Does Clindamycin help redness/flushing?
Joined: 07 Feb 2008
| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:33 am Post subject: Does Clindamycin help redness/flushing? | |
| My face is very red and irritated right now (as well as slightly dry and tender-feeling) from Duac. It just didn't work for my skin, so I've discontinued it. My face was red before using Duac (not as bad, though), for about two weeks straight because of inflamed veins and capillaries in my face.
I am wondering if my 1% Clindamycin lotion would help with the constant redness in my face that I've been experiencing the past few weeks, as well as the irritation I got from Duac. I know it'd help my p&p's, but my leading concern is redness. Since the redness is caused by inflammation and Clindamycin is an anti-inflammatory, would it help at all? |
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Joined: 08 Jan 2007
Location: new york
| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:03 pm Post subject: | |
| Hi Lauren,
That answer depends on your reaction. Anything that calms down your inflammation will certainly help redness. But there must be a distinction between inflammatory redness and permanent redness. So, if the clindamycin helps calm your p&p's it will help with any redness associated with the p&ps and might also help some of the surrounding inflammaation. How much of the redness will be reduced depends on how much is caused by what the clindamycin is treating. So the best way to answer this is try it and see. If the lotion irritates you d/c it immediately though. Good luck and keep us posted. Best wishes, Melissa PS Your face needs time to heal from the harsh Duac gel so factor that in as well. You might want to give your face a break from everything for a while and let it calm down before adding more topicals. |
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Joined: 07 Feb 2008
| Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:32 pm Post subject: | |
| Thanks, Melissa!
I didn't try Clindamycin last night, and today, two days after using Duac, my facial irritation seems better. Before, whenever I'd irritate my face, it'd take about two weeks for the redness to leave, and even then there'd be little to no improvement in the first week -- it'd always be the second week where things would slowly improve. Now, however, it's only been two days since using Duac and already there is some improvement. My face is still far from even-toned, though. I've been on Oracea and the generic Plexion cleanser for two days, so maybe one of those is helping reduce the inflammation. I doubt Oracea would be working so soon, but maybe the cleanser is helping inflammation. Depending on how things are, I might try applying a little bit of Clindamycin to my reddest areas (cheeks and forehead) and see how things look in the morning... I'm hoping this redness is inflammation, treatable, and not permanent. My face has been pale and even as recent as a month ago... The redness has been on and off for two or so months, but the past few weeks it's been a constant. I really hope it's not permanent! I guess I'll have to wait and see how these anti-inflammatory treatments work. I have a question... If I manage to treat the inflammation and the constant redness goes away, will my flushes be less severe, since my facial veins and capillaries would be less inflamed to begin with? |
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Joined: 08 Jan 2007
Location: new york
| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:37 am Post subject: | |
| I don't know Lauren. Flushing happens for various reasons and triggers are one of them. So by calming your face down that would help but I don't think it would change flushing to things like triggers for example. But it might raise your flushing threshold and then it would make it more difficult to flush.
I'm not sure I helped you at all with that answer Lauren, sorry. I will add that by calming your face down and lessening inflammation it could only help your flushing and certainly not hurt it. Best wishes, Melissa |
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Joined: 07 Feb 2008
| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 2:56 am Post subject: | |
| Oh no, you've definitely helped clear up many of my questions. I think I'll focus right now on doing my best to get rid of the constant redness and p&p's... That'll probably be hard enough to manage. Do you know of any common treatments that help with the inflammatory redness problem? Duac hasn't worked for me and I don't think Clindamycin will do too much to help the redness, though I'll give it a shot. It has cleared me 100% of p&p's in the past, so it'll at least help in that area. I don't think I'll be using it long-term, though, so I'm trying to do some research on topicals that are made to target Rosacea redness and possibly p&p's, though mostly redness. I tried Finacea in December, but it was much too irritating (though, I DID start it twice a day, so that was probably a contributing factor). Are there any products along those lines that could topically help redness? | |
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Joined: 08 Jan 2007
Location: new york
| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:17 am Post subject: | |
| Hi Lauren,
That's very specific to the individual. What works for one person may actually make another person worse. Having said that I will tell you what works for me. I wash with eucerin cleansing gel for red irritated skin and moisturize with eucerin original formula cream and lotion for dry skin. I find these to be very soothing and calming. I don't use any other creams or lotions. I am spot treating p&p's right now with Finacea but I don't know if it's helping or hurting. I started a couple of weeks ago with it and I only apply the tiniest amount as I have very sensitive skin. I find the less I use the better. I did have some help with Solodyn (45 mg of minocycline). I was on that for 14 months and it really kept the p&p's away. In fact, I didn't realize I had p&p's until I d/c'd the Solodyn about 6 weeks ago. I am trying to hold off on going back on antibiotics for now but if I have to I may try Oracea since it is considered safer for long term I think. Try the best you can to minimize your triggers as this will help in decreasing inflammation. I know that's impossible to do all the time so just do the best you can. I have given up alcohol totally.  Luckily I still manage to get giddy without it. I am always in a mood to laugh and have fun so it hasn't crimped my style too much. I do miss a nice glass of wine with dinner though.
Some people have had success with metrogel, cream, lotion. It really is an individual reaction so hard to say one thing works for all. Trial and error and patch test all new topicals. Again, less is more usually so try one new thing at a time if possible. Good luck! Best wishes, Melissa |
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Joined: 07 Feb 2008
| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 3:42 am Post subject: | |
| Thanks again. I've only been on Oracea for two days, so I can't really tell how well it works, but I haven't had any side effects of any kind of yet, so that's good news. If you want, I'll keep you updated on how it goes for me.
I'm thinking of switching to a Eucerin moisturizer. I'd like to find one that would soothe the irritation/inflamation, but most moisturizers I've tried either sit on the surface of my skin and don't do anything or clog my pores. My cleanser dries my skin out a little, though, so I could definitely benefit from a better moisturizer than what I'm using. Do you know if Metrogel/cream/lotion is easier on sensitive skin than Finacea? Since I just started Oracea and this Plexion cleanser, I don't plan on starting anything new yet, but I'd like to be able to ask my derm about different topicals for redness and p&p's next checkup. Thanks! |
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Joined: 08 Jan 2007
Location: new york
| Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 1:46 pm Post subject: | |
| Some people find that metrolotion is the most gentle for them. Metrocream and then metrogel is the harshest of all the metros. However, some people like Finacea better and find that the metros do nothing for them. I do think in general that Finacea is a bit harsher than metro but again all specific to the person. It is a matter of the individual's reaction so you would have to try it to see which is more effective for you.
I would give the Oracea at least 2 months to see if it is beneficial for you. You might see improvement way before that of course but be patient if you don't. Best wishes, Melissa |
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Joined: 01 Dec 2007
Location: Virginia/DC metro
| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject: | |
| Hi Lauren,
I just came back from derm office so have something to share. I have redness/inflammation on face (cheek, forehead, chin) and p&ps on some spots, and progressed to ocular part last dec. I have gone through 2 phases in treatment and still trying to figure out what to do next, Phase I (09/07 – 11/07)– Noritate + Clindamycin. This regimen did not work. Redness remained. Phase II (12/07 – present) Skin– Erythromycin 250mg x2 + Clindamycin. Redness started fading and P&Ps got suppressed on the 5th wk after being on Erythromycin. Now I still have slight redness and pimples here and there, but the derm said I can try to taper off the Erythromycin to 250mg daily to see what happens; And he still insisted me applying Clindamycin twice a day. Phase II (12/07 – present) Ocular: 5-days course on steroid eye drop and then Restasis till now. Derm1 said my redness is part of the rosacea and was caused by inflammatory pimples; Derm2 said my redness is induced by the irritation of unknown topical stuff. My personal experience - 1. by avoiding triggers did prevent more redness from spreading to other parts of the face. 2. oral antibiotic does work in terms of reducing inflammation and suppressing pimples. 3. Clindamycin is very mild topical lotion comparing with Noritate, but I am not sure if can be working effectively for the long term maintenance. I think you are on the right track now. I learnt to be patient while dealing with this skin disorder/disease. Crystal |
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Joined: 01 Dec 2007
Location: Virginia/DC metro
| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 8:45 pm Post subject: | |
| Melissa,
I can always learn something from your posts. Yes there is a distinction between permanent redness and inflammatory redness. Does it mean that oral antibiotic does not reduce permanent redness effectively but laser(IPL, Vbeam) would be more effective; while oral antibiotic can reduce the inflammatory redness therefore IPL is not necessary if the face is pimple clear and no more redness is caused by the inflammatory pimples?? I was trying to find a consensus from different derms but it has been hard….. Crystal |
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Joined: 08 Jan 2007
Location: new york
| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:13 pm Post subject: | |
| Hi Crystal,
That does make sense. Antibiotics will help with inflammatory redness because they act as an anti-inflammatory when they do help in rosacea. So, if you have P&P's and the antibiotics help clear them then that will help with the redness that was being caused by that inflammation. But, if you also have permanent redness (and I really am guessing here because no one has been able to satisfactorily explain this) that is caused by permanent damage to the blood vessels then laser or IPL should be able to help with this by causing the body to reabsorb the damaged blood vessels. Again, I am just hypothesizing and as you pointed out even the derms are a bit confused on this issue. As with everything else pertaining to rosacea what works for one person might not for another. So the best way to see what works is trial and error. It seems as if you have got a good handle on this and are on the right track for you for sure. I am of the mindset to go as gently as possible and speed is unimportant when it comes to managing our rosacea. It seems as if slow and steady is what helps us most. You are right that patience is very helpful when dealing with our symptoms. I'm not sure I helped answer your question at all but what's most important is that you are seeing clearing and calming of your face. So continue what you're doing and also follow your instincts. I don't always think the doctor knows best unfortunately. Mine wanted to start me on differin or retin-A and there's no way my face can handle that so there is no way I am following that recommendation. Best of luck Crystal!! Melissa |
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Joined: 07 Feb 2008
| Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 9:44 pm Post subject: | |||
Thanks for the replies, guys! Lavender, I started using 1% Clindamycin lotion in September, and while it did clear my face completely, I remember now that it seemed to redden my skin a little. I've just remembered this while I was looking over a log I'd written in September through November. This was before I had Rosacea symptoms, and it'd always make my skin reddish. Now that I have Rosacea, I haven't noticed any improvement in redness while using it, so I've just been using it as a spot treatment on inflamed pimples until the Oracea I'm taking kicks in. It's strange... My face has been very dry the past few days, so I stopped using my Plexion cleanser two days ago until the dryness abates. I've been taking Oracea for five days and continue to use it. I've been moisturizing much more the past few days, and I've noticed that my redness is getting slightly better every day. At first, I thought it was the cleanser easing inflammation, but today's the third day I haven't used it and there's still improvement. I doubt the Oracea pill would be having any effect so early on. It hasn't improved my p&p's yet, but I wasn't expecting any improvement for a few weeks, of course. I wonder what's reducing the redness? Not that I'm complaining! |
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