rosacea & acne vulgaris readers emails

 

Hi I've had rosacea for about 3 years now. I've tried everything
possible, spending thousands of $$ on my god damn face. I'm sick of trying. The
only thing that has been of any use to me is egocort hydrocortisone cream 1%.

I know you shouldn't use it for long periods. I use it once at night [a
very thin layer] for 4 days to bring down a flare-up. I then continue using it
every 2nd night to control any further lumps. It takes away the redness and
smoothes my skin.

believe me, i have done it all and have come a complete circle back to
this cream i wanted so hard to find something else safer but have had no
luck.
Is how i'm using it OK. the dermatologist love this stuff because
it gives results. i don't want to have to rely on this solution but it's
the only one that i've found to work.

Also does anyone out there who suffers from rosacea have other symptoms
when a flare-up occurs? like tiredness, a heavy tired like the beginning
of a cold, sometimes sore throat & gums, headaches.

r.

 

Hi thank you for writing. Of course as you say I wouldn't recommend
Hydrocortisone cream for rosacea because while it may make the appearance
better in the short term - it can thin the skin and severe flare ups may be
a problem during withdrawal. The symptoms you describe may well be your
bodies reaction to the quite natural feeling of stress you are feeling
associated with a flare up. It is now well documented that stress does
indeed affect the immune system allowing those viruses and bacteria, aches
and pains to gain the upper hand. I strongly recommend anyone with any
symptoms to have them checked out by a qualified medical practitioner, to
exclude any other ailments. We'll see if anyone else suffers in the way you
mention though. What other treatments did you try - you may be able to
provide a salutory tale for those about to part with their hard won cash.
take care and best wishes
kcn.

 

Hi,

I heard this word from the dermatologist. I checked your web site and I
think I have it. I have suffered for 30 years. I hope I knew this earlier.

sincerely
Lily

 

 

Hi Lily
thank you for writing. Yes rosacea is under diagnosed and a very
distressing affliction. If you have any questions I can help you with
please write again. I shall addd you to our mailing list.
best wishes and take care
kcn.

 

 

 

 

Hi,

I am from Hong Kong.
Have u heard any information about Glycolic Acid(AHA)?
My dermatologist suggests me to use this !
My type of rosacea is telangiectasia type!
Honestly, psychological support is very important!
i feel very very nervous and stress!
But anyway, thankyou !
Hope to hear any good news!

Anita!

 

I've heard of Glycolic Acid being used as a "peel" to unblock the pores of
acne vulgaris sufferers. Laser treatment is the usual treatment for thread veins.
Make sure you tell your Dermatologist of any side effects and discontinue
use of the Glycolic Acid if it causes you irritation. Let me know how you
get on. rosacea is extremely stressful - would you be interested in our
pen-pal page? it's a great relief to talk to others in the same predicament.
take care and best wishes
kcn.

 

 

I am a 27 year old, that just got diagnosed with acne vulgaris rosacea. I have suffered from it for probably 5 years, but attributed it to stress. I didn't even realize that my face was red at times. I have been using a steroid cream for 5 years because it was the only thing that would get rid of the red papules. I recently went to a dermatologist and he prescribed Plexion wash, Metrogel, and an oral antibiotic. I used it for 2 weeks and my face looked the worst it had ever looked. I already suffer from anxiety attacks, so this has not helped my situation. I have been very depressed and I have cried a lot. I talked with my dermatologist today and he told me to quit using the wash and the Metrogel. He put me on the steroid cream for one week. He told me that I cannot use this steroid cream forever because it thins the skin. I would rather have thin skin than have hundreds of red papules, dry, irritated skin, and suffer from depression. Am I crazy? Have you read any information that there are long term effects from using a steroid cream?

 

Thank you.

KT

 

 

 

 

Oh! and your not crazy and never will be - remember anxiety and panic attacks can make you think your having a heart attack, going out of your mind etc. I KNOW!!! but it is just an adrenaline rush preparing your body to fight or run away from a monster that isn't there. What is there is rosacea and your body and mind quite understandably want to fight it or run away from it. No one every died or suffered any ill effect from anxiety attacks - millions of people have them every day - just let it happen - don't fight it.

 

 

 

 

 

Hi, I was wondering if you could send me some more info on rosacea. I've
read what you have on the website and it sounds like what I have only I
have no redness on the chin, but a lot on the nose, cheeks and forehead,
especially between the eyes sometimes.

My Family Doctor has said I have a bad case of acne vulgaris and my father's
Internal Medicine Specialist asked me on my father's last visist with him if I was
taking anything for my face because I have a condition called acne vulgaris Rouge.

I have asked to be referred to a Dermatologist but was wondering if you
had any more info.

Please let me know.

Thanks!

Natalie

 

 

Hi Natalie
acne vulgaris Rouge is probably an out of date term for rosacea. Seeing a
Dermatologist is a very sensible thing to do. All the information I have is
on the site although I am considering producing a booklet of the site if
there is the demand - do you think there would be? Let me know what your
Dermatologist says -she will probably prescribe tetracycline and
metronidazole cream. Good luck.
best wishes and take care.
kcn.

 

 

 

Thank you very much for your answer. It would very kind of you if you
would publish my previous answer. In addition I would like to ask you what
one can generally do against scars. I have had problems with acne vulgaris since 17
{I am 22}. It is quite depressive for me. The doctors have always only
prescribed antibiotics to me. Actually, my skin always improved after the
application but then it always worsened. I am afraid that this is a sort of
viscious circle which I will never get out of.
Sorrry for my not very good English.

Dus

 

 

Hi Dus
Your english is better than mine! Treatments for acne vulgaris scarring include
laser treatment, dermabrasion and collagen replacement therapy. You will
need to see your Dermatologist for him to assess what type of scarring you
have and which will be the most appropriate treatment. Allways tell your
family Doctor how your acne vulgaris and scarring is affecting you emotionally and
pyschologically - they then take it much more seriously. Tell your Doctor
if you are tearful, depressed, are losing weight have a loss of appetite,
cannot sleep or wake early.
take care and let me know how you get on at your Deramologists.
kcn.

 

 

 

Hi!

It's Gordan again. As you predicted, the psychiatrist tried to assure me that I was stressed because of all sorts of things: my being in Bosnian War (1992-1995), my refugee years in Serbian province of Vojvodina, my coming, adaptation, assimilation into Canadian society, my father's prostate cancer surgery, etc. I said to him: MY PROBLEM IS MY FACE! CAN'T YOU SEE HOW RED IT IS?! Why do they always try to find something subconscious when the problem is so clear?! So, he was not much of a help.

I have an appointment with a very good dermatologist on the 17th of November. I hope everything will be clear then. I hope that I will be able to start my treatment before pustules and pimples develop. Does starting a treatment early mean that I can prevent pimples from developing? Can treatments make your skin look natural (as if you don't have rosacea), not counting flare-ups of course? This rosacea is one mean, tricky bitch!I also wish to thank you again for all the help that you gave me. Both my mother and I are going to try hard to find the right treatments for us. We are both extremely thankful to you. I was so depressed and frightened, so I forgot to mention how great your page was. One of the rare pages that has both awareness/caution and a lot of optimism for rosacea. If you want, you can visit my home page. You can find a lot of my pre-rosacea photos there. Thank you so much again and I'll keep you updated about my situation. Gordan

Dear Gordan

It's great to hear off you again. Early intervention is always best and will stop your rosacea ever worsening. The odd flare ups when you digress and have a couple of crates of beer for instance (not that I touch the stuff hehe) will be short lived and are nothing to worry about. Although your main concern is your rosacea don't underestimate the stress you have been under - sometimes "we cannot see the wood for the trees" and it may take months or years before we see a truer picture. I will certainly have a look at your home page and I'm very relieved to hear you're more positive - I'm very jealous of you in Canada I bet it's a wonderful country.

take care and let me know what your dermatologist says.

warmest regards to your Mum.

kcn.

 

dear sir/madam,
i read about rosacea in a letter written to a
newspaper last week, and all the symptons rang a bell with me. Previously
i thought i just blushed very easily, but believe i may have the condition.
My cheeks, and sometimes my whole face become red when im embaressed and when
i laugh. It only lasts about 30seconds but have only recently started to
notice it, as have my friends. Should i go and see a doctor about it or is only a mild case? i use an anti-acne vulgaris wash everyday and was wondering if that might have
caused it, as i havent had it all my life. if i were to stop using it would the
rosacea stop also? i would be grateful for any advice,

Chris Southwell

ps. can the condition worsen with age?

Hi Chris thanks for writing. If it is rosacea and anti-acne vulgaris wash will
aggravate it. Perhaps you could ask your Doctor about one of the drugs
mentioned on the site if blushing is becoming a problem. See what he says
about rosacea being a possibility and don't worry - I have had it for 25
years and it hasn't got any worse.
take care and let me know how you get on at the Doctors.
kcn.

 

 

i guess i'm being a litle bicth but what the hell i'm 24 and take care of myself and there is't a mornig i don't wake up with a new one... i use netrogena facial soap and netrogena on the spot right on em, i just got that stuff cause three really big ones today so i'm pissed off, but got a question and i already know the anwser...

is it really bad to pop those litle suckers ?? i'm a retard sometimes i'll see one coming and squeeze so hard it hurts to get that stuff out of there and what is that crap any way do i keep on producing it?? ok well soon i will see a demotogist soon.. my doctor like three years ago said i was fine but i would really like to put an end to it cause it has got worse!! so any onfo you can me would be appreciated thanks!

Hi www.stopspots.org.uk is run by the british acne vulgaris support group (the asg) and should provide the information you need.

take care and best wishes.

kcn.

 

Hello,

I have had to deal with acne vulgaris since the age of 13 or 14. I was on antibiotics of all types, off and on, over the years, until finally in my late 30's (and after a move to humid and hot Hawaii) it got so bad I had to go on Accutane. Nothing else has worked like it does, except that after going off of medication, the acne vulgaris/cystic problems return. I am now on a third cycle of Accutane, and although my facial skin is looking well, I now have something like a sebaceous cyst (boil?) emerging from the top right side of my head. How common is this? Do you have any advice? Thanks, Sue

Anyone offer advice? kcn.

 

Hi,

I have suffered from acne vulgaris for six years now using all manner of
antibiotics and topical lotions/creams combinations. My condition once cleared up,
when i was 18 (now 23) when using Minocin and i cant tell you what a
different person i was when that happened. Unfortunately it came back and
has stayed ever since.

In this last year however, i fear i may have developed rosacea (and kept
the acne vulgaris). I can pinpoint the day my face first flushed significantly, alcohol was the
trigger. This has continued for 10 months now, every time i drink alcohol
i flush. I have tried just drinking shandy so it isn't obvious to
everyone that i am trying to avoid drinking, this isn't working. Recently the
flushing is getting worse even without alcohol (some other trigger?). My
doctor initially put this down to reaction to antibiotics i take for acne vulgaris
but as the flushing has occurred even when not drinking surely this cannot
be the case. As you would expect this is affecting my self esteem and
social life. If my friends ask if im going for a beer after work i make
an excuse or go along terrified i will end up bright red. This weekend we
have a cocktail party and the last thing i want to do is go. Recently
people have commented on the redness of my face so i fear it is getting
worse as i am loathe to look at my own appearance for too long.

Im off to the GP next week with this news and hopefully i can get it under
control. I will keep you updated as to how i get on and will continue to
look at your site, it is a great help to get things of my chest and read
of others in similar positioins

speak to you soon
James.

Dear James
thank you so much for writing. I look forward very much to hearing off you
after you see the Doctor. Ask her about Dixarit for flushing and
metronidazole cream. Good luck.
take care and best wishes
kcn.

 

 

Hi,
I am 23 years old guy from Singapore.I have this
problem i don't know whether is it acne vulgaris or rosacea.Its
happen a few years i have real big acne vulgaris on my nose
after sometimes the acne vulgaris went off but my nose is often
red .... such as drinker nose. There are times my face
will be red easily for no reason.This problem have
been with me for years and doctors seem cant do
anything about it.Any advised??? i am desperate...for
a solution.Pls email back to me as soon as
possible..Thanks

Hi

it sounds like rosacea to me but DONT PANIC there is no reason to expect it
to get worse. Get an appointment with a Dermatologist and if it is rosacea
she will prescribe suitable treatments that will help you. Information is
essential in treating skin conditions so read up on the site and learn about
rosacea - it will lead to a more informed discussion with your Doctor. Let
me know how you get on eh?
best wishes and take care
kcn.

 

 

Hello there,

After looking all over the place I finally found you
website and I am very pleased too because I could do with a
litte advice.

As the above subject says, I have an old face (well oldish
50) and I am unfortunately a new sufferer of rosacea.

I had no idea what was wrong with my complexion as I had
had a fairly blemish-free 50 years and now I am going
through the menopause everything seems to be going
pear-shaped (including me). Fortunately my doctor, who is
marvellous, immediately diagnosed the condition, which
seemed vaguely familiar but I didn,t know quite why; anyway
he had prescribed for me Metrogel which I have been taking
for two weeks now and I think it is beginning to work a
little, sometimes it looks better and then it looks bad
again. My eyes are particularly sore which I never
mentioned to my doctor - do you think I should go back and
see him about this? Also the Metrogel does sting a little,
is this normal? I have so many questions I,m afraid I do
hope you will be patient with me but this is so
distressing, as you of course know; what can I wash my face
in? what moisturiser can I use, all these things I have not
idea about and as I am writing this letter to you my face
feels like it is on fire...

By the way can I become a member of your rosacea club too?
how much is it?

Also I think it would be a marvellous idea if you were to
publish a book about rosacea as I had terrible trouble
trying to find you in the first place - I kept getting
American sites...

Thankyou in advance for reading my e-mail and I look
forward to some positive feedback from you in due course.

Susanne

 

Hi Susanne
your quite right I DO know how you feel. Definately go back and see your
Doctor about your eyes he may prescibe eye drops (loteprednol). The
stinging with the metrogel may be due to it's alcohol base ask instead for
metrocream which is water based. Moisturisers - well don't get me started
but I feel a moaning session coming on - I began this website for sufferers
to share information which would be of benefit and support to other fellow
sufferers - well to date with a few notable exceptions (and they have my and
other readers sincere gratitude) you will see from the readers email pages
that out of the tens of thousands of readers of the site not many have
bothered to write in with positive information - moan finished!

The site is completely free and I have added you to our mailing list so
every week or two I send an email out to you informing you that the new
batch of email corresspondence has been posted to the site. Although we are
not a club exactly, I know what you mean, we are a community of like minded
people offering help and support to each other in the common knowledge that
we are all feeling EXACTLY the same hopes and fears, worries, anxieties and
perhaps a positive determination that if today we haved coped with rosacea
or acne vulgaris then today we have won another battle.

How would you fancy your own page, interested in pen-pals? Keep in touch
anyway it's been great talking.
take care and best wishes
kcn.

 

During renovations at my place of employment, I was exposed to solvents that caused my face to become very irritated. I have had problems with my face ever since. I was diagnosed with Roscea and Ocular Roscea. I am positive my roscea was triggered by the solvents that were in our building that I was exposed to day in and day out for several months. Have you ever heard of it being triggered by solvents? Thank you. Melanie

 

Dear Melanie

I had the same thing when I worked in a factory, I wanted to blame the factory but my opinion now is that the chemicals are just another trigger and not a cause (the cause of rosacea is not known, although theories abound). Dermatitis is a skin condition that can be caused by exposure to solvents etc it is a condition that often accompanies rosacea and needs treating seperately. Keep in touch.

best wishes

kcn.

 

 

Thank you for all the enlightening information on rosacea in your website,
it really helped me understand the condition more and one or two problems
I am experiencing are beginning to make a little more sense.

I currently live in the US and have been to see two dermatologists (at
vast expense I might add!!), one who diagnosed seb. dermatitis, sorry cannot
spell that, and the other who diagnosed rosacea. Needless to say I have
been very confused until I read that it was possible to have both
conditions. Both doctors were extremely unhelpful, one did not even look
at my skin closely, they seemed to want to keep their schedules and get all
patients in and out as quickly as possible. They are also rather
intimidating and not at all "user friendly." My face is a constant
embarassment to me and effects the way I relate to people, hence my
cowardice in not standing up to these doctors and demanding a proper
consultation and to take a bit of time. The creams they prescribed seem
to have little or no effect, the only real change I notice is if I avoid
alcohol and caffeine, a little tough as I am rather addicted to both.
Another noticeable improvement is if I wash me face less and use a regular
soap and a very mild moisturiser and drink A LOT of water.

Another problem that I have noticed over the past year is with my contact
lenses. They are very uncomfortable, gritty and ill fitting which is
unusual as I have just been fitted with a new pair. However, maybe the
eye problems could be connected with the rosacea, this is a point I shall take
up with my optician and/or dermatologist. Again thank you for that
information.

Having re-read this email I am sorry to note that I seem to be sounding
off rather, but it has been very cathartic in more ways than one. Our faces
are such an important part of our identification, it is what most of us notice
in each other first and when there is a perpetual redness, dryness, little
pimples or thread veins it is a little hard to be confident sometimes.
This is compounded by society's emphasis on beauty, looking good and our role
models as displayed in magazines and all aspects of the media. I am fed
up with my mother noting I have a "ruddy" complexion, I am a woman not a
bloody farmer! Sorry, resorting to flippancy.

Thank you again, I am so glad to have discovered this site.

Yours gratefully

Sophie

 

Dear Sophie

I found your email very cheering, I don't make any money from the site and
have been getting a little disheartened lately because I hate my regular job
(which makes my skin worse). But to know I have been of help puts me on top
of the world! Do see a specialist about your eyes. Your description of
your consultation with your Dermatologist appears to be a world wide
phenomena, I certainly recognise it! Drinking water is important - I keep
meaning to put it on the site. Water in the bodys' system is essential in
regulating our temperatures and drinking plenty and not getting dehydrated
is of benefit to all with any skin disease. Please stay in touch.
take care and best wishes
kcn.

 

Hi, I am not sure if I have this condition, About a year ago I started
getting these round, flat red blotches on my forehead, then I got one on
my chin and on one side of my nose. At times they are more prominent
than others and at times they are kind of flaky, the skin flakes off. I
am a celiac and am not sure if food is causing this or not. They fade
somewhat but never really go away. Could this be dry skin? I am 59.
My left eye periodically has been bothering me alot, on and off. It
will feel like there is something in it and it will just hurt.
Hope to hear from you soon. Thank you.

 

Hi
rosacea is a possibility as is dermatitis or even eczema. Make an
appointment with your Doctor and mention your eye problem, if you get no joy
insist on seeing a specialist. Let me know how you get on.
take care
kcn.

 

 

 

Hi, my name is Nicole and I've had acne vulgaris for about 2 yrs now. I am 14 years
old now, and it all started when I was just turning 12. I got two humungo
monsters on my forehead, thinking they would just go away, and not even
knowing my dad has a history of acne vulgaris. Well to my luck, after those two
mountains I started breaking out allllllll over my forehead and my cheek
area - not on the side of my face but the part of your cheeks on the sides of
your nose. And they were getting really BIG. What's funny is I never even knew
what acne vulgaris was or that I could ever get it, never even thought about it,
until I got it and realized that because my dad had it I now did! Throughout
7th grade, it didn't really bother me. I just wore lots and lots of coverup,
never realizing I was wearing so much!! Then in the beginning of eighth
grade they were getting reaaallly big, and worse, and I was becoming very
depressed and frustrated. I truly believed I was ugly, because of the
acne vulgaris, and even now that it has gotten better, I still think I have it bad and I
cry and I think im ugly. Everyone in my family and stuff tells me theres
nothing wrong, but they have got to be blind!!! Well anyhow, one day around
decemeber in 8th grade I got out of the shower, and I had a whole rash
allll over the side of my face, probably because i used cheap soap ( i didnt
know how to take care of my skin at the time) and my skin is VERY sensitive. So
my mom looked and me, seeing the breakout, and sheasked me if i wanted to see
a dermatologist. So in february the new year, this year (2000), i saw a
dermatologist. He started me on benzamycin, which really cleared them up
but made my skin flaky and dry. It was gross, my face was always a mess when i
wore makeup - and i would never leave the house without foundation. then a
couple months later when i saw him again he assigned me to retina at night
and benzamycin in the morning. and it worked great. i still had the scars,
but the zits were gone. but then in july of this year i started breaking
out over and over again on my inner cheeks (a target area of acne vulgaris for me), no
clue why!, and it got me really down. when i saw the doctor again in
august he took me off of retina and kept me on benzamycin again, but i was going
nuts once again because my skin was a flaky mess! so then he put me on
azelyx which i was allergic to and the day school started up again (9th grade for
me) my whole face flamed red like a lobster! so then he took me off of
that and put me on klaron. and now, in the month of october, i am still using
it, and i have basically no problems. it doesnt seem to aggravate me,
although i still break out at tiimes on my inner cheeks. it really upsets me because
i dont know why! i am a total freak - i NEVER touch my face and will kill
anyone else who even attempts to, i wash my face every night and every
morning with dove and put the klaron on every night and im really gentle
with it, i use makeup and mositurizer noncomenogenic oil free fragrance free u
name it. i dont no what the heck im doing wrong! i have to admit, my
forehead has been great for a LONG time now - no zits at all and the scars
are fading- and ive come a long way from the beginning of eigth grade, but
im still not totally satisified. i still cry and still think im ugly and have
alot of zits. i still wear foundation because i think my skin is not good
enough at all to go without it. it really sucks, i wish i could just be
lucky for once and not have any of this acne vulgaris crap!
what also really stinks is on top of all this i have trichotillomania
and im always picking at my eyebrows and eyelashes. at times i pull out alot
of hair and other times i dont at all. but since school has stated ive been
under stress and ive been pulling my eyelashes out. ive got all bald
spaces, its terrible. i leave my eyebrows alone, because ive found more pleasure
in pulling out my eyelashes. this started about a yr ago, just all of a
sudden. ill tell ya - my life is a bunch of surprised - and BAD ONES!!
but to all those people out there like me - i know how it is and i know
how much it hurts, i guess theres nothing more you can do besides try to
help yourself get better and deal it out. its hard, i know with all my heart
it is, but you know what - well get our luck in the future - and i bet all
the people who have clear beautiful skin now in their teenage years will have
the problems as an adult, while we have the clear skin! havingit now and
getting it over with is better than having the chance to get it later on in life!
Thanks for listening,
Nicole

 

Dear Nicole

thank you so much for your very brave email. I can see from it that you are
very courageous and determined. Often no matter how hard we try our skin
conditions get the better of us - the victory for us then is to lessen the
impact it has on our lives as much as we can. It does take an extraordinary
amount of adjusting. I found hypnotherapy as a form of relaxation very
beneficial. The best thing is to ask your Doctor to recommend a good
hypnotherapist locally, give it a shot it's good. Take care and please stay
in touch.
best wishes
kcn.

 

Hello kcn

I just thought I would drop you a line concerning the ocular rosacea
problem. I have suffered from rosacea since my mid twenties - I am now
41.
Several months ago I began to have really sore eyes. Eventually I was
convinced I had the ocular problem but I just thought I would try changing
my skincare products. I changed to Almay from Innoxa and the sore eyes
went immediately. So it may pay to look elsewhere before assuming the worst.

Regards
Carole

 

A good point well made! kcn.

 

I am over 70 and recently diagosed with rosacea by a dermatoligist. Am
using Metrogel with little effect. My case is said to be mild but prominent
flushing occurs in social situations.

Are there reported solutions to this in Homeopathic remedies? (single or
combo).?

Also, "angelfire.com" reports the use of Chinese Herbs as a solution for
many. Their claims are positive in the extreme. I find no reference to
this on your site and so remain doubtful.

As to homeopatic, your site dfescribes the H approach but does not list
remedies. Are there any you know of?

Many thanks

Hi
well some are detailed on our shopping mall page and some are in our readers
emails - unfortunately what works for one may not work for another - as with
all alternative medications some will swear blind it works, for others it
does not - that goes for chinese herbs as much as homoeopathy. Ask your
Doctor about Dixarit for flushing and see what he says, my readers have
made good reports on it. Let us know how you get on. Your email may prompt
some one to write in with experience of the website you mention.
take care and best wishes
kcn.

Hi.

I am quite concerned about taking Dianette, which I have now been taking for
a year and a half. I do suffer with mild acne vulgaris, and since taking Dianette,
it immediately worked. But for the past 6 months, my skin has become worse.
I dont know if this has to do with the fact that I have been very stressed
with moving home, and not eating correctly for the past 3 months. I do not
know if I should stop using Dianette, because I dont want to stop it if it
will only make my skin worse. I would prefer to stay on the pill, but maybe
change to another pill. Can my body ever become so use to Dianette that it
makes it not work. I hope that you could help me with some advice in some
way.

Thank you
Amy.