rosacea & acne vulgaris readers emails
Dear Webmaster, I read your article on acne vulgaris. Everything you explained made sense. It made me feel not alone. It also made me feel normal. Low-self esteem is my problem but acne vulgaris is my name. Unfortunately, acne vulgaris has helped control my life. It has stopped me from becoming the woman inside of me by making me hide and become ashamed of myslef. acne vulgaris effects my life it's a disease eating me alive.
So, I have a question for you. If I get my face to clear up and look beautiful will this pain ever go away? Will my issues be gone?
I guess you would like to think so but I know everyone is different. I mean, we all handle things in our own way. There are those who choose to move on with their lives and then there are people who choose to dwell.
Mr. Webmaster your definition of acne vulgaris has been the only definition that has affected my views and feelings about my problem. I am now a smarter and wiser women because you have made me open my eyes and really see what the problem has been.
Thank you,
yours sincerely,
Renee
Dear Renee
I can't tell you how delighted I am to receive your email, it has really cheered me, my only feedback is emails like yours and they give me the will to carry on. It takes time to change our views and feelings you have began and I believe you will succeed.
best wishes and take very good care of yourself and please stay in touch.
kcn.
I am delighted to visit your webpage. It has given me more information on this suject in half an hour than i have been able to learn in twenty years of suffering from these complaints(mildly put)
You don't know how much that means to me.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Hi,
Thank you for all the informations!
My dermatologist suggested me to use the AHA(glycolic Acid) to treat
this problem!
My dermatologist treated the same kind of the patients by using this
method and the result was quite successful !
Hope to share the experience later!
bye!
Take care!Anita
Webmaster ????:
I'll look forward to that! it'll be of great interest to our readers.
take care
kcn.
Hi there
I have been faced with acne vulgaris since my late teens. I have been told that
this
would go away as I grow older but I still have this problem now - I am 27
years old. At the moment I am taking some Blackmores Skin Support tablets
and my face is clearing up. I still have an outburst once a month - this
is
usually a few weeks before I have my period.I also have scarringon my face and I am really conscious of it although I
have been told by my friends that I am an attractive woman. I have been
told by a friend that there are tablets which can be taken to get rid of
the
scars and acne vulgaris, is this true?Your co-operation is highly appreciated.
Thank you
Catherine
Dear Catherine
I am not aware of tablets to get rid of scarring, you will need to see your
Doctor and ask him about collagin injections, dermabrasion or laser
treatment. An "alternative" approach if you want to try it - would be to
try a topical gel of aloe vera and vitamin e, vitamin c cream can be good too- good luck.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Do you have any information on Corrective eye surgery Lasik and side
effects
from ocular rosacea? Basically would it be safe to have the Lasik
procedure
if you have rosacea? Thanks for any helpI'm sorry I don't - I'll put it to our readers and see if they have any
experience of it. If you can enlighten us in the future you will be doing a
great service to others in your predicament.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
is dianette available in the united states?
It is manufactured in Germany by Shering click on this link
http://www.schering.de/engl/index.html kcn.
Hi
I went to the doctor to have a spot on my nose checked I thought I might
have skin cancer. However He told me i had rosacea he gave me metro gel. I
have had a problem with flushing for as long as I can remember so when my face
got red and stayed red I hated it but lived with it. It sometimes got hot
almost burning tingly I thought this was just my face.. It makes me upset that
my Doctor never said anything about my red face as many times as I have been
in for a physical. I did not no I had a problem that needed treatment. I
know am i9n the next stage I get pimple like blisters with clear fluid. I want
them to go away.Hi thanks for your email. You will need to learn about rosacea - a good
place to start is my site - read others emails and the replies they should
help.
best wishes and take care.
kcn.
Dear Sir
I have been taking Dianette for over a year, together with Erythromycin 2%
topical solution as a treatment for acne vulgaris.Recently a new pharmacist dispensed my prescription, the following message
was on the bottle for the first time:"Interaction warning - the effects of Dianette tabs are significantly
reduced by Erythromycin topical 2% possibly causing a reduced
contraceptive effect"As a Doctor has never informed me of this when issuing the prescription,
it came as a surprise to me.Is it possible for a topical antibiotic to effect the pill in the same way
as oral antibiotics can?I would appreciate some advice as I depend on Dianette as a contraceptive.
Yours
Gillian
Hi Gillian thank you for writing - a general warning about antibiotics
possibly affecting the effectivness of the contraceptive pill is on our acne vulgaris
treatments page apart from that I'm afraid I'm not in position to answer
your question or advise you on such an issue - sorry I can't help.
take care
kcn.
Hi! My name is Janice, a 15-year-old Chinese living in Canada. I've had
acne vulgaris for around 3 years. Now it is not as severe as before but there are
scars on my face. I was just wondering if you have any suggestions for me
on how to get rid of the redness. I'm even scared to go out with friends
because I don't want people to see me. All I want now is to get rid of
the scars so that I can become more confident about myself. But I just don't
know how!!! If you can reply ASAP that'd be great. Thx a lot!P.S. The site is really cool!! (^-^)
Hi thanks for writing and your very kind comments!. Treatments for acne vulgaris
scarring are collagen injections, dermabrasion and laser treatment - you
will need to see a good dermatologist, to try an "alternative approach" try vitamin C cream,
aloe vera and vitamin e, but don't get your hopes up, conventional medicine
will probably give better results that you need. A moisturiser with the
above ingredients may help the redness. Let me know how you get on. Don't
forget the redness could be dermatitis or perhaps rosacea - both can be
treated so don't worry.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Hello,
I realize that you don't give medical diagnosis, however, I'm pretty sure
that I have pre-rosacea and saw a doctor about it today. Perhaps he's not
up on the latest developments but he said there is nothing I can do until I
actually develop the condition (i.e. permanent redness) and then i could
take oral antibiotics. Is there nothing I can do if and before it reaches
the next stage. Topical cream to prevent the flushing perhaps?I would appreciate it if you could answer. Thank you
J. in Tokyo
Hi, I just found your web site while doing a little research. I learned a few years back that I probably have rosacea. I'm 32 and it's not as severe as some of the ones I read about but I do experience the flushing and breakouts quiet often. My doctor put me on benzimycin cream and it works pretty good. I am fair skinned with blue eyes and of Irish decent. I am wondering if anyone suffers from excessive oily eyelids. I read that this is a by-product of having rosacea. Whether this is true or not I don't know but I will say that I didn't have this problem until I started to have flare ups. If anyone does suffer from this I would like to know if they have a way of controlling it. It is very frustrating not to mention uncomfortable. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks BJ.
Hi thank you for writing - we shall see if any readers can offer advice.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
hi my name is Gina,I have suffered with skin problems for half my life and seem to have been boring my family and friends winging about it for years.finally I have found people who might listen and offer advice.After 13 years of taking every drug available for acne vulgaris ,the worst one had to be roacutaine,after I nearly lost all my hair and had permanent nose bleeds,dry skin everywhere,the doctors now recon I have acne vulgaris rosacea .so I start on another long road to find a cure.the stuff this time is metro gel at night and rosex in the day,so far my face has not been free from red pustules spots ,and Christ do they hurt!The main thing that is worrying me is that after years of treatments my skin is so thin ,the new spots are scaring badly.is there anything else you could suggest I ask for from the doctor,(as we all know if you don't ask you don't get!you know N.H.S. budgets.)I am probably at an all time low at the moment,(which is saying something)I don't feel as though there is anything i haven't tried.sorry to go on but its been a long 13 years of putting up with bad skin and feeling like the doctors don't really know what to prescribe next.thanks for any help you might offer.
Hi I would suggest trying Sulfacet lotion and perhaps a non-perfumed vitamin e and aloe vera gel - let me know how you get on - we all know how you feel, so stay in touch and why not write to our pen-pal page (same address as this).
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Everyone mentioned that they have found some products that work for them - how about sharing the details? Mention any product lines that worked well for them, any that failed miserably (save us all the money!), etc...I think this would be a valuable addition to the site. And here is what I know DOESN'T work well: Epicuren acne vulgaris line. My face started peeling in 4 hours - I followed the instructions precisely, and it was horribly expensive. Still looking for advice on what DOES work well though. Thanks!- Laura in Los Angeles, CA.
thank you for writing Laura - I shall print your email and hopefully it may prompt more people to SHARE their information.take care and best wisheskcn.
Hello!How are you doing? It's Gordan again!
Well, I had the appointment with my dermatologist. I was somewhat relieved to learn that I (still) don't have rosacea, but a condition known as SEBORRHEIC DERMATITIS. My dermatologist was very arrogant and pretentious. I didn't have a chance to ask him half of the questions that I wanted to ask him. Anyway, he thinks that this is not rosacea, but that it doesn't mean that it won't become rosacea later. I was very disappointed in him and his (typical) North American coldness and distanciation.
My mother's condition is VEERY bad. I am so sad because of her. She developed a LOT of big pimples on both cheeks, nose, eye-lids and ears. She was with me today. The dermatologist didn't even want to recommend anything to her. He was so ignorant. He said that she had rosacea and that was it. I asked him if we could at least make an appointment for my mother. He refused, because he can only accept people who are referred to him by family doctors. So, my mother will probably have to wait for at least one more month. The biggest problem is that Metronidazol and Tetra... pills don't seem to have any positive effect on her. I don't know if she will ever be able to get rid of those awful big pimples... She was very sad today, because doctors here are so cold (For salaries that they make they should be kissing our feet instead of being so unreachable and unbearably pretentious).
So, that's it from me for now. I still think that this is an early stage of rosacea, but if a dermatologist says it's Seborrheic Dermatitis, I guess I should trust him. Well, Seborrheic Dermatitis itself is not quite a pleasant condition.
I hope you are well. How are yours and your wife's jobs? Is it any better? How's your rosacea? Did you have the surgery that you were planning on getting?
Please reply to me! Looking forward to hearing from you.
Gordan
Hiya Gordon oops Gordan! hehe, it's great to hear from you. Dermatitis is mentioned a lot on the site as it is often confused with rosacea and is very common. Has your Mum tried Sulfacet? topical lotion it is used to treat acne vulgaris and rosacea and I've had quite a few positive emails about it. It's a great shame your Doctors aren't more comforting - don't they know the effect skin conditions have on our lives? and as for me, skins the same, bloody jobs the same my wife's job finishes on Jan 13th we don't know if the new store opening on the shop premises will give my wife and her colleagues jobs yet but we're keeping our fingers crossed!, I haven't heard anything further from my Doctor on the surgery but that's normal - in the UK you don't hear anything for months then get two weeks notice of going into hospital! I am supposed to be getting banner advertising for the site but the advertising company were initially very keen and now I haven't heard anything off them for a month! I've been buying and testing skin care products - well I found some great ones, wrote to ask if I could sell them from the site and....... they've gone out of business - what a bummer! Do I always moan this much when I write to you? anyway got to go (to make the dinner) take care and give my warmest regards to you Mum. Stay in touch won't you? P.S. See if your Mum will try Aloe Vera.
kcn.
if you get a pimple on your genital, is that considered and std? or is it
normal? 4a friend.Hi it could be either - unfortunately you will need to let your Doctor
diagnose, embarrassing as it may be it essential to have it checked out. Tell your friend to overcome his embarrassment to just whip it out, slap it on the desk and ask the Doctor “how many of them to the pound?” (just joking).
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Have you found anything at all in the UK regarding ETS
treatments ? I have tried to find some information in
the UK but so far I am having no luck. I live in
London so I would assume there would be something in
the capital but so far no joy. I'm keen to try the
ETS for my facial blushing which I am sure is one of
the reasons for my rosacea. I'll keep looking for
info in the UK and let you know if I find anything,
but if anyone else out there has any contact
information for this operation for the UK it would be
useful to put it on your website.Regards
Paul
Hi Paul
you are of course quite correct - we have a lack of people writing with
helpful information and I will be grateful for any info you pick up. I went
to my GP (family Doctor) and he had only heard of the operation for
excessive sweating, but is refering me to a surgeon in Newcastle who does
the excessive sweating operations and hopefully will have experience of the
blushing treatment side of it. You can be assured any info I get on any
treatments will be straight on the site. {update I have an appointment for march}
best wishes and take care
kcn.
The idea of a booklet is excellent. I believe doctors would purchase it
for their patients.I am a 50-year old male. My rosacea was just diagnosed after having
severe problems with eye sties over the last two years. I never had a sty for
the first 48 years of my life, but have had them almost continuously for the
last 18 months. I finally went to a specialist who diagnosed the rosacea. At
least now I can look for the triggers. I had a terrible flare up this
past summer when we went to St. Martian. I was in the sea breeze, got too much
sun, ate spicy foods, and drank a lot. Now I understand what happened! I
will now try to narrow the triggers down, or else become a monk. Smile.Thanks for creating this site!
Pharris
Hi thanks for writing and your kind comments they are very much appreciated.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Subject: Great Site!
Hi,
It's great to finally have some close to home
information on rosacea, being from Ireland, I have
found a lot of the products recommended on other sites
to be American and cost a fortune to order over the
net. It'd be great to get a list of UK/Irish suppliers
of products suitable for rosacea!I think the booklet would be a great idea also by the
way!Keep up the good work!
Shara
Hi Shara
thanks for writing and your kind comments - I am purchasing and testing
products which I would like to sell from the site but it's seems to be like
walking up a slippery slope three steps forward and two back -ahh that's
life.
best wishes and take care.
kcn.
Thanks for the information.. It has been 2 weeks now since I found out I
have rosecea and I have been on antibotics and a topical solution for my
face... I must say that my face has gone through some severe redness and itching.. I
hope that it gets better soon.Thanks for keeping in touch.
Dewanna
Hi great to hear from you again, is it the metrocream you're taking?
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Hi there everyone,
My name Michelle i'm 29yrs old and have just found out i have rosacea even though i have had it for 9yrs my doctor has just told me this is what i am
suffering from. This does not mean to say i have not been to the doctors sooner about my face but that he could not find a reason for my constant red burning face
so to my embarrasment i didn't ask about it for another 4yrs until i got a new doctor. I was advised by the dermotologist to buy 'clinique' mousturiser and sunblock
which i was very disappointed at as i thought there might have been a quick fix. I did however buy them at 24.50 MOUSTURISER 12.50 FOR SUN BLOCK 'city block'
sfp 25 . I also went back to my own doctor and ask him to put me on antibiotics and he gave me a month's supply after 2 weeks on these and using my creams
i am happy to say that already the stinging burning in my face is much less even though i still have some redness it is a lot better to cope with. I am also avoiding
foods and caffiene ect. Also i drink plenty water which i think helps alot. I'm now just waiting on that cure for this dreaded thing 'fingers crossed'.
bye for now everyone keep smiling
from Michelle 'hee hee'
Hi Michelle
great to hear off you. Whats the address on the bottle for the Clinique moisturiser and sun-block? I might evaluate them, although that's one heck of a price - I couldn't afford them, but it's great that you pass on your info - will you give us another report in a few weeks on how you've been? Your email will certainly added a bit of sparkle to the site.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Thanks for the web-site. I have had the condition called rosacea for 15 years. As a teacher I an often in the position of being "on stage" so so to speak. Rarely in those years has anyone mentioned the condition to me although I am very conscience each morning as I look in the mirror. Today, for the first time, my doctor has given a name to that condition. He suggested metrogel which I have begun using. In my many years of dealing with this I have found only one other thing that has some positive effects-tea-tree oil. It can be found in some health food stores. I use it at night before I go to sleep. It stinks but it works. Good luck out there everybody. I don't think everybody who is looking at us is as aware as we think they are.
Steve
Hiya Steve thankyou very much for writing. I don't usually recommend tea tree oil for rosacea but if you have found it works for you that is great news and I stand corrected! It will depend how sensitive you skin is - it is certainly worth trying for acne vulgaris sufferers.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Subject: My life with rosacea
Hello.. After some hours trying to find a good website with good information about rosacea, I found yours.
Right now, I'm 25 years old. I had never have problems with acne vulgaris, since I was 21 years old, I began with a few pimples in my cheek, then I went to the doctor, and he did not said anything about rosacea, he said I had a teenager acne vulgaris. But he said I should use RETIN-A, an take some pills that right now I can't remember the name. After some weeks when I saw that I was better I left the treatment.
Two years later I got pregnant and my acne vulgaris problems began. When I went to the doctor, he said that I didn't have a problem, that the cause was the hormones of the pregnancy and that it will disappear after having the baby.. All the pregnancy I feel terrible with my face, I didn't know what to do, I try to make up, but nothing got better. I didn't wanted to go out from my home, because all the people see my face.. A couple of times during the pregnancy I used RETIN-A but nothing happens.. After having the baby my Dr. sent me to the specialist, and he said I had rosacea, but I can't do not too much because I was nursing my baby, and that I should come back after I finish it..Right now, I'm still nursing my baby, but I'm desesperate because I had a terrible face right now =(, it burns so much, I have both cheeks and the nose so red!!!!
I don't know what can I do.....
Please help me....
Susanne
Hi Susanne
firstly I must mention that retin-A and derivatives should not be used while pregnant or nursing or trying to get pregnant. Have you learned about trigger factors - those things that would make your face flush ie steam washing up - showering etc (a luke warm shower is better than a hot bath), strenuous excercise, strong winds, cold air, spicy foods, hot drinks, hot soup, caffeine (in tea, coffee, soft drinks and chocolate) foods with added niacin (a Bvitamin that causes flushing, look in you cereals, bread ingredients etc tuna fish is high in niacin and sets me off) and others mentioned on the site. Have your house slightly cooler, use a fan, perhaps one of those hand held ones, try a gentle cold water spray on your face, it does take time to calm the face down when avoiding trigger factors - perhaps weeks, the stress of the birth will have aggravated the condition - so give it time it will improve and when you stop nursing ask your doctor for metrocream or sulfacet and antibiotics and a drug such as Dixarit for flushing - try a relaxation technique such as meditation - I would recommend our relaxation tape - let me know how you get on - we will all be thinking of you.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Hi kcn
First of all, I was very happy to come across your site,I think it is a great site and very helpful.
I am a rosacea suffer for about four years know,I am currently treating it with
metonidozole and tetracycline,these seem to help some.
I was reading some information on rosacea from the National rosacea Society
recently,they said that docters now believe that flushing/blushing is a major
contributor to rosacea suffers.I seem to flush quite often,I know that flushing
is the cause of most of my flareups.
A few weeks ago you wrote about a surgury that could stop people from flushing,
ETS procedure,I was wondering if you found out any more information about this
procedure.I went to handsweat.com and had them send me some information on
this procedure,I gave it to my docter to review,he hasn't gotten back to me yet.Do you know of any one that has had this surgury done,and if so did it help.
Thanks Tim
Hi Tim
thank you very much for writing. I have an initial appointment in March next year and will keep you posted. Can I suggest you try Dixarit (clonidine) a drug that can help flushing. Let me know if you do and how you get on as soon as I have any further info I shall post it to the site.
best wishes and take care
kcn..