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I have suffered from Rosacea from the age of 14. Initia...

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I have suffered from Rosacea from the age of 14. Initially it was just the flushing and a sensitivity to sunlight and alcohol. When I was in my early 20's a routine checkup by a locum noticed I had a red nose. At this time I was not aware of rosacea. He gave me some Metrogel and it cleared up. By now I was becoming very conscious of my 'Rudolf Nose' and it became worse when I stopped applying the gel.

After a visit to the GP to get more gel in my late 20's, he suggested I use minocycline tablets and I have been on them ever since. I have bad days and good days like most people. Food, drink and stress are my main triggers. I have looked into this condition quite extensively since I first became aware that I had it. It is a very visual condition and people can be very cruel when they don't understand it. sad It has taken me over 10 years to get my medication right, but I still have the tale tell signs of a red nose (just pink now & then) but I will never have fantastic skin. In the UK 1 in 10 people suffer and over 50% of them don't even know it. So next time you laugh at someone with a red nose - just think its more than likely rosacea.

[i:bdbc9e1307]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:bdbc9e1307]

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  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I had terrible acne when I was young but eventually it cleared up though there were plenty of scars. I'm now 41. About 3 years ago I started getting dry blotches on my face. Doctor gave me anti histamine tablets and steroid cream. Did the job and used the cream whenever there was a flare up.

    About 2/3 weeks ago I started feeling unwell. Couldn't put my finger on it though. Lethargic, under the weather type of stuff. Ignored it. Then I ate some really strong chilly pickle and the next day felt even worse. Then I started getting some spots just by my nose. Ignored them then started putting on the steroid cream. Gradually felt worse and worse and didn't help by putting various stuff on my face, eg, primrose oil, avocado and took some Zirtek antihistamine. Cue, take off. I was going downhill now and then had a few pints one night. The next day I hardly knew what day it was. My face was red all over and felt I had been out in 100 degrees sun. I also had blotches on my face, big lesions and my forehead was roasting.

    I went to the doctor who reckons it's rosacea. Gave me some metrogel and to report back. He's not sure it's rosacea and neither am I but having read up I reckon it probably is. Anyway, from my reading it was a mistake to keep on using the steroid and I can see I'm going to have to avoid alot of alcohol and spicey foods.

    It's a seriously debilliting illness though and I'm off work at the moment. The sad thing is I've a job offer as an IT trainer outstanding and I'm not sure now whether to go through with itsad

    [i:9a916d4264]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:9a916d4264]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I also have Rosacea. I was teased mercilesly when I was in my late teens because of my 'strawberry' nose. It was a few years later that I developed the acne with it. My skin would flake and blister, and my face would be full of red itchy blotches. I felt terribly self-conscious about it so I eventually went to see my GP. He told me it was Acne/Rosacea and prescribed some Oxytetracycline tablets. He informed me that there was no known cause and no cure and that I should stay on the tablets for a few months every year just to be free from the problems.

    I did this for many years but as I matured into my 40's I found that the medication wasn't working so well, and the Rosacea was beginning to affect my eyes. I'd been on them for almost 25 years by then. My GP finally sent me to a skin specialist who took a quick look and said that I should change from Oxytetracycline to Doxycycline, but I would probably be on them for the rest of my life. Needless to say I came away a little disheartened.

    I went back on the tablets reluctantly, fed up with having this problem for so long with no prospect of ever having a normal life. Then a few years ago I underwent a change. It wasn't the menapause I was expecting, but something rather puzzling. I was always a shy person but then I became more timid and found that the things I took for granted before were beginning to scare me. This went on for a few years which I couldn't for the life of me explain what was happening to me. My sight played up and I had terrible headaches. I went to the doctor; I went to the optician who took a good look into my eyes. I thought that the Rosacea had at last caused some damage to my eyesight, but still couldn't fathom why I had all the other symptoms.

    I know now of course. Having spent most of my life - 34 years in all - taking Tetracyclines I had developed a condition known as Benign Intracranial Hypertension. A rare but serious condition where the pressure of cranial fluid builds up inside the skull and presses against the brain causing all sorts of problems; Balance, hearing, visual disturbances or blindness. Luckily my illness was spotted quickly and my sight is okay if a little less than it was, but this was all because I took so many of the Tetracyclines for my Rosacea in the past.

    I wanted to write this as a warning that this could happen to anybody who takes long term Tetracyclines but remember this is very rare. Only about 1 or 2 people in every 100,000 actually suffer with BIH. I just wouldn't like anyone else to go through the same problems as I have just because their skin is red and patchy. Personnaly, I wish I had put up with the red face and the odd looks I'd had; I'd even have been more gracious in accepting their rude comments. I just wish that someone had had the forethought to warm me of any potential hazards when prescribing the antibiotics in the first place.

    I hope to god that you or anyone on this site never has to go through this, so I wish you all the best in the future and that I could live my life again! :ill:sad

    [i:bbe1c088cd]This message was automatically imported from the original Patient Experience[/i:bbe1c088cd]

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I posted above on Dec 14, 2005. Time for an update. I went through a desperate time after the post. Saw several doctors eventually got to see a dermatologist who wasn't sure what I had but though it was Rosacea. Still not convinced. Anyway I was given some very strong steroid cream for my back and neck and protopic for my face plus doxycyline. This was about April 2005. It got better but as soon as I came off the protopic it came back - redness, itchiness, etc. I also developed a scab on my lower lip that wasn't itchy but was red and sore.

    It was controllable though. Xmas 2006 went back to the GP for the scab on my lip that was becoming painful and spreading. He wasn't interested but after pressure from me he gave me some hydrocortisone cream. This cleared it up but as soon as I stopped it came back. I decided to gradually reduce the usage instead of just stopping. I applied it twice a week, then once a week, then once a fortnight until I stopped. This has worked now.

    My face is the best I've had it for years. I now just use moisturiser.

    Personally, I think I had steroid induced rosacea. If I saw the GP who initially told me to put clobestone butyreate (sp?) on my face I'd have a few words with him. He's since left the practice and when I saw the doctor who referred me to the derm she couldn't believe he had told me to put this on my face. He was to put it bluntly an arrogant little s*it who continually talked over me.

    I recommend people to investigate and get to know your skin and if at all possible don't put steroid cream on your face, and certainly not long term. I'm away it can come back at any time but for now I'm doing okay.

    Good luck.

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