Is it Seb Derm or Rosecea or both ?

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I wrote on this site a few days ago, saying that I HAVE a certain

disease to my skin (as diagnosed by dermatologists). I have since

spent many hours reading the message board, and now realise that I

should be ASKING if people recognise what I have, not telling them

what I (think I have). So, can you help from your experience, these

are my symptoms/history:

1. Clear skin to age 13, now age 37.

2. Since 13 have had:- red flush effect (and varyable itching) to my

front cheeks either side of nose; reddish nose; some limited redness

to my forehead; scaly scalp but not much; upper body trunk has

limited red flushing/scaly effect, very variable. All of this varies

day-to-day for no apparent reason.

3. Tried many treatments over the years including oral antibiotics,

antifungals, probably 30 or so different antifungal creams, steriod

creams, shampoos (Nizoral, Selsun, Head & Shoulders, Neutrogena) etc.

The most common effect with all of them is an almost immediate severe

reaction OR an immediate 'miracle' followed by condition coming back

and getting temporarily worse before settling back to resting state.

4. Have been using Hydrocortizone/clotrimazole cream, and

Urea/hydrocortizone cream for years - very good at keeping things at

bay but does not remove the condition. Have noticed as time goes on

that the 'resting state' is possibly progressively getting worse,

difficult to say when you live with it. THREE DAYS ago I had a

barrage of emails saying stop using steriod creams, so I have now

stopped for ever (?).

5. Usual foods/things aggravate the condition, spices, alcohol, cold

etc.

So, back to the question, what do you think I have, SD, or rosecea,or

both ?.

Any ideas to get to the bottom of exact condition through a process

of illimination ? Any more ideas to sort out the condition ?

Thank you

G