If some of us are not responding to the usual prescibed treatments.

[Guest guest]

is it possible that we might have something else going on with our skins.

Okay, here's why I ask. Quite a few years ago when the interent was in its

infancy ( 1994 at least where I live) and I was seeking answers for my skin

frustrations, I met a very nice derm from northern CA. I have searched to see if

I could locate his name and credentials but all my old e-mails got lost in the

shuffles between acquiring new computers etc.Anyway, he was a derm. He gave me

a Rx which a friend of mine in CA picked up and had filled under her name . I

had conversed with him nay times and he asked me to send pics. My husband who is

an avid amateur photographer set up all his Nicon lenses on our back deck and he

took various shots with his zoom lenses etc. I had to mail then to the derm ( no

scanners or digital cameras then ) He informed me that after looking at the

pics, his suspicions were confirmed. He told me that waht was goingon with my

skin was casued by overuse of harsh cleansers, masks, scrubs and bombarding my

face with a multitude of products. He told me that he had seen quite a few cases

in his practise. His advise. Stop all products. He told me to spalsh with water.

Use not heavy oily substances. Use a half and half dilued witch hazel and he

told me not to wear foundation. He said that it owuld take about 6 months for my

skin to get back to normal. Now , this is the part that worried me. The

prescription was some sort of vioform ( smelled like iodine ) and a .05%

hydrocortisone. It did not have to be compounded. It was in a tube.

Does this sound logical? wouldlove some feedback. I have no problems with the

giivng up of foundation. I haven't worn any for weeks. But I am concerned that

if I don't moisturize, then my skin will only produce more sebum which will

further complicate the rosacea or sebderm or whatever is going on. Dr. Sy and

Dr. Nase seem to think that moisturizing is a very important component of

rosacea management.

thanks for listening to the ravings of a rosacea-induced mad woman.

Take care

[Guest guest]

> Good advice, except where does one find a doctor who

> cares enough to take the time, ask the questions, and

> listen to what we're saying? Doctors like that don't

> exist.

Unlike most other specialties, dermatologists usually don't take

extensive histories or ask a lot of questions to figure out what's

going on. To diagnose, after obtaining a basic history, they just

look at the skin, and then see how it responds to treatment. That's

been my experience working with good dermatologists. Allergists are

similiar -- they can tell from across the room if a rash is an

allergic reaction or not, even without talking to the patient. When

you have years of experience looking at rashes, the visual patterns

become second nature. (That's not saying it's easy to diagnose or

treat, but just that obtaining more information doesn't usually help

clarify the situation.)

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

[Guest guest]

> I can't go the nearest city to see naother derm, that is about 1200

> miles away and I live on an island so I would have to fly there.

Sounds beautiful. May I ask where you live?

Marjorie