diagnosed with rosacea

[lolitx]

For the last 3 years or so I've been dealing with breakouts around my nose area (the crease) with what looks like a whitehead but has no head. In the last year I've been to two dermos who claim I have rosacea. I do not have all the "normal" symptoms of rosacea. What I do deal with are the white little lumps, and my nose along the middle have little red bumps filled with pus and a medium sized red patch that never seems to go away on my tip. It seems worse when I'm out in the sun. I do not "flush" I just get splotchy. Before my last trip to the dermotologist (Metrogel had been perscribed which didnt do a thing) I decided to take matters into my own hands and bought the proactiv stuff you see on tv. To my amazement it has kept things under control. I went back to the dermo about 3 weeks ago (a differnt doc in the same group) who looked at me and said "rosacea). She then perscribed this new med called finacia, which broke me out horribly, so I switched back to proactiv and things are clearing up again (only a few days on proactiv again) This condition is only around my nose area.

I've been reading about a condition called melia. I was wondering if this could possibly be what I have. I sweat on my nose it seems almost constantly and living in Texas you cant run from the heat. It gets worse if I'm out in the sun. I can think back to when this started was when I was taking weekend trip down to the ocean fishing and being out in the sun alot. The next week my face would be all blotchy and this breakouts would occur. I would just think because of the wind blowing sea salt and sand I had thing embedded in my skin. I've not been fishing in a few years. Mostly these breakouts occur in the same spot. They can be picked, no head, just pus.

What would be your opinion of this? If it is melia how do you treat it? And if it is proactiv that helps my skin wouldnt it just be an acne condition also?

lolitx, i haven't heard of melia but i have heard of milia, is that what you meant?

[Tamara]

Welcome Lolitx,

It sounds like the derms might be right and that it is rosacea. Some of the spots you describe sound like rosacea pustules. Elidel was great for me when I had pustules. It took them right away in just a few days, however, in February there was a scare that Elidel MAY contribute to cancer risk. Dr. Nase seems to think there isn't much need to worry about it though. You'll have to make your own decision.

Many people with rosacea have not liked Metrogel and Finacea, so you're on the right track to be listening to what your face says about these prescriptions the derms are giving you. Sometimes the derms can be quite insistent, but remember to continue listening to your face.

If you're new to rosacea, the first thing you need to do is order Dr. Nases's book "Beating Rosacea" from his website. It gives an amazing amount of information.

Best of Luck,

Tamara

[lolitx]

Yeah, I guess I did mean milia, but once I started looking for pictures of the internet on it it wasnt what I have at all.

I did not know proactiv would help rosacea, but I swear by it now.

I'm new to all of this so maybe I shoudl research elidel and see what comes up or an explanation here would be great. I will have to check out the book you meantioned. Thanks!

I was going to say that if you did mean milia then it didn't sounds like that really. Milia are a build up of sebum that is trapped under the skin. they are not inflamed at all so have no redness associated with them.

tamara gave some good advice there. I know you don't want to have rosacea and a lot of people get scared as it is progressive, no cure etc etc but it doesn't have to be a life sentance. Have a good read on the board and stick around and im sure yr'll find some helpful info about products that will help control yr outbreak.

[lolitx]

I'm not really scared of the diagnosis. Just a bit confused. When I have been prescribed rosacea meds (metrocrem, finacea) all it does is make things worse. When I go back to using the Proactiv it all clears up and makes everything go away, unless I get out in the sun and sweat. I didnt think acne remedies would work on rosacea? Just a bit confused I guess. I have been told if you sweat or even if your glasses sit on your nose while you're sweating you get the plugs that are hard to get rid of. I still have doubts, but have to keep my eyes and ears open to what docs say. I've already been to two and cant afford to be running all over town to get diagnosed. Just wondering if anyone else had proactiv work for them!