When is Rosacea not Rosacea?

[Sally]

Dear Dr Nase

I have been diagnosed with Rosacea by a dermatologist. But I do not have any flushing, blushing, burning etc. only lots of p&p's (predominantly on my face but also on my body) and redness. I understand this a sub-type of Rosacea but...

You have written previously that in certain skin conditions the sebum cells (immature sebacytes) can get sticky, forming a plug which oxidizes and makes a mess. In my case Accutane has decreased the stickiness and helped undo this 'mess'.

If Rosacea is foremost a vascular disorder. Are the sticky sebacytes caused by infammatory fluid leaking out from damaged blood vessels? I had 2 IPL sessions with Dr Patterson and he didn't think further treatment would help.

Maybe I haven't got 'true' Rosacea (a vascular disease). Perhaps it's just some bog standard acne-like skin complaint. Dermatologists seem to be putting the tag 'Rosacea' to everything these days.

Trying hard to educate myself on this whole baffling subject.

Your comments would be much appreciated.

Sally

[drnase]

Rosacea has a lot of close cousins. It could be some variant of perioral dermatitis which is not rosacea, but looks exactly like it under the microscope.

Plus, females and their hormones -- my weakest subject, but most pertinent to you ladies.

Milia is another possibility

A cousin to KP.


Just throwing out other options without any regard for the scientific method.

[Sally]

Mmm. The plot thickens. Thanks very much for that info. Dr Nase.

I looked up perioral dermatitis on the net and apparently it's very much a woman's thing. With cosmetics and fluorinated toothpaste possibly being some causative factors.

All my problems began way back when I was modelling. The make up artists would crowd round to watch my face turn bright red. Just couldn't tolerate all those different make-ups, cleansers etc. So who knows?

BTW the number of males with POD is assumed to be increasing because of changes in their cosmetic habits.

So watch out boys!