is this rosacea?

[tp912]

http://img511.imageshack.us/my.php?image=thisvv4.jpg

Short story:

Had facial flushing my entire life and facial blushing in certain social situations. I learned to control and could go weeks without flushing unless it was due to heat or physical training.

Over the past two weeks my skin has drastically changed. My face stays really sensitive feeling all day, from the time I wake up until I go to sleep, it is red. I have no control over the redness even while my entire body is cold, my face is hot, feels itchy and burny, and stays red.

My skin is overall pretty clear, only a few blackheads on my nose. I never have any red on my forehead, and it seems like my central face is normally not red, like the outer cheeks and chin.

19 years old

Help me out

[Melissa W]

Hi and welcome.

Facial blushing and flushing can be rosacea but other conditions need to be ruled out and it is impossible to diagnose definitively from a photo or over the internet.

The weather change absolutely causes more skin sensitivity in susceptible (ie rosaceans) individuals so that could be the cause for you.

Have you seen a derm to get a proper diagnosis?
What treatments have you tried if any?

I would suggest treating your skin very gently, using a minimum of products on your face and protecting your face from the wind and cold when outside.
Also make a derm appt so you can get diagnosed correctly and then a treatment plan.

Have a look at this link when you get a chance.
http://rosacea-research.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

Best wishes,
Melissa

PS Rosacea more commonly does affect the central part of your face ie nose, cheeks, chin, forehead so your outer cheek presentation is not as common and that is why it is so important to get a proper diagnosis.

[tp912]

Thanks Melissa. I have an apt tomorrow. I will post the diagnosis. Wish me luck

[Melissa W]

Good luck! My fingers are crossed for you

[tp912]

I was diagnosed with Eczema and given Desonide Cream .05% to mix with Elidel for two weeks, and then just continue to use the Elidel.

Maybe happy ??

[Melissa W]

It is definitely possible to have eczema coexisting with rosacea but I wouldn't want you to use a steroid for any length of time if you do have rosacea as well.

Did your doctor say anything about the flushing you experience as that is definitely not a common symptom for eczema.

Melissa

[tp912]

He examined my face very well and said I do not have any signs of rosacea. No central face outbreaks or reddening, only cheek reddening. The steroid cream is only to be used the first two weeks of the elidel. I mentioned to him that I was afraid to use a steroid cream on my face, but he insured me that two weeks would be fine, its only if used long term.

[dave75]

your pic looks like you have some rash on your neck area? this doesn't seem to be consistent with rosacea, but i could be wrong...could be rosacea in conjunction with something else? my experience is do as much research as you can on the internet...most dermatologist act like they don't care about you, or they have huge egos and they don't want to talk much. oracea has done wonders for me over the last 2 years or so, but its losing its effectiveness on my facial flushing. it did wonders for me on my ocular symptoms.

[phlika29]

I flush down one side of my neck at times and when I have laser they tend to pick up on this and treat it aswell. I think for some people it can affect larger areas.

Tp912 how is your skin doing now?

[tp912]

I went to 3 derms, two said eczema one said atopic dermatitis. I used elidel and a mild topical steroid for two weeks, went back to the one that gave me the cream, said stop using it, still says it is not rosacea. He ran about every blood test possible to rule out any condition that would cause flushing everything was clear.

He put me on a two week prednisone pack to have no effect on the flushing.

Currently this is what I am dealing with.

Wake up with a hot red face. I take a cold shower. I rinse my face with very cold water in the sink, shave my face, wash my face with cetaphil liquid soap, and apply eucerin redness relief spf 15. After about an hour my face is almost completely normal but still feels mildly hot and ready to flush easily. Around 8 PM every night, sitting around the house with the temp on about 70 degrees, my face flushes. It is like clockwork.

This has only been going on about a month now, but it does seem to be doing a little better possibly on its on. I have always experienced flushing when hot/nervous. This is new to me though.

Flushing is my only symptom, and it is not on the central face at all. It is on my outer cheeks.