Rosacea

For a few years now I have been suffering with bad skin. The doctors weren't sure what it was and prescribed some topical treatment that didn't really help.

Last year I was a bridesmaid for my best friend - the makeup artist for the big day almost immediately diagnosed my skin condition as Rosacea. I had heard of it, but never known what it was!

It comes and goes, which is infuriating, and sometimes it is really bad to the point I'm trying to cover up my face as makeup doesn't always cover it well enough and I'm hugely paranoid that people are staring at my bright red patchy cheeks.

I'm really struggling with it at the moment and could really do with some tips/advice from anyone else suffering with this.

[Gorgonite]

its something that a doctor should know of instantly. I've been messed around for over two years now by multiple doctors. Was it a topical cream you used? If so do you mind me asking what it was? I ask as I'm using epiduo at the moment but it did more harm than good. Unfortunately I don't have any tips or advice. Have you seen a dermatologist?

[Hidden in reply to Gorgonite]

Honestly I was so disappointed with my doctors! They prescribed Zineryt which stung like mad when I used it and it had no effect whatsoever. More of a liquid than a cream!

I would love to see a dermatologist but to be honest I don't know where to even start, would I have to go through the doctors?

[Gorgonite in reply to Hidden]

The doctors will only refer you if they think its bad enough and it depends on the doctor aswell to be honest. The ones I've seen don't think its bad enough to be referred eventho its totally ruined my life. I'm starting to get somewhere with one doctor now. If they don't refer you then your only option is to go private but that's very costly, like over £100 an appointment. Thats why I haven't been able to see one privately. So best to try the doctors first. If your willing to go private then just type dermatologists in google with you location.

[DolaChangingFacesUK]

Hi harukyu. Welcome to the Changing Faces community! Thank you for your post and for sharing your experiences here. Indeed it can be infuriating having a condition that flares and remisses especially when the doctors don't seem to know what it is. If you're based in Scotland or England, Changing Faces offers a free skin camouflage service which you could consider trying. Of course this does not mean that you shouldn't seek out more helpful medical advice. PaulChangingFaces included information about the service in his post earlier this week. Did you see it?

Kind regards,

Dola@ChangingFacesUK

[Hidden]

I'm a professional makeup artist and I'm familiar with Rosacea. One thing that I must point out though is that although we study health & Safety and learn about skin conditions and contraindications. We are not medically trained and no make-up artist is ever qualified to give you a diagnosis unless they have medical qualifications. You need to go back to your GP and ask for a referral to a skin specialist.

I agree with Dola, when it comes to covering the redness, a skin camouflage practitioner will colour match you and explain how to use the correct products to help cover the redness. It's more complicated that just covering with make-up, you need to use the right products, the right colours and tones. Importantly, you need to be careful that you never use them on broken skin because you will be at risk of infection.

All the best x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

This is good to know, I have actually been looking at different Rosacea relieving products, but as a last resort I will be going private as any confidence I had in my doctors has gone.

[Bodley]

I have developed rosacea since the menopause. I had acne as a teen. It could be hormones. The contraceptive pill may help. I found Drs useless and have treated myself through research. I have had a real nightmare with my prescription drugs for high blood pressure and side effects. The latest one - amlodipine - made my face flare worse than ever before so I’ve ditched it. My advice. Avoid perfumed products, use make up for sensitive skin and drink lots of water. I mean lots. Experiment with giving up certain food groups. I found dairy was a trigger. I take extra vit A too. I was doing well (not perfect) until the amlodipine crisis! Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to Bodley]

I've actually checked my contraceptive pill details and it says acne is a side effect... I was actually prescribed the pill when I was 15 strictly for my skin but the DRs have since changed my type of pill... Something I'm not too happy about as there was nothing wrong with the one I was on!

[Hollick]

I'm sorry to hear, and I know what its like..if your able, look up IPL treatment, its a type light treatment, not really considered laser...topical treatments seem to work only sometimes, the sun is definitely a bad thing, wear sunscreen...take care

[Hidden]

How are you doing now ? Its an awful thing to have