Guest guest Posted December 21, 1999 Report Share Posted December 21, 1999 What is the difference between a flare and a flush? > >To: rosacea-supportegroups >Subject: Post Photoderm Flare >Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 11:22:04 -0800 (PST) > >Hi all-- > >I had another flare after my 3rd photoderm treatment >about a week ago. It wasn't as bad as the last one, >but uncomfortable enough to keep me home from work for >two days last week. The burning was so distracting! >Felt like someone had dragged my face over a wool >carpet a few times! I've never had flares like the >last two I've experienced. Both have occurred after >photoderm treatments--the symptoms began about 36-48 >hrs afterwards to be exact. Is anyone else having >problems like this w/their treatments? Last time, I >assumed the flare was caused more by the new cleanser >I tried using. After 3 days on minocycline, it pretty >much vanished. I continued taking the mino thru this >photoderm session, and didn't change my cleansing >routine, and I still flared. It has abated some, but >many of the small bumps and red marks are still >hanging around. The recovery hasn't been so dramatic >this time. > >It puzzles me, b/c the photoderm has certainly >squashed my flushing episodes, and when I'm not >flaring, the general redness has cleared about 75%. I >can't understand it and neither can the photoderm >clinic! How many weeks are passing b/n your >treatments, those of you who are being treated? I've >been on an every-three-weeks schedule, and maybe >that's part of the problem. Also, I was treated for >surface redness the last two times, rather than deeper >vessels b/c the nurse says that much of my redness is >closer to the surface. Probably caused more >irritation. Strange, though, I haven't had any >blisters or bruising, and minimal swelling at most. >Just these crazy flares. It's quite frustrating. > >Hope everyone is doing well! > > > >__________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 1999 Report Share Posted December 21, 1999 I guess I differentiate b/n the two this way: When I flush, I usually get a warm red nose and cheeks--I can almost feel the blood rushing to those areas. It tends to feel inflamed and sensitive if I flush for too long. I usually get this kind of reaction to overly warm rooms, alcohol, stressful or embarrassing situations, or sometimes when I'm tired. When I flare, I might get flushes as well, but it's more the extreme inflammation and irritation accompanied by red bumps. This looks more like a rash; it has an uneven texture. My skin gets terribly sensitive to everything, and stings and burns. I usually get this reaction to topical products (and apparently, to photoderm treatments) or too much sun exposure. For me, there is a definite distinction b/n the two, but that may not necessarily be the case for others. --- claudette zelkha wrote: > What is the difference between a flare and a flush? > > > > > >To: rosacea-supportegroups > >Subject: Post Photoderm Flare > >Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 11:22:04 -0800 (PST) > > > >Hi all-- > > > >I had another flare after my 3rd photoderm > treatment > >about a week ago. It wasn't as bad as the last one, > >but uncomfortable enough to keep me home from work > for > >two days last week. The burning was so distracting! > >Felt like someone had dragged my face over a wool > >carpet a few times! I've never had flares like the > >last two I've experienced. Both have occurred after > >photoderm treatments--the symptoms began about > 36-48 > >hrs afterwards to be exact. Is anyone else having > >problems like this w/their treatments? Last time, I > >assumed the flare was caused more by the new > cleanser > >I tried using. After 3 days on minocycline, it > pretty > >much vanished. I continued taking the mino thru > this > >photoderm session, and didn't change my cleansing > >routine, and I still flared. It has abated some, > but > >many of the small bumps and red marks are still > >hanging around. The recovery hasn't been so > dramatic > >this time. > > > >It puzzles me, b/c the photoderm has certainly > >squashed my flushing episodes, and when I'm not > >flaring, the general redness has cleared about 75%. > I > >can't understand it and neither can the photoderm > >clinic! How many weeks are passing b/n your > >treatments, those of you who are being treated? > I've > >been on an every-three-weeks schedule, and maybe > >that's part of the problem. Also, I was treated for > >surface redness the last two times, rather than > deeper > >vessels b/c the nurse says that much of my redness > is > >closer to the surface. Probably caused more > >irritation. Strange, though, I haven't had any > >blisters or bruising, and minimal swelling at most. > >Just these crazy flares. It's quite frustrating. > > > >Hope everyone is doing well! > > > > > > > >__________________________________________________ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 21, 1999 Report Share Posted December 21, 1999 , I had a photoderm tmt. today, and I'll be on the lookout for this type of reaction. Did you go right back to your topicals--I mean, providing, you have no broken skin, burns, etc. from the treatment--or did you " hold off " for several days? Last spring, when I had photoderm I " flared " a bit after both treatments and was wondering if I should skip the Klaron/ retinAmicro for a while this time, because I skipped my topicals for quite awhile last spring. I asked Barb, and she told me so long as the surface skin isn't irritated (ie, like after a peel) go ahead and begin using them. Only quit if you feel that the skin is still real aggravated from the treatment...so, I'm gonna go ahead and use Klaron tonight, and see what happens here over the next few days. If I don't feel irritation tomorrow night, I'll try a bit of the retin A micro! Good luck to you, Carol Loomis wrote: > Hi all-- > > I had another flare after my 3rd photoderm treatment > about a week ago. It wasn't as bad as the last one, > but uncomfortable enough to keep me home from work for > two days last week. The burning was so distracting! > Felt like someone had dragged my face over a wool > carpet a few times! I've never had flares like the > last two I've experienced. Both have occurred after > photoderm treatments--the symptoms began about 36-48 > hrs afterwards to be exact. Is anyone else having > problems like this w/their treatments? Last time, I > assumed the flare was caused more by the new cleanser > I tried using. After 3 days on minocycline, it pretty > much vanished. I continued taking the mino thru this > photoderm session, and didn't change my cleansing > routine, and I still flared. It has abated some, but > many of the small bumps and red marks are still > hanging around. The recovery hasn't been so dramatic > this time. > > It puzzles me, b/c the photoderm has certainly > squashed my flushing episodes, and when I'm not > flaring, the general redness has cleared about 75%. I > can't understand it and neither can the photoderm > clinic! How many weeks are passing b/n your > treatments, those of you who are being treated? I've > been on an every-three-weeks schedule, and maybe > that's part of the problem. Also, I was treated for > surface redness the last two times, rather than deeper > vessels b/c the nurse says that much of my redness is > closer to the surface. Probably caused more > irritation. Strange, though, I haven't had any > blisters or bruising, and minimal swelling at most. > Just these crazy flares. It's quite frustrating. > > Hope everyone is doing well! > > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 22, 1999 Report Share Posted December 22, 1999 Hi Carol-- I actually don't use topical rosacea treatments. I've had a bad history with topical treatments for minor acne problems as a teen-ager. I tried Noritate once for about a week for rosacea and broke out horribly. And that was after I'd taken the oral antibiotic for a couple months to knock down the inflammation! The fewer products I use, the happier my skin is. But my clinic says the same: As long as there is no broken skin (i.e., no blistering), you can restart your topicals. I think you might be right to avoid the retin-A for a short time--that sounds like it is the greater potential irritant of the two products you're using. I'd say, if you feel like your skin is tighter (like it's about two sizes too small for your face!), or if it stings or burns or starts to look much redder (any more than usual) then give the topicals a break until that passes. I hope I haven't scared everyone with my post-treatment war stories! It really has been working, I just have to pay a bit of a price before I get to see results. Good luck to you, and happy holidays! --- Carol Voigt wrote: > , > I had a photoderm tmt. today, and I'll be on the > lookout for this type of > reaction. Did you go right back to your topicals--I > mean, providing, you > have no broken skin, burns, etc. from the > treatment--or did you " hold off " > for several days? Last spring, when I had photoderm > I " flared " a bit after > both treatments and was wondering if I should skip > the Klaron/ retinAmicro > for a while this time, because I skipped my topicals > for quite awhile last > spring. I asked Barb, and she told me so long as > the surface skin isn't > irritated (ie, like after a peel) go ahead and begin > using them. Only quit > if you feel that the skin is still real aggravated > from the treatment...so, > I'm gonna go ahead and use Klaron tonight, and see > what happens here over > the next few days. If I don't feel irritation > tomorrow night, I'll try a > bit of the retin A micro! > Good luck to you, > Carol > > > __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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