flemmo
27th March 2007, 09:53 PM
Hi everyone.
I'm new here and have been looking around the forums - very nice to know somewhere like this exists!
Just a bit of background... I'm 26, male and have been diagnosed with Rosacea by a dermotologist. I've also got seb. derm. which I had since I was about 14 (puberty was the start of all my skin problems, starting with acne). Looking through the forums I'm now a little unsure of the diagnosis, mainly because so many different conditions can look nearly identical!.
below are a number of photos in chronological order. If I describe whats happening in each one, I'd be very interested to know your thoughts.
1) Red Flare Ups
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/flemmo/forehead.jpg
This was the 1st real symptom I got, apart from red nasal folds, which I've always put down to SD. I feel a tingly feeling, usually on the forehead, then it starts to itch quite intensly at times. When I come to look there is often a hot red patch of skin with a tiny little pimple (papule?) in the centre. When the redness has gone (usually about an hour), a red spot remains. This normally subsides after 4 days
2) Cheek Flare Up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/flemmo/cheak.jpg
The symptoms described in 1) progressed to other areas of the face. Again very itchy and raised (hive). you can also see how red the nasal folds are, though they have been this way for many years. There are also a few thread veins.
3) Red/Bumpy Forehead
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/flemmo/forehead2.jpg
Next came this. The skin is quite red, especially towards the centre of the forehead and also quite bumpy in texture. Most suspected papules occur here.
4) Neck
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/flemmo/neck.jpg
The itchy (for the duration of the flareup) raised spots then started appearing on my neck. They very occasionally have the red patch seen in 1).
5) Cheeks
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/flemmo/right_cheek.jpg
This was about 3 weeks ago. very red and blotchy.
For the last few months I have been working under the assumption of rosacea. I try to stick as close as possible to Brady Barrows Rosacea diet. I definately find that sugar is a huge no no and now only have very small amounts of natural sugar that comes in veg.
I'm currently on doxycyline and metronidazole cream. This just seem completely random - I might get 2 or 3 good days where I look to be on the mend, then things get worse again. Recently I have been having flushing in my nose, especially when eating hot food. I can just feel the blood rushing there and I can see it get visibly bigger!
I had my 1st IPL treatment 6 days ago and I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself. Everywhere I had treated (cheeks, nose, forehead) is red and stings. The cooling gel mask only helps for a short while. On the plus side the itchy flareups/papules have not made an appearance and the skin on my forhead is much smoother. The thread veins on the sides of my nose have faded somewhat.
It would be good to know if this does indeed look likely to be rosacea. At least then I know I'm on the right path... or not :roll:
I'm new here and have been looking around the forums - very nice to know somewhere like this exists!
Just a bit of background... I'm 26, male and have been diagnosed with Rosacea by a dermotologist. I've also got seb. derm. which I had since I was about 14 (puberty was the start of all my skin problems, starting with acne). Looking through the forums I'm now a little unsure of the diagnosis, mainly because so many different conditions can look nearly identical!.
below are a number of photos in chronological order. If I describe whats happening in each one, I'd be very interested to know your thoughts.
1) Red Flare Ups
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/flemmo/forehead.jpg
This was the 1st real symptom I got, apart from red nasal folds, which I've always put down to SD. I feel a tingly feeling, usually on the forehead, then it starts to itch quite intensly at times. When I come to look there is often a hot red patch of skin with a tiny little pimple (papule?) in the centre. When the redness has gone (usually about an hour), a red spot remains. This normally subsides after 4 days
2) Cheek Flare Up
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/flemmo/cheak.jpg
The symptoms described in 1) progressed to other areas of the face. Again very itchy and raised (hive). you can also see how red the nasal folds are, though they have been this way for many years. There are also a few thread veins.
3) Red/Bumpy Forehead
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/flemmo/forehead2.jpg
Next came this. The skin is quite red, especially towards the centre of the forehead and also quite bumpy in texture. Most suspected papules occur here.
4) Neck
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/flemmo/neck.jpg
The itchy (for the duration of the flareup) raised spots then started appearing on my neck. They very occasionally have the red patch seen in 1).
5) Cheeks
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v368/flemmo/right_cheek.jpg
This was about 3 weeks ago. very red and blotchy.
For the last few months I have been working under the assumption of rosacea. I try to stick as close as possible to Brady Barrows Rosacea diet. I definately find that sugar is a huge no no and now only have very small amounts of natural sugar that comes in veg.
I'm currently on doxycyline and metronidazole cream. This just seem completely random - I might get 2 or 3 good days where I look to be on the mend, then things get worse again. Recently I have been having flushing in my nose, especially when eating hot food. I can just feel the blood rushing there and I can see it get visibly bigger!
I had my 1st IPL treatment 6 days ago and I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself. Everywhere I had treated (cheeks, nose, forehead) is red and stings. The cooling gel mask only helps for a short while. On the plus side the itchy flareups/papules have not made an appearance and the skin on my forhead is much smoother. The thread veins on the sides of my nose have faded somewhat.
It would be good to know if this does indeed look likely to be rosacea. At least then I know I'm on the right path... or not :roll: