my family think i'm being stupid....

[tarky]

...complaining about the heat/flushing/redness/eyes ect......they just think it's anxiety and that it's all in my head. I was even diagnosed with it today and i told my mum and she just laughed and said 'really?....did the derm say that? i still think it's anxiety".
My sister acted the same way....my family just think i'm making it up, or making out it's worse than it is. I'd like to see how'd they'd go living with it for a week. Do outsiders just have no idea about how it is to live with?
They were even saying there's no point in me going to a derm because its all in my head...but said do it if it'll put my mind at ease.
I'm feeling really depressed that it's been confirmed that i have it and my mum and sister just laugh at the situation and makes nothing of it and STILL think it's anxiety!
I've gone through months of telling them how bad it is they all treat me as if it's all mental and get annoyed when i mention it. I try not to mention it often but i do sometimes just because i can always feel the heat and i want to tell somebody to maybe get some support.
On monday morning i woke up and my face was on fire and all red...i jumped out of bed to check the mirror and it was the worst i'd seen it....a big red hot rash on my face. My sister was home (31yo) and i went to her and said i'm really stressed, i woke up and my face is burning out of control. She just dismissed me and was annoyed that i mentioned my face....i felt so alone.
I'm really starting to hate my family because of it and am thinking about moving states and taking a big break from them for a year or so without contact. But i need to learn how to control the heat first.

I've be prescribed doxyeyiline, have have people found this to work? does it work on the heat factor?
She also gave me hydrozole....is this because it's a cortizone cream? or is cortizone ok to use for a short while?

thanks, sorry for the rant....had to get it out :(

[phlika29]

I am sorry that your family arent listening to you. Your experience does not seem that uncommon I am afraid.

[TheMediumDog]

You're not alone.

It is strange that non-sufferers don't seem to be able to appreciate how distressing and uncomfortable rosacea can be. Many people find this.

What I do is this. First, I try to explain everything as calmly, clearly and logically as possible. Tell them, for example, that if you're face is 'on fire', it is very difficult to ignore - it takes up your whole attention. Plus, the disease is very unpredictable, so it puts you on edge constantly - you never know when you might just suddenly flush. And, it can be very uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, its difficult. My family are very understanding people, but I often feel like my distress is ignored.

So, the second thing you have to do is grow a thick skin. You have to be strong, psychologically. This is difficult. You have to put effort into it. The big thing you can draw strength from is knowing that it is a treatable disease. Its tricky, identifying the right treatment. But it is not impossible. So, keep that in mind.

Also, as much as your family might seem to ignore your problem, you should think hard before moving away. Emotional support is important.

--

Doxycycline can be very effective. It will take a while (a month-ish) before it kicks in. It is for the spots, but will also help lower inflammation, so might help a bit with the flushing (what you call the 'heat factor').

--

Hydrozole.

OK, this is one-half anti-fungal, one-half cortisone. The anti-fungal part isn't used to treat rosacea, but rather, seb derm (or other fungal skin problems). So your derm has either diagnosed this, or is hedging his/her bets. You can try it to see if it does any good.

However, as you know, cortisone cream is not advisable to use long-term with rosacea. You can get 'addicted' (i.e. it improves the rosacea, but underneath is actually making it worse; so you need to use it more to keep down the rosacea, which gets even worse). But in the short term, it will be fine.

--

You say that your skin problems came about after a period of stress. You also said in a previous posts that you had blood tests.

What type of blood tests did you have? Do you know? In particular, did they measure your hormone levels? Rosacea can be brought about by hormone-imbalances. For example, a period of high stress can trigger 'hyperthyroidism' - where too much thyroid hormone gets produced. This can lead to rosacea-like symptoms, among other things.

--

Another medication you might look into is beta-blockers. They might help with the flushing/heat.

[tarky]

You're not alone.

It is strange that non-sufferers don't seem to be able to appreciate how distressing and uncomfortable rosacea can be. Many people find this.

What I do is this. First, I try to explain everything as calmly, clearly and logically as possible. Tell them, for example, that if you're face is 'on fire', it is very difficult to ignore - it takes up your whole attention. Plus, the disease is very unpredictable, so it puts you on edge constantly - you never know when you might just suddenly flush. And, it can be very uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, its difficult. My family are very understanding people, but I often feel like my distress is ignored.

So, the second thing you have to do is grow a thick skin. You have to be strong, psychologically. This is difficult. You have to put effort into it. The big thing you can draw strength from is knowing that it is a treatable disease. Its tricky, identifying the right treatment. But it is not impossible. So, keep that in mind.

Also, as much as your family might seem to ignore your problem, you should think hard before moving away. Emotional support is important.

--

Doxycycline can be very effective. It will take a while (a month-ish) before it kicks in. It is for the spots, but will also help lower inflammation, so might help a bit with the flushing (what you call the 'heat factor').

--

Hydrozole.

OK, this is one-half anti-fungal, one-half cortisone. The anti-fungal part isn't used to treat rosacea, but rather, seb derm (or other fungal skin problems). So your derm has either diagnosed this, or is hedging his/her bets. You can try it to see if it does any good.

However, as you know, cortisone cream is not advisable to use long-term with rosacea. You can get 'addicted' (i.e. it improves the rosacea, but underneath is actually making it worse; so you need to use it more to keep down the rosacea, which gets even worse). But in the short term, it will be fine.

--

You say that your skin problems came about after a period of stress. You also said in a previous posts that you had blood tests.

What type of blood tests did you have? Do you know? In particular, did they measure your hormone levels? Rosacea can be brought about by hormone-imbalances. For example, a period of high stress can trigger 'hyperthyroidism' - where too much thyroid hormone gets produced. This can lead to rosacea-like symptoms, among other things.

--

Another medication you might look into is beta-blockers. They might help with the flushing/heat.

hi, thanks for your reply. I haven't had my hormone levels checked....if this is the cause could it be reversed? Or once rosacea starts is it here to stay?

Also, my nose feels swollen and pink (doesn't appear swollen but i can feel it if you know what i mean) Would the Doxycycline help bring the swelling down too?

Another thing is i'm thinking of trying melanotan.....would Doxycycline still be ok to use while on it? (i've read it makes your skin even more sensitive to the sun)

thanks alot

[TheMediumDog]

Hormones

I think I read before that you had thyroid levels checked, and that the tests came back fine. Is that right?

That was my main suspicion re. hormones - because, as well as leading to rosacea-like symptoms, hyperthyroidism can also lead to anxiety etc, which you said you had.

As for whether things could be reversed if your problems were due to a hormone imbalance - of course. Yes. You would just need to control the relevant imbalance. (For example, some females, whose rosacea gets worse each month, control hormone levels with the Pill.) You can do a lot to alter various hormone levels.


Doxycycline

Like I say, antibiotics are mainly for the spots, although they do help lower inflammation, which could help the 'swelling' you refer to. But I think you might want to look at an additional medication, because I expect you wouldn't get full relief just from the doxy.

I don't know about the interaction with melanotan. Check it up on a 'drug interaction' checker - or start a thread on it.

[Alba]

Dear Tarky:

TheMediumDog's advice is totally on point.

I have had rosacea for about 10 years or so. I have been married for almost 28 years. My husband tries to be supportive but doesnt accomplish this. He sees how bad i can get from the flushing etc, he knows i need the air conditioner cold yet when ever possible he wants me to turn it up to 75 but if it was up to him 78 would make him very happy. knowing that i start to flush he literally sees it happening yet he still would say its too cold. So no matter how much support i think i have from my family its still not as much as i need. thankfully the only one that supports me 150% is my mom but that is really it. even my daughter who is 24 she has mild rosacea and there are times when she is not supportive since she doesn't have severe symptoms.

So as TheMediumDog says we have to grow hard skin and deal with it as best as possible just ignore, think of your self 1st and if you are uncomfortable somewhere cuase its too hot just leave go home cool off and make yourself feel better.

I know its hard but thankfully you can come to this website and find the support you need.

If i have an occasion to go to i will get anxious just thinking about how warm will it be will i flush horribly. I now on those special occasions take xanax when i start to get ready with makeup etc and it really helps to calm me down in return not allow such a big flush so i can prepare my self for the occasion.

Good luck and there is much good advice on this website.

Alba

[BingoBangoBongo]

I'm the in exact same boat.

Don't listen to the nay-sayers. My mom, and family, the only people that see me like this tell me there isn't a problem with my face. They're stupid. They're the kind of people that are happy with mediocrity, even if there's something much better out there.

At the end of the day, the only person that's really going to help you is yourself, so with that said, don't give up. Keep looking for a solution until you're happy with the results. Don't have someone tell you ' you look fine ' if you don't feel like that.

[mattdog323]

my dad said the same to me mat ur a girl red face what an excuse

I nearly bashed him for saying that,

The best thing to do is stay positive im 25 and get no family support id get laughed at,but there are people out there who care,

Its a funny topic to some people when u start talking about ur face,blush:

Ignore the haters,

[Mistica]

Matt,

Doesn't your rosacea twin offer support?
If not, that is odd.

[mattdog323]

Its a strange topic we dont really see eye to eye these days which im sure may seem funny to some people as we are identical twins,

Theres still a bond there but we deal with our problems on our own,