Hi. I have had rosacea for a while. I was wondering what people have tried for this, and what worked the best. I have tried Finacea, but I'm not impressed. It made my skin smoother, but the flushing actually got worse after a while. My worst problem is the redness/flushing.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance!
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I have Rosacea. My face flushes occasionally, and seems to be related to food or stress. My neck and chest flush all the time, and are hypersensitive to sun, soaps and dyes. I have a few red dots and broken capillaries on my face and chest.
I wear sunscreen everyday and wear a hat or visor if I'm going to be in the sun for more than a few minutes. I use Metro Gel at night. I tried Oracea (low dose tetracycline), but it seemed to cause several side effects including raising my blood pressure and increasing flushing on my chest, so I stopped it.
There are non-prescription treatments on the internet, but I've never tried them. I have been using Eucurin redness reducing cleanser, but I'm not sure it has made a difference. I've read not to use Clinique's redness reliever because it contains hydrocortisone, which can make Rosacea worse in the long run.
I'm want to try a different dermatologist near where I work who specializes in Rosacea, but my work won't slow down so I can find time to go.
I have rosacea too. Spider veins around my nose, some lighter ones around my mouth, pink that is light on a good day and hot pink on bad days, and some kind of bumps under the skin that look like a rash. Those come and go too.
I tried Finacea and that stuff literally cooked my skin with a nasty chemical burn. Although the other creams the dermatologist gave me were not that bad, they still produced tons of redness and stinging.
I play around with stuff found at the drug store all the time. I do have the Eucurin redness relief line. The cleaner doesn't do much, but I use the night cream. On me, the day creme is more of a cover up with the green tint and doesn't really do much to moisturize. I haven't seen that little green cover stick in ages, but if they still make that, it's a waste of money. I think I used that thing 3 times before the product wore out.
Currently, I am using the gentle Cetaphil products. The ones with the [b]blue[b] label, not the green. The gentle bar of soap and the moisturizing cream in the big tub. That keeps my skin from not being so senstive.
I have tried the Aveeno line for rosacea, but that stuff makes my face burn badly.
For bumps and redness, I've tried two products I've found at Walgreens. One is Prosacea. I've heard a lot of people say this doesn't work for them, but I think it works a bit for me. However, what works the best is one calld TriDerma MD. The tube says it is medical strength ingredients, botanicals, and vitamins.
I just wish rosacea products did not cost so much. Yikes!
My biggest problem is finding a make up that doesn't make my face worse, yet still covers redness, especially on the bad days. Anyone have suggestions for that?
__________________ Diagnosed in fall 2003, Rediagnosed in Jan. 2005. Not "textbook" PCOS but doctor is treating it as PCOS due to symptoms.
Bare Minerals seems to be the best makeup for me. I love the concealer brush because I can add extra coverage to the red spots and spider veins with just regular makeup. Now that I'm used to Bare Minerals, if I wear a liquid makeup, it feels like my skin is smothering.
I use Cetaphil mosturizer in the big tub too, but mostly on my dry legs in the winter. I hadn't thought about trying it on my chest and neck. Aveeno products have too much perfume in them, which can't be good for sensitive skin. I can't stand how they smell.
*BUT* I noticed my symptoms started shortly after starting metformin--I just posted about this in the metformin section.
Apparently metformin can CAUSE flushing.
And my form of rosacea is primarily intense flushing. I do have some bumps/acne, but they pretty much went away when I take propecia or spironolactone (I've taken both with success).
Are any of you ladies on metformin? Do you think there could be a relationship???
Here's the history for rosacea:
--started with vibramycin as an oral AB. had some GI problems, but seemed to help with redness.
--was switched to minocycline and had massive allergic reaction. Can no longer take -cyclines.
--started Amoxicillin (500mg 2xday), no real effect
--started taking Erythromycin (250mg 2x day) no effect yet
--started metrogel at the same time as Erythromycin, but caused more intense burning episodes
--switched to finacea about 10 days ago. No noticeable difference. Itches rather than burns.
I'm using Aquanil as a cleanser (similar to cetaphil) and DML as a moisturizer. Recommended to me by a derm back when I was a teenager and have used consistently ever since.
I've been using Mary Kay's creme to powder foundation for the last 2 months or so to deal with the redness. It is non irriating (for me), and very opaque--does a decent job covering redness. WIht a brush, it can be applied either very thickly or very sheer.
Hope this helps.
Please let me know what you all think about the role of metformin with our 'red faces'
My face has been red since I was a teen. My mom took me to a dermatologist for acne and he put me under an ultraviolet light for acne therapy a couple of times a week for over a year, which made my face look like I had a perpetual sunburn. Then, as an adult, I noticed my scalp was noticeably redder than anyone else's. I developed a red spot between my eyes, then my whole t-zone turned red. I was diagnosed with rosacea about 20 years ago. I use metrogel when I can afford it, but go for long periods without using anything. My regular make up is enough to make my face look ok, but that red scalp! Can you imagine smearing metrogel around in your hair every night? And the expense! I have never encountered anyone else with a red scalp like mine. Any out there? My hair is snow-white and pretty thin in front. Sometimes I sprinkle cornstarch or baby powder on it and rub it around to make my hair look thicker and to tone down the red. We all have our crosses to bear, don't we?
I have rosacea as well and have found that the physician's formula line of makeup doesn't seem to bother my skin as much as others. Usually I can't wear foundation for any length of time, but I can wear the powder form for up to 8 hours. I use SpectroGel on my face for cleansing and have found that Lubriderm doesn't bother my skin at all whether on my face or other parts. I have found that my skin is extremely dry this winter so far and that I now have psoriasis on my scalp that is driving me insane!! LOL
My dr has tried me on Tetracycline once a day, but I didn't see any difference on it. I have asked her to send me to a dermatologist for the rosacea and psoriasis and am on a wait list for the rosacea clinic here in the city.
I suspected I had rosacea when I was 30, and although my doctor dismissed it, I got a prescription for Metrogel and used it sporadically. I was living in NJ at the time and it really wasn't bad - I have always had rosy red cheeks and alcohol makes me very red, but it was manageable and people always said I had nice skin...until I moved south, to NC and Arkansas - the constant sun exposure did a real number on my - constant redness, pustules and papules, ocular rosacea, the works. In addition to rosacea I have a lot of allergies (including food sensitivities). So I would suggest that if you suspect you have allergies, get tested and if you are, get on some medicine to control your allergies, b/c I suspect they are linked.
What works for me:
- I moved north to Canada. Less sun really works for me. Maybe not realistic for most people, but my job transfers me around a lot and I have made a conscious decision to try and live as north as possible and away from the sun.
- VBeam laser treatments: I tried IPL, but did not really work. VBeam worked beautifully. Done at the Baywood Clinic in Toronto with Dr. Chan. I had a bunch of treatments (6?) ending a couple of years ago and it is time for a touch up, but this was the single biggest thing for me to clear up my messed up skin. The one thing I would say is that as my face cleared up, I seem to get more flushing on my neck and chest, so I have to get that taken care of now.
- Daily topical prescription Metrogel in the morning applied to my face and neck.
- Daily topical prescription Differin (Retin A cream) applied at night
- Clinique City Block Sunscreen (highest SPF available) - this has zinc, is not white so it is not as evident you are wearing sunscreen when you are at work and despite little tube, lasts forever and is not crazy expensive.
- Zyrtec and Benadryl allergy tablets at night. Taken for allergies, but seems to positively impact the Rosacea, esp the Zyrtec.
- Supplements: Evening Primrose Oil caplets, Borage Oil caplets, Fish Oil Caplets, Bilberry Caplets, Grapeseed Oil caplets, Flaxseed Oil caplets, a bunch of vitamins too. If I stop with the supplements I seem to get more rosacea episodes. I do think they help.
- If I have ocular rosacea symptoms the only thing that works on my eyelids is Protopic cream.
- Drink tons of water. Avoid sugary drinks (esp hot ones) and all artificial sweeteners. The artificial sweeteners seem to be worse than the sugar.
I can't take antibiotics (I seem to get facial swelling from them) and the above work great. People tell me that I have beautiful skin - probably b/c I have been avoiding the sun and using sunscreen. It is a lot of trial and error - good luck, keep at it to find what works for you.
I found some medication over the counter yesterday, Prosacea. It is $9.99 at Walgreens pharmacy. So far, it looks like it is working. The only thing is I'm not sure if it is safe to use during pregnancy. My husband and I are trying to conceive, so I need to find out.
__________________ DOB: 4/22/70
Newlywed to my darling husband 10/13/07smlove2:
Symptoms of PCOS developed at age 14 (1984).
Medications:
Metformin - 1700 mg (insulin Resistance)
Atenolol 50/25 mg daily (High blood pressure)
Not TTC at this time.
AF: every 25-28 days
Weight Loss: 35 pounds.:
My skin has always been very sensitive to the sun and heaters. But last winter it started with hot flashes on my face and then my nose started getting red like a tomato. I looked like Rudolph! Then suddenly I was getting hot flushes on my face and the redness slowly started to progress from my face to my entire face. Now when I have a flare up it's my entire nose that gets tomato red, the worst part is when people make comments or ask "why is your nose so red". Right now, I'm taking Orocea and using Metro Gel in the morning and at night. I also cleanse with the sensative skin Cetaphil. So far it seems to be working but I was diagnosed with early stag Rosacea. The triggers that I have identified so far is heaters, and stress. I also have small spider veins around my nose and one near my lip. I would like to get those removed but I don't know how much it will cost. I think the biggest problem for me is when I get the cystic acne on my chin or jaw line and the red nose. The cystic acne hurt so much and never come out. If it starts to get any worst I might do some sort of photo facial. My friend who had Rosacea all over her face did that and after 6 sessions she has never had it back.
I was diagnosed with Rosacea 3 months after I had my DD. Before then, I had mild acne but nothing that required me to take meds to keep under control. Seems that after I had DD my hormones went off the deep end.
I no longer take Doxycycline since DH and I are TTC #2 and the side effects of the meds I was on was fetal deformities. About 3 days after I stopped taking the RX, my face swelled up and I started having one of the worst flareups I had ever had.
I read somewhere online that Garlic , which is has anti-biotic properties helped some with their Rosacea. It went against what some docs say b/c some say that garlic makes the flushing/redness worse. Well I went on Garlicin a month and a half ago and I was shocked to see that my Rosacea was actually staying at bay. It was no where near clear like I had when I was on RX meds but I was better.
I am no one who refuses to leave the house if I don't have makeup or anything like that but honestly, I knew people were staring at my face b/c of the severe flareup I had. I am not a paranoid person at all but it was obvious people were staring. After I started taking my Garlicin, the puffiness and sensitivity went away. I also started taking Vitex for fertility reasons and found that it actually helped my cystic acne as well.
I stopped taking Vitex b/c I am in the process of being officially diagnosed with PCOS and so I wanted nothing to tamper with my bloodwork results. I stopped taking it Friday and today I totally notice the cystic acne has come back and its painful.
I take a specific brand of garlic b/c its time released and its odor free. Its Garlicin CF which is for immune defense. It is seriously the best garlic you can get on the market. http://www.naturesway.com/?pid=6795 I take 2 pills 3 xs a day. When I was taking Vitex, I was taking one pill 3 xs a day. http://www.naturesway.com/?pid=11750
It didn't completely take it away but definately makes it manageable. I can even wear makeup again which I could not do before since my skin was so painful and I was so puffy and the pustules were so big..YUCK !
For redness, I use Olay Regenerist Creame.http://www.olay.com/boutique/regenerist/products/re1004 I put it on my skin after I wash at night and in the morning. It gets rid of 80% of my redness. I love LOVE LOVE the stuff...and I like that it doesnt cause me to break out and the smell is pretty nice too
All this I have learned from trial and error over the 3 years I have had Rosacea....I refuse to take rx meds for the rest of my life so I try to find alternative forms I know it has helped me keep my severe Rosacea at a manageable state and I am sure it can help someone else.
I was prescribed Orocea and Metro Gel for my Rosacea. I guess mine isn't that bad but when it flares it FLARES and I look like Rudolph. The flaring is starting to happen more and more often, and yes peope do stare and some even comment. They say "why is your nose red?" or "does your hurt" *ugh*. I'm really fair skinned so the cysctic acne that comes along with the Rosacea leaves dark spots. to get rid of these I have to religiously put Retina A on them. I don't want to use Orocea and Metro Gel for the rest of my life so I'm trying to find something that will work beside prescription medication.
Rosacea 
