for your advice, I'll keep it in mind. :)

Barry.

[Ajay]

Hows it going have you seem the Dr yet?being possitive really is the way to beat this good luck