I would be grate full for any advice or to hear of any ones experience’s of having this skin problem, I am sure mine is medication induced and all though it is being kept in check with the Metronidazole gel, I am hoping for advice on face creams moisturisers cleansers toners and sun creams. Many thanks Rosy

Rosy

I have Rosacea which was brought on through pregnancy 17 years ago and it still needs to be controlled. If it is not controlled, then I have a very angry red face and large boil like spots.

I was referred to see a Dermatologist by my GP. I have been prescribed Tetralysal (lymecycline) 300mg antibiotics which I take one daily and have done for the last couple of years. I have also been prescribed Finacea 15% Gel to put on my face but I use this irregularly as it dries out my skin. The Dermatologist also recommended Sun Sense Daily Face SPF 50+ Invisible Tint Finish. This moisturiser is brilliant as I have become so sensitive to the sun from Methotrexate and it also keeps my Rosacea under control. It is available from Amazon and if you commit to buy say one every 3 or six months it works out at about £9.75 a go. You pay as it is delivered. To buy it from Tesco's it is more like £15.00 a go. For days when I do not go out I use Nivea Soft moisturiser which is very light and non greasy. To be honest on the days I do use this my face inevitably ends up red as there is no SPF factor but it keeps my face lovely and wrinkle free for a 50 year old.

My Dermatologist basically told me you have to be very gentle with your skin and use no harsh products. You need a very simple cleansing routine. I use Simple facewipes and gently exfoliate with a Wave exfoliator little machine which you can buy pads for and I use this a couple of times a week. The Wave machine and pads are available at Boots for about £20.00.

When I am going out I use Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation which has a SPF of 30. This is about £25.00 a bottle but it is really the only expensive make up or skin care product I buy or I get people to buy me some for Christmas and Birthdays so it is not so hard on the pocket. Going out my skin is normally protected by at least SPF 80 as the sun can wreak havoc with my skin. Even in the Winter I still cover my face and just because you can't see the sun, it can still affect your skin.

My Dermatologist said don't get hooked into the websites which offer very expensive solutions to Rosacea as they invariably don't work and all you do is break the bank.

Have you visited your GP to see if they can put you on antibiotics? To be honest I have tried all the lotions and creams that have been prescribed by my GP but they did not work. It was only when the Dermatologist recommended long term antibiotics that it was brought more or less under control. I have tried on several occasions to cut them down or not take them at all but the Rosacea always returns with a vengeance. I have been told that Rosacea is a virus which lives under the skin and can be very hard to get rid of or keep under control. I also wonder if it is connected to a wonky immune system but this has never been confirmed.

It is an awful condition and I have felt very self conscious with it in the past. However, most of the time it is now under control and with the help of Estee Lauder, a beauty counter consultant said to me recently that she would never have known that I had bad skin until I told her.

Hope the above goes a little way towards helping you.

Jackie
xx

Rosy

Just to let you know I am on Methotrexate, Naproxen and Simponi. I have also had Rituximab and steroids previously. I have never been told I need to stop the Tetralysal (lymecycline) and both my Rheumy team and GP know what medication I am on.

I have looked this up on the internet just and it says nothing about interaction with these medications. The only one you need to avoid is antacid medication. Therefore, as I am on Lansoprazole as a stomach protector I take this in the morning and then the Tetralysal at night.

It might be worth checking with your GP again.

Good luck.

Jackie
xx