Severe Rosacea and damage

[Bridei]

Well this is me sans make-up, though even make-up doesn't hide the red as it's permanent and pretty violent.

http://snowmaiden.homestead.com/files/w/Picture_51.jpg

[RedHotCanuck]

Welcome Bridei,

Yes that does look the big bad Rosacea that we are all plagued with. Have you had any treatments for it yet? By looking at it, I assume you are subtype 1?

Anyways, hope this place will be of some help to you.

Regards,
RHC

[Bridei]

Thank you :) I'm happy to have found this forum

actually a very tempermental subtype 2 and I believe some ocular symptoms a couple of years ago

not currently using any rosacea treatment but I've tried some in the past

tetricyclene, sulpha and accutane (best results). 27 cold laser treatments (red&blue) with minor results

[clsykes00]

Thank you :) I'm happy to have found this forum

actually a very tempermental subtype 2 and I believe some ocular symptoms a couple of years ago

not currently using any rosacea treatment but I've tried some in the past

tetricyclene, sulpha and accutane (best results). 27 cold laser treatments (red&blue) with minor results

Welcome Bridei,
What symptoms were you resolving with accutane? What happened to those symptoms once you got off of accutane?

Thanks and welcome again,
Trey

[claudia]

Welcome Bridei (...what a pretty name!)

There's so much knowledge here...I hope it's helpful and comforting for you. How come you're not on any treatment right now?

CV

[scrumptious]

Hi Bredei,

How old are you and do you know what might have triggered yr rosacea?

I know with mine it was triggered by very bad surburn when i was 18/19. I distinctly remember starting to fush with alcohol at that point when i had been fine previously. Anyhow this was my face full flush before laser;

http://i3.tinypic.com/ws5hlg.jpg

I have had, i think, 6 treatments now and am pretty much sorted, although in the Spring/Summer it is never as bad. Winter will be the true test.

[Bridei]

thanks again :D

What symptoms were you resolving with accutane? What happened to those symptoms once you got off of accutane?

The rash/bumps, like heat rash I guess (don't know the lingo here). My skin was smooth but still fiery red for about a year after taking Accutane. When it returned is when I started having the acne problems even though he had called it acne/rosacea before treatment. hmph

How come you're not on any treatment right now?

Despite the results I'm trying to avoid Accutane and at some point have IPL or V-Beam on the damage done. Topicals have been a complete waste for me if not a huge aggrivator.

How old are you and do you know what might have triggered yr rosacea?

ugh 31. Not sure if there was any single trigger. I've always easily blushed and was sensitive to heat so that probably weakened the blood vessels. Second symptom was around age 12 after using Seabreeze astringent, began a minor rosacea rash around the nose, About 23 I think alcohol kicked into action, started with a small recurring red welt. I'm also thinking there's a connection between the severity of my rosacea and my thyroid. Wow lots of typing.

Interesting that yours started fairly early on Scrumptious, from what I've read it's most common 30+. Have many of you here shown signs of it at a younger age?

[clsykes00]

Bridei,
Do you still have acne like issues after having taken the accutane? Did you take 10mg/day for a while or did you do the high dose route?

Thanks again,
Trey

[claudia]

Lots of posts seem to indicate that many of us started having symptoms early in life. I think the MYTH of rosacea starting later in life is because it's often misdiagnosed as acne when younger. Thus people suffer for years trying to treat their "acne" but skin gets worse and worse and finally they're properly diagnosed in their 30's!

I can understand about wanting to avoid topicals. I've gone thru times when anything & everything made me flare....usually after trying acne treatment products. Then I have to go on systemic meds to break the inflammation cycle!

CV

[Bridei]

Do you still have acne like issues after having taken the accutane? Did you take 10mg/day for a while or did you do the high dose route?


The acne-like issues came after taking Accutane etc. I had a dry red rash before, when it came back a year after treatment I started getting patches of the little papules all over a few hours after a bad blush. I've hit a new phase now where the papules are far less but the cheeks are dry and flaking. So yes, acne symptoms well after Accutane, I can't remember my dosage sorry. Are you currently taking Accutane?

I've gone thru times when anything & everything made me flare....usually after trying acne treatment products.
definitely. Annoying that sensitive skin or for Rosacea prodcuts can have such horrific results, my dogs ass looked better. Or a product will work wonderfully for 4 days then nothing. Have you found anything you feel doesn't make it worse?

[clsykes00]

Do you still have acne like issues after having taken the accutane? Did you take 10mg/day for a while or did you do the high dose route?


The acne-like issues came after taking Accutane etc. I had a dry red rash before, when it came back a year after treatment I started getting patches of the little papules all over a few hours after a bad blush. I've hit a new phase now where the papules are far less but the cheeks are dry and flaking. So yes, acne symptoms well after Accutane, I can't remember my dosage sorry. Are you currently taking Accutane?


Yes, I am taking accutane now for P&P, hyperplasia, and fibrosis.

Were you taking accutane for P&P or rosacea?

Thanks again,
Trey

[claudia]

Have you found anything you feel doesn't make it worse?

Yes! I use Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin and Metrogel 1% twice a day. I also take Bactrim and Spironolactone once a day. The metrogel is cooling on my skin and has an anti-redness ingredient. The Bactrim and Spironolactone are for resistant cystic acne but it also clears up the rosacea "bumpies". I think that the Bactrim has significantly reduced the redness! Before taking Bactrim my chin, nose and forehead always had a red inflamed look even when I cleared up the blemishes.

CV

[Bridei]

Were you taking accutane for P&P or rosacea?

For the bumps. I wouldn't have called it acne but however it's classified Accutane cleared it up. I believe what I have now is acne induced by the Rosacea/heat making my skin over produce oil so I get the breakouts.
How is the Accutane working for you so far?



my chin, nose and forehead always had a red inflamed look even when I cleared up the blemishes.


Is that where it started for you? mines disappeared from my nose leaving red damage so it seems to travel around not just spread.

[clsykes00]

For the bumps. I wouldn't have called it acne but however it's classified Accutane cleared it up. I believe what I have now is acne induced by the Rosacea/heat making my skin over produce oil so I get the breakouts.
How is the Accutane working for you so far?

To be honest, I don't know how well its working or not. Im in my fourth month.

How long did you take it? I wish you knew the dose you were taking. I'm wondering whether you were taking a higher dose for your bumps prescribed by an unknowing doctor. Taking higher doses of accutane can cause rosacea to progress.

Best,
Trey

[Bridei]

I stopped taking it after about 4 months. I haven't seen the dermatologist since so I don't know how long he expected me to take it.

Doubt that it helps but I vaguely remember starting out 2 pills twice daily then down to 1 pill twice daily. I really can't remember for sure but probably started out aggresive then lowered.

[claudia]

Is that where it started for you? mines disappeared from my nose leaving red damage so it seems to travel around not just spread.

Mine started on my chin, then my nose and forehead got it. Now if I break out at all it's on my chin. And there's a teeny bit of redness still in the center of my chin. I feel pretty lucky that my meds are working!

CV

[Mark_M]

Hi Gorgeous,

I must say looking at your picture you have the same intense localisation pattern as me. I am self diagnosed as type 1 (due very soon to be properly diagnosed by a Rosacea specialist). But I have had this since I was five (a ruddy face) flushing which kind of ties in with what scrumptious said, could very well have been triggered by too much sun. Sensitive skin. Although I can remember blushing as early as 5....... By the way instead of BTW........... you are gorgeous.... I mean that.

Keep positive and if you need to talk then PM me. I am also inventing the wheel.

Mark Murray.. 34 years old (too many years wasted)

[Tricia]

Hey Briedei,

Thanks for posting your photo. Have you tried Oracea yet? I've been on it for a couple of months and think it's a good choice for someone who cabn't tolerate topicals. I don't think it will do muich for the cheek redness but it will probably help with the bumps and inflammation.

it's pretty harmless and may be worth a shot.

Tricia