Valby's log

[valby]

Well I got the idea from yellowred to start a log because I have been meaning to do it for a long time, so I can track triggers and also to report things that have worked/haven't worked for other members to read.

Things I have tried over the past 12 months

I have had 3 vbeam sessions. The last one was approx 5 weeks ago and was purpuric. I think it was more effective than the previous two.

Doxycyline antibiotics: I tried these back in Nov 2008. At first everything seemed ok and my skin cleared up but then I started getting some awful gastro symptoms and had to stop.

Clarithromycin: caused me horrible nausea.

Sulphur/sulfacetamide wash: I leave this on for a few minutes and then wash off. Haven't used it for a while. It does dry out my skin and wasn't sure if it really helped with the papules. Might try it again soon.

Clonidine: I take .05mg 3-4 times a day. This has helped my flushing a lot. I take a dose before I go to the gym and have been able to start seriously weight training again

Azithromycin: I have been taking 500mg, 3 times a week. This has helped clear papules and even what I think is perioral dermatitis. My dermatitis/papules flare up badly after vbeam so this has been a god send. My face is far from clear but is looking better.

Propanolol: I have reintroduced this in the last couple of days and it does seem to help with the flushing that Clonidine doesn't control.

Mirtazapine: This helped my depression and anxiety and I sleep like a baby every night. Not sure what effect it has on flushing but have a feeling it helps somewhat.

Roaccutane: I started on 20mg and at first it was great my skin cleared up straight away and my flushing calmed down. Then I suddenly got really red, broken caps and a strange rash like breakout (which I think was /is perioral dermatitis). I ended up having the accutane reformulated into 5mg caps and took this for a few months. It was still too strong. I was never actually clear and started flushing over everything. I also had visible caps appear which I never had before (despite being a bad flusher).

So I am still trying to control the baseline redness and flushing that Accutane caused.

I will be having another vbeam session on the 25th September.

[valby]

I am trialling a new moisturiser. Paula's Choice Skin Recovery. So far the pluses are it doesn't burn, which is a good start. My skin is feeling really dry and flakey and every moisturiser was burning. Emu oil doesn't irritate at all but just isn't hydrating me enough.

For some reason the past week I have been flushing more and waking up flushed. I can't seem to figure out the cause.

[yellowred]

Hi valby, I'm glad you have started a log, it's a good way to help people and you. I see that you are taking clonidine (a thing that I want to try in a future). I'll follow your changes and improvements with your treatments...
Best wishes.

[valby]

Some updates:

Well I developed a large papule which I think was the result of the moisturiser so have since stopped using it!

I am officially an idiot I used my sulphur/sulfacetamide wash last night. Instead of washing it off with cleanser I just rinsed with water, so I am guessing some was left on my face. I woke up to a puffy, very red and sore face today. Gah. The silliest thing is I also took 5mg of Accutane last night because I was fed up with some lumps and bumps and now I don't really know what has caused the reaction.

I am 95% sure it was the sulfa though. I have left it on before and had a big red patch where it had been applied.

Oh well guess I have to just ride it out and wait for my skin to heal, yet again.

Good news is I found at a compounding pharmacy I use can make up the quinacrine tablets for me. I am seeing my GP on Thursday and am going to beg her to let me try them.

[valby]

My GP wrote me a script for the quinacrine. It will take me approx a week to get them compounded.

[valby]

Just a quick update. The pharmacist has my quinacrine so I am just waiting for them to receive my script and post it out to me. I am excited but trying not to get my hopes up in case its not for me.

Skin has been up and down. I actually took a 5mg of Accutane on Tuesday to see how I reacted now I have been off it for a approx 2 months. It did seem to calm my face down. Hmm so maybe 1x5mg per week will be enough to help my pores and inflammation. We shall see.

The other thing I have been trialling is Nizoral cream. I had what I suspected a bit of a flare up of seb derm or some type of dermatitis as a result of being on Azithromycin. I have always been prone to it in my eyebrows and get itchy lumps in between my eyes. I know people say its not papular but my partner suffers from it and had a very similar rash to me. So we have been trying it. So far no bad reactions and my face does seem to calm down after I apply it. Unfortunately I think the base might be too occlusive for me so I may end up getting it compounded into something more suitable.

My face is less scaley from using the Nizoral and also washing with aqueous cream.

It is really hard for me to balance the dryness, scaley skin, with the fact that my skin loves to clog up.

But I think things are slowly improving. It seems to be one step forward, two back. I have an appointment with my laser derm next Friday. I will see whether I just get some sections of my face done or the whole lot Not sure I can be bothered with the down time, especially since I am hoping the quinacrine will help with the flushing.

[Alba]

Good luck Valby.

I am also thinking of having vbeam again but am waiting till january 2010. I am very scared of having more fat loss or indentions but my flushing is getting worse specially my right ear.

I think if i finally do have the vbeam treatments i will do them very gently not aggrasive this way will probably take longer and cost much more but i hoping this way i will prevent more permanent damage.

Alba

[valby]

Hi Alba,
I seemed to have the best result from my last laser session which was bruising. But I want to ask about IPL for those fine surface capillaries. Will see what he says given my melasma problem and olive toned skin.

[valby]

Had another vbeam on Friday. Same level as last time 8.5 joules I think. I bruised on the right side of my face, but I asked the RN to go over a patch a couple of times because it is the reddest area of my face. The left side barely bruised this time. Also a bit of bruising on my temples. Its amazing how last time I bruised on my nose, chin and left side of my face really badly and this time nothing. Hoping it means the vessels are disappearing, which is what my derm said.

Been a week on Mepacrine and I think its having a postitive effect. My skin feels calmer overall. It seems to make the clonidine work better. I have moments where I go "ah my skin feels calm" its a nice feeling. I have stopped using topical rosex and lo and behold alot of the burning subsided.

I tried using a BHA I used to use on my face twice a day. It burnt. I am actually tolerating differin cream (not gel) quite well. Using it on sides of face, chin, nose and forehead. I occassionally dab on papules and it seems effective. Doesn't flare them up anyway.

Also been trialling a new sunscreen called Hamilton Toddler Milk SPEF30+ (advertised as SPF50 in UK). It has the lowest actives out of their range. Suprisingly I am tolerating it, even though it has chemical actives, it is not as pore clogging as the all physical sunscreens and it is moisturising. I really hope it keeps working for me because I would dearly love to be able to wear this kind of protection everyday!!

Have been off Remeron for a couple of days because I ran out of my script. Not sure whether to refill or see how I go off it *shrugs*

[DJC]

Hi Valby,

I think I remember you saying you were from Australia?

If so which part, if you dont mind saying?

I want to try mepacrine too and I live in Australia. Its good to hear (if you do live in Australia) that it is available here.