Soliciting Opinions

[Guest guest]

Hello to all,

I have posted only a time or two and that was quite some time ago. I'm curious

about an experience I recently had and hope to hear some feedback from some of

you who are more knowledgeable than I am about this. This is a long post, so I

apologize ahead of time.

Like many of you, I had good skin for most of my life until the past year or so,

then the typical symptoms of redness, flushing/flaring, papules, rough texture,

and seb derm came on with a vengance. My skin became increasingly angry over the

past few months, and it seemed the more triggers I tried to avoid the worse it

got, spreading all over and beginning to go down my neck. I'm allergic or

intolerant to many things so have become very aware and sensitive to what I use

and ingest, to no avail.

Topicals have not been successful but a second derm started me back on

minocycline, which I had taken some time ago but discontinued. I began seeing

some improvement, maybe 20%-30%, but about 3 weeks after beginning the

minocycline, I woke up one morning with hugely swollen hands/fingers and welts

and hives on various parts of my body. Although I took heavy doses of Benadryl

throughout that day, I had to go in to the after-hours clinic to get a pretty

powerful shot of some type of steroid that evening. It still took a couple of

days for any noticeable improvement. The doctor at the clinic also prescribed a

steroid dose-pak which I took over the next six days or so. I discontinued the

minocycline, not knowing whether it had caused the reaction.

I haven't taken the steroids for several days now, and those of you who are

familiar with the dose-pak know that the dosage had decreased significantly by

the last day. I also haven't begun the minocycline again. Although I was treated

for the swelling and welts in other places, I know the steroids were beneficial

to my face, which is now perfectly unblemished. I cannot remember the last time

it was so smooth and clear. I've even been able to eat some taboo foods

moderately without any reaction whatsoever.

I'd like to know what some of you think about the possible effect the

minocycline may have had and if the residual effect of the steroids would be

this long-lasting. I have not used anything topical and have not taken anything

orally in several days. I don't want to rain on my own parade, but I don't know

the life of the steroids and am wondering if I need to get ready to do battle

again. This has been so wonderful! I wish everyone could experience this

reprieve for at least a short time just as a morale-booster.

Thank you for any comments you may care to share.

Callie

[Guest guest]

Hello to all,

I have posted only a time or two and that was quite some time ago. I'm curious

about an experience I recently had and hope to hear some feedback from some of

you who are more knowledgeable than I am about this. This is a long post, so I

apologize ahead of time.

Like many of you, I had good skin for most of my life until the past year or so,

then the typical symptoms of redness, flushing/flaring, papules, rough texture,

and seb derm came on with a vengance. My skin became increasingly angry over the

past few months, and it seemed the more triggers I tried to avoid the worse it

got, spreading all over and beginning to go down my neck. I'm allergic or

intolerant to many things so have become very aware and sensitive to what I use

and ingest, to no avail.

Topicals have not been successful but a second derm started me back on

minocycline, which I had taken some time ago but discontinued. I began seeing

some improvement, maybe 20%-30%, but about 3 weeks after beginning the

minocycline, I woke up one morning with hugely swollen hands/fingers and welts

and hives on various parts of my body. Although I took heavy doses of Benadryl

throughout that day, I had to go in to the after-hours clinic to get a pretty

powerful shot of some type of steroid that evening. It still took a couple of

days for any noticeable improvement. The doctor at the clinic also prescribed a

steroid dose-pak which I took over the next six days or so. I discontinued the

minocycline, not knowing whether it had caused the reaction.

I haven't taken the steroids for several days now, and those of you who are

familiar with the dose-pak know that the dosage had decreased significantly by

the last day. I also haven't begun the minocycline again. Although I was treated

for the swelling and welts in other places, I know the steroids were beneficial

to my face, which is now perfectly unblemished. I cannot remember the last time

it was so smooth and clear. I've even been able to eat some taboo foods

moderately without any reaction whatsoever.

I'd like to know what some of you think about the possible effect the

minocycline may have had and if the residual effect of the steroids would be

this long-lasting. I have not used anything topical and have not taken anything

orally in several days. I don't want to rain on my own parade, but I don't know

the life of the steroids and am wondering if I need to get ready to do battle

again. This has been so wonderful! I wish everyone could experience this

reprieve for at least a short time just as a morale-booster.

Thank you for any comments you may care to share.

Callie

[Guest guest]

I wonder if i could have had a similar reaction to tetracycline - my fingers

didnt swell badly - but enough so my rings on my fingers felt tight... to the

point that they never did before

[Guest guest]

I wonder if i could have had a similar reaction to tetracycline - my fingers

didnt swell badly - but enough so my rings on my fingers felt tight... to the

point that they never did before

[Guest guest]

Callie, talk to your dermatologist regarding ongoing care. What

you're describing doesn't sound like a typical allergy to

minocycline, which is rare anyway, but it may be a type of

hypersensitivity vasculitis (I'm not making a cyberdiagnosis, just

that there are other reactions to medications than classic allergic

reactions). I would suggest you not restart minocycline until you

have a good talk with your primary care physician about this reaction

and to insure that there are no lingering problems.

Don't worry, the steroids shot and dose pak will not adversely affect

your skin condition. Sounds like the strong anti-inflammatory effect

has put your skin condition in temporary remission. You might take

this opportunity to begin topical antibiotic such as Noritate or the

Metros, with the hope that it will keep your skin in remission. Even

though you've failed with them in the past, topicals work best in

mild rosacea and in helping stave off exacerbations.

Good luck, and let us know what happens.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

> Hello to all,

>

> I have posted only a time or two and that was quite some time ago.

I'm curious about an experience I recently had and hope to hear some

feedback from some of you who are more knowledgeable than I am about

this. This is a long post, so I apologize ahead of time.

>

> Like many of you, I had good skin for most of my life until the

past year or so, then the typical symptoms of redness,

flushing/flaring, papules, rough texture, and seb derm came on with a

vengance. My skin became increasingly angry over the past few months,

and it seemed the more triggers I tried to avoid the worse it got,

spreading all over and beginning to go down my neck. I'm allergic or

intolerant to many things so have become very aware and sensitive to

what I use and ingest, to no avail.

>

> Topicals have not been successful but a second derm started me back

on minocycline, which I had taken some time ago but discontinued. I

began seeing some improvement, maybe 20%-30%, but about 3 weeks after

beginning the minocycline, I woke up one morning with hugely swollen

hands/fingers and welts and hives on various parts of my body.

Although I took heavy doses of Benadryl throughout that day, I had to

go in to the after-hours clinic to get a pretty powerful shot of some

type of steroid that evening. It still took a couple of days for any

noticeable improvement. The doctor at the clinic also prescribed a

steroid dose-pak which I took over the next six days or so. I

discontinued the minocycline, not knowing whether it had caused the

reaction.

>

> I haven't taken the steroids for several days now, and those of you

who are familiar with the dose-pak know that the dosage had decreased

significantly by the last day. I also haven't begun the minocycline

again. Although I was treated for the swelling and welts in other

places, I know the steroids were beneficial to my face, which is now

perfectly unblemished. I cannot remember the last time it was so

smooth and clear. I've even been able to eat some taboo foods

moderately without any reaction whatsoever.

>

> I'd like to know what some of you think about the possible effect

the minocycline may have had and if the residual effect of the

steroids would be this long-lasting. I have not used anything topical

and have not taken anything orally in several days. I don't want to

rain on my own parade, but I don't know the life of the steroids and

am wondering if I need to get ready to do battle again. This has been

so wonderful! I wish everyone could experience this reprieve for at

least a short time just as a morale-booster.

>

> Thank you for any comments you may care to share.

>

> Callie

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Callie, talk to your dermatologist regarding ongoing care. What

you're describing doesn't sound like a typical allergy to

minocycline, which is rare anyway, but it may be a type of

hypersensitivity vasculitis (I'm not making a cyberdiagnosis, just

that there are other reactions to medications than classic allergic

reactions). I would suggest you not restart minocycline until you

have a good talk with your primary care physician about this reaction

and to insure that there are no lingering problems.

Don't worry, the steroids shot and dose pak will not adversely affect

your skin condition. Sounds like the strong anti-inflammatory effect

has put your skin condition in temporary remission. You might take

this opportunity to begin topical antibiotic such as Noritate or the

Metros, with the hope that it will keep your skin in remission. Even

though you've failed with them in the past, topicals work best in

mild rosacea and in helping stave off exacerbations.

Good luck, and let us know what happens.

Marjorie

Marjorie Lazoff, MD

> Hello to all,

>

> I have posted only a time or two and that was quite some time ago.

I'm curious about an experience I recently had and hope to hear some

feedback from some of you who are more knowledgeable than I am about

this. This is a long post, so I apologize ahead of time.

>

> Like many of you, I had good skin for most of my life until the

past year or so, then the typical symptoms of redness,

flushing/flaring, papules, rough texture, and seb derm came on with a

vengance. My skin became increasingly angry over the past few months,

and it seemed the more triggers I tried to avoid the worse it got,

spreading all over and beginning to go down my neck. I'm allergic or

intolerant to many things so have become very aware and sensitive to

what I use and ingest, to no avail.

>

> Topicals have not been successful but a second derm started me back

on minocycline, which I had taken some time ago but discontinued. I

began seeing some improvement, maybe 20%-30%, but about 3 weeks after

beginning the minocycline, I woke up one morning with hugely swollen

hands/fingers and welts and hives on various parts of my body.

Although I took heavy doses of Benadryl throughout that day, I had to

go in to the after-hours clinic to get a pretty powerful shot of some

type of steroid that evening. It still took a couple of days for any

noticeable improvement. The doctor at the clinic also prescribed a

steroid dose-pak which I took over the next six days or so. I

discontinued the minocycline, not knowing whether it had caused the

reaction.

>

> I haven't taken the steroids for several days now, and those of you

who are familiar with the dose-pak know that the dosage had decreased

significantly by the last day. I also haven't begun the minocycline

again. Although I was treated for the swelling and welts in other

places, I know the steroids were beneficial to my face, which is now

perfectly unblemished. I cannot remember the last time it was so

smooth and clear. I've even been able to eat some taboo foods

moderately without any reaction whatsoever.

>

> I'd like to know what some of you think about the possible effect

the minocycline may have had and if the residual effect of the

steroids would be this long-lasting. I have not used anything topical

and have not taken anything orally in several days. I don't want to

rain on my own parade, but I don't know the life of the steroids and

am wondering if I need to get ready to do battle again. This has been

so wonderful! I wish everyone could experience this reprieve for at

least a short time just as a morale-booster.

>

> Thank you for any comments you may care to share.

>

> Callie

>

>

>

>

>