Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with rosacea

Boy, is my face red! And blotchy!

Frowner — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:55:31 -0800

What is a good facial moisturizer for rosacea? I have mild/early stage rosacea with some chronic redness in my cheeks/broken veins but no acne/bumps/pervasive redness for which I should soon be starting an antibiotic. The rosacea flares up in the dry air of winter - but outdoor exercise and changes in body temperature also seem to make it flare up. Of course, I bike commute year round and live in a cold old Victorian, so I'm always in and out of cold temperatures.

I also need a new facial moisturizer (recommendations for body moisturizers would be fine too, just in case you have some). Recently I've just been using SPF 50 sunscreen, but the incredibly dry air is totally defeating that and my face feels dry all the time.

Other than the rosacea, I have pretty standard white person of Scandinavian descent skin - not super dry, not super oily, not prone to random acne, but prone to irritation and pinkness.

What moisturizer do you recommend? Should it be used in conjunction with sunscreen? If so, how? Price is no object since I use very few beauty products and am comfortable splashing out for something like this.

Layers, yes/no?

Phalene — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:52:39 -0800

Off Label Use: YNMD, but... should I use my non-proscribed rosacea medication on the rest of my non-afflicted face as a facial moisturizer, since it seems to work for that too, and am I seriously doing a no-no with the medicine by slapping cosmetics onto it? I have a wee bit of a product dilemma. I like foundation, but my skin is dry, so it peels right off, and I have intermittent acne and rosacea, the latter moderate and just on my nose and the former something that responds to acne vulgaris specific treatments. The foundation does not appear to trigger my rosacea, nor does layering on my nose stop the metrocream from working.

I think all the moisturizers I've tried exacerbate my nose specific rosacea (but I can't tell, too many variables here, just like I can't pinpoint the zit source!) but improve the acne damage and seem to discourage the intermittent oil spurts that always herald a blemish outbreak. The metrocream is also a moisturizer and intended to be applied indefinitely; instructions say literally "apply to the affected nose as needed".

It is an anti-inflammatory, but doesn't seem to block my pores/inspire acne but it seems to moisturize everywhere, smells pleasantly of almonds and rosacea is classified at a type of acne, and includes inflammation. The alternative acne treatment that works on my non-nose blemishes involves an effective topical antibiotic that inflames my nose very badly but kills zits.

So can I use this on my blemish prone face in an area not officially prescribed, to moisturize, so I can wear the foundation for the pretty goth face look that otherwise takes two or three coats of foundation to avoid shedding in dandruffy flakes after thirty minutes, without putting more than just metrocream and makeup on my poor nose?

Go away, bumps and redness!!

foxhat10 — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 06:47:18 -0800

Fellow rosacea sufferers, can you tell me about your experience with treatments that have worked for you? I have looked over previous rosacea questions, but I believe the most recent one was from 2009. I'm looking for current experiences with treatments and triggers and all that.

I was diagnosed with rosacea about a month and a half ago. From looking at pix on the internet, I'd say I'm in the "mild" stage. Also, I've looked for resources on the internet as well, and I'm not really extremely impressed with the level of information; it all seems pretty vague. Maybe I just haven't hit the right site yet.

Here are the few things I've tried/been prescribed and results so far. And maybe my expectations for the products are too high??

-- Desonide - .05% - meh, sort of takes away the redness, but not impressed
-- Doxycycline - twice a day X 4 weeks: I couldn't maintain this because the headaches became too unbearable - also, I'm concerned about relying on regular doses of an antibiotic to help take away/keep away the bumps
-- CeraVe (AM, PM lotion and the face wash): again, meh; and not sure what results I should be feeling/seeing, but symptoms still linger
-- Cetaphil: too harsh

What I've read a lot of positive reviews about, but haven't tried, are Metrogel and laser therapy.

(Note - I haven't been back to the derm for a second visit, but I plan to take more questions and concerns back to her, I just wanted to hear your experiences).

So, my questions for you include: are there any products or treatments that have completely "wowed" you with results in treating any or all the symptoms? I know we are all affected individually by this and our own triggers, but I'm curious what has really worked. Does a tube of Metrogel last a long time (I think it costs around $65)? Do you only get it by prescrip? What type of results do you see from a product that really works for you? For example, does both the redness and bumps go away quickly? Anything you've tried that keeps the symptoms successfully at bay?

Oh, and maybe one important thing, since I've been diagnosed and using some of the treatments mentioned above, although soemtimes the symptoms seem better one day, the next day, the red bumps will be in brand new places. So, I feel like it's getting worse actually, even though there are brief "calm" moments. Isn't there a way to stop it in it's tracks? Is this the "norm" for rosacea advancement? Also, does this mean that it'll just keep progressing?

Anyway, I think you get the point - I'd like to hear experiences with rosacea and treatment success or failures.

Thank you very much for sharing and your input!

The only thing worse than a stressed-out bride is a stressed-out, HORMONAL bride

Madamina — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 12:29:07 -0800

My skin is exploding with hormonal rage... and I'm getting married in 3.5 weeks. Help? I have very pale, very sensitive skin. Ever since I went off of hormonal birth control, my skin has gotten awful, especially right around my period. As luck would have it, I seem to be expecting my period right on my wedding day.

After trying various things recommended here and elsewhere (benzoyl peroxide, clean pillowcases, Zeno, etc.) I went to the dermatologist, who prescribed clindamycin and Differin, both in lotion form. I did the clindamycin for about a month before even trying to add the Differin, and as soon as I did my skin went bright red and scaly for about a week. I haven't used anything since, aside from washing my face in the shower with Cetaphil.

So I called my OB/GYN, asking if I could go on a pill (even for just a few months...) and they said no because my triglycerides are high. I've had an IUD, which was perfect, but it expelled twice so I don't think that's an option again. So that leaves me with Nuvaring, which I'm hesitant to try, and from what I've heard won't really do much.

My visible acne is mostly big bumps around the jawline and red, slightly rough cheeks that get dry and flaky if you so much as look at them. It could be rosacea or KP; the dermatologist said that I have KP on my arms.

Any other ideas? Can I get a second opinion or some other treatment to make sure I'm okay for the big day? Do I even have time?

How to apply green makeup on a temporarily red face?

Sara Bellum — Sun, 15 May 2011 03:01:58 -0800

I'm a 20-something year old female that currently does not wear makeup. I know as much about applying makeup as this guy. I wouldn't waste the money and time applying and buying makeup if I didn't have to. However, I have mild Rosacea that comes and goes, which has left me suicidally depressed these last five years when it was more frequent (For reasons unknown the frequency of the flushing has reduced significantly since 2011 and I no longer struggle with a burning lobster red face on a daily basis.), and I would like to not have to endure the painful joke or comment about it the unpredictably rare times my face flushes and feels hot to the touch in public. It's for this reason I'd like to learn a few makeup tips for someone with mild Rosacea, sensitive skin, and an otherwise pale olive complexion. If it helps, the picture in my profile is misleading; my skin tone is closer to this shade on a good day. How do I apply the appropriate makeup (green makeup, apparently) when I'm not always red but know I will be at some point during the day? Wouldn't green makeup make me look, uh, green when I'm not flushing?

Anyone know a good rosacea Dr?

gbentz — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 17:22:17 -0800

I'm 32 and in the past year have developed pretty serious rosacea. Can anyone recommend a good dermatologist in the NYC area?

Can You Please Help Me Solve a Mean and Nasty Mystery Skin Condition?

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:32:34 -0800

Skinfilter: Help! Help! Help! About 10 years ago, I started suffering from extreme dryness and peeling on my face, which got so bad that my skin would feel like it was burning. I'm female, and I was in my early 30s at the time. When I went to the dermatologist, he diagnosed sebborheic dermatitis based on my (long-standing) hypothyroid condition and peeling in my eyebrows. He treated it with Elidil, and told me to go off it when the sebborheic dermatitis remitted. But it never did. Over time, I’ve come to think the diagnosis was wrong, but I’ve yet to hear a better theory. Maybe you have one? The Treatment: When I went back to see the dermatologist a year later, he told me the lack of remission didn’t matter and to keep using Elidil as needed. (He also said he’d worked on the original studies and the black box label was nothing to worry about.) So I have now been using Elidil for nearly 10 years. About 2 years ago, I added .25% trentinoin to the mix, to attempt to make my skin easier to deal with, and this has been helpful, but it’s not solved the problem.

The Problem: Whenever I have tried to stop using Elidil, my skin has erupted with:

• red bumps on the cheeks,
• flattened bumps (more like lumps) on the forehead,
• some minor but hard-to-kick acne,
• obvious stretched pores,
• obvious uneven texture,
• redness from the irritation from (probably?) subcutaneous stretching (swelling) and acne, with some veinyness in my cheeks,
• closed white comodones, which are all but impossible to get rid of.

The central problem seems to be an extreme and very emphatic lack of skin shedding, exemplified by the fact that I

• hardly sweat at all, and
• moisturizers won’t sink in unless they’re very liquefied, and even then I tend to spend about half my day looking “shiny” so there’s enough moisturizer left on my face later in the day, so it won’t peel.

For all that, my suspicion is that it’s just the top layer that is dry, and underneath my skin is still quite greasy, as it was in my adolescence.

Anyway, note that the one improvement in my condition over ten years is that my face used to start showing symptoms within hours of waking, washing (or even not washing), and not using Elidil. More recently, I’ve been able to go as long as 36 hours without symptoms or medications.

What It Isn’t: It’s worth saying that I do not believe I’m describing rosacea. From what I’ve read, I think they’ve found Elidil to be ineffective for it—and it clearly does have an enormous effect on my skin. But also because my problems do not occur in a butterfly pattern, and if anything I’m too pale: I never flush.

When My Skin Looks Its Best
My skin looks its very best, and needs the least manipulation, in very hot humid weather. Unfortunately, I’m in the inclement Northeast right now. When it’s not hot and humid, and when I use Elidil along with a buffer of two (!) moisturizers and the trentinoin on top, my skin looks pretty clear, keeping the bumps and lumps either dormant or fairly flat and only visible from very close up.

Meds & Other Health Issues
I suffered from untreated hypothyroidism for about half my life–although it has been well-treated since my late thirties.
I suffer from strong mold and wheat allergies.
I take thyroid medication and amiloride (a diurhetic) daily.
I recently found I was wildly allergic to benzoyl peroxide: the tiniest dab swelled my face for days.

Make-Up + Sunscreen
I do wear makeup because I become unutterably depressed if I can see blatant traces of this affliction on my face: tinted moisturizer, blush, and powder (all recommended by Paula Begoun). The first and last contain sunscreen. I recently switched from using Paula’s Choice tinted moisturizer to a Sephora brand because I realized it was the one thing I’d been using consistently for all ten years, and I thought maybe I was allergic to the titanium dioxide or one of the colorants. The change seemed to make no difference.

What I’ve Tried
In general, I follow Paula Begoun’s advice, and I have used many of her products.
In addition, I have tested countless moisturizers (Cerave is a favorite), and recently changed cleanser. None of that’s made a difference either.

Nor has early use of Nizoral, or any other product that’s used to treat seborrheic dermatitis.

All the hydroxies (alpha and beta) and the tretinoin are way too strong for me without the dilution of Elidil + moisturizers. None of which helps matters. I definitely need something to help shed my top layer daily.

*

I know you are not doctors, but I’m desperate to figure out what this is, because I am quite sure the original diagnosis is bunk, and no doctor’s yet to come up with any sort of replacement theory. (I’m also really, really broke).

Anybody have any ideas!?!

All thoughts, stories, clues, notions would be dearly appreciated!

What is up with my skin?

keep it under cover — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 19:05:51 -0800

I thought I had mild "papulopustular rosacea." Putting Polysporin on the red bumps helped a lot. Then I took acyclovir for a cold sore and the bumps cleared up completely! None of the online resources on rosacea have indicated acyclovir as a treatment. So what did I have? About a year ago I developed a rash of redness across my cheeks. Then out of the redness appeared small hard bumps. Thinking they were pimples at first, I tried squeezing them. But they didn't feel like pimples and nothing could be squeezed out of them. Also, unlike pimples, the bumps never really went away but went through phases of flaring up. During a flare-up they were red, raised and swollen, painful, and itchy. They eventually calmed down but the same bumps would flare up again later, over and over.

I did some internet reading that pointed me toward a type of rosacea. Papulopustular rosacea seemed to describe exactly what I had. I read that antibiotic creams are prescribed to treat it, so I tried applying regular old Polysporin. I figured it was worth a shot before going to the trouble of seeing my doctor, being referred to a dermatologist, and then buying prescription creams. To my surprise, it worked! The bumps calmed down considerably, and even appeared to be healing.

After a couple months of applying Polysporin every morning and night, the bumps were mostly under control. They'd still get a little angry if I was stressed or not getting enough sleep, but not nearly as badly as before. Then I woke up on the morning of my wedding with the beginnings of a cold sore bubbling beneath the surface of my lip. I freaked out and downed a bunch of acyclovir pills that my mom had bought in Hong Kong for my for cold sore emergencies (the instructions were all in Chinese, so I had no idea of the recommended dosage).

The acyclovir saved the day. To my surprise, my rosacea also cleared up almost completely! None of the online articles about rosacea mentioned antiviral medication so this was unexpected. Does this mean I never had rosacea in the first place? Was it some kind of viral skin infection on my cheeks? If so, what could it be?

Finacea wants to burn my face off

DrGirlfriend — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 19:34:55 -0800

Please share your experiences using Finacea. I was prescribed Finacea today by my dermatologist for my rosacea. I was previously using Metrocream but that stopped working for me.

I picked up the Finacea today and used it for the first time and...holy crap, it burns. I remember the Metrocream stinging a bit at first, but this is stronger. Part of it might be that I have a particularly harsh rosacea outbreak going on right now and my skin was really dry and sensitive.

Does it feel better with subsequent applications? Has it worked for you? And, any suggestions on calming down the burning?

I don't want to look like W.C. Fields...

miss lynnster — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:10:42 -0800

Living with rosacea... tips please. I've been to the dermatologist. I've tried Metrogel and Doxycycline. They work ok but are expensive with my insurance so I am not on either right now. About once a month or so my right cheek and chin explode with outbreaks and I HATE it. Facials really do help, but I don't want to have to spend hundreds of dollars on facials every time I feel an outbreak coming on. I know that food intake is supposed to matter, but I haven't found that so much. I eat healthy and my alcohol intake isn't crazy.

Any tips on living with this and what to do when I feel an outbreak on the horizon? Is there anything that will help other than having an expensive facial or filling myself with expensive chemicals from the dermatologist? Right now my right cheek is almost purple with a volcano of healing-but-angry skin. I'm not a fan of looking like WC Fields on a bad day.

Oh, and no... I'm not more stressed than usual... actually I'm less so.

P.S. - Yes, I've read the other rosacea threads. Since a lot of them seemed to be answered by people who weren't going through rosacea themselves I figured it might not hurt to ask again and see if anyone had new comments.

Thanks in advance for the help folks!

Vitamin A cream a decent stand in for Accutane?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 07:29:14 -0800

Acne and/or Rosacea problem. Vitamin A as a cure? I have an acne and/or rosacea issue. Background: I am late 20s and fair skinned and have ruddiness on my cheeks and redness in the crease where my nose meets my face. I also have a few blackheads and whiteheads on my nose and under my eyes respectively. And my facial skin has an overall dullness about it. But, the main concern for me is the redness.... because even when I'm having a great skin week and everything is clear and blemish-free, there's still a noticable uneveness.

Two things have fixed this in the past: 1) Accutane- I could only afford 2 months worth, but it worked like a charm and 2) pregnancy hormones (not at the same time as Accutane, of course). Those things are not repeatable right now, and nothing else has helped. I don't have health insurance or the discretionary funds to go to a dr. unless absolutely necessary, but I would like to know what I can do for this.... Food/ drink doesn't seem to be a factor for me. Although weather does (always worse in Summer).

What I'm wondering is, since Accutane worked, and it is concentrated Vitamin A, would a Vitamin A cream help? I'm using Neutrogena retional cream, but it's only helping a tiny bit... Has anyone had a good experience with a stronger OTC Vitamin A cream? If so, what's the brand?

Thanks in advance for your help.

ouchless exfoliant?

happy scrappy — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:53:15 -0800

I need suggestions for gentle exfoliants. I have pretty good skin (small pores, even complexion), but my face gets dry and flaky in the wintertime. I've been using St. Ives apricot scrub for sensitive skin, but I need something gentler. Lately when I use it, it stings my cheeks, and I'm already seeing early signs of rosacea so I'd prefer not to irritate it too much. But I do want to get the dead skin off.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

rosacea + swimming

needled — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:38:15 -0800

I have rosacea which is kept in check with daily applications of MetroGel (metronidazole). I also like swimming as exercise. The problem is that swimming in a chlorinated pool leaves my nose area bright red, almost like a chemical burn. It takes at least 2 weeks of extra care on my part to reduce this redness. What are some things I can do to protect my face when swimming? Or will I have to give up swimming altogether? (Note that other types of exertion, such as jogging or cycling, do not result in this type of redness)

My love for you is like a red, red nose...

Phalene — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 11:41:40 -0800

Rosacea management: care and hiding of a sometimes red face? Several questions all on one topic inside. I have moderate rosacea that afflicts only my nose. The antibiotics removed the surface damage, curing the bumps so I'm merely pink instead of red, inflamed and spotty, but discovering that I have an incurable tendency to flush in a disfiguring fashion means that I want to know the best ways to manage my condition on the other hand I don't want to live my life trying to avoid everything that could cause a rush of blood to prevent a flare up. So:

1) My dermatologist gave me a huge long list of things to avoid based on 'typical' rosacea suffers. Most of these (hot baths/showers/exertion/sun) certainly turn my feet red, but seem to improve my facial redness by fading it. Cold, allergens and surface bacteria seem to be my triggers. How to cope? I’m Canadian, so avoiding the whole winter thing is a non-option.

2) As a contact lense wearer, I find that eye irritation causes me to flush a little bit. How can I minimize this until I can get laser eye surgery (in another 2 or 3 years)? I would swap back to glasses, but the difference in vision between contacts and glasses is for me, considerable. How can I keep my eyes less inflamed, and thus my nose healthy?

3) As a female I want to wear makeup. What lines and brands of foundation/concealer/powder/etc should I look for, that I can use to cover the pink, when I don’t want to look cute and windblown, which have a good track record for sensitive skin? It’s no use hiding the pink only to turn it red with a flare up.

4) The ‘if left untreated’ pictures are ghastly and some things I’ve read say that getting worse is normal. Do I have a future of looking like boil covered raw meat, or do people generally do okay and this is those extreme pictures you typically find in medical texts? Similarly some sources say going into remission is possible (ie Wikipedia). How complete is that remission?

5) On the internet, rosacea seems to be a topic prone to voodoo cures and conflicting information. While interesting reading, what are the best rosacea resources? Non-flakey (ie actually has studies for their ‘emu-oil’ cure ideas) are best.

6) Socially speaking, how do I deal with nice people asking about my skin affliction (ie ‘You have a cold?’) or idiots humming ‘Rudolph’ in what they think is taking the mickey out of me, but is making my self esteem wither? I mean asides from screeching ‘Christ, what an asshole?’

7) I'm 22, and it seems to have started at 20. What gives? I thought this was a middle aged lady disease? Is this something to follow up on? Or is is just genetic luck of the draw, given that my mother has a pink nose too?

8) Anything else I should know about rosacea?

Looking for a female dermatologist who works with rosacea and IPL.

Anonymous — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 10:10:24 -0800

Does anyone here have positive experiences with a female dermatologist (or other specialist) in St. Louis who is good with most likely erythematotelangiectatic rosacea and care to name names? I'm red. Really red. Occasionally baboon-ass red. The Curse of the Celts was pretty light on my mom, but it seems to have hit me hard. Sunscreen hasn't helped, neither have various gentle cleaning regimens I'm looking for someone who works with Intense Pulsed Light or similar therapies. Thanks in advance. Please email flushedwithshame@yahoo.com with questions, if you have them.

Suggestions on how to psychologically cope with a skin condition?

Anonymous — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 15:01:47 -0800

Need suggestions on how to psychologically cope with a skin condition. I am a 32-year-old single male, and I was recently diagnosed with Rosacea. I am still in the mild stage of it, and I am working with doctors to do everything I possibly can to keep it under control. I understand there are many treatment options, and I am willing to spend the time and money exhausting any and all of those if necessary.

However, I am finding that as it gradually gets a bit worse week by week, I am getting very anxious about how it will effect the way I look. It’s also compounding my fears of ending up alone. I feel like the women that I now share a mutual attraction with won’t be attracted to me any more if this continues.

So my question is, if this does continue to get worse, what are some suggestions of how to cope with it, both with how I see myself and how the opposite sex sees me.

Thank you.

Severe rosacea flare-up: what to do?

rosemere — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 21:44:46 -0800

My rosacea has flared up really badly since December. I've gone from a rosy glow to angry red blotches and honest-to-God pustules for the first time. Yes, I'm going back to my dermatologist, but I need some hope that there is some damn thing out there that will help me. [more inside] I'm 46 and have had mild to moderate rosacea for over 10 years. Topical Metrocreme and Rosacure have helped keep it in check, and I got laser therapy three years ago with good results for some stubborn broken capillaries. (I'm the before and after at the bottom of this page.)

I'm trying to avoid the Toronto cold as much as possible, I'm keeping my showers as tepid as possible, and I'm watching out for food triggers. The antibiotic I got from my dermatologist when this flare-up first started is doing NOTHING. I'm applying my topical medications daily.

I don't know if the extra dry air is aggravating it (I have a bedside humidifier set up until we get the real one installed on the furnace), or if I'm getting close enough to menopause that this could be an issue.

I was planning another round of laser with my doctor this spring, but it's the flare-up and pustules right now that have me worried. Have you or anyone else you've known improved after a bad spell like this one? What kind of treatments have made a real difference?