Rosacea, rosacea, bother this rosacea.: Continuing the TTO routine.

Saturday 13 December 2014

Continuing the TTO routine.

I promised myself I would write here every day. Maybe it will be more realistic if I post weekly instead.

Having continued with the routine of twice daily washing with a TTO based cleansing foam, followed by a generous application of a TTO based acne ointment, I have also been patting on 100% TTO on top of the ointment. My skin hasn't looked so nice in years! It's quite smooth and hydrated.

It's an odd sensation, but within minutes I can feel a ticking "movement" on my face. I wonder if it is mites squirming to find a more habitable place.

The pimples and pustules are few and far between these days. If I get one, zap it with a bit of Hydrogen Peroxide (applied with a cotton bud/Q-tip) and leave it there to dry out.

As you can see in the photographs, one side is worse than the other. It's interesting to note that the worst side is the side I sleep on.

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About Kate

Firstly, I am in no way affiliated with any of the products I mention in my posts.

I'm a long term rosacea sufferer but wasn't diagnosed until around 4 years ago (aged 46).

Having had reactions to Minocycline 50mg and Erythromycin 400mg, my dermatologist then recommended that I try a course of low dose Roaccutane. I wanted to explore other options before I made that commitment.

This is a photographic journal which I shared with my dermatologist.

My advice to anyone who has found my page:

Ignore my earlier posts and go straight to using a dedicated scabies treatment - either Lyclear or Quellada. Use it every evening and eventually the demodex mites will be eradicated.

If you can afford to, use SooLantra. I would imagine the preparation is very gentle on the skin although I have not had the opportunity to try a sample.

Only once the mites have been eradicated will it be worth assessing the damage to your skin and determining a course of repair as in IPL (Intense Pulsed Light).

The science is here to support it and dermatologists the world over now agree that the pimple and pustule rosacea is caused by demodex mite infestation (or over-colonization) so don't be afraid to broach this subject with a dermatologist. It is interesting to note that ophthalmologists came to this conclusion a lot earlier linking blepharitis and occular rosacea to demodex mites.

Don't fall prey to companies (or individuals) with outlandish claims of a magic cure. There are a lot of people making a lot of money because of rosacea. If it sounds too good to be true, avoid it! When I was experimenting in my earlier posts, I was enticed to try a bit of pseudo-science (apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, undiluted tea tree oil etc) and I am the first to admit that the feeling of desperation can override usually good common sense.

Finally, be kind to yourself and be gentle on your skin. Don't be sad about the damage, the skin has a remarkable ability to repair if you gently (and patiently) help it along.