Hi everyone, just discovered this forum and have been reading over the wealth of info. I am 47 YO male in Ohio. My story starts with P/P on eyelids and then later cheeks and nose about 5 years ago. I went to PCP for a check up after a couple of flare ups and was diagnosed with rosacea quickly. He asked are you of Scotish, English, Irish or Welsh background. LOL, my answer was all of the above. I never have had the blushing or redness thankfully but went straight to P/Ps. He prescribed the metro and doxycycline and I shunned the doxy. Just kept dabbing metro on my P/Ps and they would dry and fade for years. I seem to go through bouts where I am free and then weeks of endless P/Ps.
Just over the past couple of months my nose started really flaring up and I realize now I am entering stage III with the telling red and purple hue and increasing size of lower nose.
I have researched for years and know what the triggers are for most. Have removed and added and removed and added to no avail. I guess I will be seeing the PCP soon for a referral to a good derm. and really hope I don't have to go down the accutane routine, will definitely try the doxy again and look into other meds as described here. Having read posts for days, I see how so many people are crushed by this affliction and I can't say my life is any worse for it yet but am compassionate towards others whose lives have been changed. I hope to share some success stories with others as my treatment progresses. Yes it is awful and as a kid I fought acne, not as bad as some, and was surprised after years of blemish free skin how this "curse" took hold and put me back to square one. I used to joke about that, no more. Good luck fellow sufferers, don't hesitate to get treatment if you can in any way afford it and if not there seems to be some reasonably effective and inexpensive alternatives from what I have read. Thanks for reading.
Scott