Periodic Facial Flushing, Heat, Red Eyelids

[Sweetmona]

Just wondering whether anyone else shares my symptoms and has received a legitimate diagnosis...  I am a caucasian female in my mid-thirties.  For about five years now, I have had a couple episodes per year where my face will feel hot and flush red, my eyelids will become red and raw, and the outer corners of my eyes will become very teary and irritated.  Also, my facial skin will feel rough below the surface.  This will come on suddenly and fade after about a week.  When the heat and redness comes on, it feels like a niacin flush but I am confident this is not what is happening.  Typically it occurs when I am vacationing in warm places (Caribbean, California), so I thought it may be a combination of sun, heat, sunblock and perspiration.  However, the same thing occurred recently while visiting family in a very chilly part of the country while I was not wearing sunblock religiously and not sweating or working out.  The only difference this time is that my skin does not feel rough below the surface but is so dry it is flaking.  I have fair skin with a tendency toward pink (very mild rosacea that periodic photofacials have successfully kept at bay), and generally live a fairly clean lifestyle in terms of a clean diet, green household cleaners, and do not work in a hazardous environment.  I have asked my dermatologist and naturopath about it, but both are stumped without seeing me in the throws of a full episode. Any feedback would be much appreciated!  Sorry for the lengthy description!  Cheers, SM

[Sweetmona]

Thanks very much.  I have an appointment in a couple weeks to discuss this with my derm.  Cheers.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
What you can be experiencing is prerosacea. In this, individuals generally come to the dermatologist for acne treatment and exhibit flushing and blushing episodes that last longer than normal. The prolonged redness usually appears over the cheeks, chin, nose or forehead.

Once identified, these rosacea-prone individuals can be counseled to avoid aggravating lifestyle and environmental factors known to cause repeated flushing reactions that may lead to full-blown rosacea.

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.