Rosacea or possibly something else?

[maribeljg]

Hello, I am 32 years old and have what seems to be Rosacea.  I lived my whole life in S. America and moved to the USA about 2 years ago.  I have lived my whole life in hot climates and never been in cold climates.  About 2 years ago, my first winter here my face began to breakout, but not acne.  I went to the doctor (general practice) and after looking and a few questions, the doctor said i had Rosacea.  I have never had this before, only when it started to get cold.  After my first winter, and the weather got warm again, my face slowly began to clear up.  Now the winter came again and my face broke out again.  I dont have health insurance to go to a dermatologist therefore i wanted to ask you here on the forum.  

Last year when the doctor told me I had Rosacea, the doctor also diagnosed me with H. Pylori.  In order to get rid of that bacteria, I had to take 3 different antibiotics.  which one, actually cleared up my face for the time, metronidazole.  As my face cleared up, the doctor prescribed me with a topical metronidazole called Metrogel (which is supposably to cure Rosacea).  Well i applied the gel as indicated by the doctor and it did nothing.  3 weeks after taking the antibiotic, my face was clear then my face brokeout again.  I didnt know what to do, so i just delt with it and waited for it to go away alone.  The general practice doctor said that it may be possible to prescribe me with a low dosage metronidazole but to take it for the rest of my life.  I didn't want to have to take an antibiotic long term as this was something that just flared up and supposably goes away on its own.  As the spring and summer came my face cleared up almost 100%, but as the weather began to get colder my face began to get redder and breakout again.  now my face brokeout again, but this time mainly on the one side, the other is clean.  I am beyond the acne stage, as i had it as a teenager but it went away as it does to most.  

My face gets bright red and burning sensations on occasions alone, when i have a glass of wine, eat hot foods...etc.  I also bought a facial cleanser, foundation and moisturizer from Macy's that is for the 'treatment' of Rosacea and to help with the redness, expensive it was and again did nothing, my face is still red and burning....

I can't afford to go to a dermatologist right now, but dont know what to do.  In my profile i have uploaded some pictures of my face, if you can please take a look and see if you can determine if what i have is Rosacea or is something else.  And if there is anything i can do to have this go away.  Thank you.

[maribeljg]

Thank you very much for your prompt response.  Hopefully i will be able to see a dermatologist soon.  Again, thank you very much for your help.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms it looks like rosacea. The exact cause of rosacea is not known. The basic process seems to involve dilation of the small blood vessels of the face. It can be due to genetic causes, hormonal problems, the bacteria Helicobacter pylori (that is associated with stomach ulcers), gastrointestinal disease, and medications that cause blood vessels to widen.

Treatment options vary from antibiotic creams, antihistaminics, sun screens to laser treatment. Wear sunscreen with a spf of atleast 30 minimum half an hour before going out in the sun. A dermatologist’s evaluation will be the best.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.