Beauty

[monicakm]

What causes rosacea?  My mother has had it as long as I can remember but it sounds like it can develop later in life.

[beach-mom]

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@monicakm wrote:

What causes rosacea?  My mother has had it as long as I can remember but it sounds like it can develop later in life.

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@monicakm - I've had it since my 20's. All of the sudden my nose and one side of my cheeks were red. The previous weekend I had been outside watching some of my students compete in a demonstration. It was March, and I never thought I would get sunburned, but back then I didn't worry about it. And that's what I thought it was. I thought it would go away, but a month later one of my students noticed it was still there. Of course I had noticed it too. It was time to see a dermatologist.

He told me I was prone to it because I was fair and blonde. (Actually in makeup terms I'm light!) He told me to avoid heat, WINE, and stress, and gave me a cream to use. Right. Like I was going to avoid those! 

Through the years nothing really helped, so I covered it with makeup.

Then I found my current dermatologist. One of the creams a previous doctor had given me had actually done some damage. I have a small "dent" in my face, but luckily it's right at my hairline. She prescribed a very low dose of doxycycline. DH called her and talked to her to find out more about it. (As a veterinarian he's very aware of the medication we use.) He was comfortable with the low dose I take. She also told me it's not hereditary (no one else in my family had it). And she said if we didn't treat it my nose would eventually swell. I didn't want that to happen!

It cleared me right up. When I tell makeup demonstrators I have rosacea they can't believe it. Without makeup my skin is great. Of course I wear makeup because I would have no color without it!  

[monicakm]

@beach-mom 

Wow, how interesting.  Thanks for sharing.  I only indulge in adult beverages about 2-3 times a year and it's a girly drink with more juices and syrups than alcohol.  Avoid the sun and heat like a plague.  Stress is probably on the low side of normal except currently with making my parents move into an assisted living facility.  I feel like a heartless bully

I'm "light" but brunette.  

[AngelPuppy1]

@monicakm 

I never broke out as a teenager and never broke out until I got advanced rosacea!  So very disgusting to be a senior citizen with all of the concerns of being old and then getting big red bumps on top of that!    I try use oil free moisturizers -- fragrance free, of course.  I just don't know what else to use???  Maybe I will try the Aveeno products you mentioned.  Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it! 

[AngelPuppy1]

@monicakm 

I don't think they are really sure what causes it but yes, if a person is fair, light and thin skinned and burns easily in the sun, they are prone to getting it.  And, of course, there is no sure cure for it, or so it seems.  I didn't start getting it until about 10 years ago.  It has gotten worse.  At first is was just a little redness.  Then I got the broken caps.  Now I have the red bumps and I get eye irritations as well.  It's very upsetting.  I have always taken very good care of my skin and from the looks of it, you would think I don't and that I have been careless and don't do anything to it!  

[AngelPuppy1]

@beach-mom 

The doxycycline that you took, if you don't mind me asking you this, how long did you have to take it and what dosage were you on?  One of the derms. I went to suggested this, but I was fearful of doing so.  Thank you!  

[tsavorite]

@AngelPuppy1 I took Oracea 40mg's when it first came out many yrs ago and did not have the "cure" of rosacea with it.  It didn't do anything for me at all in fact.  Just wanted to add this in as what may work so well for one person doesn't do it for someone else.  

[beach-mom]

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@AngelPuppy1 wrote:

@beach-mom 

The doxycycline that you took, if you don't mind me asking you this, how long did you have to take it and what dosage were you on?  One of the derms. I went to suggested this, but I was fearful of doing so.  Thank you!  

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Hi  @AngelPuppy1 ! I take 20 mg. twice a day.  I have been taking it for a while now. I haven't had any side effects.  

[AngelPuppy1]

@tsavorite 

Thank you!  I've been using Metro Gel and/or Cream for years which helps a bit with redness.  At times I feel it is helpful and at other times, not.  I've not been offered anything else besides the one who said perhaps the doxy at 10mg. for 3 months.  I haven't dont that as I'm not keen on antibiotics.  

[AngelPuppy1]

@beach-mom 

Thanks!  The derm prescribed for me 10 mg. once a day for 3 months.  I didn't take it, as I wasn't sure it was a good thing for me.  And --- I don't want to have to depend on taking a lifelong antibiotic for this condition.  I have other health issues that I at times have to use antibiotics for and I didn't want this to interfere with it.