Update after two years.

Overall my dermatologist is pleased with the results however she can still see evidence of demodex activity on my face particularly around my nasel folds and chin and she reminds me to keep using the scabies lotion regularly as maintainence.  This is evident in the images below, as a couple of small pustules.  

My face looks a little flushed in these shots and it's due to a couple of reasons.  One reason is that we are now treating the strong veins around the nose and over the chin with a new laser called Genesis.  We are also going over the cheeks to close off the veins to remove the background redness.  

This new laser is very effective and the downtime seems to be less than the previous laser.  While it is so much more targetted, it is also very much more painful and I'm only on a moderate setting.  I haven't had to resort to a stressball until now, and behind my goggles I am weeping with pain.

Unlike recovery from the previous laser, the recovery is less like a surface burn but more of an interior swelling so my past strategies of quickly cooling the skin does not apply.  In fact, there's really nothing I can do but be gentle for a couple of days and not let my husband near me with his beard stubble which feels like a thousand daggers.  

The second reason for the flushed appearance could be due to anti aging products recommended by my dermatologist which can both cause flushing.

I'm still getting into the routine but basically it's using a Vitamin C topical serum in the morning with 50+ sunscreen over the top and at nighttime, a very low percentage Retinol topical with Hyaloronic Acid serum over the forehead and cheeks and the scabies lotion around my nasal folds and chin.  I couldn't afford the topicals sold by my dermatologist but have purchased very similar products from The Ordinary which are almost a tenth of the price.

At this point, I am very confident in my skin.  My complexion is generally clear and even.  ...and not bad for nearly 51!

PS.  At long last I got a sample tube of SooLantra and used all 10mg of it over the course of 5 nights (just around my problem areas).  It was okay.  No reaction, no nothing really.  The Cetaphil base it consists of makes it easy to apply and lightly moisturising.  My feeling is that the Quellada or Lyclear is just as good and at a fifth of the price.  I was glad for the opportunity to test it out though!

 

As you may have read in my previous posts, I used Quellada Lotion and Lyclear Cream but these are just two of the many Permethrin 5% preparations you can purchase over the counter and use off-label in your quest to eliminate the demodex mite.  

Because these two products aren't available worldwide, I thought I'd dedicate this post to brands available outside of Australia.

Manufacturer                       Brand

GlaxoSmithKline                    Kwellada-P
Actavis                                  Permethrin Cream
Perrigo                                  Permethrin Cream
Galderma                              Permite
Sandoz                                  Permethrin
Galenium                               Scabimite
Neoderm                               Lindell Lotion
Steifel                                   Nedax-5
SkinVenture                           Casthrin Lotion
Prestium Pharma                    Elimite Cream
Renaissance Pharma               Permethrin Cream
GlaxoWellcome                      Nix Dermal Cream
Amideep Pharmaceuticals       Permarin
Tomar Medicines                    Skabi-Rid
Glenmark                              Glenper Cream
PSM                                      Lyderm Cream        
             ...and many more.  

If none of the above are available in your particular country, internet search "permethrin 5% scabies" and your search engine will bring up a brand available to you locally.

Read the ingredients on the box or bottle to confirm that it contains 5% Permethrin.  The other ingredients will consist of the carrier and preservative.

Best wishes
Kate

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

My rosacea has been beaten so this is a final update...maybe?

I saw my dermatologist last Thursday.  She has told me that she doesn't want to see me for the next 18 months.  Hooray!  I like her a lot but the consultation fee is something I don't particularly enjoy paying.

Her advice is to continue using the Quellada Scabies Lotion just once a week as a maintenance against the demodex mites.  She said I could use the Lyclear but I reminded her that I was a bit irritated by the formaldehyde in the cream although once a week as maintenance would not be an issue for me as it was when I was using it daily.

She said that there is no need to switch to SooLantra.  It does the same job and the Quellada is 70% less expensive.

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.  

Right side of face. May 17, 2016

Left side of face. May 17, 2016

Best wishes

Kate

Almost a year - comparison pics.

Almost a year since I started my personal war on demodex mites.  Here are the before and after shots.

Right Cheek 29 Nov 2014

Left Cheek 29 Nov 2014

Right Cheek 21 Nov 2015

Left Cheek 21 Nov 2015

My battle against Demodex Mites has been won!

It's really nice to know that people are reading about my journey!  Here's an update...

It has been almost one year and my skin has improved significantly.

Since getting the demodex mites under control using Quellada scabies lotion on a daily basis, my dermatologist has said to use it once a week.  Sometimes I forget and use it every couple of weeks when a small pimple reminds me to apply the lotion (paying particular attention to my sebum rich areas - the creases of nose and chin).

Morning routine at this time:
Cleanse with Cetaphil.
Zinc sunscreen with a tint OR I apply a mineral foundation if I am needing a made up look.

Evening routine at this time:
Cleanse with a micellar water to remove the sunscreen or makeup.
Apply Cetaphil lotion OR Quellada (once a week - I aim for Sunday evening)

The redness which remains is veins damages from the Demodex infestation.  To minimise the flare ups, I have had 4 sessions of IPL.  Initially the settings were low and bearable but each session is now dreaded as the operator has increased the pulse and focuses on my problem areas - on and around the nose and a couple of really stubborn veins on my chin.  I take two paracetamol before I go to the appointment but I doubt they do much to counter the shock of each zap.  I describe myself as pretty tough but I cried during my last session.

On average, it takes me around 3 days to recover from a session most of which consists of tender skin, one or two little bruises and swelling beneath the eyes.

I've got a routine I follow to minimise the discomfort.  As soon as I get into the car, I apply alcohol free aloe vera gel and turn the air conditioner on for an icy blast.  As soon as I arrive home, I very gently wash the sunscreen off my face (applied by the IPL operator as a matter of course) and apply Advantan cream followed by a layer of aloe vera.  I spend the next couple of hours sitting up on the bed, fanning my face with a hand fan and gently applying cold compress to particularly hot areas.

I stopped using the Solosite burn gel but only because as soon as you touch it, it sort of flakes off in blobs and was a bit messy.  I recommend that you don't go out in public with it on.  Other than that, if you have some on hand, go for it!

Within a couple of hours, I have the redness under control.  The skin feels very tender and remains that way for a few days.

I almost forgot!  Here's some exciting news for Australian rosacea sufferers!...  My dermatologist said that SooLantra will be here within the next month or so.  She said that although the Quellada has been excellent for me, she would get me a sample of SooLantra to try.  It will be interesting to see how much the SooLantra will cost here but it won't be anywhere near as affordable as the $25 a bottle I pay for Quellada.

Still battling the demodex mites but winning!

Since my last post, I saw my dermatologist and was recommended to try IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) to reduce the redness in my cheeks, nose and chin where the veins are damaged.  

I had my first session 4 weeks ago at the dermatologist and am due for my second session tomorrow. 

The head dermatologist came to inspect my face before the session and she said that I had done a great job of reducing the mites but they were still evident around my nose creases and on my chin. I realised that I hadn't been focussing on those areas since it was the pimples and pustules on my cheeks which had been causing me the most concern.  Since then I have paid particular attention to the chin and nose creases and there has been a nice improvement. 

During the session, the zapping was uncomfortable particularly around the base of the nose and nostril flaps.  I figured that if I don't make a fuss it will be over faster so I gritted my teeth and tried to focus on my breathing.

The following four days were spent being very gentle on my skin and using a thin application of Advantan cream (daily) and regular applications of Aloe Vera gel to soothe the burning feeling.  I found some Solosite gel in the cupboard and it was nice but if it was touched after application it was a bit messy to deal with.  

After my skin felt calm again, I continued with my current demodex mite eradication.

Currently I am using Quellada lotion once a day.  The best time to apply it is in the evening just as the mites are starting to emerge.   

You may recall, I was using Lyclear with great results but after a couple of months I noticed discomfort most likely from the preservative (formaldehyde).  My dermatologist said to use whichever feels the best.  Most people wouldn't react to the amount of formaldehyde so it's a matter of trying it.  The Lyclear is certainly easier to apply.  The Quellada is wetter and therefore takes a bit longer to work into the skin.

Here are the latest images of my cheeks.