Intro and questions!

[Guest guest]

Hi, Everyone...

I've just recently found this list and have been reading the mail with great

interest. I just wanted to introduce myself and ask some questions...

I've suffered from rosacea for about 12 years now (I'm 41) and am finally

being forced to find a treatment I can tolerate! I have suffered from

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, and Lupus for this

whole time and since this chronic illness had me bedridden for 6 of the 12

years, I have always put the " red face problem " on the back burner. I mean,

who cares about having a red, blotchy, bumpy face when you can barely hold

your head up or function!

Anyway, about 6 years ago, I found out that chemicals in products we all use

every day were causing at least 75% of my symptoms. Through switching to

non-toxic products, getting rid of all our carpet, and avoiding fragranced

products (and fragranced people!) like the plague, I am no longer bedridden,

no longer have to use a wheelchair to go anywhere that requires much

walking, standing, etc., and am at least functional again. BUT - now the

rosacea is crying out for my attention and I'm listening. I have tried the

" treatments " in the past - the metrogel, metrocream, antibiotics - but the

antibiotics just caused major digestive problems, and the topicals burned my

face like crazy - I'd peel like I had a sunburn! I got frustrated and just

ignored the problem hoping it would just go away.

Recently, the rosacea has flared pretty badly. I have the redness, the red

bumps and white bumps (mostly the red ones though), and some pretty dark

spider veins on my cheeks. I also have noticed if I look really closely, my

nose is getting " lumpy " - I sure hope this isn't the beginning of the big

nose problems rosacea can cause...

My doctor (GP) has put me on tetracycline for now to see if that will help

get it under control, but I'm trying to find out if I should give the

topicals another try. I read about one called noritate(?) that doesn't have

some of the chemical ingredients that metrocream does. Has anyone used this

topical? Does it help?!

I've also been trying to find a sunscreen I can use and so far any of the

ones with the chemical sunscreen as an active ingredient I can't use. I'm

now trying one with herbal ingredients only to see if I can use those. The

others just burn my face and worsen my problems.

Thanks for being here!

Jacki

--

Web Site: http://www.ourlittleplace.com/ - Multiple Chemical Sensitivity,

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, the health risks of perFUME, fabric

softeners, & air fresheners ( " air poisoners " !), " Guidelines for Non-Toxic

Living " , etc.