Guest guest Posted April 5, 2002 Report Share Posted April 5, 2002 Marjorie thanks for your input. Of course since this is email it's sometimes difficult to include all relevant information without writing a book. Firstly, my new Derm who diagnosed me is very kind, caring and listens well. She knew a little about rosacea but had not treated many patients. I like her because she has been willing to work with me to help find the best solution for me. I was first told by my previous Derm that I had eczema. He never listened to the symptoms I was describing (burning, stinging, itchy skin). That was in Jan. I went to my new Derm in Feb. While I was there I told her I saw the pamphlet for rosacea on the table and said that I had similar symptoms, but with no redness and a few papules. This is how we both came to the conclusion that it could be rosacea. You see I'm African American (Janet complexion) and as you know this disorder can affect anyone, however, I have not found much information out there on people of African descent with this disease. No one in my family has it, matter of fact all my family has flawless skin so that's what I did inherit. So the first thing people think is that my skin just looks a little pink. Well that pinkness grew to red in the areas where I was treating it with metro lotion. It's also interesting to note that on the side that I had the most papules and treated a larger area with the metro lotion, that side of my face is more red than the other areas. So I can't help but think that the lotion did have something to do with the redness coming on. The oral antibiotics may not have exacerbated the disease but it was during this time that my condition got worst. As far as topical irritants, just as I read and became knowledgeable about diet, exercise, vitamins and other key triggers such as stress, I learned about face cleansers and moisturizers. And because I also model (I hope to continue if I can get healed) my skin care line and makeup are very expensive and of top quality. However, I stopped using everything in order not to clog pores or make anything worst. My Derm gave me cetaphil cleanser and moisturizer. Hated it, burned and stung my face. So after about 2 days of that, I began to use just plain bottled water on my face and eucerin cream as a moisturizer. This was the only thing I could put on my face. After about a week of this I got my book and learned about Oil of Olay Sensitive Foaming Face Wash. This worked great! No stinging or burning. So I began to use this during these six weeks (I was about 10 days into using the meds). I also bought 100% pure filtered jojoba oil from my health food store and put that on wet skin after using the face wash. Let dry and put on meds and then moisturizer. My skin started to show signs of improvement now the texture changed. I had dry flaky skin everywhere and it started flaking around my hairline as well. I began to have red ears that too itched and are very dry and flaky as well. So now I'm really confused, I doing all of these things yet my condition is progressing at light speeds! I also began to have ocular rosacea symptoms ( I just an Ophthalmologist yesterday). So why am I having such reactions? Maybe it's because what I think brought this on, I'm exposed to 5 days per week. When my symptoms first began in early Nov. the building I work in which is 200 years old, had the ventilation symptom worked. It began pumping heat into my office that did not come through prior. During the next 2 months I began to itch and burn and have a new papule show up while I was in my office. I did not think anything of it. I then encouraged my colleagues to get our air tested. We did it came back that we had above normal levels of fungi in our building. Since then, had the building throughly cleaned including carpets. It's also noteworthy to mention that " my " office had usually high levels. I know this may sound strange or not connected at all but I can only think that if it is because I was exposed to something and now my immune system is lowered, isn't being on antibiotics contributing to my lowered immune system hence allowing the disease to continue to progress? I am trying to cover all avenues and stay 1 step ahead of this disorder that's why if I do have a toxin or fungi in my blood, I would like to get the best treatment that will get rid of what's in my blood and not just mass the illness with trying to treat what's visible. I have had new blood work done and hopefully will find out if there is another underlying reason. Thanks for listening! Max > > Maxigee, I don't see how the doxycycline had anything to do with the > exacerbation. I'm impressed your dermatologist could diagnose rosacea > without redness and only 4-5 papules and a history of " flawless > normal skin. " cea is a chronic condition with exacerbations and > remissions that can be managed but never controlled. So if you do > have rosacea, symptoms can unfortunately worsen even with your best > effort and intentions. > > But you didn't mention the most important aspect: what you were using > to clean and moisturize your face during those six weeks, or what > you're using now. One obvious explanation for your worsening symptoms > is direct irritation from skin care products or makeup, including > botanicals and other products marketed as for sensitive skin. > > One common mechanism for worsening rosacea as antibiotics are > weaned/discontinued: their anti-inflammatory action mask the > irritation caused by skin care products, then when antibiotics are > withdrawn the irritation/inflammation manifests unchecked. So just > because your face improved with antibiotics doesn't necessarily mean > you're using the best products on your face -- which are as few > ingredients as possible, a bare minimum cleanser and a moisturizer > that mimics the protective barrier (either oil or a water-based > moisturizer with simethicone). > > Your doctor is the one to prescribe and stop your antibiotics, not > anyone here. > > Good luck. > > Marjorie > > Marjorie Lazoff, MD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2002 Report Share Posted April 5, 2002 > > > > Maxigee, I don't see how the doxycycline had anything to do with > the > > exacerbation. I'm impressed your dermatologist could diagnose > rosacea > > without redness and only 4-5 papules and a history of " flawless > > normal skin. " cea is a chronic condition with exacerbations and > > remissions that can be managed but never controlled. So if you do > > have rosacea, symptoms can unfortunately worsen even with your best > > effort and intentions. > > > > But you didn't mention the most important aspect: what you were > using > > to clean and moisturize your face during those six weeks, or what > > you're using now. One obvious explanation for your worsening > symptoms > > is direct irritation from skin care products or makeup, including > > botanicals and other products marketed as for sensitive skin. > > > > One common mechanism for worsening rosacea as antibiotics are > > weaned/discontinued: their anti-inflammatory action mask the > > irritation caused by skin care products, then when antibiotics are > > withdrawn the irritation/inflammation manifests unchecked. So just > > because your face improved with antibiotics doesn't necessarily > mean > > you're using the best products on your face -- which are as few > > ingredients as possible, a bare minimum cleanser and a moisturizer > > that mimics the protective barrier (either oil or a water-based > > moisturizer with simethicone). > > > > Your doctor is the one to prescribe and stop your antibiotics, not > > anyone here. > > > > Good luck. > > > > Marjorie > > > > Marjorie Lazoff, MD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2002 Report Share Posted April 5, 2002 > > > > Maxigee, I don't see how the doxycycline had anything to do with > the > > exacerbation. I'm impressed your dermatologist could diagnose > rosacea > > without redness and only 4-5 papules and a history of " flawless > > normal skin. " cea is a chronic condition with exacerbations and > > remissions that can be managed but never controlled. So if you do > > have rosacea, symptoms can unfortunately worsen even with your best > > effort and intentions. > > > > But you didn't mention the most important aspect: what you were > using > > to clean and moisturize your face during those six weeks, or what > > you're using now. One obvious explanation for your worsening > symptoms > > is direct irritation from skin care products or makeup, including > > botanicals and other products marketed as for sensitive skin. > > > > One common mechanism for worsening rosacea as antibiotics are > > weaned/discontinued: their anti-inflammatory action mask the > > irritation caused by skin care products, then when antibiotics are > > withdrawn the irritation/inflammation manifests unchecked. So just > > because your face improved with antibiotics doesn't necessarily > mean > > you're using the best products on your face -- which are as few > > ingredients as possible, a bare minimum cleanser and a moisturizer > > that mimics the protective barrier (either oil or a water-based > > moisturizer with simethicone). > > > > Your doctor is the one to prescribe and stop your antibiotics, not > > anyone here. > > > > Good luck. > > > > Marjorie > > > > Marjorie Lazoff, MD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 5, 2002 Report Share Posted April 5, 2002 > > > > Maxigee, I don't see how the doxycycline had anything to do with > the > > exacerbation. I'm impressed your dermatologist could diagnose > rosacea > > without redness and only 4-5 papules and a history of " flawless > > normal skin. " cea is a chronic condition with exacerbations and > > remissions that can be managed but never controlled. So if you do > > have rosacea, symptoms can unfortunately worsen even with your best > > effort and intentions. > > > > But you didn't mention the most important aspect: what you were > using > > to clean and moisturize your face during those six weeks, or what > > you're using now. One obvious explanation for your worsening > symptoms > > is direct irritation from skin care products or makeup, including > > botanicals and other products marketed as for sensitive skin. > > > > One common mechanism for worsening rosacea as antibiotics are > > weaned/discontinued: their anti-inflammatory action mask the > > irritation caused by skin care products, then when antibiotics are > > withdrawn the irritation/inflammation manifests unchecked. So just > > because your face improved with antibiotics doesn't necessarily > mean > > you're using the best products on your face -- which are as few > > ingredients as possible, a bare minimum cleanser and a moisturizer > > that mimics the protective barrier (either oil or a water-based > > moisturizer with simethicone). > > > > Your doctor is the one to prescribe and stop your antibiotics, not > > anyone here. > > > > Good luck. > > > > Marjorie > > > > Marjorie Lazoff, MD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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