rosacea & acne vulgaris readers emails
Hi
I'm a 24 year old student who would really like to get in contact
with people over 20 suffering from acne vulgaris in the UK. I've suffered with
adult acne vulgaris myself and now I am doing a project on the
psychological effects it has on people. If anyone feels they would
like to share their experiences with me, please send an email to
me at jessicaowen77@hotmail.com
Thanks alot! Jessica
Dear Webmaster
,I have been a rosacea sufferer for may years. I was diagnosed approximately 15 years ago and have been using metronidazole gel ever since. I have had a couple of very bad flare-ups, the worst being last year after spending a week of winter vacation in the intense sun of the Dominican Republic. My doctor put me on metronidazole in erysol which finally got my rosacea back under control and I have been using it since then.
Recently, my doctor prescribed Singulair for my asthma. I had an incredible reaction to my rosacea. My face became very swollen and incredibly painful and red. I discontinued the metronidazole in erysol as it was making the pain worse. I found only Vaseline would make the pain subside. I had a idea that perhaps aloe vera gel might help. I was amazed how soon it brought my pain and swelling under control. What a relief. I discontinued the Singulair and my rosacea has subsided.
I found your sight while searching for information on the possible interaction of Singulair and metronidazole. I was quite taken aback by your information of using aloe vera gel as a treatment for rosacea. I had never, in all these years, heard of such a treatment. It seems I accidentally did the right thing by treating my reaction to the Singulair. I did discontinue the aloe vera gel after my symptoms subsided and have returned to the metronidazole gel without the erysol (I thought the erysol was irritating my skin). I am wondering if I should just forget the metronidazole altogether and stick with the aloe vera.
I have started back on the Singulair to try one more time. I hope I can control my rosacea this time as it is important to me to get off the steroid inhaler that I have been using for my asthma. Maybe the aloe vera will see me through.
Thanks for your informative site. If you have any other information regarding rosacea and Singulair interactions, I would appreciate it very much.
Sincerely,
Barb
Canada
Hi Barb thank you for writing your very interesting letter. I don't have any further info that will help you I'm afraid and I cannot advise whether you should use the Aloe or Metronidazole (or both) as they both seem to work for you. Keep a diary of your symptoms trying both treatments and avoiding the triggers and see what works best. I just use Aloe Vera now (it's great isn't it) but then metronidazole used to clear the spots but didn't do any thing for the flushing or redness. Have a look at www.gsm.com clinical pharmacology - I just had a quick look and they have info on Singulair you may be interested in. It is a very difficult situation for you with the possible aggravating of your rosacea with you necassary Asthma medication - let me know how you get on.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Hi,
Please add me to your mailing list. I have had rosacea now for about 5 years. Mine started with my first pregnancy at age 24. I had never really had much acne vulgaris at all before. I still sometimes wonder if I have something hormonally induced. I have went to 2 Dermatologists. Neither one ever actually volunteered a diagnosis. I have been prescribed the Noritate cream and started doing some research on the internet about this drug and found out it was used for rosacea. I asked my Dr and he said yes, you have adult acne vulgaris which is the same as rosacea. Whatever!:) So I have been plagued with huge sores on my face for several years. they can appear anywhere and last about 2 weeks. I swear I look like a leper. These big seeping wounds are hard for me to deal with. No make up will stick and cover them. I have the dry skin and very sensitive also, so I have to moisturize, which seemd to agggrevate my symptoms. I would give anything to find something that rids me of these, or at least heals them faster. I still do not think my Dr is very informed of rosacea. He used to have me on steroid cream. My breakouts and sores can get very itchy?? I will be sending you a check for your aloe gel, I hope and pray that it helps. Good luck to you and all your fans. I appreciate this site so much as this disease is not very easy to find info on. Bless you!
Sincerely,
Lora
Dear Lora
I also hope to god it works for you also. We all know exactly how you feel. Have a look at the news and articles page I have just posted an article about ivermectin and topcial permethrin they are used to treat a possible cause of some peoples rosacea - demodex mites (not a pleasant subject). Give the gel a try first but bear the other medications in mind.
Please stay in touch Lora and why not reply to some of our penpals, talking to people who REALLY understand is very theraputic.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Hi
Thanks for responding to my email recently - I've got Aloe Vera Gel from my local shop (Co Wicklow, Ireland). Sorry I didn't get it from you but I was anxious to get it as quickly as possible and they had exactly the same product as you were recommending. I've noticed that the veins on my cheeks are fading already (about 2 weeks) and that is a great relief. However I wonder could you advise me how best to use it - I noticed on one of your emails that you wash it off after a few minutes. However I have been putting it on at night and leaving it till the morning, having a shower and putting it on again- is that right? Also can I put moisturiser on underneath it for day time as it makes my skin quite tight?
I went to see my dermatologist yesterday and she has put me on beta blockers (propranalol - 10 mg per day) to control the flushing so hopefully I will soon see an improvement.
Thanks for all your advice and keep up the good work.
Regards
Carole
Full instructions with lifestyle and dietary tips are now included with every order from me kcn.
Hi kcn,
I got the stuff in the post today. Thanks for keeping me informed about
your
delivery. I've put a bit on my arm today so all going well will start
with
it on my face tomorrow. Flushing is still a big problem; I try and avoid
triggers (even alcohol - very difficult!) but if it's hot in college
there's
not much I can do.
Did you find that the aloe gel helped with flushing as well as the redness
and spots? I'm going to ask the doctor about dixarit next week but I've
heard there can be side effects (eg depression and high blood pressure on
withdrawl). Do you know of anyone who has already tried it? Anyway I'll
keep my fingers crossed for the gel.
Thanks,
Mick
Hi Mick yes I found it has helped enourmously with the flushing - I find the
more I slap on the better perhaps 3 times a day initially - although now
twice a day is sufficient. I have had correspondence off people who have
had good results with Dixarit for flushing - you will need to discuss the
potential positive benefits against any possible side effects with your
Doctor - let me know how you get on.
take care for now
kcn
Hello webmaster,
I did find your website very helpful. I have been using Differen which was perscribed by my Derm about 2 years ago, and it has deffinatly helped my acne vulgaris. I am curious though what you have heard about Proactin, does it have side effects? Does it work as well as they say it does? What exactly is it and why does it work, if it does? Where do I get it? I still have acne vulgaris pretty bad on my cheeks, and scaring left over from when my acne vulgaris was out of control. I would also like to know if there is something I can do about the scars, besides Acutane. I am scared of that treatment. If you could e-mail me back I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you,
Jen
Hi Jen thank you for writing first a bit about Differn:
{Adapalene gel is a topical retinoid-like drug for the treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris vulgaris. Unlike tretinoin, adapalene is a naphtholic acid derivative and causes less skin irritation. Adapalene is more effective than the highest concentration of tretinoin gel (0.025%) in the treatment of acne vulgaris vulgaris.[1629] The commercially available product is an odorless, oil-free, and alcohol-free gel. Differintm was reported to be cosmetically appealing to most patients during clinical trials. The drug was approved by the FDA June 3, 1996.
Mechanism of Action: Adapalene binds to specific retinoic acid nuclear receptors but does not bind to the cytosolic receptor protein. Adapalene reportedly penetrates deeply into the hair follicle. As a result of its actions, adapalene modulates cell differentiation and keratinization. Adapalene also possesses potent antiinflammatory and comedolytic properties. (courtesy of www.gsm.com an excellent source for drug info and no I don't get paid for saying so!)}
Do you mean the proactiv treatment I have a link to? (Proactin (Epigen is the brand name) is a copy of a hormone made by the kidney to stimulate red blood cell production) If so I am afraid I know very little about it. They sent me an email saying how popular it is in the states, how it is guaranteed and appears to work for many and if they sell any I get some commission (so they made me an offer I am ill placed to avoid) - but whether it's as good as they say or not - well I have no personal experience and the link has only been on site for a couple of weeks so it is early for feedback. I apologise for my ignorance.
Have you tried the contraceptive pill Dianette. The usual treatments for scarring are dermabrasion, laser treatment and collagen injections you will need to ask your dermatologist about these. Alternative treatment - I read an article (which I will have to find again and put on site) extolling the virtues of vitamin C cream (pure cream not a cosmetic preparation) the article was in a reputable medical journal so is worth a try. Please stay in touch.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
I´d like to know what are the side effects of taking tetracycline. As I
have found the reason for my acne vulgaris is mainly due to stress. I was taking
this
medication for about two years, since I was 21. I´m now 23 years old. I´d
like to know because I used to work on a very demanding environment plus
at
that time I had some personal problems going on. I´d like to know the side
effects of this antibiotic since I took them for a long time and I may
have
to keep taking them.
Thank you
Hiya Jose I hope this is of help to you.
Tetracycline tablets or capsules
What do tetracycline tablets or capsules do?
TETRACYCLINE (Achromycin®, Sumycin®) is an antibiotic. It kills certain
bacteria that cause infection, or stops their growth. Tetracycline treats
many kinds of infections of the skin, bone, stomach, respiratory tract,
sinuses, ear, and urinary tract. It also treats certain sexually transmitted
diseases. Generic tablets and capsules are available.
What should my health care professional know before I take tetracycline?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
.kidney disease
.liver disease
.other chronic illness
.an unusual or allergic reaction to tetracycline antibiotics, foods, dyes,
or preservatives
.pregnant or trying to get pregnant
.breast-feeding
How should I take this medicine?
Take tetracycline tablets or capsules by mouth. Follow the directions on the
prescription label. Swallow tablets or capsules whole with a full glass of
water. Take tetracycline 1 hour before or at least 2 hours after eating;
taking it with food can make it less effective. Avoid having dairy products,
such as yogurt, milk, or cheese with your medicine; they can reduce the
effect of tetracycline. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take
your medicine more often than directed. Finish the full course prescribed by
your prescriber or health care professional even if you think your condition
is better. Do not stop taking except on your prescriber's advice.
Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of
this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
What if I miss a dose?
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for
your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.
There should be an interval of at least 4 to 6 hours between doses.
What other medicines can interact with tetracycline?
.antacids
.calcium salts
.cholestyramine
.colestipol
.digoxin
.female hormones, including contraceptive or birth control pills
.ferrous sulfate
.magnesium salts
.methoxyflurane
.other antibiotic medicines
.sodium bicarbonate
.vitamin A
.warfarin
.zinc salts
Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines
you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional
supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care
professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol,
if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your
medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or
starting any of your medicines.
What side effects may I notice from taking tetracycline?
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care
professional as soon as possible:
.dark yellow or brown urine
.decrease in the amount of urine
.difficulty breathing
.fever
.headache
.increased sensitivity to the sun or ultraviolet light
.itching in the rectal or genital area
.redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the
mouth
.skin rash, itching
.stomach pain or cramps
.unusual weakness or tiredness
.yellowing of the eyes or skin
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your
prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
.diarrhea
.discolored tongue
.loss of appetite
.nausea, vomiting
.sore mouth
What do I need to watch for while I take tetracycline?
Tell your prescriber or health care professional if your symptoms do not
improve in 2 to 3 days.
Do not take tetracycline just before going to bed. It may not dissolve
properly when you are lying down and can cause ulceration of your food pipe.
Keep out of the sun, or wear protective clothing outdoors and use a
sunscreen. Do not use sun lamps or sun tanning beds or booths.
Make sure your diet provides vitamin B. Ask your prescriber or health care
professional for advice if you think you are short of this vitamin.
Birth control pills (contraceptive pills) may not work properly while you
are taking this medicine. Use an extra method of birth control for at least
one month.
If you are being treated for a sexually transmitted disease, avoid sexual
contact until you have finished your treatment. Your sexual partner may also
need treatment.
If you are going to have surgery, tell your prescriber or health care
professional that you are taking tetracycline.
Antacid can stop tetracycline working. If you get an upset stomach and want
to take an antacid, make sure there is an interval of at least 2 hours since
you last took tetracycline, or 4 hours before your next dose.
Iron and zinc preparations can also stop tetracycline from working properly.
Never use tetracycline if it is past the expiration date; it can make you
seriously ill.
Where can I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot
open.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degreesC (59 and 86 degreesF).
Protect from light. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration
date.
NOTE: This information is not intended to cover all possible uses,
precautions, interactions, or adverse effects for this drug. If you have
questions about the drug(s) you are taking, check with your health care
professional.
[ Revised 9/5/00] www.gsm.com
Clinical Pharmacology 2000 Copyright © 2001
Gold Standard Multimedia
I have just ordered your range of Aloe Vera products. Could you give me
your
opinion about facials? Are you in favour of it and if so, what type of
facial
would you recommend? More cleansing or nourishing? I moved to the UK from
the
US last summer; in the US it was my dermatologist who 'picked' my spots
since
in the US the beauticians are not allowed to pierce skin... Since my move
to
the UK I am not sure what is best for my skin, the dermatologist don't
seem
to take mild acne vulgaris rosacea very seriously! I have been prescribed Rozek for
topical treatment, in the US I also had a topical steroid.
Thanks for your advice,
Eveline
Hi Eveline thank you for writing and your order. As you will now know from
reading the site topical steroids are not recommended for rosacea treatment
they may appear to make the symptoms better in the short term but eventually
thin the skin and make things worse. I wouldn't consider facials and if you
respond to the Aloe Vera therapy as I have done you won't have any spots to
pick!!! Rozex is a metronidazole gel and is a usual prescribed treatment
for rosacea - although many of my correspondents are disillusioned with it.
A site to look at is www.stopspots.org they have info on the different type
of spots and which can be picked and which to leave alone for fear of
scarring.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Hi My name is Gary. Im 29 years old and Im so sick and tired of dealing
with
rosacea. I try to keep upbeat and positive, but there are just two many
damn
mirrors in the world. Constant runs to the bathroom mirror at work, half
hour marathons of staring at a face that seems to get more monsterous by
the
minute. Hats pulled down wide over my face, walking in hallways where Im
less likely to run into one of the zillions of beautiful people who havent
the slighest idea of how incredibly difficult it is to look like I do.
The
ironic thing is that Im not such a miserable person at heart, Ive always
been fantastically happy. But this rosacea thing has hit my life like a
twelve ton truck at full speed. I hate to admit it - I hate myself; I
hate
the way I look. I dont mean to be so negative but after four years of
this,
I stumbled across your web-site. It feels good to get somethings off my
chest and put them in a place where others like me can see that they are
not
alone. I still remain optomistic and pray for the day when I can look
into a
mirror and not be so consumed with anger and disgust. Damn! That' will
be a
great day!!!!!
Hi Gary thank you very much for writing - we all understand your feelings
they are perfectly natural - we've all been there with the despair at what
we see in the mirror which can all too easily spiral down into depression.
I assume you have tried metronidazole and tetracycline - I and other readers
of the site have had tremendous success with the Aloe Vera products I now
sell my advice is to try them yourself and follow the advice I enclose with
each order to give you the best chance of treating your symptoms. I hope to
god you have the same success I have had. Let me know how you get on and
why not reply to someone on the penpals page it's great to talk to someone
who knows exactly what you are going through.
best wishes and take care
kcn
I just found out 3 weeks ago that the small "dermatitis" between my eyebrows is rosacea. I also found out that is why I had conjunctivitis 4 times in less than 2 months.
I was already on Metrolotion and doxycyclin (sp?) since October for a bad case of perioral dermatitis when this all started. I have also noticed in the last week that my forhead is getting worse and that there changes in my nose (lines and the end seems fatter)
My questions are:
1. What can I do to prevent the progress of this disease?
2. How is it that this started when I was already on the prescribed treatment for rosacea? Or maybe that treatment has kept it from being worse?...
Thank you Doris
Hi Doris thank you for writing. Unfortunately you are one of many that the prescribed medication isn't working for (me included). My advice and no more than that is to try the 3 Aloe Vera products I sell (details on the home page) I now include a sheet of dietary, environmental and lifestyle changes for you to make to give you the best chance of having the success I have had at treating the symptoms of rosacea. Further treatments are drugs such as dixarit for flushing, sulfacet lotion and other treatments mentioned on the site. Let me know how you get on.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
My dermatologist just this week started me on tetracycline for my rosacea.
I had been on metrolotion for over two months 2-3 times per day with no
improvement. Not only are my cheeks, nose and chin red from the rosacea,
my
skin also itches- althought I do not have a rash. This itching has
altered
my usual 'sweet, adorable' personality (quote, from my husband)....... I
have completely given up my glass of wine each night. Drinking a half
glass
of wine gives me the sinsation that my nose is swelling and my cheeks are
burning. I am ordering your atreatment and will start it immediately and
continue my tetracycline. If that doesn't work....... I'm going to be in
a
REALLY bad mood. Thanks for the web site. It helped to know that I am
not alone. Pennie
Hi Pennie hehe I know what you mean! I hope you have the same success as I
have had. I now enclose a sheet with each order with all the useful dietary
and lifestyle and environmental changes I know off that you need to make (in
the short term anyway, once your symptoms recede you should be able to get
back to your wine - I'm nursing one big hangover today!). There are no
guarantees though - no treatment works for all as you have found from your
prescribed medication - so don't build yourself up too much ok? But give it
a fair go and if you have the same success as I have had I think your
husband may be commenting on your 'sweet adorable' personality again.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Dear Webmaster,
I have had rosacea for about 10 years and lucky for me I found a great skin care line and cosmetic line that has really help calm my skin. In fact people don't even think I have rosacea anymore. I would love to share it with others because it has helped me so much. Can I mention the products that I use on this web site?
Debbi – Michigan
Hi Debbi anything that can help rosacea and acne vulgaris sufferers gets mentioned on the site as long as you are not commercially associated with the products. So send me the details and I shall take a look.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Sorry about the delay. I only checked my webmail this morning….
While Im writing I was just wondering if you could answer a few questions
for
me about the condition.
At the moment Im in the early stages and I have been noticing the symptons
for
about 1 and a half years. At the moment the main problem for me is a
reddning
of the skin about an inch wide parallel to my nose and on my forehead.
This is
only really noticable in certain lights and wouldn't really bother me if I
didn't know that it is going to get worse.
I know that you yourself have a problem with rosacea and I was wondering
how
old you were when you first noticed it , how long it took for it to
develop
from a subtle redness to one that really was noticable.
What are the chances (honestly!) in your opinion of my condition not
getting
much worse if I follow all the standard advice re triggers etc. and use
your
products.
Any reply would be very much appreciated,
Barry
I began with rosacea when I was about 16 although I also had acne vulgaris until my mid 30's also. I experienced
flareups and periods of remission with my rosacea. The severity of the
disease will vary from person to person so it is impossible to make
predictions except to say that the disease does not have to worsen over time
and I believe following my advice will give you the best chance of it not
doing so.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Hi this is lisa from australia.I've had acne vulgaris for a year now and hating every minuite of it.My doctor put me on this Tablets called minomycin but its not really working.I was just wondering if you know of any treatment that really works,Thanks and any help you could give me would be great
Lisa ...........
Hiya Lisa great to hear off you - I wish we had some of your Australian sun up here - it's freezing! If you have a look at the readers emails some people have had success with other antibiotics it is possible the bacteria on your face has become resistant to the one you are using. A topical solution such as benzamycin is very popular and the contraceptive pill dianette helps a lot of womens acne vulgaris. It really is a case of learning about the different treatments and trying them one after another until you find one that is suitable for you. Don't over wash your face with harsh soaps this can just cause further inflammation - a good basic regimen for cleansing and moisturising are the 3 aloe vera products I sell - you use your prescribed medication in conjunction - ask your Doctor about some of the suggestions I've made and let me know how you get on.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
I have just been to collect my prescription for benzamycin gel, which has almost completely cured my acne vulgaris problem. However, i had to try two different chemists
before i could find one that had it in stock. They said they did not know when they would be getting anymore and that the larger size tub had been completely discontinued. Does this mean that they are going to take it off the market for good?
I was wondering whether you, or anybody else could help me? Thanks for your time. Louise.
Hi Louise benzamycin is a mixture of benzoyl peroxide and erythromicin antibiotic - it is one of the most popular treatments for acne vulgaris and has been for years - both treatments will always be available and I cannot see benzamycin being discontinued - contact www.dermik.com they manufacture the product and may be able to advise you further.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Hi,
I've just found your website and would be keen to receive any newsletters.
There isn't much mention of photoderm on the website. What are your
views?
I've just signed up for my first treatment in a weeks time.
Chris
Hi Chris
you are quite correct there is not much mentioned on the site about
photoderm and I will be very greatful if after your treatment you can take
the time to help other sufferers and let me know of your experiences. I
have no personal experience of this treatment and personal experience is
mainly what I feel able to talk about as I am not qualified in medicine in
any way. I had hoped to have had a number of correspondents about this
subject by now but the material I get is mainly from the people who carry
out the treatment. I would certainly recommend you try the Aloe Vera
products as detailed on my home page if you are as lucky as me you may find
you can save yourself some money!
I look forward to hearing of your treatments.
take care and best wishes
kcn
Hello, My name is Carolyn, I am a 32 yr old and I am feeling more relaxed
reading your site, I thought I was the only one who had a read nose, I am
still a bit confused if I have acne vulgaris-rosacea.
My nose is always red, its like all the blood rushes to there, I thought
it
was just cause I have had it burn't so many times having fair skin that it
was thin so you could see the blood, but in the past 5 years it has go
worse, I used to get lots of tiny white pusy pimples on my nose that once
you popped them they were gone, but I seem to have fixed that problem buy
taking homeopathic drops of sulphur iodatum 6c and vitamin B2 tablets, I
have a feeling the B2 maybe the one that works as I have recently run out
of sulphur and it still works?
But my biggest concern is my red nose and it does get deppressing and it
is
a constant thing on my mind, adults don't tend to comment but kids can't
help the Ha !! you have a red nose and giggle. The redness gets really
bad the week before I get my period, and I am not a person that is really
stressed or get bad pmt. I did go off the pill about 6 yrs ago and I am
wondering if this may have an affect with controlling the redness.
Would appreciate any comments.
Thank you Carolyn
Hi Carolyn I'm pleased you have had some success and will pass on the
information to other readers. rosacea is certainly a possibility from the
symptoms you describe. Your periods and the pill all affect the hormonal
balance in the body and flushing around the period is common - the drug
dixarit has been found to be beneficial to menopausal womend when flushing
is a problem. Perhaps before trying drugs you could try the Aloe Vera
products I have on the homepage - although rosacea is an ongoing chronic
condition and as yet there is no "cure" I know of - these products treat all
my rosacea symptoms better than anything else I have tried. Let me know how
you get on with your treatments.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
I have just discovered your site for the first time today, and have found it very useful and encouraging.
Please add me to your mailing list. Thankyou Angela
thank you very much.
best wishe and take care
kcn
I've just realised that this is what I have, could you advise where I can
find a list of dermatologists so that I can get help?
Thanks,
Max
Hi Max you will need to see your General Practitioner in the first instance -
he/she will refer you to a local dermatologist. Let me know how you get on.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
hello
I was wondering if your list could help me find the name of the top
specialist in Ireland for the treatment of rosacea
Thank you
Claire
I cannot but write to the uk acne vulgaris support group (the asg) their website is
on my links page (tell them I sent you - I'm a member) they should be able
to advise.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
I was wondering if you ever had anyone suffer from depression and or
tiredness while taking minocycline? Thank you for responding....Susan
I have heard of it - you may find more info at www.gsm.com or
www.medscape.com
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Hi,
My name is Michael brown and i've had rosacea for the past 5 years. My
face
flushes from stress, spicy foods, alcohol, hot and cold temps, warm
drinks,
etc...I'm curious to learn about the the Pure Biogenic Aloe vera Gel...Can
you please send me info? Also , do you know anything about the IPL,
PHotoderm or V-Beam laser treatments for this problem?
Thank you...sincerely Michael
Hi Michael thank you for writing. Well your symptoms certainly fit the
profile as you know. The Aloe Vera products I sell on the site have rid me
of 90% of my rosacea symptoms in the few weeks I have been using them - no
one treatment works for all individuals so there are no guarantees it will
work for you, it may not. It is certainly less radical and expensive than
the other treatments you mention. I have no personal experience of the
other treatments to pass on but you will find them mentioned by
corresspondents in the readers email pages.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Dear Webmaster, I recently went to the dermatologist and was told I had rosacea. I'm twentyeight and thought rosacea was for older people. It has been very upsetting to me. Most people can't tell I have it when I have on foundation but I know. I've been searching the internet trying to find something to help control the reddness, which is what I mostly have. Please tell me what you think I should try and why. I hate to get my hopes up only to realize the products I am using doesn't help. My dermatologist put me on tetracycline . Can you help? RACHEL
Hi Rachel I know exactly how you feel. There is no magical cure all for rosacea as it is a chronic ongoing disease. It does not have to get worse over time and can be controlled but that does mean experimenting. You need to avoid the trigger factors as stated on the site. Metronidazole gel is usually prescribed alongside tetracycline but many of my correspondents have been dissatisfied with it (including me). For the past few weeks I have been using Aloe Vera products as described on the home page - I find they clear 90% of my rosacea symptoms of spots, redness (the only thing that has ever had any effect) and flushing and lessen the appearance of threid veins. There is no guarantee it will work for you but there is a treatment out there that will work for you and I know how difficult it is to get your hopes up to have them dashed but if you don't try different treatments you will never find the one for you.
If you look at the emails I receive some people have had successes with other treatments (antibiotics, sulphur, homoeopathy etc) and other people have had no success with the same treatments - so you can see it is up to you to fight for the treatment you deserve - it is not easy - I know - but to borrow a phrase from the SAS "Who Dares Wins" - so try other treatments and good luck!
best wishes and take care
kcn.
you emailed me before but i accidentally deleted it.
please put me on the mailing list.
glad i came across your site..i am trying aloe vera after reading your info.
thank you
Laura (in England).
Hello. I really would like to advice every woman suffering from rosacea, to also check if she has any signs of facial hair, or hair on breasts and belly line, because this could mean that you have an insulin problem, and the right person to treat this would be an endocrinologist, before a dermatologist. When a person has too much insulin in her body, the testosterone gland is affected, so women start developing acne vulgaris rosacea, excess hair and sometimes irregular menstruations. A man affected by the excess of the insulin hormon, can also develop rosacea and other symptoms. The endocrinologist can give you a special diet, low in complex carbohidrates and with much protein, fruit and vegetables, plus a special medication to reduce the insulin in your body.
I hope many people can be helped by this advice.
Maria
Ex-rosacea sufferer
Hi Maria thank you very much for the info - I'll post it next week when I do the next batch of emails.
Are there any other symptoms for this such as fatigue, lowered immune response or anything else you know of? It certainly is a very interesting subject.
best wishes and take care
kcn
yes. Other symptoms that indicate an insuline disorder are: fatigue, depression, hair loss in men and women (lots of it!) , high cholesterol which can eventually cause heart problems, and irritability.
Hope this information is helpful,
regards,
Mariana
What about tests for it? kcn
There are two blood tests that determine if you have an insuline disorder. They are called "curva insulinica" (I think it´s "insuline curve" in English) and "prueba de tolerancia glucosada", which I think translates to "glucose tolerance test". The terms may change a bit in english, but I´m not sure.
I haven´t found any websites that talk about this, but I shall keep on looking. I became aware of insuline disorders through an article in a newspaper (from my country: Venezuela) where an endocrinologist alerted people with acne vulgaris and hair loss or excessive facial hair, about the possible cause: insulin.
Hope this info is helpful,
Regards,
Mariana
Very Helpful Mariana I shall post it on the site next update. Thank you very much for your time and I hope this information will help many of my readers. I look forward to hearing any other info you come accross.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Hello,I don't know if this is the right place to enquire but I think you
will deal with it.I am Paul 41 years old and have a problem with red
face
and flushing...always feel hot.It started about 10 years ago and has got
worse....I went to my Docter when it started and he took blood tests and
blood pressure tests and all was ok.
I have been again about Two months ago,again complaining about my red
face
and again tests were done and all ok they say....rosacea was not
mentioned.
I don't have any spots just red cheeks all the time and soon get
hot...could
it be rosacea do you think?..sorry if this is the wrong place to send
this!
Its a pain because I am embarrased about it all the time and try to
cover
my
red face with some masking cream and I don't know which is worse the red
cheeks or the pink after I use the cover cream!...sorry to go
on.....thanks..Paul,Skipton N Yorks....
Hi Paul thanks for writing - has all that flooding gone from your area yet?
It does sound like rosacea is a possibility. The usual treatments the
Doctor should prescribe are metronidazole topical gel and tetracycline
antibiotics although as you can see from the readers emails people are
rather disillusioned with that treatment. The most effective treatment I
have just found recently is the ALoe Vera gel I sell from the website and
it's luckily cheap to boot! If blushing is your main problem the gel has
really helped me although I've only been using for a month but your Doctor
can prescribe some drugs that will help - try dixarit (clonidine) first,
and
then Zispin and Propanolol beta blockers details on the site.
Before using the gel I would have redness for no reason and my face was hot
and this leads to blushing for every and no reason. Once all that is
happening then spots and more permanent redness may appear and then thread
veins etc DONT PANIC it doesn't have to get worse!!!!!!
Any way try the gel I'm cannot say how much it means to me.
take care and best wishes
kcn.
Hi Webmaster,thank you for your reply to me email,yes the flooding has
gone!....I am sending an order for the Aloe vera
gel/moisturiser/cleanser...and I hope they work!..of course I know there is
no guarantee.
I am not going back to the Doctor just yet,I will see how it goes...many
thanks again,Paul.
PS:Its a strange thing but my ears get very red as well as my cheeks...seems
worse when I come inside at night after being out all day.....really feels
to burn....
Thank you for keeping in touch, I'm now trying a homeopath remedy. I'll give it a while and report back. Bye for now, Susan
After reading the other letters, I am a bit self-conscience to write about
what may be my case of roscaea. The only thing I have is a red nose - no
rashes, pimples or anything else - just red. There's no pain or flushing
involved; but the color is so different from the rest of my facial skin
that
it looks as though it was a leftover part from someone else's face. I do
slather a glob of make-up on it each morning, but wonder if there is a
longer term solution (a transplant wouldn't be bad).
Thanks.
Karen
Hi Karen Hehe yes I used to wonder If I could get a head transplant - now
it's just my wife wanting me to get a personality transplant (she thinks a
trade with homer simpson would be an improvement hehe). Actually she is
being remarkably patient lately even though I spend most of my waking
moments (which isn't much hehe) in front of the computer (she must be after
something!). Enough about you I hear you cry! what about me!
The severity of rosacea (if you have it and I cannot say) varies enormously.
Try the Aloe Vera Gel and avoid ANYTHING else on your nose and remember the
trigger factors and let me know how you get on.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
I am writing to congradulate you on such a great web site. I am 16 years
old
and suffer from acne vulgaris and have since I was 12. I didn't realise how many
people expressed the same opinions as me about their acne vulgaris problems, my
acne vulgaris
really gets me down, so i asked for a referal to a dermatologist and have
been once so far, I am taking erythromicin tablets and using retin A cream
a
little over three months it hasn't made a dramaitc effect on my skin yet
i'm
just hoping it will soon. I have the best friends and family in the world
they all support me when i'm down about my skin. Keep up the great web
site. From Katherine in the United Kingdom.
Hiya Katherine it's really great of you to write and I must thank you for
your very kind comments. As you are now 16 would Diannette the
contraceptive pill be an option - it seems to work very well on some women?
Please stay in touch and let me know how you are doing from time to time.
best wishes and take care Katherine
kcn.
Hi again,
Thanks for the advice - I really appreciate you taking the time to answer
the emails you get. As well as sending off for the aloe gel I also sent
off
for the aloe moisturiser because my skin is very dry and it itches a lot
of
the time. Is this a good thing to use with rosacea or is there something
better? Some people say E45 cream is good but it has lanolin in so I
don't
think I'll try it. Is dry skin a common thing with rosacea? I probably
have
brought it about myself as my face used to be really greasy so I used to
wash it 5 or 6 times a day and use clearasil.
I'm getting a bit more used to coping with triggers etc but i still get
very
depressed a lot of the time. Your site has been a big help.
Thanks
Mick
Hi Mick great to hear off you again. Don't use clearasil, I don't use
soap - just the cleanser and luke warm water. I wouldn't use e45 or anything else like
that - lanolin is a big irritant for rosacea. If you can avoid washing too
much perhaps just in the morning & evening and apply the gel you should see a good improvement. I know how depressing it can bebut stick in there, there is light at the end of the tunnel! Keep me up to
date on your progress (or otherwise) please.
best wishes and take care
kcn.
Dear Webmaster,
Hello, My name is Chanin i am 31 years old and i just found out that i have rosacea on my face. My face has broke out with rashes for as long as i can remember. I have tryed everything under the sun and nothing has helped. When i found out that i have rosacea i did some research about it and thats when i found your website. Today i sent my check in to order your products. I have read pretty much of eveything on your website but my question is i would like to know what kind of make-up can i use? Thank You Chanin
Hi Chanin yes that is always a popular question and a difficult one have a look at the new readers emails I've just posted a reader has made some recommendations - I hope that is of some use. I am also going to put an appeal on the front page and perhaps when I print your email we will get some answers.
best wishes and take care
kcn
Thank you for your prompt reply to my question. Unfortunately, I highly
allergic to Aloe Vera. Once again, thank you very, very, much for
replying.
I suppose that I just have to give it time.
JP
That is a great shame but don't give up! Have a look at the news page on
the site I've just posted a link about a treatment for demodex mites (these
are a possible cause of some peoples rosacea). The treatment involved
topical permethrin and ivermectin, one of our readers has mentioned good
results (marion readers emails week 14). Let me know how you get on.
take care
kcn.
hi kcn,
Thanks for your reply.... Pls can you give me info about where I can buy
this gel and mosturiser and how they are.....
Also did you mean that I should steam my face!!! Or I shouldn't!!!
Cheers
Jas
Hi jas I apologise if I have already replied today I've been on this
computer so long replying to emails that my brain has gone AWOL hehe any way
do NOT steam your face.
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.
Dear Sirs or Madams:
A doctor proscribed "Metrogel" topical ointment (0.75% gel) and told me in
a
week I should notice a difference in it going away. But it's been two
weeks
now and yeah it seems to be getting a little better, but not enough to
leave
the house. I'm a prisoner in my own home. What is the most proactive way
of
combating this problem? Thank you in advance for your support and
assistance
in this matter.
JP
Hi JP your Doctors have prescribed the correct standard treatment. You will
also have to ensure that you avoid the trigger factors as detailed on the
site. The most effective treatment I have come across I only found recently
and I now sell it from the website details as follows: The Aloe Vera gel is
the only thing I use now and the ONLY thing that has worked for me and
believe me I have searched for years - it is also cheap luckily and while no
guarantees are given it is worth a try. Also have a good read of the emails
there are gems of information in there with a few success stories you may
think suitable to try.
Dear kcn
Thanks for the reply, the gel I'm using is from
a shop and claims to be 99% pule aloe gel,
is this any different from what you're selling?
I can't wet shave, my skin is far too sensitive and
even electric razor causes problems, this has been
helped a bit by the aloe gel though.
Having just moved i have to get a new doctor which
I'll do and try the things you suggest. Irritatingly
the place where i work is not air conditioned and the
heat is a trigger factor i'm constantly exposed to.
Naturally I'm not so keen to fill myself up with drugs
but it frustrates me no end that people percieve me as
lacking confidence when really the only thing that
holds me back is the knowledge that as soon as I have
talk i'll be feeling the heat rising up my face.
Anyhow, thankyou for the advice and a truly great
website - the only one i've found that wants to help
without condition.
I'll keep you posted.
James.
I'll look forward to that James - stick in mate.
take care
kcn..