help please!

[QTee]

What you have looks very much like rosacea. I don't know anything about seb derm so I can't comment. What I do know is that getting a diagnosis from a dermatologist will determine your treatment options.

I am a little concerned that in your frustration you may opt to try to solve this problem yourself and make matters worse. Once you have a diagnosis, then you can look at your options. Without that you are going to get many conflicting messages. Obviously what one might do for seb derm may be the worst thing for rosacea and vice versa.

[nat007]

What you have looks very much like rosacea. I don't know anything about seb derm so I can't comment. What I do know is that getting a diagnosis from a dermatologist will determine your treatment options.

I am a little concerned that in your frustration you may opt to try to solve this problem yourself and make matters worse. Once you have a diagnosis, then you can look at your options. Without that you are going to get many conflicting messages. Obviously what one might do for seb derm may be the worst thing for rosacea and vice versa.

Thoughtful reply, thanks.
I have rosacea and seb derm on top during the winter and I see a couple of really specialized great dermatologists for it
all, and even on the bad inner cheeks (where rosacea is worst) I can use the ketoconazol without stirring up the rosacea.
According to them itīs perfectly safe and very mild.

The problem is with rosacea, I personally found anyway, that a lot of GPīs and even dermatologists have a hard time diagnosing it, especially when it mimics symptoms of other conditions. Itīs so common that derms make the wrong diagnosis, let you go through lots of treatments that are counterproductive and are hard to convince that they might be wrong, that itīs not a bad idea to ask people on this forum for their opinion. A handful of people know more than one in this case perhaps. But yeah you are right that self medicating can make matters worse and more confusing. It would be better to take the new suggestions back to your doctor and discuss it together. On the other hand, it was through trial and error that I found clonidine here on the forum and it took sneaky trials with other peopleīs medication, then showing the GP the results and asking again for the med for me to get some real effective medication presxribed in the end.

Good luck and I hope that you find a solution soon!

[QTee]

Rosacea skin as most of us know through experience is highly reactive skin...reactive to red wine and beer (for me), sunlight, changes in weather, stress (for me) or just reacting because it wants to.

Several things have helped:

Low level laser (sometimes referred to as ILP, intense light pulse therapy) helps to reduce facial redness, flushing and spider veins; has to be done every couple of months; this is a control but not a cure

Skin treatment: look for unscented, hypo-allergenic, non-comodogenic (doesn't clog pores), oil-free
Coilodal oatmeal soap and shower gel (Aveeno makes both)
Jurlique moisturizer (organic product from Austrailia; lighter oil-free moisturizers tend to work best; may have to try several to get one that works for you; you can usually tell by how your skin feels...itchy & uncomfortable or relaxed and normal)
1% Noritate cream (for flareups)
Glo Minerals camoflage cream; oil free, pharmaceutical grade makeup; requires very little to achieve coverage; apply with brush and blend with foam wedge; touch up as reqd; lasts all day with only a minor touch up reqd

Don'ts:
Hydrogen peroxide (found in acne medication; very bad for rosacea)
Facial toner - astrigent ingredients tend to exascerbate rosacea; avoid
Loofas and abbrasives; derm abbrasion etc.; according to dermatologists, abbrasion is damaging to all skin types
Cortisone cream - this promotes the formation of new blood vessels; rosacea is a vascular disorder characterized by angiogensis (development of blood vessels) so cortisone makes it worse
Regular hand soap...this is ok for your hands but dries face and body

I have recently started taking Anatabloc (oral supplement) which several posters recommended for rosacea. Anatabloc helps to reduce inflammation in the body. Currently, there is a clinical trial for their more expensive facial cream to test its efficacy on rosacea. Facial flushing, spontaneous breakouts and thickening of skin in the cheek area have visibly diminished. My skin is greatly improved and requires almost no makeup these days.

Think of this like a journey. The goal is enhanced quality of life. By being a pro-active patient who searchs for answers, you are more likely to find what works best for you and improve your health outcomes.

Best wishes of the season.