Re: Klaron instead of Noritate? Listen to your derm.

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> >

> > Michele, Klaron is another topical antibiotic like

> > Noritate. The

> > mechanism of action for all these topicals are as

> > anti-inflammatory

> > agents so only one is used at a time, but some

> > people do better with

> > one antibiotic than with another. Klaron uses a

> > different antibiotic,

> > a sulfonamide instead of metronidazole. It may be

> > that the added

> > sulfur will help you. The trade-off is that

> > sulfonamides can have

> > more side effects than the metronidazoles, so they

> > aren't usually

> > tried first. Whatever, I hope it works for you.

> >

> > Personally, I never respond to the tetracyclines, I

> > only respond to

> > doxycycline. Some of my tricks: I'm careful to keep

> > the blood level

> > constant by taking one of the 100 mg caps/pills

> > every 12 hours. I

> > also avoid any dairy products or vitamin/mineral

> > pills or antacids

> > one hour before or two hours after. That's very

> > important, because

> > doxycycline is easily inactivated by those three

> > things. Stay with

> > the doxycycline for at least 6 weeks before saying

> > it doesn't help at

> > all; if it helps even a little, continue it for the

> > full 12 weeks.

> >

> > And be careful not to further irritate your skin

> > with skin care

> > products. Use just a gentle cleanser, and the

> > mildest water-based

> > moisturizer with simethicone, or basic oil product

> > -- these act as a

> > protective barrier twice a day as your epidermal

> > layer heals. The

> > topical antibiotic goes on before the

> > moisturizer/oil. And your

> > sunblock for when you go out.

> >

> > Your doctor sounds to be slowly advancing a textbook

> > treatment of

> > rosacea, and he started off very gentle.

> >

> > Try not to be frustrated if the Klaron doesn't work

> > for you or if you

> > develop a reaction to it -- if the Doxycycline works

> > (there's an

> > excellent chance it will, and you'll know in 6-12

> > weeks) you may just

> > hold off on all topical antibiotics while the doxy

> > has a chance to

> > work. Then, with improved skin, Noritate may be a

> > more effective

> > maintenance cream. That's how I use oral and topical

> > antibiotics. So

> > don't give up on Noritate yet, though Klaron may be

> > the answer for

> > you.

> >

> > You aren't my patient, I'm not your doctor, but I

> > hope that clarifies

> > what I suspect are your dermatologist's plan.

> >

> > Good luck. Keep us posted.

> >

> > Marjorie

> >

> > Marjorie Lazoff, MD

> >

> >

> > > Hi All - perhaps someone can help me? Went to my

> > > derm. on Monday and he gave me Klaron for the

> > > bumps/papules. When I asked how to apply

> > it--before

> > > or after Noritate--he said to discontinue the

> > > Noritate! I was confused! I said, " But I thought

> > I

> > > would using this cream 'forever.' " Quoting his

> > word

> > > back in December when I was diagnosed in Dec. and

> > he

> > > gave me Metrocream. He said he didn't think the

> > > Noritate was helping me and to discontinue it!

> > >

> > > (This gets long here.) For some background - I

> > started

> > > with Metrocream in Dec. (applied to cheeks and

> > nose).

> > > Four weeks later, I called and said I'm breaking

> > out,

> > > and he switched me to Noritate. At my next appt.

> > in

> > > Feb. he told me to apply the Noritate all over my

> > > face--not just cheeks and nose. (I was breaking

> > out on

> > > my forehead, between my eyebrows, temple and

> > > chin--these areas are not red, nor are they

> > > flakey--just small bumps/papules--some flesh

> > colored

> > > and some light red in color. Some felt like a pin

> > > prick to the touch, others did not.) He also gave

> > me

> > > tetracycline 250 mg. 2x's a day, which he then

> > > increased 3 weeks later to 500 mg 2x's a day, as I

> > > looked liked " possible perioral derm., or just

> > rosacea

> > > kicking in per the diagnosis. "

> > >

> > > Is anyone out there using Klaron (with or without

> > > Noritate)? My big fear is in 2 months I'll go

> > back

> > > and he will put me on Noritate again and I'll have

> > to

> > > start all over from square one. On Monday he also

> > > switched me to doxycycline instead of

> > tetracycline.

> > > My chin cleared last week finally!, so what he saw

> > is

> > > my bumps on one temple, forehead, sides of nose

> > > (between nose and cheeks), few on my nose, and

> > between

> > > eyebrows. Again these areas are not red (well

> > nose is

> > > a bit pink), nor dry or nor flakey. T-zone is a

> > bit

> > > oily though. The bumps are light red or flesh

> > > colored. My cheeks are red (blotchy), but not

> > bumpy,

> > > skin is smooth, and I have spider veins on cheeks

> > and

> > > bridge of nose.

> > >

> > > Prior to all this I have not taken any

> > antibiotics,

> > > with the exception of having step throat late in

> > > August, which I took Zithromax. I am allergic to

> > > Penicillin.

> > >

> > > My derm was not familiar with the other oral

> > > antibiotics Dr. Nase mentions or using

> > antihistimines

> > > to treat flushing for rosacea. In fact he was

> > very

> > > surprised by the thickness of Dr. Nase's book!

> > He's a

> > > nice guy and getting close to retirement--perhaps

> > it's

> > > time if find a new derm? Confused as ever here

> > in

> > > NY. Anyone with experience with Klaron or

> > Doxycycline

> > > (after using tetra.) or stopping Noritate --please

> > > educate me!

> > >

> > > BTW--Also trying to identify triggers--can't say

> > I've

> > > found positive proof of any foods--other than

> > spicey

> > > and alcohol. Which I didn't eat/use much in the

> > past,

> > > and don't do at all now. Have greatly increased

> > my

> > > water intake. Using Dr. Sy's flushing remedity,

> > > taking Vit. C and Niacinimide. I use vita oil and

> > > Zinko. Watching and limited carbs and sugars (I

> > used

> > > to be a cookie monster!) Eating lots of veggies,

> > and

> > > making Matija's soup! My big hurdles are heat and

> > > stress..... I used to drink 1 diet coke everyday,

> > but

> > > even gave that up! Never been a coffee or tea

> > drinker

> > > either; I'm 41. Sorry this is so long. Any

> > thoughts?

> > > Michele

> > >

> > > __________________________________________________

> > >