I'm new here and looking to talk to others about managing rosacea :)

[RoseyRobin]

Hello all, I have just joined having completed the online peer support group. I found talking to others with a visible difference really made me feel better and less alone. I've had rosacea for most of my adult life but in the last two years my flare ups have become much worse. I am struggling to find a trigger pattern and am on a 12 month waiting list to see a dermatologist (sigh). Anyway, really trying to stay positive and would love to chat to anyone else who needs it!

[CarolinChangingFaces Partner]

Hi RoseyRobin Welcome to the Changing Faces online community! Thank you for your post and for sharing about your situation.

It great to hear that talking to others in our peer group chat service felt helpful.

I hear that you are finding it difficult to identify what may be triggering your rosacea and have to wait some time to see a dermatologist. This sounds difficult for you.

I hope you find our online community a welcoming and supportive space to connect with others so that you do not feel alone in this experience.

Take Care

Caroline – Changing Faces.

[MaveB]

Hi Rosey Robin,

I developed Rosacea, I realise looking back now, around 10-12 years ago as a middle aged woman. I realise now that maybe I had it earlier at a lower level. I have developed a rare complication call rhinphyma, which affects the nose area, please don't worry it is rare and even more so in women.

I've seen many dermatologists over the years, without too much joy, and it's all taken a while to unpick. My experience is that it tends to be viewed as a cosmetic problem, more that a progressive condition, but to be fair my situation is unusual.

Funny how it suddenly flares up, everybody's triggers are different, but here's a few of mine I have tracked down for certain, I hope they're helpful to you.

My own rosacea involves facial flushing. I gave up caffeine six months back, that reduced flushing by around 90%. I only very occasionally drink white wine, also another trigger. I wasn't always that great at using SPF30 when I went out, basically because I'm not a sun worshiper at all, but I now use it every time I leave the house, whatever the weather, sun really aggravates the redness in my own case. I also have a very oily facial t-zone, so have gradually changed to all oil free, perfume free facial products, none of which are pricey. That's helped improve the appearance of my skin greatly by reducing the oiliness. I have gentle and basic pore de clogging facials every couple of months, this has also contributed to improving my skin.

I am on a dermatologist prescribed cream called soolantra, that's worth looking up how it works too. As it's something your dermatologist might raise. I feel this has helped in the overall improvement of my own skin.

I've also waited a very long time to see the dermatologist again ..... will be 8 months when I get there in June.

Good luck for now, take care👍

[RoseyRobin in reply to MaveB]

Hello MaveB,

Thank you for taking the time to reply! It's really great to hear about other people's experiences and triggers!

My rosacea involves facial flushing and broken capillaries. It is certainly triggered by the sun and exercise but I find trying to pinpoint food and drink triggers a little difficult. In most cases alcohol triggers facial flushing but then in some instances it doesnt, like if I eat with a glass of wine. It's very confusing.

Thank you for your tips! I will see what the dermatologist says at my appointment. It will be the first time I will have seen a dermatologist for my rosacea so interested to see what they say. I was considering going private but I really dont know where to start looking for a good dermatologist that i would be willing to spend the money on!

[Strayc]

Hi Rosey. Do you mind me asking , in what way has your rosacea changed for you ?I suffer with rosacea, diagnosed 3 months ago. I think I had it for longer, but the dermatologist put me on a waiting list for skin patch test 18 months ago, still waiting. I have also been sensitive to sun light for about 5 years and have had gastric reflux for 15 years. I have been on Omeprazole for my stomach for 13 years and it has had side effects on my gut in the last 5 years or so, IBS kind of symptoms. I think that this led to my rosacea, along a lot of problems in my life that made me feel angry and frustrated.

Being perimenopause does not help either.

My rosacea affects my nose the most, but I get it on my whole face, scalp, ears and a bit on my chest. It starts from anything that would make anyone else warm: heat, sun, wine, hot or spicy food or drink, anger, getting agitated, exercising, hoovering.

I get red first on my nose, then the ears and the rest. Then some more spider veins appear on my nose, possibly on my ears too, but I cannot see them. Then some sort of hard spots appear. My skin seems thicker and oilier than before between my eyebrows, on my nose and chin. The pimples seem to go with Metronidazole cream and the redness with Dermalex cream from Boots, but as soon as I stop using these products the symptoms appear again.

The dermatologist sais that it is mild, but I think I know my skin better and it has changed a lot in a short time. I am concerned that there is no cure and I have to keep using antibiotic creams and tablets to keep the pimples under control, but not actually treat the rosacea.

I hope you get to see the dermatologist soon and get some answers.

[RoseyRobin in reply to Strayc]

Hello Strayc,

Thank you for taking the time to reply In the last 2 years I have been getting more facial flushing flare ups and the amount of broken capillaries on the apples of my cheeks and nose have increased (probably because of the flare ups). I have rosacea mainly across my two cheeks, nose and chin. It was because of the constant flushing that I went to my GP last year and got diagnosed with rosacea for the first time. However, I definitely had it before then I just didnt have flare ups as much.

I have been struggling to pinpoint my food and drink triggers as im finding it hard to find a pattern. All I think I know is that alcohol, fatty foods and evening meals seem to increase my chances of facial flushing. I never have flare ups in the morning/during the day (unless an environmental factor is introduced). I always flare up with exercise and the sun. Have you ever seen a nutritionist? or done a food intolerance test? These are all things I am considering.

[Strayc in reply to RoseyRobin]

It is a pain this rosacea and the doctors do not acknowledge it, unless they get it themselves. They say it is common and just change your moisturiser and forget about it. But it is hard to forget a out it when it suddenly flares up and you have to hide from the sun like a vampire and make so many other changes to your lifestyle trying to live with it.I have not done a food intolrtance test or seen a nutritionist, but it sounds like a good idea.