Rosacea, open pores - what to do?

[MrTumblesCrackWhore]

Right up until I had my dd2, I had perfect skin - never even had that many spots in my teens.

However, for about 18 months now, my skin has been terrible. I get these spots and bumpy patches which last ages and my face often feels hot and looks blotchy. My pores are much more visible, and despite cleansing morning and night , I often wake up with spots which have clearly formed by blocked up pores.

Anyone got any good remedies or tips? I've tried using Dermalex and Dr Hauschka's Rose cream to some success but nothing ground breaking.

[holidaydreaming]

Hey. Didn't want you to be unanswered. Not a great amount of experience. Also had great skin pre kids but had a short bout of Rosacea recently. Found keeping skin moisturised and a fairly regular, firm massage to thr affected area seemed to clear it up.
Hth and good luck.

[Blackjackcrossed]

Dhaka finds black seed oil helps to reduce inflammation but it took 4 weeks before he saw any effect.

[Blackjackcrossed]

Dhaka? Dh.

[peachdaiquirionmytoes]

I was presribed Metrosa gel by GP. This cleared the spots/bumps really quickly - my chin was smooth in 2 weeks. I now keep it clear with LRP Efflacar Duo+ and haven't had any spots since. I also found Sudocrem was effective applied at night for reducing the inflammation, but still found by the end of the day the spots were back up again. Worth seeing your GP.

[Calonwyn]

See your GP to make sure it's rosacea: I've got oxytetracycline tablets that clear up any bad attacks, as the Rosex/Metrogel didn't do much for me. I've also started using Paula's Choice Skin Recovery system and annoyingly - since it's not cheap - my skin looks better than it has done in a long time, even after only a week. Up till then, Avene's sensitive range was pretty good at soothing, and I find witch hazel is gentle on any painful spots.

[tabvase]

Witch hazel is amazing. It's either that, completely stopping the use of any moisturiser (I want my skin to balance itself out again - it's a tad dry and tight after washing but that's all, I was surprised), getting some sun, using an oil-based makeup remover, or a combination of all the above but I had the same problems and it FINALLY seems to be on the mend, after 6 months of skin hell.

The changes in your skin are very likely to be down to hormone imbalances - and every person has a different solution that works for them - but if you're getting sick of using lots of different products and getting nowhere, then I'd advise sucking it up and stopping the products as much as you can. Seems to be working for me

[MrTumblesCrackWhore]

Thanks for all your great suggestions. I will go to docs to see if they think it's rosacea - a dermatologist says it was but they could have wrongly diagnosed as they persuaded me to buy expensive serum which was useless.

[MrTumblesCrackWhore]

The option to stop using anything at all is interesting- I got interrupted by the doorbell once whilst washing my face and forgot to put on moisturiser - that day my skin looked much better. I might try that again.

[tabvase]

It might work, it might not, but hopefully you will see an improvement! Good luck :)

[MrsFlorrick]

I suffer. I don't get spots or paupals as they are called. I am red.

Tried a number of things from doctors and dermatologist.
At first erythromycin worked and totally wiped it out. It came back and successive courses of erythromycin worked less and less until it stopped working.
Tried Limacycline. Had a rare and v bad reaction to that but it worked well on the rosacea so no more of that.
Metrogel did nothing for me except make my face even more sore.
Finacea cream is good and really helps with the pores and skin texture.
But it does sting on application and eventually I found that increased so I stopped using it.

My face is now almost a normal colour except some redness on cheeks but v little.

All I do now is I oil cleanse with rice bran oil at night and during the day I use Dermalex. And mineral powder makeup (Bellapierre but Lily Lolo or Inika are fab too).
And weekly aspirin face masks which helps keep the texture of skin smooth and sorts open pores. (Take aspirin tablets and mix with tiny amount of water and crush to form a paste. The. Apply all over face and leave for 5 mins and gently wipe off).

This has the best results of anything I've ever tried. Skin is smooth glowing No or at least not many visible pores and redness almost gone.
Not a complete cure but far better than I could ever imagine it would actually be.

Before my whole face was bright red (with white rings around the eyes. Nice). Big open pores and orange peel like texture (wow I sound like a prize ).

Now I actually look normal. Smooth skin, pores normal and very little redness.

Plus my face used to be so so sore and now it isn't.

I would still urge you to go and see a GP or a dermatologist privately (about £100). And perhaps
Try some of the medication on offer.

Rosacea is a tricky thing and what works for one, doesn't work for another.

I hope you find what works for you.

[Hopefully]

No experience of Rosacea at all, but how is your diet? I get v spotty when I start living on sugary/processed food, which I do when sleep deprived. If you're still feeding in the night etc, maybe you're eating more sugar/carbs to attempt to boost your energy?

[Blackjackcrossed]

I think hopefully is on to something.

Dh's diet is so much better but he has break outs on holidays when he relaxes and tends to eat a lot of sugar and carbs. His doctor suggests he takes long term antibiotics to keep the inflammation under control - there are no bacteria problems with this skin condition so don't go down the anti bacterial route. If you decide to have antibiotics, have a look at taking some probiotics to avoid resulting problems.

[Ardiente]

You need to see a good dermatologist and get tested for demodex mites. I had terrible rosacea for 10 years+, until I stumbled across a dermatologist who dealt with my demodex infestation (usually as a result of an autoimune disease like hypothyroidism). Now I have been clear for 5 years and do not follow a treatment any longer. For temporary relief, IPL laser is very good too. Good luck.

[Blackjackcrossed]

Ardiente are you in the uk? Could you pm me the name of your dermatologist please - I have been on the hunt for a good one.

[LoonvanBoon]

See your GP. Get a diagnosis. If it's rosacea, you're likely to be prescribed either metrogel / metrocream or finacea (azelaic acid). I found the latter loads more effective & am a bit evangelical about it. It's available OTC in some countries, & I think it's a shame it's not here, because it's excellent for controlling acne, large pores, flakiness & seborrhoeic dermatitis as well as rosacea.

As MrsFlorrick says, though, it can really sting. That wore off with time for me, but it still happens occasionally if my skin's a bit sensitive / I've been in the sun (with sunblock, of course).

[MrTumblesCrackWhore]

Wow, thanks again for the suggestions. I'm also worried about possible hypothyroidism too so the demodex mite thing is a bit scary.

I do drink red wine probably more than I should and although I've tried to cut out sugary stuff, I do have a sweet tooth. My flare ups could be linked to this so I will make a concerted effort.

The aspirin face mask sounds good - I'll give that a go.

I do have to go to the docs don't I? Haven't been for nearly two years - mine are so rubbish and trying to get a convenient appointment whilst juggling a full time job, two kids and being responsible for the lion's share of the childcare is hard.

Thanks all

[SureFootedWhispher]

Just looking on Google for a dermatologist for exactly this but don't understand how to find a respectable one. Advise?

[Ardiente]

Sorry OP, my dermatologist works abroad, but you could perhaps call a few near you and ask if they test for this specific condition. It is a skin biopsy which they put under the microscope and can quickly tell you if you more than the normal count of mites. One of the treatments for is Metronidazole gel but I have read Tea Tree Oil can also work.

[LoonvanBoon]

Re. the demodex mite issue: I remember reading lots about this when I was first diagnosed with rosacea. It really does seem to be a bit of a chicken / egg scenario, as demodex are found in greater than average numbers in other inflamed skin conditions too - so there's a question of whether they actually provoke rosacea, or whether they multiply particularly effectively in hot, inflamed, possibly oily skin.

I thought there was also some recent evidence suggesting it might not be the mites themselves, but a particular bacterium associated with them, that could be a factor in rosacea - or at least in the spots that some get. So as far as I know no clear causative link has been established yet.

Certainly tests do show that tea tree oil is very effective at killing demodex, but it's also a massive skin irritant & I would suggest that anyone who thinks they may have rosacea is very careful indeed about putting tea tree oil on their skin.

The classic rosacea treatments of metronidazole / finacea gel & oral antibiotics if the spots are bad are all available from NHS GPs so I personally don't see much point in anyone paying to see a private dermatologist unless they've tried those options first. If the issues are redness / flushing alone then IPL / laser may well be the best route to go down, & that isn't available on the NHS, so going private might be an idea then.

[MrsFlorrick]

My GP wouldn't prescribe Finacea without a consultant dermatologists full diagnosis and treatment plan.
Apparently its NICE guidelines

I paid for the dermatologist as the NHS one was a 6 months + wait.

If you can access it sooner then yes to NHS.

I've had a scraping for dermodex and my levels were pretty normal so not the cause for me. That said I don't get pustules and paupals which are associated with dermodex infestation. I am just red.

It's worth exploring every avenue.

If you do indeed suffer with dermodex then eurax is mean to see them off. Although I'd try what the GP is offering first.

Tea tree oil is quite harsh for skin so be careful when applying. I tried it diluted to no effect other than some stinging.

There is a new drug available in the UK called Miravaso. It's a cream which completely removes the redness by tightening the blood vessels. Mixed reviews online from users many of whom claim that it worked for 6/8 hours after application and then the redness retuned with a vengeance and their skin was redder and more painful than ever before.

I am too chicken to try it at the moment. I am waiting to see more reviews before I take the plunge.

[Ardiente]

We did a skin biopsy before and after treatment, and the number of demodex mites had drastically gone down. Not saying this is what you are suffering from OP, so I would try IPL first and if redness comes back it would be time to look at more permanent avenues. Ultimately, until you get to the bottom of what is causing your redness, all the treatments mentioned will be very much trial and error.

[LoonvanBoon]

Really shocked to hear that about the finacea, MrsFlorrick! I've had it on repeat for a few years so maybe guidelines have changed. Bonkers, though.

Yes, I've heard about mirvaso too - active ingredient is a vasoconstrictor (brimonodine tartrate - used in eye-drops for glaucoma) so all these reports of rebound redness don't surprise me at all. I guess it's like using vasoconstrictor nasal sprays regularly - they end up making the congestion worse.

[MrsFlorrick]

Loon. It may just have been this particular health authority. I'm sure the GP said Nice but it could equally have been this trust. Not that it matters at all as it was useful to see the dermatologist and get a board view of what's available and different approaches to treatment.

She also said that much of what is touted as "anti redness" creams don't work and may irritate. I had already discovered this myself though.

Interesting on Miravosa. I had read lots of US users suffering terribly from rebound redness. Annoying as I keep hoping for a real break through.

That said currently I have very little redness and it isn't sore or itchy so not bad.

[MyrtleDove]

I have what I think is rosacea but no GP I've seen will even consider this as I am 'too young'. I am 25. Is this right?

[MrsFlorrick]

You're not too young sadly. Even children can suffer.

If you suffer from a skin condition and the GP can't diagnose you, then insist on a referral to a dermatologist on the NHS for a diagnosis.