Rosacea & My History

Rosacea is a skin condition that affects parts of the face.  It is sometimes called ‘acne Rosacea’ but it is completely different to acne. Symptoms can include facial flushing, facial redness, spots, thickening of the skin and eye problems such as dry eyes and sore eyelids.  Not all symptoms occur in all cases.  Rosacea affects about 1 in 10 people in the UK, usually in middle age.  Many cases are mild.  Spots can usually be cleared with antibiotic treatment.  Other treatments may be used for other symptoms. 

The effects of rosacea is not known.  A number of factors may be involved.  However, none of these factors has definitely been proven to be the cause.  For example:

- Tiny blood vessels under the affected skin may become abnormal or ‘leaky’

- Sun damage

- A tiny mite called demodex follicularum may be involved.  It lives harmlessly on the skin of many people but ha been found in higher numbers in those with Rosacea

- Abnormal immune reactions in the skin which leads to inflammation

- Genetics may also be involved as rosacea may run in some families

I’ve suffered with Rosacea for nearly 2 years.  I’m a 36 year old white female with 3 children and work full time.  I’ve always been fit and healthy, well to a degree.  Generally I had good skin until a few years back…

I experienced facial shingles and this repeated itself as a line of 3 to 5 sores down my cheekbone to chin area whenever I was run down.  Not sure if this has anything to do with Rosacea but I am eager to find common links with other sufferers..because lets face it (pardon the pun) but we don’t seem to be able to get any reasonable answers from those in the medical profession. This is why I feel that a blog of this type (honest, frank and open) may help all of you out there that want to find out why???

When I first had the signs of rosacea, I actually thought it was connected to the shingles or spots in general and treated it as such.  Often using the harshest of products, which includes skin scrubs, witch hazel or similar products and also trying products that were to be kind to the skin…but not mine…the skin got worse and I sort medical advice and also researched on the internet.

Got to admit, I was astounded by the vast amount of information on the subject, but all said the same things and as previously mentioned, I’m looking for a why to all of this.  If we can understand why the body is reacting in this way then we can surely resolve…in a natural way I might add!!