Kelli

[Kelli]

I posted these a while back. And I think I'm going to get my husband to take a new picture of me tonight after I wash my make up off. I've talked recently about how much wors my face has gotten. Figure I might as well document it.

http://www.k-squared.com/kelli/Rosacea/index.htm

[Kelli]

I took this last night after I washed my face. Sorry it's a bit blurry - I took it myself and forgot to hold the button down while it focused. OOPS!

Oh yeah - this is also at about 10:00 pm, so no comments about how bad the hair is! :D

http://www.k-squared.com/kelli/Rosacea/7-28-05.jpg

[scrumptious]

Kelli thanks for posting that, i think youre extremely brave to take a photo when yr feeling yr worst, i really should follow yr example and put my flushy photos up :oops:

[Kelli]

Brave or stupid?

I tend to take a lot of pictures so that if I need to show my dr. when I'm not having a flare up, I can. It seems like half the time I go to my Dr. I end up clearing up like two days before, then break out right after I leave the office. I take these to show.

The one on my lip is the one I was talking about last weekend. It's still healing. When I woke up last weekend, my entire lip look like I had busted it. Literally it was swollen from the front of my lip into the inside of my mouth. So much pressure!

[scrumptious]

I used to get spots like that around my chin area and i know just how painful they are! you don't know whether to leave them alone or try and bring them to a head just to relieve the pressure. I'm crossing everything for you when you talk to yr doc next x

[smudge]

Kelli, thanks for sharing your pictures! I really feel for you. My face is similar... except my nose is much more swollen. I was wondering what treatment you have been through and what has been recommended. I have now been to 4 specialists and have yet to receive adequate care.

If anyone knows of any rosacea specialists in the Long Island, New York area, I would greatly appreciate any information.

-liz

[Kelli]

I'll post everything I've been through on here later. Don't think I'm ignoring... :-)

[KHM]

Oh - that actually looks about like me

Two notes - I think Vbeam helped the P&P more than IPL, don't know why but I remember Dr Nase saying Vbeam sealed the oil glands.

And - I found out my worst breakouts - where it turned into cystic acne- were actually triggered by cosmetic intolerance - I was intolerant of - (3 guesses) - my Rosacea topicals, including the prescription stuff.

Are you on any topicals you could be reacting to?

[Kelli]

Ok - I'll try and do a quick run through of what I've been through over the years.

Diagnosed with "a special type of acne" when I was 11 years old. Come to find out it was rosacea. I was given some sort of miracle ointment that cleared it up within weeks and never had a problem with it after that.

Until I was about 19-20? somewhere along those lines. I went through the beginning of a very stressful time period (that has yet to end), and I noticed that I was breaking out more and more. Mostly along my chin and my lower cheeks. I went to probably the better dermatologist I have found and he immediately recognized it as rosacea. I didn't even know what rosacea was at the time, but I remember feeling elated that there was a name for it and I wasn't nuts.

He prescribed me the usual - antibiotics and metrocream. I cleared up for a while, and really it didn't bother me much. I'd have a pimple here and there. Nothing severe.

A couple of years later, I started having more problems. I went through a nasty breakup, then fell in love (different guy!), got married, severed ties with my mother, found out things that happened in my life that I didn't know about, bought a house - you know, the usual things a 22 year old goes through.

I went to a couple of different derms. during this time. I didn't go back to the original one, because he moved out of the city. Most of the Derms I went to, I'd try what they gave me for a bit, and nothing would happen. I would get to a point where I couldn't pay attention to my skin. I was given the different antibiotics that are out there, as well as the sulfur cleansers (a few of them), one Dr. actually applied dry ice to my face (NEVER EVER put dry ice to your face, even if you don't have rosacea. It hurts like hell!) Everytime I asked what this did, I never got a straight answer.

Then, at 23, I got pregnant, then miscarried. Found out that I had hypothyroidism. I got that taken care of with medication and got pregnant again. My Dr. is a very cautious Dr., so she put me on progesterone with both pregnancies. The first obvously didn't save the baby, but the second time did. It was during this second pregnancy with my son that my rosacea went nuts and has continued to look the same since then. I did see a Derm. while I was pregnant. She put me on another antibiotic that my OB/GYN said was OK, as well as some other things I could try (Finacea), but my OB/GYN said it was my choice, but she didn't recommend it. I chose my baby over my face, especially with my past m/c.

It was this Dr. that first told me about Accutane, but for obvious reasons I couldn't take it. She told me to come back after I had my baby to see about the accutane. i just didn't care for her much, so I didn't go back.

It's been pretty much status quo until last year when I just wasn't clearing up after my cycles. I was trying to figure out what my "triggers" were and couldn't find anything. I didn't flush. I do blush, and I do have a red tint most of the time, but nothing all that painful, like what I've heard discribed. I mostly just have P&P. It was when I was looking into RosaceaCare that I found Dr. Nase's book and the yahoo group that I've become much more aggressive with my rosacea treatments.

I found another Derm. that I went to earlier this year. She gave me a few prescriptions to try and get the P&P under control. Nothing worked again. I asked her about IPL, because I was reading in Dr. Nase's book and from people on different sites that it was the dream cure for rosacea. I shelled out the money (I was so excited that I got a discount!) for 5 IPL treatments. It's now about 4 weeks after my 5th treatment and I'm worse. I am supposed to be on metrogel and minocycline, but obviously, they haven't worked in the past, why would they now?

Right now, I just clean my face twice a day with this new Eucerin sensitive skin stuff. I'm going on 2 weeks with it, so I'm still seeing if it's working or not. I'm also using their lotion that helps reduce the red - but use that in the mornings and then nuetrogena sensitive at night. I have changed my make up base to see if that was causing problems. And I've started taking a calcium supplement to help with my back (degenerative disc in my lower back).

I'll be 26 next week if that tells you how long I've been fighting this. My son will be 2 in september. I go back to my derm next week to see what my next step is. I am also going to call my OB/GYN this week to see about getting a full hormone blood work up done. I'm really thinking my issues are with my hormones being way off. So many other issues I have seem to point that direction.

So - that was a really long post to a simple question. Sorry about being so long winded. And feel free to ask anything else. I just figure if I can learn something from you, rock on - if you can learn something from me, even better! :-)

Kelli

[KHM]

OK - don't be too discouraged with IPL yet - most of the time I break out like mad from week 2 through at least 4, but overall they helped once I got through the healing cycle.

Have you done protopic or elidil yet. Elidil made me much worse (hint, I can't tolerate anything in a cream base) but protopic is like a miracle drug - first topical thing that actually helped. Ever. In 14 + years.

[Neil]

Why not try low-dose Accutane? It helped me enormously. 10 mg a day for 5 months, then 10 mg every second day for 10 months.

[Kelli]

I was given elidel once, but never filled teh prescription. The Dr. never explained anything. And was a complete ass, so I didn't trust what he was prescribing for me.

I am planning on trying Accutane, but have read to wait three months after my last IPL treatment. I've got about 2 more months to go for that.

As for the healing, I had 5 treatments. I waould break out,t hen clear up right before my next treatment, which was about two weeks after each one. I'm now 4 weeks out. I can't see how all of a sudden, with my last treatment, I break out uncontrollably before it gets better. And it's getting worse. I had about 10 more spots this morning, on top of what I already had.

[coldbliss]

Kelli,

When I saw your picture, I thought I was looking into the mirror. My rosacea is in the same stage as yours, except I get many P & P's on my upper cheeks and forehead instead of the chin area.

You should keep that digitally touched-up photo from your web site as a reminder of the most important goal: defeating the Big R. You'll get there some day.

Craig

[Kelli]

Thanks, Craig.

I go look at it occasionally, just to see that I CAN do it.

I was talking to someone yesterday about all of this and they asked me if I saw a light at the end of the tunnel, or if I didn't see any hope at all.

I could honestly say that I do think there's something out there that will put me into remission. It's just now up to me, instead of my Dr.s to find it.

I've been thinking about doing accupuncture again. I did it once for panic/anxiety attacks a few years ago and it worked. I'm thinking it may help with my back and maybe my face. dunno...

[smudge]

Hey all... here is a pic of me last night. Since then, my entire jaw line has broken out into hives. I dont think my nose should be the same color as my lips... <sigh> liz

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=18gkDPuRUB7y7vXkR4LbHJwyC1nXDx

[Kelli]

WooHoo! You got it! :D

Are you doing any type of medications/topicals or antyhign like that right now?

[smudge]

GOT IT! thanks to your help kelli! I am on metronidazole and finacea plus Doxcycline. I am also in the process of trying to get my weight low enough to stop my monthly cycles which seem to make it worse.

You can see my skin is just awful especially my nose. I hate going out to work because people just stare at me. This rosacea has taken over my life.

everyone have a great day. - liz

[Kelli]

Hold up... dropping your weight low enough to stop your cycles is very bad for your body. Why not do it with birth control? It's perfectly safe to get on some birth control that you can take for 12 weeks and not have a period, then have a period, then back on for 12 weeks. MUCH safer than stopping all together with weight loss. Are you talking to your Dr. about this?

If it helps any at all, it doesn't look that bad from what I can see. You have a few (which, you said you broke out last night) and the one on your nose. I hate those... no amount of make up can seem to hide them, right!

If you wear make up, there was one suggested in the the skin care section, I believe. I've been using it and I really like the coverage. It's giving me a bit more confidence than what I was using. I'll see if I can find it and post it here in a bit.

[Kelli]

Here it is.

http://forum.rosaceagroup.org/viewtopic.php?t=788

It was cheap too!

[Callien]

Kelli and Liz

Both of your symptoms sound so similar to mine. I've just had a horrible time with this stupid disease. I got Accutane off the Internet because I couldn't get any Dr. to prescribe it for me. It has really helped with the P&P.
Just hang in there. I know how hard it can be. Kelli, let us know how your hormone testing goes. I've thought of having it done myself because my skin changes depending on what time of the month it is.
Best

[NikkiLou]

Hi Kelli

I am 26 and from the UK. Your current situation pretty much mirrors my own. Like you, I don't flush but do blush sometimes - P & P are my main problems.

I have also been on many antibiotics and topicals - some have helped to a degree, but only whilst I've been taking them. I cannot remeber the last time I had a clear day. I used to go through flare ups that would subside and clear for a little while. It's just like one constant flare up at the moment.

My dermatologist has said that if the antibiotics don't help this time - then he would recommend low dose roaccutane - which I have resisted up to this point. I have heard many people have some success with this though - so maybe it's worth a try.

p.s - well done for posting your pics - afraid I'm not that brave yet.

[Kelli]

It helps to hear there are others out there that have the same issues. Are we all looped into some hormonal thing? Mine would come and go, but now, since I had IPL it's jsut constant - and getting worse.

I also have resisted Accutane up until now. I read too many horror stories about it and how you have to be so careful with it. I was pregnant when I first heard about it, so obviously I couldn't get on it then. But, I'm going that direction now - as well as looking into the homeopathic ways.

[irishgenes]

Smudge, is your metro a topical or internal? The gel/cream can make your rosacea worse. It did for me. I broke out in little pimples all over my face. I'd try stopping it for a while if you are using a topical metro product. If you really want Accutane, you can get it online or go to a different doctor.

Kelli, are you currently taking a thyroid medication? I went to a gynecologist when I was young who told me I was hypothryoid and put me on thyroid medicine. I went a different doctor later who told me to get off the throid drug because my blood tests showed I was never hypothyroid. There are just a lot of bad doctors out there, and you have to check up on them by getting a copy of your medical records and lab results. They have to give it to you. Have you been checked for polycystic ovary disease? Some symptoms: easy weight gain, acne, miscarriages.

Kelli, I don't know if you ever read my post on "Help For Women With Premenstrual Acne", so I am going to repost it here:
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________________
Although 8 years post-menopause now, I suffered pre-menstrual acne outbreaks for 38 years. I am now on bioidentical hormones and still get acne when I take natural progesterone every 3 months.

I clipped a short "question & answer" from a magazine a few years back. Can't remember the name of the magazine or date now, but this dermatologist said that estrogen dominant bc pills help pre-menstrual acne and Aldactone (a diuretic) blocks progesterone from stimulating your oil glands. But what most interested me was that he said taking an antihistamine such as Benadryl for about a week, starting four or five days before a flare-up is expected, works for some women. I decided to try clemestine during my progesterone days, since Benadryl makes me sleepy. It worked! I wish I had known this back when I was in high school. I don't know why this would work unless some women are "allergic" to their own progesterone? Anyway, the doctor who wrote this article was David Bank, MD, director of the Center for Dermatology, Laser, & Plastic Surgery, Mt. Kisco, NY.
__________________________________________________ ____________________________________________

I'd just like to add that I have been taking a 12-hour antihistamine starting about a week after I start the progesterone, and it has prevented the hard sore lumps of acne I always got with progesterone. And I had been on every kind of antibiotic and topical, plus 3 courses of high-dose Accutane during the time I was suffering with acne from age 12 to 50.) I could hardly believe that a simple OTC antihistamine was the answer I had searched for all my life!

This month, something different happened. I started flushing non-stop the first day I started the progesterone (which is a natural progesterone capsule bioidentical to human progesterone). This went on for 5 days. I eliminated yogurt & histamine foods and all my supplements. Still flushing. I decided that the progesterone was causing the flushing, took the antihistamine early, and stopped flushing within a couple of hours. I was intrigued that your rosacea got worse when you used progesterone during your prenancy, Kelli. How old is your child now?

I have read that some women have a paradoxical reaction to natural progesterone, whether their own endogenous hormone or a capsule. Instead of all the good things that most women experience with the hormone, we have bloat, depression irritation, nervousness, increased hunger, and acne. In a book by Dr. Elizabeth Vliet, I read that the best birth control pill for women like that is Ovcon 35. It has the lowest progestin content, and she said that as little as .1 mg makes a big difference in side effects.

You know, Smudge, you are in NY. Is Mt Kiscoe anywhere near you? If so, I'd go to that derm mentioned above, David Bank. He couldn't be worse than the doctor you are seeing now!

[Callien]

Thanks Irish for all that information. I feel like we're all trying to solve this huge puzzle and every little piece helps. ':D'

[Kelli]

We discovered my thyroid problem when my husband and I started trying to have a baby. My Dr. is actually a fertility specialist/OBGYN, so when I didn't get pregnant within 6 months, she did a full work up (Instead of dumbass Dr.s who say you have to go for a year.) Found my thyroid levels were off. I started taking the thyroid medication in June/July. Got pregnant in July/August. Miscarried in September. My thyroid could have caused the M/C. Or my LOW progesterone count. We're not really sure. I just know I was about 6-8 weeks along when I lost my baby. Then we waited 3 months (most Dr.s say one cycle. Mine was very cautious and said to wait 3 months for my body to heal.) I got pregnant at the end of December. And my son was then born in September of 2003.

Since then, I've had my blood checked on a regular basis for my thyroid. After I had my son, it fluctuated some. Kept having to get different dosages (it has been checked by another Dr. to confirm it), but I've been on the same dosage now for a little bit. I also found out that one of my aunts had to have her thyroid removed years ago, so it does run in my family.

I just called to remind my Dr. to get me my test results back. opefully she'll call today or tomorrow.

[irishgenes]

Well, I should have known you would be watching your lab tests, Kelli! You are a lot smarter than I was at your age. Of course, we didn't have the internet back then, so I was in the dark about a lot of things. It is wonderful to just be able to type in a subject on Google and find all this information. But in spite of it, we are still getting pimples (papules, pustules, whatever!) I've been reading about these topical "biological response modifiers" that Dr. Nase said would be a near-cure, permanently normalizing our skin right down at the genetic level. But knowing how slow medical progress is (at the consumer level, not necessarily in the research lab), I am afraid I am going to be dead before there is a cure.

[Kelli]

Thank you. :)

Due to some history in my early 20s (can I say that now?) I've had to pay more attention to my body. And, I really lucked out by getting an amazing OB/GYN. One who really cares more about her patients than about filling her pockets. For instance - most Dr.s will only start working with genetic testing and fertility testing after 3-5 miscarriages. She was talking about if I miscarried my second pregnancy going through the testing. And, she lists me as high risk pregnancy, due to my previous m/c and my thyroid. Things 75% of dr.s probably don't do. Don't waste time on.

Anyway... sorry about the rambling. I havne't heard back, but she said it could be tomorrow before the results come in. I will let y'all know what I hear.

Thank you to everyone for your support. It really is nice to know it's out there finally. :-)

[smudge]

Irish,

thanks for all the information. I might try using antihistimines (sp?) very soon. I had such a difficult day today because of the inflammation of my nose. Having been taken off accutane about a month and a half ago it looks as though i am back to square one with the sores and hives all over my face. Especially this time of the month. (my skin is much worse than the other night when i took that picture.)

Unfortunately, I have to work closely with other people and i am so embarrassed by my condition it is crippling me again. I feel hopeless because my skin was doing great on the accutane and the new "expert" took me off of it & put me on minicycline ( had severe reaction to it). His assistant told me they took me off the accutane because it was "too expensive for the insurance companies" and they need to find something else that works!!!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? Now on dyocycline (sp?) and its not working either. Ive made an appointment for 2 weeks from now with my 5th specialist. A woman this time... maybe i will get better compassion. Sorry to rant but i feel so hopeless by this. - liz

[Callien]

Liz,

That's horrible that your doctor took you off something that was working for you. Have you tried to order accutane off the Internet? That's how I get mine. It's just crazy how dismissive doctors/insurance companies are of what we go through. I've known people who were alcholics whose insurance spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on hospital and doctor visits for them and they would go right back to drinking again.
Here we are barely living a life because we are trying to avoid our triggers. I'm talking stuff like excercise, yogurt, and the occasional glass of wine. And I don't know about you but I've spent truckloads of cash on OTC products that didn't work and on IPL that my insurance wouldn't cover.
Anyway, good luck to you. Just wanted to let you know I understand. Also if you decide to get Accutane off the net I think there are sites that will do it with a Rx and some that will do it without.

[smudge]

i finally got photoshop for my computer and was able to make my picture a little easier to see. -liz


http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=18gkDPuRUB7y7vXkR4LbHJwyC1nXDx

[Jordan]

You look fine to me smudge! Be glad it's not very bad. If I saw you on the street I wouldn't even think you had rosacea.

Jordan

[smudge]

you are too kind... but if i took a picture of me at this very moment, you would not be saying the same thing. lol That was the beginning of an outbreak which has spread accross my nose to my cheeks. My entire nose now is much more swollen than in that photo and my chin is covered now in sores. I think the gel has helped with the overall redness of my face... now its more swelling, sores and hives. I am one of the lucky "rare" females to have the rosacea concentrated in my nose... it is so swollen all the time... -liz

on a lighter side... i HAVE FOUND THE PERFECT CONCEALER:

http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?pic=1eGIg9xaV0nnyugvFjXONEQ3Zqqq

[bethanne]

Isn't he/she beautiful?!

I have a 17-pound Red Tabby. I don't mind that
kind of "red".

Beth

[Jordan]

lol smudge.

[Beaner]

I am one of the lucky "rare" females to have the rosacea concentrated in my nose... it is so swollen all the time... -liz

Hello Liz, I'm a newbie to the forum (but I first had rosacea when I was 28, 15 years ago) but I just wanted to say thanks for putting up your pic. That is MY nose, lol. So many pics on the net but none of them look like me until now. I understand how you feel and today I got so fed up I went looking for help again.

I haven't any time now but would love to come back and talk about my experiences.

Hello to everyone, especially Kelli who started the thread. You are brave. Maybe I will put up pics later on, don't know if I feel that brave today. Having one of those, "I'm so ugly, I hate me" days
:roll:

[smudge]

Beaner... This web site is so full of information! You are in the right place. I would definately recommend you get Dr. Nase's book. It really will provide you with a game plan to hopefully conquer this crappy disease!

I know what its like to have to go out and face the world when your skin appears to be rotting off. its horrible and i can truly sympathize. Finding this web site has given me hope. I was actually thinking i would have to quit my job and try to find something to do at home!

Ive been to several specialists and have NOT received adequate treatment so I've had to figure it out myself. I am taking accutane (10mg dosage) that i ordered online without a script. One week now and no lesions on or INSIDE my nose!! Also, if you are like me, there are monthly breakouts around my cycle. I am about a week away from my face looking like raw meat so i started taking a 12 hour anitihistimine. (fingers crossed)

I have also started taking several of the vitamins that others have recommended on this site.

It takes so much courage to face the world when you have this disfiguring disease. Especially in the looks obsessed culture we live in! It just sucks!

good luck-liz

[claudia]

Hi Kelli ---

I'm responding to an old thread but hope I might have some ideas for you. My skin looked EXACTLY like yours at your age. I suffered (...did I say suffer? SUFFERED!!!) with it until age 34 when accutane became available. Back then the drs thought I just had severe acne so I had two rounds full dose accutane. It was very effective for getting rid of the deep & painful pimples! Although after stopping accutane the redness and SMALLER pimples continued. I won't go into all the acne products I used that almost cleared my skin but also made it raw and red. Just last year at age 54 my new dermatologist said...oh my god you have rosacea - STOP ALL ACNE PRODUCTS! which I did. Now I'm 6 mo into Doxycycline 40-60 mg/day, Metrogel 75% 2x/day, Spironolactone 50 mg/day (...this drug is very important and a great tx for women...on tests I show a slightly elevated testosterone level but not anything drs would normally treat...however I think that rosaceans are ultra sensitive to our bodies so this drug which is a very mild diruetic has a "side effect" of stopping androgens - hence it helps stop pimples! and you can take it forever!) Oil of Olay Sensitive Skin Wash and avoiding all triggers (alcohol, wheat, dairy, spices, hot, etc).

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU IS THIS --- If we have similiar kinds of skin...this is what made mine worse or didn't work at all:
Minocycline (the drs kept trying it on me and it doesn't work - doxycycline keeps me down to maybe 1 very small pimple a week)
Liquid make-ups --- even if noncomedogenic or made for rosaceans (...I only use a powder and like Cover Girl "Clean" --- it soaks up oil)
Sunscreen --- I won't even start to tell you how it makes me break out...even the ones for rosaceans!
Moisturizers --- same as sunscreens
All acne products
Anything warmer than tepid water

I wish I had posted before and after photos...although I'm really stupid with computers so don't know how. But after 10 years of using Proactiv I was red, raw, scaling, peeling, and still breaking out. Now after 6 months of "my rosacea regime" as I call it I finally have calm skin. I still have kind of wierd skin on my chin and forehead...it's kind of lumpy and I get like I said maybe one very teeny pimple a week on my chin but I can deal with this. I think it must take forever for rosacea skin to heal.

I'm hoping this helps...maybe it doesn't but I really feel for you and will keep you in my thoughts. Mostly, I remember raising 2 kids and having awful breakouts & red skin...I was so embarrased and avoided school activities, barely made it to work and just had this black cloud hanging over me as I dreaded the next day and all the new breakouts.

I think that accutane would be really good for you to try...it'll take care of the big zits and then you can go after the smaller ones. Keep us up to date on how it's going.

Claudia

[smudge]

thanks so much for the information!!!

Do you think the liquid make up actually made you redder? I am 40years old and have never worn makeup before 4 months ago. NOW i have to constantly cover my nose with make up to conceal the redness. (it is the same color as my lips)

I hope make up isnt making it worse.

what do you think?

liz

[claudia]

Yes --- all kinds of liquid make-up caused my skin to flare-up...even the ones for sensitive skin. I have no idea why...maybe the pigmentation (coloring agents)??? I can't seem to use any kind of "lotion" on my skin without getting a response. It's an immediate red response, followed later by whiteheads and small pimples. I really noticed this now that I've avoided ALL lotions (except for the metrogel) and my skin is almost white. If I put on a bit of sunscreen... :oops:

Having had severe acne as a teenager and then rosacea I tried for years to cover it up...with little success and much irritation. As I shared in a previous email, the only make-up that works for me is Clearasil "Clean" compressed powder. It says right on the packaging that it is for acnegenic skin. I use a natural bristle cosmetic brush to put it on. I tried the mineral powdered make-ups but they look wierd on my oily skin.

I sometimes wonder if our modern culture with all its lotions and potions hasn't aggrevated our problems. I think of my grandmother who only used a very mild soap and no makeup all her life and if she had the right idea. Her skin was never "assaulted" like ours has been and so although she had wrinkles and sun damage, at least she didn't have flare-ups that I was aware of.

[Sylvia66]

I tried the mineral powdered make-ups but they look wierd on my oily skin.


The mineral makeup also look weird on my skin. It tends to cake around
the oiliest parts of my face.

[Kelli]

Thought I'd post an updated picture.

This was taken a couple of weeks ago at the Bon Jovi Concert. I was screaming my head off all night - so much that I developed bronchitis for two weeks from it all. I didn't have any voice for a week. You can see that it was hot - I'm a bit shiny. But - no flush, no spots, no nothing. MAN I'm loving this!!!

http://www.k-squared.com/kelli/Rosacea/concert.jpg

[Bradley]

Wow Kelli, you look fantastic :shock: ! Congratulations!

That is one amazing turn around you have achieved for yourself. What do you think really instigated the change or turn of events? The accutane? Are you still on the accutane? Or Lasers? Thanks

[Kelli]

I think it's been a combo of getting the Accutane in my system to clean out junk, but also getting on Yasmin and balancing out my hormones.

Lasers made me far worse! I don't recommend them to anyone with P&P rosacea. It hurt like hell and just made the situation worse. I started seeing this a month after I started the Accutane and Yasmin. And it's been this way since. Only one break out, and that was shortly after I started the meds. I missed a couple of days and my face told me so! :oops:

[Kelli]

Double post!

But I forgot to add, THANK YOU! :-)

[Bradley]

Ah yes, it seems you ladies are lucky to have that option; the hormone supps. + accutane are a killer combo when it comes to attacking rosacea. Irish has also had great success with this method. I wish us guys could knock down our maxed-out testosterone levels without the harmful/undesirable side-effects :(.

I bet you feel like a new person now, full of confidence and happiness again, ready to experience life and not just live it.

I didn't realise you have had such a bad experience with lasers Kelli and the fact that they made your skin worse? You say you wouldn't recommend people with P&Ps to use them but I seem to remember from the pics on your blog that you didn't really have many P&Ps? Wasn't it mostly redness around the cheeks and nose? Was the right laser used by the right physician?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just interested in your view on lasers since they were kinda my 'last hope'.

Thanks again

[clsykes00]

Bradley,
I had a similar experience to Kelli's. I went for 7 IPL sessions before going on accutane and about a week after my IPL, I would have unbelievable breakouts. The IPL sessions were not harsh. She was Bitter trained, and certainly produced some beneficial effects for me. But, I figure the skin must go through some "shock" nonetheless and mild inflamation and redness should be expected from IPL. That said, these are the two culprits of our bouts with P&P. I came to expect the issues. I am glad I did the IPL sessions, but like Kelli, would highly recommend taking accutane prior to going the IPL path (that is, waiting 6 months to a year after your last accutane pill before starting IPL).

Best,
Trey

[Kelli]

Hmmm... I'd check the pics again. I had MAJOR P&P breakout. I couldn't touch my face without hitting a spot. After my treatments, I would come home and a few days later, I'd break out horribly. in the area right by mynose, it would swell so much with puss (not sure if that's what it was, but it was white and oozed) I could take my fingernail and start at the bottom of the red blotch, and push up along it and see dozens of pores just spring leaks of this stuff. It was the most disgusting thing I've ever seen. I think I had my last laser treatment in May or June. I got on accutane in September. Until that time I got nothing but worse.

[DukeCity]

Kelli, - You look so happy now, and you look fantastic! - I'm so glad you've made so much progress in the past few months. Keep smiling..

p.s. But Bon Jovi???! - I had you figured for Aaron Tippen or Garth Brooks

[Kelli]

LOL Here's my music background:

Dad likes British rock (He grew up in Germany)
Mom likes oldies (I have three things I want to do before I die - Go to Ireland, See Bon Jovi live, and see a good "Comeback Special" Elvis impersonator)
Step mother has a degree in theatre.
Brother is three years older than me and likes metal and rock.

I take after all of them. In my ipod, I have Bon Jovi, Les Miserables 20th Anniversary special, Kelly Clarkson, Queen Latifah's solo album, and a few others in there. I listen to just about anything but rap/hip hop. Never developed a taste for it. Do like country. But I'd have to say that Musicals and 80s Rock are my favorites.

And thank you - It has truly turned my attitude around. I kept thinking all last year when I was at my absolute worst, "There is something out there to make this better. I just have to find it." Keeping that going in my head kept me going - and still does. Iknow when I get pregnant again, I'll go through this all over again, but at least this time I can fight back sooner!

[claudia]

Kelli --- I think you look INCREDIBLE...I'm so happy for you! I want to thank you big time for all of your info!!! I think you saved me from a terrible "fate"...was going for an IPL consult tomorrow and cancelled due to cost AND cause my skin's exactly like yours...very pale, don't really blush (except in response to harsh topicals), don't have too much red veins and when I "flare" I get huge welts with pus and redness all around the welts. Had really bad flare after stupidly trying beta-hydroxy lotion so am going to try low dose accutane!!!

What's "yasmin"?

FYI --- in my 30's had 2 rounds of high dose accutane that totally cleared me for about a year but then the blemishes returned...not as severe but I'd get 2-3 huge welts with pus every week or so. Birth control pills and HRT helped clear things up so I know my rosacea is partly hormone driven like yours. I took tons of Proactiv too, etc...helped some but made me really red. My regime below has worked pretty well but I also take Spironolactone which helps stop androgens! I think it helps balance my post-menopausal hormone situation without taking HRT.

[moc]

Kelli, I just have to say, you look absolutely superb - it's so nice to see you in a good place after the difficult time you went through, not only with your failed laser treatments and general rosacea difficulties, but also the difficulties you had getting accutane. Long may it last!!

Mike

[Kelli]

Thank you all very much. It's nice to be a success on here. And ihope to help anyone else with my own story. I know it's not for everyone, but maybe it'll help out someone like Claudia. *crossing fingers*

If you're like me, and it sounds like you are, I would talk to your Dr. about switching to Yasmin birth control. If you get on Accutane, you'll need to be on BC anyway, so it would work out. I convinced my Dr. that I needed low dose accutane, because I have a low tolerance for medications. I really do, but she was handing me a 40mg prescription. I started walking out the door and said never mind. I'll find another Dr. She said, that we'd start out at 20mg, then work up. I grabbed my purse. LOL. She said ok, we'll do 10mg.. I don't think it'll do anything, but we can always up the dosage. Now look at me. :-) It helps to be a bit stubborn with your Docs.

When I first started on the Accutane, she said I may need a couple of IPL treatments afterwards for the redness. I keep going back and forth on if I'll do this. I've thought about doing it kind of as a guinea pig for here. She said then that she wouldn't charge me, so we'll see. I do have a few veins that you can see on my cheeks, but they're minimal.

[claudia]

I checked out Yasmin on the web and the progesterone in it is derived not from testosterone (aggrevates blemishes) but from spironolactone (androgen blocker that reduces blemishes)! This is the med my doctor already has me on...interesting :-k
I'm post-menopausal but I might benefit from adding a low dose HRT to the spironolactone cause then that would mimic the Yasmin combo without taking too much hormone for my age.