How long did it take your dermatologist to diagnose rosacea?

[Brady Barrows]

I am curious about how long it took your dermatologist to diagnose your rosacea? I am trying to collect a list of anecdotal reports on this subject. To give you an example of what I am looking for is the report I found here:

kfoltz9 reports:

"I am a 25 year old female with what appears to be perioral dermatisis around my mouth. My family history only consists of Psoryasis and I have not had a personal experience with this. I am currently on Effexor XR. I use Aveda sensitive skin facial cleanser which does not contain any Petrolatum. I have not introduced any new cosmetic products into my regimen.
The dermatologist I went to yesterday about this month-old rash (I have had one previous occurence, only less intense) did not even inspect the rash, asked me if I blushed easily or often (I do not, and told him that) and diagnosed Rosacea in about 3 seconds. I am concerned because from the research that I have done it truly does not appear that I have rosacea but PD. From what I have seen, oral antibiotics (I was prescribed Solodyn) are effective and I should avoid harsh topical steroids. I was also prescribed Finacea. I want to know if I should (if this is PD) discontinue the use of the FInacea and just focus on the Solodyn. Will the FInacea make things worse? Thank you so much!

You should read the doctors answer.

Anyway, could you please just post your experience when you first found out you had rosacea and how long it took for the dermatologist to diagnose it? Thanks

[siliconmessiah]

Well. I first went to the doctor on a "drop-in"-visit. One of them (a really shitty doctor actually) prescribed cortisone cream for my problems - I took it for a couple of weeks with no signs of getting better.

I returned to a new doctor, a really good one I might add...she diagnosed me in one minute under the light of a lamp. I might add that I still am mighty pissed at the doctor that first prescribed cortisone for my face.........

[Brighteyes]

It took me approximately 3 years (and 6 derms) to get an official diagnosis. Of course, this could be because I had ocular symptoms first and no objective facial symptoms for the first 1.5 years.

[Book1985]

15 seconds...Walked in...put a lamp up to my face, and said mild rosacea, heres some Metrolotion, that was it. This was 4 years ago now, Rosacea much worse

[flying_er]

One minute. The doctor looked at me under the light, touched a few spots, asked a few questions and told me I had mild/moderate rosacea. He gave me some reading material and metrogel. I've got redness and P&Ps on my forehead and scalp. I thought I had regular acne as I knew very little about rosacea.

[Melissa W]

Immediately, though it was complicated by a diagnosis of eczema on my face as well. The eczema showed up first and a few months after that the rosacea in the form of an extended flush/burn that took many days to subside. My derm diagnosed me immediately.

Interestingly, a few years before that, another derm suggested I had rosacea but I wasn't in her office for that and I had no burning symptoms- my face just turned a bit pink while in her exam room and she said I had rosacea. Because I had no discomfort and because the pinkness was so mild I wasn't concerned so did nothing about it. A few years later the burning sensation started. That's when I got an official diagnosis from my current derm.

[Peter]

Immediately.

[Mistica]

I initially consulted my original derm for melasma. I was given retin-A , which really irritated my skin and looking back I now know I had signs of rosacea. Very mild signs, even long after discontinuing the drug. Yet, despite check ups with that derm, nothing was mentioned.
Then I started getting other health issues and was sent to a rheumatologist. I kept talking about the transient pinkness on my upper inner cheeks and bridge of my nose, but he wasn't the least bit interested. In fact, he was very rude and patronizing, going as far to insinuate that I didn't have lupus, and I was wasting his time.
I spent one hour with that man and as far as I was concerned, it was more than enough time to display symptoms. A specialist who supposedly understood a multitude of diseases.

Fast forward to when the rosacea developed into a full blown case. I was so embarrassed, I layered on the makeup and went to see my new GP, who happened to be a derm ( he was new to the country and at the time wasn't able to land a specialist position).
Despite my makeup attempts, he took one look at me and suspected rosacea. An examination and my description of symptoms confirmed this.

Due to some transient but interesting blood results over the years, 6 weeks later, I was sent to another derm in Auckland. ( I had to fly there) and he undertook a thorough 20 minute consult, where he was sure I had rosacea, but wasn't sure if I had something else going on as well. I had a full range of blood tests, which came out ok, but he wasn't completely convinced. Ever since then I have regular tests to monitor how things are going. When my rosacea became severe in Nov 2007, my tests started showing slight abnormalities again. (I was tested in the Feb 2008).

I am currently trying to find a doctor and lab who can test for pathogens ( Cpn etc).

So in my case, rosacea wasn't recognised immediately and even 10 and a half years on from the orginal diagnosis, the 'diagnosis' is continuing in some ways.

It looks like rosacea ( no missing that!!) and it behaves like rosacea, ... but is it just
Rosacea?

OR, would everyone start to have some slight oddities in their blood work if their rosacea became severe enough?

In summary, I felt I should have been diagnosed properly years ago. I was let down by the medical system.

[Brady Barrows]

Thanks everyone. I just wanted to establish that many dermatologists quickly diagnose rosacea to show that some don't take a history, any skin biopsies, cultures, tests, and a very quick physical exam and may explain some why some reputable authorities make these statements on diagnosis of rosacea:

"Rosacea is a common dermatologic disorder. It is frequently overlooked or misdiagnosed, particularly when mild in nature."
Rosacea: A Review of a Common Disorder by Carolyn Knox, IJAPA

"Rosacea is a complex and often misdiagnosed condition."
The Rosacea Forum Moderated by Drs. Bernstein and Geronemus

"Despite its apparent high incidence, the nosology of rosacea is not well established, and the term “rosacea” has been applied to patients and research subjects with a diverse set of clinical findings that may or may not be an integral part of this disorder. In addition to the diversity of clinical manifestations, the etiology and pathogenesis of rosacea are unknown, and there are no histologic or serologic markers."
Standard classification of rosacea: Report of the National Rosacea Society Expert Committee on the Classification and Staging of Rosacea

"Whereas the classical subtypes of rosacea can be recognized quite well, the variants of rosacea may be overlooked or misdiagnosed." rosacea.dermis.net

"Rosacea is often misdiagnosed as acne or discoid or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)." Christiane Northup, M.D.

"Frequently misdiagnosed as adult acne, this chronic, progressive skin disorder affects millions." Recognizing and Managing Rosacea by Thalia Swinler, JSTOR

"The last subtype, ocular rosacea, is common but often misdiagnosed." uspharmacist.com

"The signs and symptoms of ocular rosacea in children may be frequently underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed..." NRS Rosacea Review, Summer 2008

“It’s a condition that is often misdiagnosed and overdiagnosed. Sometimes a rosy cheek is just a rosy cheek.” Herbert Goodheart, M.D., a dermatologist in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and author of “Acne for Dummies,” as quoted in the New York Times article

Keep these posts coming!

[Brady Barrows]

Quote:

"Rosacea is notoriusly difficult to diagnose."

Nurse Practitioner Schuyler ANP