Rosacea

[steph0580]

Hi Dr. I'm a 27 yr old female. I went to my dermatologist today because my cheeks have been red for the past couple of days. I also have some hair loss, fatigue, and my feet get cold. I have a low thyroid and I was told those were symptoms of my hypothyroidism. My question is the redness of my face is flat, on both cheeks, and doesn't have acne on it. I don't think that's a symptom of hypothyroidism. I'm scared it could be a lupus malar rash. I had an ANA antibody test a couple of months ago and it was negative. I'm driving myself completely crazy because when I look at the pictures online both the lupus butterfly rash and rosacea look the same. Like I said, mine doesn't have any bumps or acne which most of the pictures I found online of rosacea do. Can you please help me? This is so confusing!

[steph0580]

Do you have any suggestions what could be causing it? I've never had it before, and it was still there today when I woke up. My cheeks feel warm  but I don't have a fever. Thanks for answering me.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

From your description, I don't think you have either rosacea or lupus--I think you just have red cheeks.  A negative ANA goes a long way toward ruling out lupus, so you needn't worry about that.  I don't think that internet research is going to do anything more than make you more anxious.  Check with doctors in person, and relax, is my advice.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff