What I Have Learned

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with " R " (cea) in December of 2001. I

believe

that I had R for a number of years but masked it by continual

tanning / sun exposure. I also thought that the redness in my T zone

was due to chronic sinusitis.

I am a Caucasian male, 46 years, in excellent health. I am a fair

skinned, blue eyed individual with a bloodline back to northern

Europe and Ireland.

After having a decent complexion most of my adult life, my face began

to break out last summer and the bumps would never really go away.

This was my reason to visit my dermo. I also discovered that I was

experiencing ocular R.

My dermo immediately diagnosed R and wrote a script for MetroCream to

be applied twice daily and doxycycline 100mg taken once daily. After

thirty days the bumps cleared and after sixty days may face was

slightly pink but smooth and clear. The ocular R has also gone away.

Since being diagnosed, I focused on what caused my flares. I read

most every post over the last three years on this board. Formerly I

was a Diet Coke addict often drinking 3-4 liters a day. I also ate a

lot of fast food (read French fries) as my kitchen was under an

extended major remodel. Also I work out daily at the gym and get hot

and sweaty.

I decided that I would not change my gym routine under any

circumstance, and felt that it was beneficial to my overall health as

well as moderating my R. I did change my diet radically and I

believe that this has made a SIGNIFICANT difference by stabilizing my

insulin and glucose levels and reducing the inflammation of my skin,

and also flares. It takes some time to reprogram your adrenal glands

so this does not all happen over night.

I strongly encourage all R sufferers to adopt a balanced diet with

low glycemic carbos coupled with quality protein and EFAs. Avoid

sugars. Also, I encourage you to consider certain supplements

including EFAs, ALA, Ester C, as well as the other

vitimins /minerals. I am absolutely convinced that diet is a

factor. There was a recent post addressing the glycemic index and

there was also a recent post addressing vitamin / mineral

supplementation. I am validating both posts.

Further, there is a program that runs on PBS about Anti Aging and

Wrinkles. The host is Dr. Nicolas Perricone and he is a Harvard

educated MD practicing dermatology. The predominate solution he

offers focuses on diet, glycemic levels and supplementation; and he

mentions R.

I have identified one dermo in Dallas (Texas, home of 43rd) who uses

both FotoFacial and the V Beam, and I plan to visit with him to

investigate eliminating some/all of the red capillaries and the

mildly pink face. I do not expect that I will require but a few

sessions.

Bottom line. I have R. It created a need for me to examine my

lifestyle. I stopped with the excessive sun exposure. I stopped the

Diet Coke consumption. I added major veggies to my daily diet. I

have focused on low glycemic carbos and I avoid those higher in the

index. I reduced the intake of sugar. I now take EFA

supplementation. Some good has been derived from my R.

My flares have mostly subsided and my face is a very mild pink. No

bumps at

all. Actually my skin tone is very good. I have some capillairies.

I hope to report favorable results as a result of the light or laser

treatments.

Finally, I pray for all of you and for a treatment / cure for R.