Introduction (very long)

[Guest guest]

Hi. Altho I've lurked here in the past, I'm new to the group, so

here is my very long introduction. I finally decided to join because

I am so $@&*#!% frustrated I don't know what to do. I'm hoping some

kind soul here has some advice and direction for me. I've had

symptoms of pre-rosacea and mild rosacea for decades, since my early

20's. I didn't put the pieces of the puzzle together until I

suddenly progressed to moderate rosacea with ocular involvement in my

late 30's, about the same time the cea Society started running

those PSAs on the radio. I've seen two excellent, highly-recommended

dermatologists, one Bitter-trained, one not, and now, 2 years and

thousands of dollars later, I feel like I've been awarded a complete

set of the emperor's new clothes. My face is no better and quite

possibly worse, as the disease seems to be progressing quite nicely

despite all efforts. My primary triggers are heat, exercise,

sunlight, hormones (I flare at ovulation and during menses) and quite

possibly carbs. My symptoms appeared to get better on a low carb

diet and worse when I went off the Pill. I've had a complete auto-

immune workup and everything came back normal. No one in my family

has rosacea. Here is what I've tried and my responses:

Derm #1 (not Bitter-trained)

-RoC Broad Spectrum SPF 32 mineral based waterproof sunscreen – I

loved this stuff. Naturally Roc stopped making it. Switched to...

-Neutrogena Sensitive Skin SPF 15 sunscreen - OK but not waterproof.

Still using it.

-Cover Girl Fresh Look or Max Factor FaceFinity foundation with SPF

15 mineral-based sunscreen - Still using this. Most foundations and

coversticks (Coverblend etc.) are too dark/orangy for my extremely

fair complexion; I'm truly porcelain under all this red!

-Wellbutrin anti-depressant. Still on this.

-Claritin antihistamine, twice a day. Still on this.

-Oral minocycline – significant reduction of papules and pustules on

face and scalp. Ocular symptoms markedly improved. Bright red

patches disappeared, papules and pustules improved, but generalized

redness and telangiectasia on cheeks, nose and chin remained the

same. Price: intolerable GI distress, therefore my derm switched me

to...

-Oral doxycycline – good response, no GI distress, but I began to get

a yeast infection every six to eight weeks. Derm added Diflucan prn

to the mix then had to wean me off altogether. Pustules, papules and

ocular symptoms gradually returned to baseline (but thank God the

yeast infections stopped).

-MetroCream – no response and possibly some worsening of the redness

and papules. Thinking I might be reacting to some of the inert

ingredients my derm switched me to...

-MetroGel - same results/no improvement. Discontinued.

-Luxiq Foam (for scalp lesions) – no response. Discontinued

(actually it expired).

-DesOwen – v. promising at first then bad, nasty, evil, awful rebound

redness and bumpiness. Discontinued.

-Plexion Face Wash – probably the most helpful product I ever put on

my face (which isn't saying much). Makes my face very soft and helps

a tiny bit with the redness and pustules. I'm still using this.

-BenzoClin – recommended by my derm after I failed topical

metronidazole. Day one – no problem. Day two – pinpoint allergic

rash over my entire face, probably in response to the " benzo " as I

used the " clin " in my teens to treat acne without a problem.

Discontinued.

-PhotoDerm – I was lead to believe this would eliminate the

telangiectasia, make my pores appear smaller, and dry up my oily

skin; why, it could even get rid of my freckles. And my what lovely

before/afters in the brochure. However, Derm #1 did not do the

treatments himself (his non-nurse " aide " did them) and he charged 50%

more than other docs in this area for the same procedure. That's when

I switched to a doctor that did the treatments herself and charged

less to boot.

Derm #2 (Bitter-trained)

-PhotoDerm – Why I'm the perfect candidate for this treatment, she

said. Six physician-conducted sessions and $2100 later, I still have

telangiectasia, papules, pustules, dripping-wet oily skin, freckles

and big-ass pores. In short, no improvement and maybe a little

worse. Waaaaa!

-Topical 4% salicylic acid solution. Initially seemed to help with

the pore problem and the redness, but after two months my skin

started peeling. Discontinued, but I may try a 2% solution after my

current flare stops.

-Tri-Luma cream (4% hydroquinone with fluocinolone acetonide and

tretinoin) – to fade the freckles that PhotoDerm did NOT help.

Although I am using it on only a very tiny area of my face, I am very

very hesitant to continue with it because of the steroid.

-Doryx (extended-release oral doxycycline) – to treat what the

PhotoDerm was obviously not treating. There is no doubt that oral

antibiotics definitely help reduce (but not eliminate) my pustules,

papules and bright red patches that are not telangiectasia. However,

this stuff and nearly all oral antibiotics interact with the Pill,

which my ob/gyn recently put me back on to deal with new onset

irregular periods (I'm hopeful the Pill will also help with the

cyclical hormonal rosacea flares), and the GI distress and yeast

infections are intolerable. Switched to...

-Duricef (oral cephalosporin-class antibiotic) – ugh! the return of

evil pustules, papules and bright red patches with the extra added

benefits of oozing flaky flesh, diarrhea and abdominal cramps!

I go back to see Derm #2 tomorrow. What's next? What's left to

try? I feel like I've tried and failed everything. I hate wearing

all this makeup to cover everything up, it seems to emphasize every

wrinkle, flake and pore, plus it all turns to a cakey mess 4 hours

later because my skin's so oily. Microdermabrasion has been

suggested but pardon me if the idea of having aluminum oxide crystals

blasted onto then sucked off my red, raw oozing skin sounds less than

appealing right now! I'm thinking about going back on the low carb

diet although I know I can't live with that for the rest of my life.

I just wish I could tolerate the side effects of the oral antibiotics

because that's the only treatment that seems to help. Are there

other **topical** antibiotics that can help rosacea besides

metronidazole? Is there another treatment option I haven't

explored? Or am I hopelessly SOL?

If you've gotten this far - bless you!