rosacea & acne vulgaris readers emails
Dear Webmaster,
I would first of all like to congratulate you on your brilliant and very much cheery web site, If I'm having a bad 'rosacea' day, reading the site always cheers me up. I hope things are going well for you. Life for me seems quite good, for the first time in about six months I haven't been taking any tablets at all, it may have only been two weeks, but it always brings hope, dosen't it?
I was hoping you could advise me on a good moisturiser to use, for the past year I have been using a special cream for dry skin, but I don't think I need to use it so much (hopefully) and so I was woundering what moisturiser to use, as I know you have to be really careful with the contents, e.g. alcohol etc.
Thanks a lot for your help, and I hope everything goes well for you, and I'll keep you updated on my progress, I've got to see the specialist next month, what fun!
Love
Alison
Hi Alison you are too kind! I won't be able to get out of the room now my heads that big! hehe. You could try the Aloe vera moisturiser I sell it's early days yet but it seems to be going down well with those who have purchased it - the manufacturer has just brought out an Aloe vera only moisturiser without the vitamin e - it may be even more gentle - I shall have to try it and if it's ok put it on the site.
It's really great to hear off you again and I look forward to your next update, good luck at the specialists.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Wow - you replied (always do kcn) - Thanks for the advice.
I think I'll stay clear of doctors and pharmacies for the time being. When
you said you gave a doctor a note, did you send it in the post or give it to
him/her in person?
The moisturising gel I use has Glyceryl Lanolate in it - So I think I'll
stop using that!
and the yoga sounds cool. Is there some special yoga techniques that will
help, or is it just yoga as a whole?
I've been told that Chocolate plays around with your hormones, and as you
say wild hormones can cause spots.
Do you need a prescription for an antibiotic topical gel, or can you just
get it off the shelves in Boot's?
Thanks a lot for writing back :-)
ad
Hi I always take a note (usually with a long list of ailments from my
decrepit body and mind hehe) with me to the Doctors and plant it on his desk
and wait around a couple of days while he reads it, well 5 mins anyway.
That way you are getting all your points across - but you also need to know
what they consider important - if you can explain that the skin problem is
effecting you emotionally and socially etc they will take you much more
seriously. Yoga can give a feeling of suppleness, fitness and well-being -
and in common with excercise, meditation, hynotherapy etc it can activate
the bodies own relaxation response and the more you practice of any of these
things the deeper the relaxation and peace - just see what is best for you.
Avoid chocolate if you find it is a trigger. You do need a prescription for
antibiotics so get writing that doctors note and let me know how you get on!
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Dear kcn.,
I am delighted to hear that Aloe Vera has had such beneficial effect
for you and I am definitely going to try it myself both the capsules and the
skin care range. Many natural extracts are said to be beneficial to the skin
but few have such a successful history as Aloe Vera. My father, after having
triple by-pass heart surgery, was recommended by doctors to drink Aloe Vera
juice daily. Obviously I can't put his recovery down to Aloe Vera alone
(the surgeons might have helped out a bit!!) but it must have helped his
entire system to recover.
It is good to think that there could be a natural solution to our problem, I
was very disillusioned after using the metro gel it seemed to work for a
while but after about four weeks my skin felt really uncomfortable and was
very red again! It just goes to show that you have to keep on looking for a
treatment and not to give up hope.
I work for a cosmetic company and we have just begun to use Aloe in a new
range, we have tested our products against leading hypoallergenic ranges and
they have scored very highly against them in terms of irritancy, the fact
that the other ingredients we use are low irritancy ingredients helps of
course,but the low irritancy of Aloe and the healing properties of Aloe are
well documented.
I know that somewhere inside me something isn't working as effectively as it
should be, thus this leads to the rosacea and those weird skin reactions I
seem to get constantly! I hope Aloe Vera has the answer!! I'll let you know
how I get on!
Lots of love
Paula.
Hi,
This is a great site! Thanks VERY much for keeping it up!
I'm 49, and may have had mild rosacea for years, but ascribed
it to sun or exertion or allergies... until about a month ago
it got considerably worse and I realized what it really was.
A dermatologist put me on Metronodizole and a topical cortico-
steroid (just for a week of so) and an oral antibiotic. No
improvement in the first four days (maybe a little worse), but
we'll see.
I do have three questions for you:
1) I would hate to be shut up indoors. In spite of living
in a California beach city, I am very reasonable about
sun exposure. I can wear a hat outdoors and can, for
the most part, avoid direct sun exposure. Is this good
enough?
2) I'm also quite fond of exercise. I walk five+ miles each
day (very early morning, often pre-dawn), do some weight-
lifting, some hard aerobics (stairmaster, etc.), and an
hour of yoga per day. I'm concerned about the aerobics
(overheating) and the yoga (head-down poses forcing
blood into my head). Any thoughts?
3) I saw a brief mention on another site (I think they had
a "holistic" or "natural" slant) that aspartame
(the Nutrasweet in diet soft drinks) could be a rosacea
trigger (perhaps due to its methane content?). They
mentioned Bill Clinton, and his near-addiction to Diet
Coke. Have you come across this elsewhere?
Thanks in advance for any thought you can give to this, and
again thanks for the site!
Best regards,
Mark
Manhattan Beach, California
Hey Mark thank you so much for your very kind comments they are very much
appreciated. Avoid the corticosteroids (as you know). A good sun cream is
recommended - Only trial and error will determine one that is none
irritating I'm afraid (there is one mentioned on the readers emails in the
early weeks though). Aspartame, I haven't heard about being a trigger, I
dring 2ltrs of diet lemonade a day with the sweeteners e954,e950, e951 in
and it has no effect (I do avoid caffeine even in soft drinks). The
excercise part is difficult - prior to using Aloe Vera gel I couldn't weight
train without triggering a flare up of rosacea with raised patches of
redness - fluid leaking from the lymphatic system into the underlying skin
and the resultant spots, overall flushing and redness - but now when I have
finished replying to my emails I'm going to drag myself out of this armchair
and hit those weights hard! (which'll be another week I'll be as stiff as an
old board! hehe) anyway thanks to aloe vera gel my excercise session will
not affect my skin.
The main point to address is that while there is commonality with the
majority of symptoms and triggers that we suffer, we are all different and
our susceptibility varies. Make sure you avoid the triggers that can be
avoided and are not imporant such as caffeine, use treatments from your
Doctor and try the gel I sell - let your skin calm down and then gradually
re-introduce things and find your threshold.
let me know how you get on Mark
best wishes and take care
(from a very jealous of you living in California Webmaster)
Hello,
I'm in the U.S and would like to purchase a couple of tubes of Aloe Vera
Gel. I'm slightly confused by the wild and wacky world of international
monetary conversion. Can I send you a check with the amount in U.S or
should I make it out in Pounds?
Regards,
Mike
Just send in your local currency us$9.75 for gel and airmail and packaging (and none of that Disney money hehe).
Dear Webmaster
I've been logging onto your site regularly since I
discovered it a couple of weeks ago. After reading
the recommendations for Aloe Vera gel, I rushed out to
buy some from my local shop (sorry it wasn't
from you! but the ingredient seems to match your
recommended spec., and have been using it twice a day
since last week. I'll keep my fingers crossed!
My rosacea started quite a few years ago during a
holiday abroad - within minutes of being out in the
sun, my face was red and covered in spots. I'ts
continued to worsen over the years. Being a woman of
a "certain age" plus some (!) coping with spots is the
last straw, along with all the other problems ageing
creates. Nature is very cruel to women!
I've tried tetrocycline and Metro. gel to no avail and
desperation is now setting in.
Have you any evidence - anecdotal or otherwise - that
rosacea worsens with the menopause? Can it be made
worse/better with HRT?
The worst sympton for me is the chronic itching I get,
along with the redness and spots. This is
particularly bad along my jawline and upper neck. I
don't seem to read about itching being a problem with
other sufferers? Sometimes I could scratch these
areas until the spots bleed - and sometimes do. Do
you think this could be something other than rosacea?
I look forward to a reply and any further help you can
offer.
Keep up the excellent flow of information! It's the
first site I've come across with any real empathy and
genuinely helpful information.
Sandra R.
What you didn't buy it off me then you want my advice! only joking hehe.
Thank you for your very kind comments they are appreciated (I shall put them
on the home page). Itching can be a symptom when lymphatic fluid leaks
under the skin, but it is not a common symptom and not usually excessive,
also rosacea doesn't commonly affect the neck area - unfortunately you may
have eczema or and dermatitis in addition to rosacea - do see what your
Doctor thinks and let me know. Menopausal flushing can certainly aggravate
rosacea, HRT is worth talking to your Doctor about also. Remember the drugs
to combat flushing and avoid the trigger factors also. When you get your
skin under control you will be able to tolerate more things. I sincerely
hope your Aloe works if you find no irritation use it a few times a day and
when it runs out you know where to get some more - no not your shop - from
me hehe.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Have your readers try a single dose of Ivermectin (12mg) Oh my god!!!!
in four weeks it
works..... Clear as a bell!!!!! I'm a sufferer and I don't think we
should pay each other for
info since we are all so unhappy...... so please let them read this.....
MM
Dear Marion thank you for writing - of course I shall print your email and
pass your information on – (if I was easily offended I might find your implied suggestion that I vet emails for a hidden agenda vaguely insulting – this is a self help group financed with considerable time and money by me personally – all relevant and genuine emails are printed) thanks again and I'm delighted you have found
something that works for you let's hope it will do the same for others.
Ivermectin is used amongst other things for the treatment of the parasite demodex mites. These mites are one possibility for rosacea or rosacea type dermatitis follow this link for more info: http://www.medscape.com/server-java/MedLineApp?/member-search/getdoc.cgi?ord=1&searchid=2&have_local_holdings_file=0&local_journals_only=0
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Hello kcn
Thanks for the greetings.I hope that you have a great year too.
Will have a quick look at the site for the updates.
I didn't have too much of a hangover after New year. I have taken to drinking Ginzing (not sure if you have that in the UK) in moderation. It is a mixture of Gin and herbs. I don't enjoy gin on its own normally but I do enjoy the mixture. The main thing is that it does not affect my skin, and also does not make me bloated (like beer!!). I try not to drink wine (especially red!) as I have found it really does not agree with my skin. Two weeks ago I went to tennis and forgot to put sun tan lotion on my face, and it was roasting. The next day I could feel a lump forming on my cheek and it stayed for longer than a week. When I use sun tan lotion it really does help. If I drink wine I have a lump on my face next day as well...
I drink my coffee lukewarm (yuk!) and avoid hot showers and steambaths - also saunas. My other problem is yoghurt and cottage cheese. It makes me blotchy...
I think I am starting to understand my personal triggers and do avoid them as much as I can. (as long as my willpower holds out!)
My main worry is that I have a permanent red mark on my face (near my nose!) and it can still be seen under base. I put Rozex gel on daily (I think that is the equivalent of Metrogel in the UK) but it is NOT going away. It is not a lump,. more like a red "rash". Is there anything that you can think of that I should take / do. It has been there for over a year now. I am very aware of it and try desperately to cover it up without looking I have been in a bag of flour!! (without much success!!). Every day it is like a challenge, can I get rid of it today? oh no not again.
I have however managed to calm down my red cheeks - the worst was when my colleague asked me why I was so red in my face about four months ago. I have really tried every product in the book, and am now using Almay for Supersensitive skin. Every beautician I have ever spoken to has said I must use a toner - this Almay one has witch hazel in it. Do you think I shold not use it - it does not burn my face, just makes it slightly flushed and then it seems to calm down again.
Anyway, enough of my woes.... I think I have a problem skin but I know there are heaps with far worse skins than mine.
I can just say from my own experience that you need to monitor it and really experiment with different foods to see what aggrevates it. ELIMINATE things that make it worse. You eventually learn to do without certain things, I stopped drinking orange juice because of the acidity and am now drinking Carrot juice. My boyfriend has even started on the Carrot juice now!!
Don't give up. You can feel really miserable - the HUGE lump I mentioned arrived on New Years Eve just in time for the party I was going to. I felt like staying in and going to bed but ended up going to party anyway. I was HORRIBLY aware of it and kept dashing off to the loo to put powder on it so it didn't look too obvious. I did not feel my best but I got through it - and now the lump has gone so my message is to be positive and optimistic about your skin. THe local pharmacy know me well and give me samples of products to try so I don't have to keep buying bottles of things and throwing them away when they don't agree with me. I told them I have a problem with my skin - and they have been very sympathetic and let me try all sorts of goodies.
Hope they are that good to you in the UK.
I was looking at a few photos of my relatives in the UK - it seems that one or two of my older relatives do have rosacea judging from the pics. also a bit too fond of the booze - and it shows in their faces!!
I should be coming over to the uk in April for a visit (haven't seen them for 7 years!!) so maybe then i can educate them about rosacea....
Anyway sorry for such a long email...
You take care, and thanks for a great site. It gives people a lot of hope and cheers us up when we are down!!!
Regards,
MANDY
Hi there
Thanks for getting back to me. Date went well!
Feeling much more positive, have started taking B5 (pantothenic acid) and in
one week my skin has improved dramatically. Can't belive it, still wake up
thinking its going to be bad and yet my skin is getting better, still taking
lots of other supplements and just bought a juicer! Haven't taken the oral
antibiotices yet, loath to as they only work temporarily and I think I have
built up resistence.
I'll let you know how I do
All the best for the New Year
Thank you very much for the email. People still ask me if I've been skiing
but, I guess it could be worse....Happy New Year! Tell the wife congrats on
the new job...out...tim....
Thanks for the e-mail. I'm glad you had a nice holiday. Does Aloe Vera
have to be used topically or can it be taken orally and still have the
same
results?
Linda
Hi Linda I find that the most effective and cost effective is the Aloe Vera
Gel I don't use anything else and the results are a great relief, I'm even
experimenting on my little boy at the moment - he has chicken pox and the
gel appears to be reducing the inflammation on his face in fact anyone
visiting the house is lucky to get away without me slapping aloe vera on
them somewhere hehe.
take care
kcn.
I have just found your site and I have to say it was reassuring to know that so many other people are having the same problems as myself. I am 36 years old and have had roseacea since I was 20. I have been unfortunate to have had doctors in the past who knew very little about skin disorders and classed them as totally insignificant
My roseacea is getting steadily worse and for many years now has covered most of my face and is extremely noticeable. I have worn makeup for 15 years to try & cover this problem but recently I have found it impossible to get rid of the redness despite using camouflage cream and foundation etc. It ia permanently red now, not just sometimes.
I have a job which involves meeting lots of new people and I have found that over the years my confidence in my appearance has nosedived until I can now barely look at people in the face and I always try and leave the house after dark to avoid being seen.
All I want is to be "normal" but I feel like this illness has taken over my life. Everything I do is based around it. I won't do sport, go straight out after work because my face is a mess by then, or go on holiday etc. I am due to see a dermatologist soon and I am praying he has an answer as the tablets and gel I have so far taken haven't worked at all.
I have never discussed this with anyone before and it feels really good to get it off my chest..Thanks for listening!
Tracy
Hello Tracy
Great to hear off you. It is brilliant to be able to talk to people who understand isn't it. Communicating with all of you has worked wonders for me. None of us are alone, suffering in isolation but part of a vast community (albeit one we'd rather not be in), that is able to offer support and reassurance where we can. Bear in mind that make up may be aggravating to rosacea, are you avoiding cereals with niacin, caffeine - coffee, tea chocolate etc etc (details on the site). Try one of the drugs for flushing - combat flushing and help all the other symptoms and do try the Aloe Gel I sell it's brilliant. Why not reply to someone on the pen-pal page.
take care and stay in touch
kcn.
Ø Hi there,
I have written in a few times, and I have had some good responses from the
sight. I have been suffering from rosacea for about five years now, and
have had a very minor bought with acne vulgaris as well. I had seen doctors, tried
Metrogel, tried tetrocycline and various other treatments. I moved to
Melbourne, Australia about a year ago, where I started seeing a
dermatologist on a regular basis. He immediately put me on a prescription
of antibiotics called Minocycline Tablets 50mg (MINOMYCIN), and gave me a
lotion called Gly Derm to apply once a day. The antibiotics are to treat
the infection of rosacea, and the Acid based lotion is to control any
inflammation that may result due to rosacea flare ups. (i.e. pimples,
inflammation, etc.) He also gave me a cortisone gel to apply if there was
any itching from the lotion.
I had a daily flare ups from the rosacea, and everyone would ask me if I
had been in the sun. It was killing me. And the flare ups were horrible.
Especially with alcohol. I have been on this treatment for about six
months now. I didn't notice any extreme difference the first month. But
after a few months I noticed a considerable difference. My flare ups are
almost obsolete now. I get them once or twice a month and they last for
only a few hours. It has changed my life, and I strongly recommend
finding
a good dermatologist that knows how to deal with rosacea. I have been to
many dermatologists, and they do everything by the book. They will
prescribe metrogel, then tetrocycline, and run you through a series of
tests when they really have no idea how to treat it. I have found my
current dermatologists approach to be very simple. Treat the infection,
and
treat the irritation.
I have had laser treatment for the open capillaries on my face. I got
these from having so many flare ups. What happens, is the blood rushes to
the capillaries like an open pipe. However instead of closing, they stay
open! This causes the red spider looking veins. I had quite a few, and
after only a few treatments, they are under control. It is much less
expensive here. It costs Australian $200 (equivalent to US$100). I was
quoted $500 in the US the last time I was there.
He also turned me onto some other products that have really helped reduce
the redness and don't irritate my skin at all. One is a facial wash
called
Cetaphil. It can be used as a lotion, or as a soap. I use it for both.
I
wash my face with it twice a day, and after I shave in the morning, I
apply
it as a lotion to keep my skin from drying. The other product is a gel
based sunscreen called SunSense. It is a clear 30+ SPF ethanol based
product. I was weary of it at first, because my skin reacts to alcohol
based products. But there is only a very minute amount of ethanol in the
product, so it does not cause any reaction. I have tried so many
products,
and they usually make me break out. This is by far the best one I have
found to date.
That's about all for now. I hope that this info will help some of you
out,
as it has made a huge difference in my life. I am sure that everyone is
different. But if you suffer from both rosacea, and pimples due to the
flare ups and irritation, I strongly recommend giving them a try.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I found a product for the eye irritation that
goes along with rosacea as well. Zincfrin Eye drops (Zinc Sulfate 2.5
milligrams, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride 1.2mg). These along with Natural
Tears (Polyvinyl alcohol 14mg) have immensely helped the dry, red
irritation that I get from my rosacea.
I hope this helps someone out there. Although there isn't a cure, don't
worry you can deal with it by seeing a good dermatologist on a regular
basis. I see mine four times a year now, and everything seems to be going
pretty good. I still have a few bad days, but it is not as near as bad as
last year. I wish you all the best. Good luck.
S.
Hello again S. thank you so much for taking the time to generously pass
on your information I am sure it will be of great help to our readers not
least the positive aspects, hope and support which are very important.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Ø
I,m a 54 yars old male suffering from this desease for about 4 years and i tried tetracycline for a short period of time and Metranidosole cream also metrogel but i don,t see any release of the problem.If you have any recomendations please tell me what i can do.
Hi thank you for writing I am having great success with Aloe Vera gel as detailed on my home page www.acne vulgaris-rosacea.co.uk it is inexpensive and worthwhile trying. You may find the same product in a local shop try it - but don't just try some cosmetic product with aloe vera in it will not work you need a pure quality controlled product.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Hi - me again. Just noticed that I spelled thank you incorrectly, and I really did want to thank you for taking the time to answer my question so quickly.
Will look forward to your answer on whether to take Aloe Vera internally or just topically.
Sincerely,
Barb
Hi again.
Just a quick message - do you know if I can get the Aloe Vera here or can I order it through you. If so, can you give me a price. I am in Joburg. I sell Herbalife as well and noticed they have a range of skin care products as well, they have aloe vera cleansers etc but not sure if it would be safe.
After my happy email yestreday, I was very upset to find another spot on my face last night!! grrr!
I have been taking Silica tablets which are supposed to improve the skin, hair and nails, have you ever tried it. I was wondering if it is getting rid of the bad inside me. Also wondering about the witch hazel in the toner. I decided to stop using the Almay this morning.
Is there a make of cleansers etc that I have not tried? I don't think so.
I have read your readers emails today - should I try vitamin E cream formy scar down the side of my nose?
Another thing, I do try to avoid tomatoes as I don't think they do me any good...
After I have a pizza my face tends to resemble one....
Take care, and thanks again for a Great site...
Regards
MANDY
Hi again Mandy it's great to hear off you again and thank you for both your emails the longer the better!
I tried one of my products a spray that contains witch hazel and it didn't agree with my skin although after washing it off there was no ill effects so perhaps witch hazel should be avoided by rosacea sufferers I've already put a note on the home page to say just that. Your right about different Aloe products not being the same I just use this gel because it is 99% pure - I made the mistake years ago of trying a cosmetic cream that had some aloe vera in and of course the other ingredients in the cream made my skin much worse. Try vitamin C cream for your scar I've recently read a positive report about it and by all means try vitamin e also - remember you need products that are as pure as possible.
I'm selling a soap free cleanser and my supplier has just relaunched a pure aloe cleanser so I may start stocking that. The conversion rate for ukpounds to rands is 11.21 rands/pound so the gel is 77.91rand (including postage and packaging). The soap free cleanser or moisturiser is 100.33 rand (including postage and packaging). A cheque made out in your local currency is ok.
Someone else mentioned tomatoes being a trigger although I've always found them neutral which just goes to show one persons cure is anothers poison! when you visit the Uk don't forget your thermals!!! hehe it's freezing at the moment.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Thank you for writing back I did not want to come over like I was trying to end it all. I got to much to live for, the worse of my rosacea attac is over with I guess or better I hope. Now I have a more serious problem as you may think, I am not able to take any of the good medicines that are out there. I am allergic to almoxt all of them I know that accutan is out of the question for me and I have to check on some of the other medications . One thing I learned from your webpage is that my dermatologist did the wrong thing. He gave me prednison in tablet form so I am acctually not very surprised about my very bad outbrake. So thank you very much fro your respond and take care. I will and I hang in there I prommis
Well that's a relief! Hang in there.
take care kcn.
Hi,
I'm 55 and started getting red patches on my forehead about a year ago.
I
changed to Simple soap but it didn't make any difference (what's all this
about non-soaps???). Then I found that some old Hydrocortisone got rid of
it
within a few days but others told me Hydrocortisone is bad news so I
stopped
and it came back within a few days. So I went to the GP. He didn't have
a
diagnosis staright away but tried me on Oxy-tetracycline tablets for about
six weeks. That got rid of it quckly but then it returned a couple of
weeks
after the end of the course. I went back and he prescribed a longer
course -
three months. This time the rash disappeared for about two months and I
thought I was cured - was going to write to the GP to thank him when I
noticed a blotch ... and back it all came. Have been back last week and
now
he has diagnosed acne vulgaris rosacea and prescribed Rosex gel - the Oxy-tet had a
windy side effect!
I hate the thought that I now have this for life ... The GP said that for
some people it just runs its course and goes. Is that true? What should
I
do about soaps? And what should I do about putting e.g. aloe vera gel on
top
of the antibiotic gel?
Must I really stop eating tuna, taking multi-vits and drinking wine?
Thanks
Harry
Hi Harry thanks for writing. It is very distressing when first diagnosed
but don't panic. In answer to your questions: some lucky few do experience
spontaneous remission for most it is an ongoing chronic condition. Don't
use soaps. I have no reports of Aloe Vera Gel interacting with
Metronidazole antibiotic gel and Aloe product I sell is now my preferred
treatment. No treatment will work in spite of excessive exposure to trigger
factors - treatments only help treat the symptoms of this chronic
condition - and only you will be able to determine what your susceptiblility
is to those triggers.
For Example before Aloe Vera I couldn't drink alcohol - now my tolerance is
shall we say "sufficient - hehe", (I am partial to a drink at weekends and
although my head and stomach suffers the next day my skin does not anymore).
I can know tolerate cereals with niacin and a multi vitamin a combination of
factors such as going out for a days walk in freezing temperatures and
taking a multi vitamin and drinking may set my rosacea off but applying Aloe
Vera 3 times a day gets rid of the red patches again after a few days.
So experiment but remember even if your skin was cured today it takes time
for the redness to go anyway.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Thanks for your e-mail and sending the cleanser today.
Unfortunately my face is a bit wind burnt at the moment, due to skiing
yesterday, so the moisturiser does not seem to be rich enough to alleviate
the dryness. However, the gel does cool it. Do you know of any solutions
to protecting skin from the wind when skiing or outdoor pursuits apart
from a balaclava?
Thanks
Julie
Hi well I'm glad it got there at last, my apologies again - my supplier
really is slow! The moisturiser doesn't contain ingredients such as lanolin
which are oilier but irritating to skin sufferers, and so you may think it
is less moisturising but persevere with it and the gel. If the gel works
for you as it does me your skin will gradually calm down and become less
sensitive to flushing triggers such a cold wind. I like to go fell walking
in Scotland and the Lake District especially in the SNOW and although I seem
to be ok now (I've only had one walk since starting the gel) I used to use
a scarf or as you say a ski mask (a soft acrylic scarf may be preferable to
wool).
take care and best wishes
kcn.
I'm another young rosacea sufferer, my face is usually
red (apart from around my mouth which seems to be
extra pale just to highlight the problem) and flushes,
often when I talk to people. I'm sure many people get
as frustrated with this as I do, particularly when I
have to do things like job interviews.
I've been using the aloe vera gel for three weeks now
and have seen little in the way of results. I have
managed to start a new course which meant meeting lots
of people and haven't flushed yet although my face is
normally noticably red. The gel hasn't had any effect
on my facial redness. Another disappointing treatment.
I'll keep going with it because it has stopped my face
burning after shaving, otherwise can anyone recommend
anything else?
James.
PLEASE HELP......
I'M A 19 YEAR OLD MALE FROM THE UK
I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING PILLS, SOAP, LOTION,CORRECT DIET AND CURRENTLY I'M USING PAPULEX (CREAM). HAVING TRIED THESE TREATMENTS AND VARIOUS COMBINATIONS,WITH VARIANT DEGREES OF SUCCESS - I'M AT THE END OF MY RAG .
I GO TO COLLEGE AND I'M THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS SELF-CONFIDENCE SAPPING CONDITION. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANY MORE. IT EFFECTS MY INTERACTION WITH OTHERS AROUND ME (HEAD DOWN, LIMITED EYE CONTACT) AND IS STOPPING ME FROM FORMING LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS. I'M ABLE TO HAVE A ' CLEAR FACE' AT BEST ONE WEEKEND A MONTH. ON THESE FANTASTIC FEW DAYS I'M ABLE TO WALK AROUND MY TOWN HEAD UP HIGH AND FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT THE WAY I LOOK. I'M IN NO WAY VAIN, BUT I DO LIKE TO LOOK RESPECTABLE.
IT IS SO HARD FOR ME TO WASH 5-6 TIMES A DAY AND YET STILL LOOK LIKE A PIZZA WHEN MY FRIENDS HARDLY WASH AND THEIR SKIN LOOKS SO FRESH AND CLEAN ! I KNOW IT'S MY GENES BUT IT IS STILL HARD TO EXCEPT..
I'VE HEARD THAT THERE IS A FORM OF LASER TREATMENT THAT CAN BURN THE SPOTS AWAY ? IS THIS TRUE ? IF SO HOW MUCH IS IT ? DOES THE NHS SUPPLY THIS SERVICE ?
I KNOW MY UNDERLYING FEATURES ARE GOOD, BUT MY acne vulgaris JUST LET'S ME DOWN !
I'M AFRAID THAT BECAUSE MY DAD HAS HAD THEM ALL HIS LIFE THAT I WILL TOO (GENES)
I DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON THE JOYS OF YOUTH e.g. discos, pubs and girls e.t.c.
FROM A DISTANCE I LOOK GREAT. BUT THE CLOSER U GET THE WORSE I GET. THIS MEANS CLOSE INTERACTIONS WITH GIRLS HARD AS I'M ALWAYS HIDING AREAS OF MY FACE..
YOU MUST GET THESE E-MAILS ALL THE TIME. IT'S JUST I'VE EXHAUSTED EVERY POSSIBLE TREATMENT AND MY DOCTOR SIMPLY HAS NOT GOT ANY NEW ONES TO GIVE
I'M NOT SURE WHETHER U REPLY DIRECTLY TO ME OR ON THE WEBSITE
Jonathan
Hi Jonathan man do I and the thousands who will read your email know how you feel - there is nothing strange about your feelings, actions or anything else about you - your thoughts and emotions exactly experience my own and the others who have written. Have you tried isotrexin it is a combination of topical isotretinoin and erythromycin only available from your doctor. Remember isotretinoin and some other treatments work by pushing the matter up and out of the blocked pores and can make you look much worse in the short term before dramatically being of benefit (perhaps use at the start of a holiday). Have a look at the emails on the site some have had good result with various antibiotics etc. Remember the bacteria on your face may become resistant to the standard antibiotics and you should ask your Doctor for another type (details on the site). Your face is cleaner than your mates! don't wash so much, your skin is sensitive, don't put faith in over the counter products when I used them I found them to be useless and I find the adverts on TV very insulting and embarrassing in fact the manufacturers are &$£%ers and you know who I mean.
Let me know how you get on at the Doctors
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Hi There.....
I have just recently looged onto this site adn thought I'd
give you some details about myself..
I am 20yrs old and Indian....I have been suffering from this
skin problem since the age of 17... Because I am a very fair
skin indian, I find it very destressing!!!!
The acne vulgaris/redness is normally on my cheeks...I do find it
very depressing!!
I have used loads of lotions and potions both from the
doctors and chemist - but nothing works....
I know the problem has got worse because I have tried so
many things... Nobody else in my family suffers from it...
Please can you answer the following questions, which would
be very helpful..
1) Would it help if I steamed my face once a week to open
the pores.....
2) Everytime I use a mosturiser my skin get's greasy and if
I don't it starts to flake off..... At the moment I wash my
face with Dove soap every other day..... It this good?
3) Is it true that dairy products should be decreased... I
don't really eat them except for milk....
4) I've always wanted to go to a herbal shop...Are these any
good and which ones are the best ones.
5) Please can you give me some clinics - which can test you
to see if you are allergic to anything....
6) WOuld it be an idea to take the pill - as that can
balance my hormones - I have been told.....
7) Even though the redness has calmed down - I have been
left with some acne vulgaris marks on my skin and because I am so
fair skinned, they show.... Are there any good skin
consultants that can give me advice for my indian skin....
Please can you reply quickly and I really appreciate this
Regards
Jas
Hi Jas I'm not sure if it is acne vulgaris or rosacea you have. If it is rosacea on
no account steam your face!!! If it is acne vulgaris ask your Doctor about Dianette
(a contraceptive pill that may help). Don't put any faith in soaps
whatsoever no matter how glamorous their adverts are! Your moisturiser may
be contributing to your problem. Only you will be able to determine if
dairy produts are a factor in your skin problem - it is unlikely but
possible. Have a look at the site and see if the description of rosacea
mirrors your own experiences - there are thousands of people going around
thinking they have allergies and they spend a fortune on "alternative
holistic %^**ers" when in fact they have rosacea or Dermatitis or Eczema or
whatever. I spent hundreds of pounds on herbal treatments, alternative
therapists and every thing else, nothing worked for me until Aloe Vera.
Try the gel and moisturiser I sell (and the soap free cleanser).
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Hello, I am a 26 yr old woman who never had a real severe acne vulgaris problem until this last year. I have been to many doctors around my area and no one can figure out what exactly is wrong with my face. I have pretty much ran out of hope until I saw you website and decided to see what you have to say about it.
Anyway, I all started slowly around the mouth area and then it started spreading around my nose and now it is on my cheeks and chin also. They are almost like blackheads, but sometimes they become red and irritated and start to itch. All of them have white solid stuff come out when you squeeze just like a blackhead does. And you can bet the next day there will be a full blown pimple in its place.
One of my doctors have using temovate cream on my face at night and that helps keep the red irritated and itchy symptoms under controll. And what is really bad is that if I forget to apply the cream before I go to bed, by morning time my mouth will start to crack open on the corners, then I am unable to eat , talk, or smile. It will simple crack and start bleeding if I start talking and eating normal, I have to be careful. Even though the cream works good as far as irritations like that, still can't keep the breakouts and bumps undercontrol.
I haven't changed anything as far as makeup, detergents or work environment in years. Even I do beleive my work has alot to do with it. I work in a rubber hose factory. We make the automotive hoses for your cars and trucks. There are alot of chemicals that are nasty and oily and alot of steams blowing up on you.
I am sorry for writing so much, but I want everyone to know what is all wrong with my face and what might have caused it.
So, would you please give me some kind of ideas you may have to help me take care of my skin problems. Any and all thoughts are more than welcome.
I truelly appreciate helpful websites such as yours. Thank you very much.
Sincerely Yours, Misty
Hi Misty Temovate is Clobetasol which is a topical, synthetic fluorinated corticosteroid. Clobetasol is used to relieve the inflammatory and pruritic manifestations of moderate to severe corticosteroid-responsive dermatoses and psoriasis. Your Doctor may have prescribed this for Dermatitis that may well be caused by your working environment or may not - did your skin problem start when you started work if not and you have been at work for a number of years without problem you may have rosacea in that case corticosteroids suchs as temovate are contraindicated they may appear to help the symptoms in the short term but long term application can thin the skin and make the rosacea worse. If you think you may have rosacea after reading my website ask your Doctor about the antibiotics tetracycline and topical metronidazole gel and avoid the trigger factors mentioned on the site. The most effective treatment I use is the gel I sell off my home page only £4.95 it can be used in conjunction with your regular medication.
let me know how you get on ok?
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Great site will try some of the treatments reccomended,please keep me up to date with any news.
Regards
Jon.
Dear Webmaster,
My name is April and I am 19 years old. I have recently been
diagnosed
with rosacea. As you can imagine, I am extremely devastated and to make
matters worse, people my whole life have told me how beautiful my skin is.
Well to be honest, I dont feel very pretty anymore. I am in the early
stages
of the disease. I dont have any pustules or veins and the redness comes
and
goes. Somedays my face looks completely normal. My dermatologist didnt
put
me on any antibiotics (because he didnt think i needed it) and he didnt
even
schedule me for a checkup. Does this seem unusual to you? It seemed like
he
was in a rush and all he told me was not to worry about it. I think im
going
to ask to see another dermatologist. Since I have been diagnosed with
this
disease, I have become socially phobic and some what of a recluse. I dont
even want to be around my friends and family. Everytime I go out in
public
or get around a large group of people, I seem to get flushed for no
reason.
And trust me, I have been avoiding all possible triggers. I am deathly
afraid of getting flushed in public!!!! Thank god I have such a wonderful
mother as she has been a huge support. Anyways, I was wondering how I can
order the aloe vera gel you advertise and how much it cost in U.S.
dollars.
Also I have been extremely depressed lately and I have read on your site
that
Zispin helps depression and flushing. So, I was wondering if your readers
have had success with this drug. I am willing to try anything. Thank you
so
much for your time.
hi my mother has rosacea she believes, her face will breakout in redding spotshere and there,when she get nerves. she would like to know if there is a natural herb that might help her? thankyou. lesa dillon my e-mail is ldill@sscg.net thanks again
Hi thank you for writing on behalf of you mother. The most effective treatment I have found is herbal pure biogenic Aloe Vera gel (don't just buy a cosmetic product with Aloe Vera in, it will usually also have irritants in that make rosacea worse). I sell a suitable product at only £4.95 + £1 postage in the UK (£2 postage anywhere outside the UK). Ask your Mum to try it but make sure she also knows about the trigger factors as detailed on the website.
best wishes and take care
kcn
Hi,
I am a 49 year old female suffering with rosacea and just found your web site. Very informative. I was especially interested in the Aloe Vera therapy and will mail you a check for the Gel. I think I will also start taking the capsules I found on your web site (I'm sure they are available at the local store) and was very interested in the leaky gut syndrome causing the toxins to infiltrate the liver as I have often thought this was the problem. I have been taking acidophilus but now question whether the ingestion of aloe vera would be better) Please add me to your mailing list for updates and keep up the good work.
Thanks Patti
Hi Patti thank you very much for your kind comments and order. Let me know how you get on.
take care and best wishes
kcn
Why is there not more that can be done. More research should be done to help if there anre so many of us.
Hi
Your quite right of course. I think the mapping of the human genome will hold marvellous prospects for the future - so take heart and battle on.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
interesting site and comments. thought i'd add my bit.
i'm still searching for the perfect products..ones that soothe as well
as cover. However these arent bad at keeping it under control..
L'Oreal Hydra- Comfort cleanser is the only one i can now use, that
doesnt sting. Follow up with the matching toner.
Clinque skin soothing cream is a good moisturiser. The worst i have used
is Oil Of Olay,which stings and makes dry areas drier..
for me personally.
The best foundation i have come across is Boots No 7..the light
diffusing one with vitamin E. followed by Rimmel Hide the Blemish
concealer or Laura Mercier concealer, then Max Factor pressed powder
containing vitamin E. all these disguises the redness,
but i'm sick of having to cover up every day.. im still on the search
for the perfect productst though!
oh..Body shop vitamin E face spray isnt bad either.
L
Hi excellent that has answered another of my emails about make up! Thank
you for your advice I shall pass it on.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
I am beginning to see some parts of my face where the skin has raised up (generally in like a circle) and it is pink in color. Do you think these are blood vessels, veins, papules, or what do you think? Also, is there treatment for this so that it will go away? Thank you,
Rob
Hi Rob there are quite a few different symptoms of rosacea and at this distance it is impossible for me to say what you have. Your Doctor is best placed to give diagnosis and the treatment they usually prescribe is metronidazole gel and tetracycline. The most effective treatment I use soley biogenic Pure Aloe Vera gel details on the website. I have persistant spots that have completely dissapeared but reappear if I miss using the gel night and day and for those times when I am exposed to excessive triggers - I simply apply the gel 3 times a day and hey presto! no symptoms of redness, flushing or spots, try it.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
I certainly will thank you for asking
kcn
YES, HE THINKS MAYBE SUN DAMAGE BUT I THINK HE IS NOT A VERY GOOD DERMATOLOGIST. I AM GOING TO LOOK PREVENTION MAGAZINE UP ON THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THEY HAVE A SOLUTION. YOU MIGHT GIVE THAT A TRY.
I HAVE A SON WHO DOCTORED FOR SEVERAL YEARS FOR REALLY BAD acne vulgaris. I READ AN ARTICLE RE MEGA DOSES OF BETA CAROTENE AND VIT A AND E. AFTER ABOUT 3 WEEKS ON THE VITAMINS, HIS ACN CLEARED UP. THAT WAS ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. HE STILL TAKES SMALL DOSES OF THE VITS. BUT WHEN HE GETS A FLARE UP, HE INCREASES THEM AND THEY GO AWAY. THANKS FOR YOUR CONCERN. I APPRECIATE HEARING FROM YOU.
VIVA LA TEHNOLOGY!!!!!!!
Hi it's worth pointing out that vitamin e and vitamin a are fat soluble and therefore stored in the body, in particular the liver and mega doses long term can be dangerous.
take care
kcn.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I am a fellow sufferer. I am currently off work, as my face has got so bad I can't even stand to look in the mirror, let alone let people see me at work. I have had this for about ten years, and have periodically been back to the doctor again and again and again, and have been given lots of different things. About a year ago, my periods stopped, and I went back to the doctor, who thought I may have PCOS. I had to wait ages to get a diagnosis (about 3 months), and in that time, I had to do the usual thing, of trying to hide my face under make up - tell everyone I'd prefer to stay in, rather than go out and enjoy myself, and have endless arguments with my husband, which were totally pointless, and illustrated just how upset and angry and helpless I felt. He is always very supportive of me though.
I had always 'coped' with it - I became a master of disguise, and lies, and excuses. It only occured to me, that he really did know what was going on when he shouted at me, in the middle of an argument one day "I know this is because of how your face looks, why can't you admit it?" And from then, I did admit it - to him anyway. I would cry every morning, just because I looked in the mirror, and knew I would have to try and hide my face under make up, for work, and which would, under the intense heat in my office - do more harm than good to my face. I became so stressed, that my hands shake and my heart has palpatations all the time. I can't stop thinking about it.
I have been off work for three weeks now, and am due to go back on monday (22nd). I am dreading it. I am a graphic designer, who in theory can work from home, but would have to tell work exactly why I wanted to, and at the moment I feel so embarressed about doing it. And what if they say no?
I was diagnosed with PCOS - and I thought "Great - I will be able to get a hormone to balance me out, and my problems will be over" - but no. The doctor told me, that there was nothing she could do, I am seeing a dermatologist in a couple of months, and a clinical psycologist in a months time - but what do I do until then? I'm sure my doctor dosen't take my problems seriously enough to give me until march off work, but in the meantime I am still crying, still not going outside the front door, and still have the spots which are not budging, despite me being on dianette, and using creams etc.
I am taking euchanisia and devils claw as homeopathic remedies - Do you know if these are any good?
Basically, I am stuck in this rut, where I have been for so many years. I know when I go back to work, my stress levels will go up, I will pick at my spots, I will sweat and they will become worse. I do tend to feel dirty after spending any amount of time, with make up on, and I have got into a routine that when I come home from work, I would wash, then pick at my spots - ultimately making them worse, which makes me depressed. I have tried to get out of the routine. I have even tried to not look in the mirror, and I also wrote 'DON'T' in big letters over my mirror, to remind myself. But, I am tired of not enjoying my life - I have this image of someone who goes out to the pub at a drop of a hat, without worrying about make up - that is what I am aiming for. Someone, who can go swimming in the sea on holiday, who can bear their husband to touch their face, without worrying. (the list goes on !!)
Please don't put my name in any correspondance!
Regards, S
Hi We all understand exactly how you feel because we have been there too. Do not make the mistake of feeling there is something wrong with you there is nothing wrong with you mentally or emotionally. Skin disease is a dreadfully debilitating condition that has the commonality of making us all feel as you do - are we all barmy? I think not, you are reacting as best you can to a very difficult situation, in a way that many of us do, I used to run out and hide in the garage when visitors came, I have left school, college and various jobs and relationships due to my battles with acne vulgaris and rosacea - Please never make the mistake of thinking things will never get better they will. You can see on the readers emails people who have looked at the website and in some small way it has given them the impetus to go and see there stern forbidding Doctor once again and they have finally got the treatment that works for them. acne vulgaris is persistant you must be more so and to hell with your Doctor they should know what a devastating effect acne vulgaris can have on your life. Actually if he/she has referred you to a Dermatologist and Psychologist you have been taken seriously and I am sure your Doctor will sign you off for as long as it takes - print out your email you have sent to me and take it or post it to your Doctor - we as patients have to communicate our despair to our Doctors they see many upset people and can become desensitised to them.
Ask your Doctor for Isotrexin cream it contains isotretinoin (not to be used if you intend getting pregnant, are pregnant or nursing) and erythromycin antibiotic - now this treatment will make your acne vulgaris appear worse in the short term as the matter is pushed up and out of the hair follicles but can then bring about dramatic improvement. Use in conjunction with Aloe Vera gel (when you need a resupply I will be pleased to send you some).
Also ask your Doctor about propanolol beta blockers they can help with panic attacks, anxiety - I used them for a while and took them or left them, non addictive with little side effects perhaps a little tiredness, certainly worth a try.
Please let me know how you get on and I'm sorry I couldn't reply before your back to work date.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Dear kcn,
I am 22 years old and have had acne vulgaris throughout my teens although for a
year
or so I have been experiencing flushing and my face seems to be getting
redder. My doctor has prescribed Metronidazole gel and referred me to a
dermatologist but I have to wait a few months for that.
I am currently in my final year of uni and should be applying for jobs etc
but I can't face the thought of flushing at an interview (which would
definitely happen because of the stress). Realizing I have rosacea has
really depressed me and I really don't see how I can get a normal job when
I
go bright red all the time. I know it sounds a bit melodramatic but I
don't
see how I can have a normal life (girlfriend etc) now.
I've sent off for some of your aloe gel but should I use this at the same
time as the Metronidazole gel?
Thanks for the website,
Mick
hello,
i suffer from rosacea and have a very red face. i was wondering if you
could recommend some make-up which might help cover up the redness. I have tried
various products from my local stores e.g. boots etc, but they have left
me unsatisfied, and often leave my skin feeling dry. As i am male, it would
also help if the make-up didn't have that glittery effect you sometimes
get (e.g. with rosy-tone controller you get a glistening effect under
artificial light.) If you know of any products then please let me know as it would be
of great help. thank you and keep up the good work on the site
tom
Hi Tom
there is an email this week from a lady that recommends some make up types -
I'll send you an email when it's posted to week 14 emails. My wife reckons
Rimmel is good but so many makeup types are irritating. Ones with a green
tint are recommended to combat redness without being over visible. Please
try the Aloe Vera gel I sell - I cannot say if you have a similar body
chemistry to mine and therefore if it will work or not but pray you have
because then this stuff will work wonders on you as it has me. If you find
any makeup products please let me know and I'll pass on the good word.
Cheers for now and stay in touch
take care and best wishes
kcn.
I am very interested in getting a list of doctors that specialize in
rosaceas in New York state. Would be most interested in doctors in
Westchester and Putnam counties in New York state. Also interested in any
chat rooms or clubs that I can find out information from
other people that are experience a problem with rosacea.
Thanks for your assistance,
Marianne Walsh
Hi Marianne
I shall post your email and see what response we get. The most effective
treatment I have tried is Aloe Vera Gel available from the website at only
us$9.75 including airmail postage and packaging!
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Dear Webmaster,
This is from a person (who requested anonymity) at another rosacea group.
This message is for anyone else in the UK who is looking
for a clinic that performs photoderm. You will find a list of clinics on
http://www.egroups.com/message/rosacea-support/19277
There is also a clinic in Harley Street where Nuala Briggs works and she has
been trained by Dr Bitter Jr as has Dr Patterson at the Woodford Medical
Clinic. The phone number for the Advanced Harley Street Clinics, as they
are called, is 07000 560 821. I sent a list of questions to Nuala Briggs
some time ago which she answered and I posted these answers to the group.
This list is reproduced below.
Feedback on photoderm in the UK that I have had includes that from people
with rosacea who have had treatment done at the Woodford Medical Services
and the West London Vein Clinic, Royal Free Hospital. People who have been
treated at the Woodford Medical Services by Dr Patterson or his wife seem to
be happy on the whole with their treatment but it is early days - most of
had only one or two treatments - so though the general opinion seems to be
that there is improvement - nothing dramatic as yet. Only one person I have
been in touch with has used the Royal Free Hospital and that person's
experience was that the operator was not all that skilled in using the
machine.
I now reproduce the e-mail I previously sent to the group re. FotoFacial
Questions and Answers from Harley Street in the hope that this will also be
of some help.
FOTOFACIAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM HARLEY STREET
I wrote to the group some time ago mentioning my intention to send a list of
questions on photoderm treatment to Nuala Briggs at Advanced Harley Street
Clinics for the benefit of those in the UK who might be undecided as to
where to go for treatment. The questions, followed by her answers, are
reproduced below along with any comments of mine which I have paranthesised.
She also says at the beginning of her e-mail, "Thank you for your e mail, I
shall try to answere your questions in order. May I point out that although
the machine used is a photoderm, I use a patented technique for the
treatment ie FotoFacial TM. If you are comparing photoderm with what I do
(FotoFacial) you are trying to compare ice cream with instant mash, they may
look the same colour, but they are very different. Photoderm and FotoFacial
TM are not the same. Dr Bitter has patented this treatment and I am the
first person to bring it into the UK and I do not only operate the procedure
but am licensed to train Dematologists and other clinics wishing to operate
FotoFacial TM. (Please note Fotofacial TM is Dr Bitter Jr's protocol NOT Dr
Bitter Snr's).
Q U E S T I O N S A N D A N S W E R
S
1. How long have you been treating patients for rosacea using the photoderm
machine?
I have been treating patients with rosacea for over 20 years with various
skin care regimes and subsequently with pulsed light treatments FotoFacial
since 2000. I must emphasise that I was the first person to bring FotoFacial
to the UK. (I think she actually trained in May this year to use
Fotofacial).
2. What are your qualifications/experience/training?
I am into my third year using IPL (impulsed light) 22 years electrolysis and
10 years sclerotherapy. (She doesn't mention any medical qualifications and
I have heard from two people that she has no medical qualifications).
3. How many patients would you say you have treated with photoderm for
rosacea?
We have performed many hundreds of treatments with FotoFacial. (Note she
doesn't say that she has performed many hundreds of treatments with
Fotofacial SPECIFICALLY FOR rosacea).
4. What is the cost of treatment and what does this include? Is it payable
as one sum up front or can one pay per treatment?
You pay per area ie nose and cheek £600-£1500. However, if I feel that it is
not appropriate to treat only a partial area I will say so. A full face
would cost between £1200 for three treatments up to £2500 for an end result.
For rosacea, we do not recommend single treatments as it is more usual to
take on average 5 treatments (some may require more) in the £2500 for full
face up to say 7 treatments are included. Treatment results are progressive
and can not always be assessed after the first treatment. Single treatments
for veins can start from as little as £90 for 1 sider nevei. Payments can be
made in instalments. (This is a bit different from what I understood her to
be saying on the phone when I spoke to her when she said that you paid your
£2,500 or whatever and, basically, she would just carry on treating until
the condition stabilised however many treatments that took. Now she seems
to be stipulating an upper limit of seven treatments).
5. Do you do a test patch before starting treatment and, if so, how much
does this cost?
We will patch test if we feel it is necessary, however in my experience it
is not beneficial as it will not show what can be achieved over the period
of a course. If we feel a patch test is necessary then this is covered in
the consultation fee of £50 and also is deducted off your treatment plan
costs.
6. Do you do a thorough preliminary consultation with each client and Is
the preliminary consultation included in the cost of the treatment?
My consultation takes 1 hour and I consider them the most important first
step.
7. How many treatments would the average rosacea sufferer require?
5-7 treatments for rosacea vascular problems, dependent on severity. Results
are normally visible after the 1st treatment and will take between 3-5.
8. How successful have you been in treating rosacea patients with regard to
telangiectasia, diffuse redness, flushing, etc? Have you found that all
areas respond equally well?
Telanglectasia have had perfect results, diffuse redness very good results.
Some areas react differently. Neck, chest and bony areas are more
susceptible to marking and around the nose is always the most resistant. (I
don't know what she means by "more susceptible to marking". Hope she
doesn't mean that the treatment can leave marks?)
9. How long do results last?
In the majority of cases and dependent upon what you are treating, age,
predisposition, severity, lifestyle, alcohol/spicy food intake etc. from 18
months to years. Then a top up treatment may be required. I have recently
taken on a patient that has had 8 photoderm treatments from another clinic,
having now changed to FotoFacial, she could see a change in her skin
immediately.
10. Are you able to put potential clients in touch with one or more
previous client/s of yours who has been diagnosed with rosacea and has been
treated successfully?
This is no problem, we do it all the time. I believe you have already spoken
at length to one of my patients. (Yes, this is true but this patient has
never been diagnosed with rosacea. He said he has always had a red skin
from birth and his children are the same. However, it did sound like he had
severe redness and he was extremely pleased with his results).
11. Are there any problems likely to occur when overlapping treatment
patches?
If you are talking about overlapping during the same treatment protocol,
this never happens with my treatments or FotoFacial, because of the very
particular way the treatment is performed. Overlapping on the same settings
would be highly detrimental for the skin. With rosacea patients we do what
is known as a double pass technique, which has no detrimental effect to the
skin. It improves the skin further and is designed to be performed this way.
12. What treatment parameters have you found most useful in treating
rosacea? Please give details of filters and whether you change these as
treatment progresses. What duration, delay and energy settings do you use?
Also, please could you state whether you use double or triple pulses? How
much do you vary settings?
I am unable to discuss this with you as it is priviledged information and
could only be passed on to somebody I was training to carry out the
procedure. However parameters, pulses etc will vary between rosacea
sufferers. We did discuss broad outlines over the phone. (Don't remember
discussing broad outlines over the phone. Not very happy about not knowing
parameters especially as lots of people have noticed that certain parameters
don't work with people with rosacea. In the group there seems to be a
definite range of filters, etc, which get better results and, personally,
unless I can determine that the person who is doing my treatment is going to
work within these parameters, I wouldn't want to risk wasting my money. I
know someone who went to California and had two treatments done by Dr Bitter
Snr (probably using a 550 filter). These seemed to work on the superficial
capillaries clearing some telangiectasia. However, he then discovered a
photoderm clinic in the UK and decided to carry on treatment there in order
to save money on travel, etc. Unfortunately, he only found out later, when
he realised that the treatments weren't working at all and after spending
quite a bit more money, that they were using a 515 filter all the time
which, of course, was utterly useless. If he had carried on with Dr Bitter,
he would have probably gone on to use the 570 filter thereby reaching some
of the deeper capillaries. The point is if clinicians won't tell you what
parameters they use, how are you supposed to confidently invest your money
in their treatment?)
13. Is it the norm in your clinic to induce a flush before treatments and,
if so, how is this done?
No
14. What can one expect after treatment in the way of redness, bruising,
increase in skin sensitivity, etc? How long is one likely to be out of
circulation?
All these are gone through at your consultation. Some people say they look
better immediately, some may be redder, some (very few) can get bruising. I
have not found any increased sensitivity, in fact, the opposite.
15. Are any topicals used on the skin before, during or after the procedure
and, if so, which ones (e.g. cooling gel, anaesthetic cream, after treatment
topicals, etc)?
Because it is FotoFacial, not photoderm, people do not require a topical
anaesthetic, if however a patient feels it necessary we can oblige.
Cooling/coupling gel is essential. Soothing cream can be used afterward, but
is usually not necessary.
16. What is the average number of pulses you would use during a treatment?
Very dependent on size of area and severity.
17. Is photoderm suitable for clients who have seb. derm. as well as
rosacea? What effect, if any, does photoderm have on the seb. derm?
FotoFacial is not sold as a treatment for seb.derm but people do see a
normalisation of their skin.
18. rosacea often goes along with extreme skin sensitivity to numerous
products. Some people are of the opinion that although photoderm can
aggravate skin sensitivity for a couple of weeks after each treatment,
ultimately it is improved. Have you found this to be the case?
No
that's very interesting thank you very much for taking the time to send it
in, I shall post it on the new email page.
take care and best wishes
kcn..