Introducing myself - just been diagnosed
Joined: 30 Jan 2008
| Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:31 pm Post subject: Introducing myself - just been diagnosed | |
| Hello all,
I've been lurking here for a couple of weeks now and have found the site incredibly informative - thankyou to everyone! Decided to wait until I'd actually got a diagnosis before I posted, though I've known I had rosacea for quite a while. I occasionally get mild seborrhoeic dermatitis, which I think threw my GP off the scent. She saw me yesterday while my skin was having a flare-up, and recognized it as rosacea straight away. Have been given a 2 month course of doxycycline and metrogel - though she admitted the latter might not be any use ( I don't have p&ps - yet, anyway) and might dry my skin out. Patch-tested on forehead last night, and immediately had burning and redness - so I'm not going to be using that! Anyway - I'm a UK member based in East Yorkshire, 36 years old. Have probably had mild rosacea for years, but was unaware of it. Since I was about 20 my cheeks and, to some extent, nose have tended to become quite pink at times - and, since I was pregnant with my twin boys 5 years ago, it's been much more pronounced. Never really thought of it as flushing, for some reason - I suppose because it wasn't uncomfortable and noone ever commented on it. A couple of years ago I started having eye problems and haven't been able to wear any eye make-up since then; but didn't connect it with my skin. My eyes are okay a lot of the time, as long as I don't put anything near them! - and I use sodium cromoglycate eyedrops when they're troublesome. I noticed a couple of years ago that I was starting to get broken capillaries on cheeks and nose, and started wearing foundation. Still saw it just as a cosmetic issue. But in the past 9 months or so my skin has flared up badly: for me, a trigger has been too much experimentation with different products. I wanted to switch to organic cosmetics last Summer, but couldn't find moisturisers etc. that suited my skin; so carried on putting stupid numbers of things on my face. Had a couple of really violent reactions to face creams - going all blotchy, new capillaries appearing, more redness etc. - and my skin hasn't been able to recover, it seems. Feel frustrated now that I didn't just leave well alone. It was still reasonably calm at Christmas time, but has flared up worse than ever since then. One windy day walking the boys to school seemed to be the final straw - my skin went mad, burning red everywhere, and it won't calm down now. That was about 4 weeks ago. Since then the red areas on my face have spread - it seems unstoppable - to my lower cheeks, chin and even a bit on my forehead. There seem to be new broken capillaries every day, which for me is the most distressing bit, I think. Flushes have become painful, and a few parts of my face - chin, and area near mouth - are sore the whole time. I've also reacted to products I'd used happily for ages, and can't find anything now that my skin will tolerate! I also seem to have a few tiny white blisters - is that the start of p&ps? I've felt very depressed and completely obsessed about my skin these past few weeks - discovering this forum and reading many of your posts has been really helpful. Apologies for the length of this. I have a couple of questions. Has anyone else had this persistent soreness and found anything that helps? And, of course, I've been reading about IPL and Dr Crouch, who sounds wonderful. But Swindon is a long way from me - do any UK members know of anyone else who specialises in rosacea, a bit closer to me? I definitely wouldn't go to some beauty clinic for laser treatment. I also followed a thread on here, posted a couple of years ago I think, about veinwave. I read that it wasn't good at addressing the specific issues of rosacea, but if I remember correctly another UK member did have the treatment and found it quite effective...? The veinwave website advertises it as a rosacea treatment, but there's something about the tone I don't quite trust - it seemed a bit too much of a hard-sell. Have any other UK members tried this more recently? Well, I think I've gone on quite long enough for a first post - I don't want to bore anyone. I'm trying not to let this take over my life, but at the moment I don't think I'm succeeding. Can't work out whether I'm most upset about what other people will think, or the fact that I hate the way my face looks myself. Do have a wonderfully supportive husband who fortunately isn't put off by my red face. Kristina b. |
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Forum Moderator
Joined: 08 Jan 2007
Location: new york
| Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject: | |
| Hi Kristina,
Welcome to the Forum! Sorry about you having rosacea but glad you found us!! I have good luck with Eucerin original moisturizing cream and lotion for soothing my red irritated skin. I believe that's available in the UK. Just do a patch test if you decide to try it to make sure you don't have a bad reaction to it. Have you started the doxy yet? That should start helping within a month or two so be patient. That will help you with any papules and pustules and may help with some inflammation as well. Definitely stay away from the metro. Luckily you just tried it on a small area. You probably know this already but use as few products as possible and moisturize well. That will help with the harsh weather. And protect your skin while outside with a physical sunblock (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) or cover your face with a scarf or something. The wind can be a huge trigger. I don't know anything about the veinwave treatments but I'm sure other people here will clue you in. I absolutely recommend Dr. Crouch but of course, if it's too far to be practical I believe there are other good UK doctors and someone will chime in here to recommend them. I know Dr. Chu at Hammersmith hospital is excellent but I don't know if he does lasers. I do know that he has n-lite though so he does have that (I think that's good for seb derm). Since you have been here for a few weeks you have probably read a lot but I do recommend the Q and A sessions in the laser section if you haven't gotten to that yet. Good luck and we're glad you're here! Best wishes, Melissa |
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Joined: 11 Nov 2007
Location: Netherlands
| Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:11 pm Post subject: | |
| Hi Kristina,
Welcome! Are you using anything for your seb derm? You might have already read this but antihistamines may work and also some kind of zinc ointment. I am sorry you're feeling depressed and I hope the doxy will work for you. On the forum you can find all the info and support you need. All the best, Angela _________________ Currently on Finacea, doxy and nasalcrom (topically) |
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Joined: 30 Jan 2008
| Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 4:55 pm Post subject: | |
| Hi Melissa and Angela,
Thanks so much for your kind replies. I haven't tried the eucerin original cream, but may well do - read that the redness relief one wasn't so good, but people do seem to have more luck with the original: and yes, I'm pretty sure I've seen it in the local chemist. I think I will contact Dr Crouch's clinic, maybe in a few weeks - feel a little overwhelmed by it all at the moment. My in-laws are actually not too far from that part of the world, so could always combine treatment with a visit!! Have only just told my mum-in-law in an e-mail about the diagnosis - it really wasn't obvious when she last saw me over Christmas - and she was very kind and supportive too. Angela, I haven't found anything for the seb. derm. Years ago when I first had it I was prescribed an anti-fungal cream which worked really well, but I can no longer tolerate it. My GP then prescribed hydrocortisone, but as I already suspected rosacea by the I didn't use it. I have used aloe vera gel on flaky bits and it's quite soothing - though I don't find it helpful for the rosacea - but am interested in the sound of a zinc ointment. What is it called? The only thing I've come across with zinc is sudocrem ointment that we used to use when the boys were babies to prevent nappy rash - but can't imagine putting that on my face. I get sinusitis/rhinitis symptoms too so have tried antihistamines for those, but never noticed if it had any effect on the seb. derm. Worth trying again. It's been interesting to see on this forum how many people have both conditions. My GP seemed to be taking an either/or approach which stopped her recognizing the rosacea until she actually saw me with a flush! Thanks again to you both for your welcoming comments, Kristina |
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Joined: 11 Nov 2007
Location: Netherlands
| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 1:57 pm Post subject: | |
| Hi Kristina,
Very wise of you not to use the hydrocortisone. The zinc ointment I use is probably only available in the Netherlands. It is called Daro Zinkzalf. It consists of vaseline with 10% zinc oxide. I think you can easily get it made by your pharmacist, it can't be very expensive. For me it really helps when my skin is red and flaky and zinc is said to be good for seb derm. You can also use Sudocream but this contains many other ingredients that are not very suitable for rosacea skin (alcohols). Some people with seb derm use Sudocream and put a layer of vaseline on top at night. Also a freshly squeezed lemon in water every morning helps with seb derm and some people are helped by taking apple cider vinegar. Good luck and keep us posted! Angela _________________ Currently on Finacea, doxy and nasalcrom (topically) |
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Joined: 30 Jan 2008
| Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 2:23 pm Post subject: | |
| Thanks, Angela! I'll see if I can get my pharmacist to make some up.
Best wishes, Kristina |
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