Immune system a factor in rosacea

[Guest guest]

I have always thought, at least in my case, that rosacea is an immune-mediated

disorder. Eighteen years ago I developed symptoms (extreme fatigue, sore throat

off and on, frequent respiratory infections, low grade fever in the PM) which

was

never diagnosed but I believe was Chronic Fatigue. At that time Chronic Fatigue

was not a well-known entity nor is it well understood today. My health improved

after two years. I should also note that I have Reynaud's Syndrome, an

autoimmune

disease which I believe from past postings, that quite a few members of this

board

have.

Six years later I developed another set of symptoms (fatigue, severe muscle

aches

and pains, numbness in extremities, irritable bowel, depression, etc) which was

diagnosed as Fibromyalgia. That took a year and a half to resolve although it

never did completely. However, I am able to lead a normal life. At that time I

noticed that I became intolerant of the sun when I was outside for a long

period.

I had always been an outdoors person but I began to burn easily and get sun

poisoning.

Then my facial skin became slightly sensitive and I developed a few broken

capillaries. Although I saw dermatologists, my minor problems were considered

part of the aging process. It wasn't until three and a half years ago when I

was

on a couple rounds of steroids for an elective surgery that my rosacea became

full-blown. Although I have been treated with oral and topical antibiotics, use

sunblock, and gentle topicals, my rosacea is progressing. I have tried VBeam

(irritated my skin) and photoderm (helped a little).

I do believe that there is a vascular element to rosacea but that it is

secondary

to the immune component. Marjorie, if you have other information on the theory

of

rosacea as an immunologic disorder, I'd be most interested in hearing it.

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