Acne Rosacea: [rosacea] Re: Having alot of problems lately

Thursday, December 07, 2006

[rosacea] Re: Having alot of problems lately

Elena: Well I think I just want to cry for you...not make you cry!!

Here are my thoughts, which I hope may help in some way.

You know your skin best. I say try and trust your own skin's reactions
first, before considering how others react or what they use or what
supplements you "should" take, etc.. I personally react to most
supplements, for example, so I generally don't take them...and my
rosacea is doing well.

You said: " Do you think I should just go to washing with bottled
water very plain and gently and then doing nothing else?"

I think you have the right idea here. Yes, you still definately need
moisture, but what I would do is start from scratch...bare bones for a
week and see what happens.

Remember, it's just my opinion so please continue to work with your
doctors like you have been doing so well.

Anyway here is what I would personally do:

-Stop all the supplements and eat fresh whole foods.
-Wash with a tiny amount of whatever you have used long term that
didn't irritate. Rinse very, very well with tepid (not cold) water. I
think bottled or filtered water that is not too hard is best.
-Moisturize with just the jojoba (if that's what you used long term)
-Continue the Noritate if your doctor says it's ok - just a thin layer
-Put nothing else on your skin except, if you must, a very tiny amount
of a concealer you know you can use - just a very small amount on the
bad spots.
-Continue the oral antibiotics if your doctor says it's ok
-Continue the eye drops that worked for you in the past if your doctor
says it's ok
-Continue your zyrtec if doc says it's ok - unless you just started
this, then I'd stop and use an antihistamine you know you can use.
-What is your reflux med?
-Stop the rest of the topicals. For example, Zinc oxide can be drying
used every day. I'd stop that and wear a hat on sunny days, for now
anyway. A small amount of sun may not bother your rosacea at all. Some
recent information indicates it can even be good.
-Cut back on green tea if you just started drinking a lot of it - if
it's a recent change.
-I'd personally stick with the RLT. You don't ingest it..it's not a
topical. I'd be really surprised if it was the culprit. One
consideration is the fact that you are on doxycycline. Did anyone ever
figure out if it's ok to use RLT with a med that can make you
photosensitive? Well, maybe best to hold off on it if not sure about
this point.

I would not switch antibiotics. If you do this, you really could have
a rebound period. If doxy worked for you in the past, I wouldn't mess
with it.

You might ask your doc about the Atenolol if you "Blush" a lot.
Meaning that you get red in social situations or when you suddenly
have anxiety over something (that "fight or flight" response).

My thoughts are with you! I'll be hoping your skin calms down very
soon.

Cheers!

Artist