Anyone with oil-filled zits on chin and Vaniqa experience?

February 27, 2002

Hello, fellow rosacea sufferers. I've been reading posts for some

time and find a lot of good information. I have never read a

description of exactly my situation. I was diagnosed with rosacea 20

years ago, and acne rosacea 8 years ago. It's the acne part that

drives me wild. It progressively gets worse. Last May, my Derm.

looked at sample of skin scrapings under a microscope and said that

on a scale of 0 to 4, a common parasite " liked my skin a 3. " I found

out through my own research that she was referring to Demodex. She

gave me a script for Elimite cream (permethrin) and of course,

tetracycline. The Elimite really tears up my skin, because it's so

harsh, but it does seem to dry up the oily pustules that ooze so bad

the oil drips off my chin when I treat them with any topical

treatment. I returned to her this last Nov. because my face was again

in terrible shape in spite of constant oral antibiotic use, and I was

sure it was the Demodex mites again. I was prepared to ask for

Invermectrin. She tested a patch of skin above my eyebrow (!!) where

there were no papules or pustules, and said I was clear of Demodex.

She took skin samples on chin and did a culture of them which showed

sporadic staph cells. She prescribed Bactroban ointment. I continue

on this viscious cycle of oily bumps appearing, I squeeze, they burst

into gushes of oil that will go on for days without treatment. I

treat with the strongest stuff I can (Renova, Elimite, Ery-gel,

Plexion) and then my face gets irritated, raw, flaky. Then, I treat

for dermatitis (perioral). One more question on my mind. Last Dec. I

began using Vaniqa. Loved it!! Removed facial hair (mostly on chin

and upper lip) with no irritation. Coincidently, my major chin zits

began the following Spring. Could there be a connection? BTW, my skin

is normally semi-sensitive, combination, but not excessively oily

except for the rosacea (or demodex) bumps.

Thanks for any ideas or insight.

March 5, 2002

Hi,

have you looked at or thought about low-dose accutane ? it is not for

everyone but has shown some good results in reducing acne lesions and

reducing rosacea symptoms. Dr. Nase is a strong advocate of accutane in

low doses. He gives numerous citations and examples in his book about what

can be expected. It is a strong drug so you need to do your homework and

weigh up the potential side-effects, but at least the side effects are

reduced when you are on a low dose. If you haven't read his book, it is an

excellent resource for you and your doctor, esp wrt ld accutane.

http://www.drnase.com is the only place where you can order it.

The current thought is that demodex have no relation to rosacea. neither

their presence nor their side effects cause rosacea - only in a small

amount of cases it might make pustules slightly worse, but thats it. His

book has a couple of pages on demodex as well.

sorry to harp on about `the book' but you really won't get a better

reference or text, period.

cheers,

davidp.

--

Pascoe, mailto:dp@..., South Perth, Western Australia

On Thursday, 28 February 2002, at 01:29:51 [GMT -0000] you wrote:

r> Hello, fellow rosacea sufferers. I've been reading posts for some

r> time and find a lot of good information. I have never read a

r> description of exactly my situation. I was diagnosed with rosacea 20

r> years ago, and acne rosacea 8 years ago. It's the acne part that

r> drives me wild. It progressively gets worse. Last May, my Derm.

r> looked at sample of skin scrapings under a microscope and said that

r> on a scale of 0 to 4, a common parasite " liked my skin a 3. " I found

r> out through my own research that she was referring to Demodex. She

r> gave me a script for Elimite cream (permethrin) and of course,

r> tetracycline. The Elimite really tears up my skin, because it's so

r> harsh, but it does seem to dry up the oily pustules that ooze so bad

r> the oil drips off my chin when I treat them with any topical

r> treatment. I returned to her this last Nov. because my face was again

r> in terrible shape in spite of constant oral antibiotic use, and I was

r> sure it was the Demodex mites again. I was prepared to ask for

r> Invermectrin. She tested a patch of skin above my eyebrow (!!) where

r> there were no papules or pustules, and said I was clear of Demodex.

r> She took skin samples on chin and did a culture of them which showed

r> sporadic staph cells. She prescribed Bactroban ointment. I continue

r> on this viscious cycle of oily bumps appearing, I squeeze, they burst

r> into gushes of oil that will go on for days without treatment. I

r> treat with the strongest stuff I can (Renova, Elimite, Ery-gel,

r> Plexion) and then my face gets irritated, raw, flaky. Then, I treat

r> for dermatitis (perioral). One more question on my mind. Last Dec. I

r> began using Vaniqa. Loved it!! Removed facial hair (mostly on chin

r> and upper lip) with no irritation. Coincidently, my major chin zits

r> began the following Spring. Could there be a connection? BTW, my skin

r> is normally semi-sensitive, combination, but not excessively oily

r> except for the rosacea (or demodex) bumps.

r> Thanks for any ideas or insight.

March 5, 2002