Rosacea, rosacea, bother this rosacea.: May 2017

Friday 26 May 2017

One year on and still amazing results.

It's been a year since my last photographs and I thought it would be great to update you on my skin.

I have been less regimented with the scabies lotion (Quellada) over the last year - only using it for a couple of nights in a row when I get a breakout on my chin or in the nasal folds.

I haven't had any more laser treatment since I finished the course in early 2016.

My routine these days is very simple. I keep my skin clean with a gentle cleanser (Cetaphil) and because I'm now 50 years old, I've been using a basic hyaluronic acid to keep the wrinkles at bay topped with Cetaphil lotion (to trap the hyaluronic acid in).

I always wear a hat when I got outside and I am mostly pretty good at remembering to apply sunscreen.

This probably really is my last post regarding my battle with rosacea. ...maybe...

All the very best

Kate

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.