Re: Hives on rosacea, Nasalcrom - HELP!!

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty,

I remember that Dr. Nase posted about topical sodium cromolyn and

some successes Drs. and Sorensen from LSU Medical Center had

with it for inflammatory skin conditions.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rosacea-support/message/2517

If Marjorie wouldn't mind, maybe she could email these physicians to

find out if this topical is still being worked on or came to a dead

end.

Take care,

Matija

> Hi group: My ETS results are still great. My blushing and

thermal

> related triggers are gone. It has been a huge help. My facial

skin

> is much, much less red and inflammed.

>

> Now I can concentrate on the other problem I have always had with

my

> rosacea. I have always gotten hives on my arms, legs, torso and

> face. My rosacea skin area is especially sensitive to them and

they

> show up more often in that area. I think this is due to the

> instability of our mast cells in that area. Whenever I get the

hives

> on my face it is awful. They itch terribly and look ridiculous. I

> have taken hydroxyzine for the hives and it has helped. During

> allergy season I get worse, especially when I eat raw food;

> especially ANY fruits. Sounds bizarre, but it's been going on for

6

> years. Anyway, I recently tried putting nasalcrom (a non-steriodal

> mast cell stabilizer normally for the nose-a nose spray) on my

right

> cheek. I did this for about 3 weeks. Yesterday I ate too much

fruit

> and had a breakout of hives. Normally the hives are very

symmetrical,

> but this time they were mostly on the left side, which makes me

think

> the nasalcrom is working on the right side. So my question is,

does

> anyone know if its possible for nasalcrom to actually work in this

> way?

>

> Thanks! Patty

[Guest guest]

Hi Patty,

I remember that Dr. Nase posted about topical sodium cromolyn and

some successes Drs. and Sorensen from LSU Medical Center had

with it for inflammatory skin conditions.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rosacea-support/message/2517

If Marjorie wouldn't mind, maybe she could email these physicians to

find out if this topical is still being worked on or came to a dead

end.

Take care,

Matija

> Hi group: My ETS results are still great. My blushing and

thermal

> related triggers are gone. It has been a huge help. My facial

skin

> is much, much less red and inflammed.

>

> Now I can concentrate on the other problem I have always had with

my

> rosacea. I have always gotten hives on my arms, legs, torso and

> face. My rosacea skin area is especially sensitive to them and

they

> show up more often in that area. I think this is due to the

> instability of our mast cells in that area. Whenever I get the

hives

> on my face it is awful. They itch terribly and look ridiculous. I

> have taken hydroxyzine for the hives and it has helped. During

> allergy season I get worse, especially when I eat raw food;

> especially ANY fruits. Sounds bizarre, but it's been going on for

6

> years. Anyway, I recently tried putting nasalcrom (a non-steriodal

> mast cell stabilizer normally for the nose-a nose spray) on my

right

> cheek. I did this for about 3 weeks. Yesterday I ate too much

fruit

> and had a breakout of hives. Normally the hives are very

symmetrical,

> but this time they were mostly on the left side, which makes me

think

> the nasalcrom is working on the right side. So my question is,

does

> anyone know if its possible for nasalcrom to actually work in this

> way?

>

> Thanks! Patty

[Guest guest]

>>

>>> Now I can concentrate on the other problem I have always had with

>> my

>>> rosacea. I have always gotten hives on my arms, legs, torso and

>>> face. My rosacea skin area is especially sensitive to them and

>> they

>>> show up more often in that area. I think this is due to the

>>> instability of our mast cells in that area. Whenever I get the

>> hives

>>> on my face it is awful. They itch terribly and look ridiculous.

> I

>>> have taken hydroxyzine for the hives and it has helped. During

>>> allergy season I get worse, especially when I eat raw food;

>>> especially ANY fruits. Sounds bizarre, but it's been going on

> for

>> 6

>>> years.

It sounds like food allergies or at the least an allergic reaction. I'm not

trying to be flip, but if you know that raw food/fruit causes hives why do

you eat them? Perhaps I've missed something here...Adjusting your diet

sounds a whole lot better to me than taking medications to handle recurrent

symptoms. You might find relief by following an avoidance diet for a while

and then slowly adding certain foods back in to isolate reactions.

carrie

[Guest guest]

Hi Marjorie,

Thanks for your thorough answer. I didn't know about Drugex, the

pharmaceutical database, and what this database contains. You don't

have to contact Drs. and Sorensen. I was interested in the

progress, or lack thereof, for the topical sodium cromolyn and

inflammatory skin condition that Dr. Nase mentioned in that message.

It's good to know more details about this as we hear things or read

articles that say the next big thing is coming for skin conditions.

Then, you hear nothing about it. You've mentioned why this happens

in past messages, and it's because the new thing didn't work

correctly or it's just a marketing ploy. I appreciate your honesty!

As an aside, Marjorie, do any foods cause you to flare? I was just

curious about that. Also, do you have any guesses as to why certain

foods can trigger rosacea flares in some people?

Thanks!

Matija

> > > Hi group: My ETS results are still great. My blushing and

> > thermal

> > > related triggers are gone. It has been a huge help. My facial

> > skin

> > > is much, much less red and inflammed.

> > >

> > > Now I can concentrate on the other problem I have always had

with

> > my

> > > rosacea. I have always gotten hives on my arms, legs, torso

and

> > > face. My rosacea skin area is especially sensitive to them and

> > they

> > > show up more often in that area. I think this is due to the

> > > instability of our mast cells in that area. Whenever I get the

> > hives

> > > on my face it is awful. They itch terribly and look

ridiculous.

> I

> > > have taken hydroxyzine for the hives and it has helped. During

> > > allergy season I get worse, especially when I eat raw food;

> > > especially ANY fruits. Sounds bizarre, but it's been going on

> for

> > 6

> > > years. Anyway, I recently tried putting nasalcrom (a non-

> steriodal

> > > mast cell stabilizer normally for the nose-a nose spray) on my

> > right

> > > cheek. I did this for about 3 weeks. Yesterday I ate too much

> > fruit

> > > and had a breakout of hives. Normally the hives are very

> > symmetrical,

> > > but this time they were mostly on the left side, which makes me

> > think

> > > the nasalcrom is working on the right side. So my question is,

> > does

> > > anyone know if its possible for nasalcrom to actually work in

> this

> > > way?

> > >

> > > Thanks! Patty

[Guest guest]

Thats an excellent question. I have done elimination diets and found

that I can avoid the hives it I eat only:

meats and fish except pork

eggs

well cooked veggies

Rice

corn

oil

butter

salt

sugar

water

small amounts of milk

mild cheeses

Absolutely no raw foods, no fruit, and of course I have to avoid

rosacea triggers as well. Imagine not eating wheat, salads,

fruits,anything raw, anything packaged.. AND trying to avoid rosacea

triggers like marinated food, tomatos, etc. It becomes very

difficult and feels very, very unhealthy.

Thank you so much for responding. It's nice to know there is a group

of folks like you who want to help.

Patty

>

> >>> Now I can concentrate on the other problem I have always had

with

> >> my

> >>> rosacea. I have always gotten hives on my arms, legs, torso and

> >>> face. My rosacea skin area is especially sensitive to them and

> >> they

> >>> show up more often in that area. I think this is due to the

> >>> instability of our mast cells in that area. Whenever I get the

> >> hives

> >>> on my face it is awful. They itch terribly and look ridiculous.

> > I

> >>> have taken hydroxyzine for the hives and it has helped. During

> >>> allergy season I get worse, especially when I eat raw food;

> >>> especially ANY fruits. Sounds bizarre, but it's been going on

> > for

> >> 6

> >>> years.

>

> It sounds like food allergies or at the least an allergic reaction.

I'm not

> trying to be flip, but if you know that raw food/fruit causes hives

why do

> you eat them? Perhaps I've missed something here...Adjusting your

diet

> sounds a whole lot better to me than taking medications to handle

recurrent

> symptoms. You might find relief by following an avoidance diet for

a while

> and then slowly adding certain foods back in to isolate reactions.

>

> carrie

[Guest guest]

Thats an excellent question. I have done elimination diets and found

that I can avoid the hives it I eat only:

meats and fish except pork

eggs

well cooked veggies

Rice

corn

oil

butter

salt

sugar

water

small amounts of milk

mild cheeses

Absolutely no raw foods, no fruit, and of course I have to avoid

rosacea triggers as well. Imagine not eating wheat, salads,

fruits,anything raw, anything packaged.. AND trying to avoid rosacea

triggers like marinated food, tomatos, etc. It becomes very

difficult and feels very, very unhealthy.

Thank you so much for responding. It's nice to know there is a group

of folks like you who want to help.

Patty

>

> >>> Now I can concentrate on the other problem I have always had

with

> >> my

> >>> rosacea. I have always gotten hives on my arms, legs, torso and

> >>> face. My rosacea skin area is especially sensitive to them and

> >> they

> >>> show up more often in that area. I think this is due to the

> >>> instability of our mast cells in that area. Whenever I get the

> >> hives

> >>> on my face it is awful. They itch terribly and look ridiculous.

> > I

> >>> have taken hydroxyzine for the hives and it has helped. During

> >>> allergy season I get worse, especially when I eat raw food;

> >>> especially ANY fruits. Sounds bizarre, but it's been going on

> > for

> >> 6

> >>> years.

>

> It sounds like food allergies or at the least an allergic reaction.

I'm not

> trying to be flip, but if you know that raw food/fruit causes hives

why do

> you eat them? Perhaps I've missed something here...Adjusting your

diet

> sounds a whole lot better to me than taking medications to handle

recurrent

> symptoms. You might find relief by following an avoidance diet for

a while

> and then slowly adding certain foods back in to isolate reactions.

>

> carrie

[Guest guest]

Thats an excellent question. I have done elimination diets and found

that I can avoid the hives it I eat only:

meats and fish except pork

eggs

well cooked veggies

Rice

corn

oil

butter

salt

sugar

water

small amounts of milk

mild cheeses

Absolutely no raw foods, no fruit, and of course I have to avoid

rosacea triggers as well. Imagine not eating wheat, salads,

fruits,anything raw, anything packaged.. AND trying to avoid rosacea

triggers like marinated food, tomatos, etc. It becomes very

difficult and feels very, very unhealthy.

Thank you so much for responding. It's nice to know there is a group

of folks like you who want to help.

Patty

>

> >>> Now I can concentrate on the other problem I have always had

with

> >> my

> >>> rosacea. I have always gotten hives on my arms, legs, torso and

> >>> face. My rosacea skin area is especially sensitive to them and

> >> they

> >>> show up more often in that area. I think this is due to the

> >>> instability of our mast cells in that area. Whenever I get the

> >> hives

> >>> on my face it is awful. They itch terribly and look ridiculous.

> > I

> >>> have taken hydroxyzine for the hives and it has helped. During

> >>> allergy season I get worse, especially when I eat raw food;

> >>> especially ANY fruits. Sounds bizarre, but it's been going on

> > for

> >> 6

> >>> years.

>

> It sounds like food allergies or at the least an allergic reaction.

I'm not

> trying to be flip, but if you know that raw food/fruit causes hives

why do

> you eat them? Perhaps I've missed something here...Adjusting your

diet

> sounds a whole lot better to me than taking medications to handle

recurrent

> symptoms. You might find relief by following an avoidance diet for

a while

> and then slowly adding certain foods back in to isolate reactions.

>

> carrie

[Guest guest]

> I didn't know about Drugdex, the

> pharmaceutical database, and what this database contains.

Matija, Drugdex is a huge well-respected electronic database

(microfiche before that, it's been around for decades) that's

available to hospital pharmacies for pharmacists. It covers research,

clinical minutia, pharmacokinetics, interactions, everything on a

particular medication. It was created and is maintained quarterly by

a private company, Micromedex.

> As an aside, Marjorie, do any foods cause you to flare? I was just

> curious about that. Also, do you have any guesses as to why certain

> foods can trigger rosacea flares in some people?

Nope, my only triggers are my computer monitor (in low humidity -- an

important discovery I made here) and my period.

It's well known that certain foods/alcohol/drugs cause flushing in

rosaceans and non-rosaceans (though certainly disproportionally in

rosaceans), and food allergies and perhaps intolerances cause

allergic skin reactions (people with rosacea are at least as likely

as the general population to suffer from food intolerances and

allergies). Their mechanisms are fairly well understood, I believe.

To me those aren't necessarily rosacea flares, but I see that it

depends how each person self-assesses their own condition. I don't

know if there's a separate food-related reaction unique and

characteristic of rosacea only. I don't know the mechanism behind

*any* rosacea flare.

Sorry, no clear answers -- I'm learning along with everyone else.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD