Facial Redness

[SJA1988]

Hey,

At a bit of a loose end with a skin problem, so was hoping for some help.

Summer '08 - started getting a nasty rash around my mouth, treated with cortisone.
Sept '08 - developed mild acne, and a strange red mark on my right cheek.
Oct'08 - perscribed antibiotics for mild acne, which subsided quickly.
Winter '08 - strange red mark had grown to cover most of my cheek, and started on the other cheek.
Up until now - skin has become ridiculously sensitive. Any blemish leaves a long lasting red mark. I'm also a musician, and playing trumpet now leaves a rash around my lips.

At times both cheeks will flush bright red, with a perfect line forming between the redness and normal skin above my mouth, a bit like a "butterfly". If I strech my skin, any red mark caused by a blemish "vanishes", but the other redness not associated with the redness stays. Prominent blood vessels have appeared around the bottom of my nose. However, despite this, my skin is in good condition - it is almost totally smooth, but no bumpiness where the redness lies, and no oil problems.

I saw a dermatologist about this several months ago, who was fairly useless. Seemed to contradict himself by suggesting that the problem was separate from acne, but then perscribing me acne medicine to deal with it. The cream burnt up my face so I threw it away, and I was given more antibiotics. I only develop one or two spots per week, so this isn't the problem.

I read somewhere that the antibiotic (Lymecycline) can cause redness problems, but as this started to happen before I used the antibiotic I don't think it is the case.

The redness under the cheek skin differs somewhat from the butterly flushing, which only happens about once a week (usually when drunk). It is blotchy by nature, and seems to be worsening despite use of anitbiotics. The derm said that he could notice the amount of blood vessels under the skin, but felt that  antibiotics might help it.

So it isn't rosacea (judging by it's smooth nature.) anyone got any idea what else it could be? got to wait 6 more weeks for my next appointment, and I'm getting sick of it.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,

It sounds like rosacea. Rosacea is a cutaneous disorder primarily of convexities of the central part of the face , such as forehead;cheeks ;nose; and chin. It begins as erythema (flushing and redness) on the central face and across the cheeks, nose, or forehead but can also less commonly affect the neck, chest, ears, and scalp.

Treatment consists of topical or oral antibiotics,isotretinoin, laser treatment and photodynamic therapy. Sunscreens, particularly those that protect against ultraviolet A and B light waves and have a sun-protecting factor (SPF) of 13 or higher, are recommended for all people with rosacea. If the symptoms persist or are associated with any other symptom like fatigue,joint pains etc then SLE has to be ruled out.

Hope it helps .Take care and pls do keep us posted in case you have any additional queries.Kind regards.

[SJA1988]

No I haven't - could you tell me more about it?

The dermatologist seemed convinced it wasn't Rosacea, but then again gave me no other alternatives as to what it could be,.

[Luu627]

From what you are saying...this is rosacea.  Cetaphil cleanser is highly recommended by derm doctors.  Have you used that to cleanse your face?  

[SJA1988]

to add -

it isn't itchy.

I tend to do as minimal a face wash as possible to avoid aggravating it, using nothing harsh to wash my face.