What the heck is a flare-up?

[Epicenter]

Was diagnosed by dermatologist last November, GP ruled out Lupus and some other stuff. I ate antibiotics for a while and most of the little spots vamoosed, now I only occasionally get a spot here and there. Both cheeks are red, the nose only a little.

But I have not managed to get any answers to some things, and I would like to know if there is anybody else that is as "lucky" as I am, or if I should ask to have my diagnose re-evaluated.

1. Blushing. I rarely blush and never have been a blusher - is this something that is a diagnose-breaker?
2. What is a flare-up? I have never noticed a difference in the redness apart from the obvious ones of hot water and/or exercise. How long before the flare-up is noticeable? How long does it last, or is that different from person to person? None of the usual triggers that are mentioned (red wine, spicy food) has ever made a difference as far as I can tell.
3. I have been using an SPF cream with minerals in it (Garnier BB Cream) to cover up the redness and keep the sun off.. the derm said if I was diligent with the sunblock I'd look much better in 12 months and so far it seems he was right. Is this something anyone else has experienced?

EDIT: Should mention I have keratosis pilaris on both arms, it appeared about 12 months after I started noticing my face was red. Not sure if there's a link. No hard "spots" on face.

Thanks for any answers I can get, mostly curious about the flare-up thing!

Em

[flying_er]

Was diagnosed by dermatologist last November, GP ruled out Lupus and some other stuff. I ate antibiotics for a while and most of the little spots vamoosed, now I only occasionally get a spot here and there. Both cheeks are red, the nose only a little.

But I have not managed to get any answers to some things, and I would like to know if there is anybody else that is as "lucky" as I am, or if I should ask to have my diagnose re-evaluated.

1. Blushing. I rarely blush and never have been a blusher - is this something that is a diagnose-breaker?
2. What is a flare-up? I have never noticed a difference in the redness apart from the obvious ones of hot water and/or exercise. How long before the flare-up is noticeable? How long does it last, or is that different from person to person? None of the usual triggers that are mentioned (red wine, spicy food) has ever made a difference as far as I can tell.
3. I have been using an SPF cream with minerals in it (Garnier BB Cream) to cover up the redness and keep the sun off.. the derm said if I was diligent with the sunblock I'd look much better in 12 months and so far it seems he was right. Is this something anyone else has experienced?

EDIT: Should mention I have keratosis pilaris on both arms, it appeared about 12 months after I started noticing my face was red. Not sure if there's a link. No hard "spots" on face.

Thanks for any answers I can get, mostly curious about the flare-up thing!

Em

Hi Epicenter,

When I refer to a "flare-up" I'm generally talking about an increase in Papules and Pustules on my skin. My skin might be good/smooth for a few weeks and then I get a "flare-up" meaning a sudden increase in bumps on my skin. As for flushing, I generally don't refer to that as a "flare-up", instead calling it a "flush" or "flushing episode". When I get a bad flush it can last several hours or more.

This is just my way of reporting, others may use the terms differently.

-Dave-

[Brady Barrows]

A rosacea flare up is anything that exacerbates whatever the definition of rosacea is.

Flare ups usually are related to rosacea triggers. Sometimes flare ups are confused with flushing. However flushing is usually a sign/symptom of rosacea, and shouldn't be confused with a flare up.

For more info click here.