Hello everyone. I have just been diagnosed with Rosecea on my face after being sent to the dermatologist by the rheumatologist because of white lumpy spots on my face that are growing in size. They are red and sore around the entire area of my cheeks, nose and forehead. The dermatologist said that I don't need a biopsy of the spots, but said that I have rosecea on my face and it has to be treated for 2 months and then I'll see him again. I know that rashes are common with sjogrens, but I wondered if anyone else has had this type of problem on their face. It is made worse with heat, and I can't use any kind of wash cloth, exfoliating creams, and I can only use extremely gentle face cleanser. Is this something that I'm going to have to get used to, or does it tend to flare up and then go away. My skin on my entire body is extremely sensitive and I even have to use prescription shampoo. I have good doctors that are working to slow down the autoimmune process, but so far after a year of treatment, new things keep popping up. Has anyone dealt with a lot of skin problems with sjogrens? And what is it that helps you cope?
Hi FT,
I also have Rosacea and if it is left untreated for a long time....it can look like what you describe. I had it bad in the beginning and was treated with long term antibiotics and all sorts pf prescription cremes and gentle facial cleansers.
Now that it is under control and has been for years (I don't think it ever really goes away) I only use a prescription wash (Plexion creme) and gentle facial cleansers (Cetaphil products found in any department store).
The main problems I still have is at times and especially when I get hot, my face can still get very red (and yes...its still embarrassing at times) but it is treatable and will get better....just be patient with it. The burning pain will go away with time and medication.
Did your doc prescribe creme medication or antibiotics for you?
Good luck and keep us posted on how you are doing!
Thank you for your reply :) It is good to know that sticking with the treatment is helpful, because that helps encourage me to stick with it. It almost seems like the cream makes me feel more itchy, but maybe it is just that now I am more aware of it. I keep wondering if the cream they prescribed is making it worse. The only thing prescribed so far is metronidazole topical cream .75%. I think that is antibiotic cream, and he told me to use it for 2 months and then return to see him again. It sounds like they prescribed antibiotics for you to take orally. Am I understanding that right? I think I have had this problem for longer than I realized but just thought it was my usual rough, unhealthy-looking skin, but I didn't have the problem with itching until more recently. I also have had liver problems (I think from my body reacting to the medications I am on.... I don't and have never drank alcohol but some of my liver problems are as if I have.) Do you know if as the liver recovers or cleanses, the rocesea symptoms can improve? Do you think that liver problems even have anything to do with it? That is one of my questions for my next visit with the rheumatologist... I'll pass on what he has to say about it when I find out in case that could help you out as well. Thanks again for your reply :)
Yes...I was prescribed oral antibiotics on more than one occasion in the beginning to get through the very rough spots and it did help me a lot.
I'm not in the medical field at all, but I do not think that the liver has anything to do with rosacea...but double check with your doc to be sure. If you google Rosacea.....you will come up with many helpful websites that will answer so many questions for you...I checked and there were many there online.
One thing that comes to mind if the cremes are really irritating to you (still burning/itching) after trying them for awhile is to check to see if you are allergic to sulfa. I have a friend with rosacea who is allergic to sulfa and cant use the same cremes that I do because many of them contain sulfa ingredients. Just a thought.
Good luck....
Hi Tradition,
I have it too and so far am keeping it to a dull roar (using Rx "Metrogel" 2x daily).
It's been a year since I started with the gel and it's not under control yet. I get pimple like things that leave a big scar. My forehead is covered with them and on my nose too.
Lynnie, do you think I should ask for something stronger?
Janna
Rosecea is one of the major cause of red eyes- blepharitis. Do you have red eyes?
Pegasus
Hi Janna,
I would definitely let the doc know that you are still having problems. The usual and first prescription usually prescribed is the old stand by of metrogel as you are on...but there are so MANY different options that they can order for you. My doc use to order special creme compounds that they had to make up....he would get so mad because the drug stores would make a big deal about mixing it up and he would say ...."what is the problem??? It's learned in basic chemistry class"....lol.
Do you see a dermatologist or a regular GP....I found that a dermatologist is more willing to try different options and has a lot more tricks up their sleeves than a regular doc.
Good luck my friend! I hope you can get it cleared up soon....I know its no fun...especially in the summer months when it can begin to burn with the sun and heat when you sweat!
Hi :)
Thanks so much for the info about rosecea. I have spent the last week feeling miserable trying to deal with it, knowing that it was just my first week of what will be another chronic thing ... and I am not feeling as if misery loves company (I'm sorry that each of you have to deal with it too), but I am so thankful for each of your tips. I do have red eyes as well, but as with the facial dryness and redness, I thought it was all due to the sjogrens or side effects of medication that I am on. I will ask my eye doctor about it. Whatever the causes, my body feels so out of balance as I am sure I am not alone about.
I used the metronidozole twice a day since he told me to use it, and my skin kept getting redder and redder, and itching worse. I called the pharmacy and the told me there was no sulfa in it (which I was concerned about because I am allergic to sulfa antibiotics). But it seems as though I am sensitive to so many things and am not surprised to find one more thing that I need to avoid. Anyway, I called the dermatologist this morning and he said to discontinue the use of metronidozole and to use Aquaphor ointment (its over the counter and is made by Eucerin. When I bought it, I thought my doc was crazy, because it seems a lot like vaseline and the thoughts of vaseline on my face made me almost not try it.
I tried the Aquaphor, and to my surprise, it was very soothing. It only takes a tiny bit, and it seems oily (so I wondered how that could be helpful if my face was broke out already), but it seemed like my skin absorbed it within an hour. I live in Florida, so I'm not sure how this will feel in the humidity, but I understand the concept of keeping the moisture locked in the skin to help it heal, and am hoping it won't feel too heavy. The good thing seems to be that it doesn't itch after using it, and it seems like a pure product. I'll keep posting the effects of it after I give it a week to work.
One more question though... do any of you wear makeup to cover up the splotchiness? I haven't really worn makeup in this climate because with the heat and humidity here it seems pointless, but now I am feeling like I may want to at least find a product that I can tolerate for occasions when I would feel better wearing it. I know to use only water based ones, but wondered if any of you know a particular brand that is best. I get Clinique for my daughter (who is a teenager) because it is supposed to not have perfumes in it. She does well with it. As with menopause, teenagers have skin issues too, just at the other end of the spectrum... That is my thinking anyways.... Thanks again :)
Long ago...my dermatologist suggested I use Physicians Formula (the green palette base make-up which is for redness). I did use it to help cover some of the redness and it did work but now I use mostly Bare Essentials products which also covers the redness and is very light and natural feeling...its not heavy at all.
Lynnmarie,
I see a general practice doc for the rosacea and she is not terribly helpful about it. I've been thinking about firing her.
I'll see if she will give me another script to try!
Thank you, honey!
Janna
Well, I have tried the prescription for rosecea, and that made me more irritated.... so I called and they told me to use Aquaphor, but even though it feels soothing, it just feels too greasy. I feel that I will limit the use of that to really bad flares of dry, sore skin. I have been comfortable washing my face with Aveeno extra gentle moisturizing cleanser. It has ingredients that are antiinflamatory. So I am going to stick with that for a while unless I get a big flare again. I am hoping that will not make it worse, but in the climate I live it, its impossible to use the greasy stuff very much because of the heat. I am finally learning a regiment that is helping.... so thanks for all your comments and suggestions :)
Just wanted to update on rosecea. I tried Aquaphor after the prescription cream made my face more irritated. It did help sooth the itching and dryness, but I couldn't stand the feel of petroleum jelly on my face. I have been using Oil of Olay foaming face wash for sensitive skin, which had always worked for me before this eruption on my face. I decided to try Aveeno Ultra Soothing Creamy Cleanser because it has feverfew and chamomile in it. I read that those ingredients are naturally anti-inflammatory so I thought it was worth a try, because maybe my cleanser was too harsh. So far it has really helped, and I am able to just use Nuitragena face lotion for sensitive skin on the dry areas. I think that the Aquaphor is good to use at night, but only on super dry areas because it seems like it clogs pores if you use it all over, and too many days in a row. Anyway, that's my update on rosecea. Hopefully it will stay under control. I think I am lucky to have it caught in its early stages. Hope this info helps someone.
Thanks for the update....glad you found something that's working for you!