Apparently this is not rosacea - I'm not convinced.

[oscar]

Firstly, hello. I've been reading this forum for a while, and it's already proved an invaluable resource for learning about rosacea.

I visited my local doctor in the UK about my skin. I have a very red nose, and pink cheeks - I flush regularly, in response to many of the usual triggers, but primarily just any sort of warmth (and I'm talking just a normal sort of temperature which most people in my office, for instance, find absolutely fine).

The doctor said that, because I don't have any obvious p&ps, they don't think it's rosacea (not sure he's up on his sub-types, but there you go). They gave me propanolol for the flushing, but that's really only helpful with the social flushing, and no use for the warmth/heat.

I've posted some pictures - firstly of my red nose, and two of my cheeks/jaw. This is when I'm not flushing. The last photo is of a flush (mainly affects my cheeks) - they're very difficult to capture on camera, so apologies for the poor quality.

I'd be very interested to see if you guys and girls think this is rosacea, or something else. I know it's difficult from photos, but I thought I'd give it a try! I've decreased the brightness on some of them to make it slightly clearer - so that exaggerates the redness slightly.

Any help much appreciated.





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[phlika29]

Hi and welcome to the forum

Flushing to heat is certainly one of the triggers in rosacea. How long does the flushing/blushing last? Most people will have a sort of blush/flush for a short while when they walk into a hot room from colder environment or visa versa and of course when they find things too hot.

Rosacea is sort of a progression of this to when you have extreme reactions to small triggers. It may be that you are at the beginnings of rosacea and this is the time to nip it in the bud.

Either way it might be worth giving propranolol ago as people do tend to get anxious about flushing once it starts to happen even if you might not think you do.

With regards to heat intolerance you may like to do some searching on the supplement Glisodin. It is meant to help with just this sort of thing.

Best wishes

Sarah

[Munch Ausen]

Find a new dermatologist. Last year I told a derm that I had rosacea and because I wasn't flushing at the time, he said that I clearly do not have rosacea. I asked him why he though that and he said the exact same thing that I do not have p&ps. I had also asked him if laser would help someone with rosacea and he said no. This all coming from a derm with 30 years experience. That was the last time I saw him. Since then I've found a brilliant derm that really knows his stuff. Anyways, back to your pictures. To be blunt, I do think you have rosacea therefore act now as it is progressive. Good Luck .. this forum is great.

The doctor said that, because I don't have any obvious p&ps, they don't think it's rosacea

[oscar]

philka: the flushing can last quite a while, although is almost always alleviated by being in a cold environment - so if I go outside and take a walk on a cold day, I'll stop flushing (or at least the burning/stinging sensation will stop) pretty quickly. A big problem is that my skin can get pretty oily (I have really big pores on my nose and forehead), and that's really exacerbated when I feel warm and flush.

I've been taking propanolol for about a month, with no obvious side-effects, and it certainly seems to help (to some extent) with the social blushing, presumably by just reducing 'sympathetic nervous system' activity. But ultimately, of course, I'd like to try and reduce the general flushing and oily skin.

MA: In the UK, certainly, it's a real struggle to even get to see a dermatologist. I'm going to book a second appointment with a GP soon and ask again to be referred.

One thing I'm not sure about is the redness nearer my jawline - it almost looks like it could be a shaving rash or something, but it's been there a few years and doesn't seem to change whatever I do with shaving. My skin feels smooth enough to touch, so it's quite puzzling.

[MARPUSBEAN]

I have had rosacea for several years, at the start it was very bad- very red, peeling, p&p's.
Now it has settled down my symptoms are different I might get a couple of papules once a year, but 99% of the time non, in my experience some peoples skin type favours having p&p's when they have rosacea, other people do not have them.
Do not have too big expectations when you see a derm, many of them do not give a lot of attention to rosacea, and often do not give anything other than what most G.P.'S prescribe, but you might be lucky.

[qscott86]

That doesn't look like rosacea. I've never seen rosacea with the little pin prick red marks like you have. If you can look passt those marks, your skin shows no signs of surface redness or vascular lesions common in rosacea.

[phlika29]

I wonder if you have a bit of seb derm if your skin is very oily.

If you want to get referred to a really good derm ask to be referred to Dr Chu at Hammersmith Hospital. He is really good with rosacea and acne and has a nice little laser that can help reduce oil production.