Red Rash on Face, what is it?

[jcompton]

Hi Im 20 years old, Ive been battling a skin rash on my face for about 6 months now. When i first went to derm, they told me it was rosacea and put me on Tetracyline for over a month and metro gel which i hated. The perscriptoion seemed to work somewhat and cleared it up. However for months now, this red rash will come and go quite frequently. It is most common below my mouth, on the side of my chin but not necessarily my cheek. The rash is always red and is just like a patch about the size of the nickel. I never had this problem when I was younger but I have had no solutions for it and It is one of the most frustrating things I have had to deal with. When dermatologists perscribe topical antibiotics, it seems to make it spread to different areas. Currently I have about four patches on my face that are just red, not huge but undoubtably noticable to anyone, especially with my fair sensitive skin. I was given finacea and that made it worse so I stopped that. When I went back to the derm, she gave me Cloderm to calm it down. I'm skeptical because I'm starting to think its Perioral Dermatitis and Ive read topical steroids and hydocort stuff are horrible for the condition. The skin is almost always dry, especially in the morning, and few lotions help to keep it from flaking. I have no idea what to do, every derm seems to think its something different and I dont know where to go. Ive recently started using cerave to wash my face and have used the cloderm a couple times. It looked a little better today and less red but everyone says it gets worse when you get off cloderm so I'm worried about that too. I have been on Doryx for almost two months for acne and wondering if that has anything to do with it.

Sorry to ramble on but this is just so frustrating, its preventing me from being social and going out, I just want to have clear skin. I hate how it will go away and come back all the time. Is this perioral Dermatitis? Rosacea? My skin is extremely sensitive and kind of pale so a lot of blemishes are noticable. What is the best line of action for this? It never really itches or anything, its just red and seems to spread to a couple different spots with topical cream. The area on the sides of my nose are very red and sensitive and there seems no way around that. Is the cloderm going to make things worse over time? Sorry for all the questions and venting, I turn 21 in two months and just want to be able to go out and feel good about myself. I dont even think I could walk into a bar like this without people staring, its that emberissing. Thanks for the help though, this forum has proven quite helpful

[ChrisLAM]

I take a lot of quality probiotics also. When I eat sugar I take more throughout the day and right before bed. Calendula cream (not gel or ointment) works better than anything as far as topical treatments go. I have tried everything! Don't use cortisone cream! It works great at first but then your skin develops a dependency on it and then it just stops working or even makes it worse. I really believe I developed it from taking antibiotics.

[ChrisLAM]

I have the same problem! I have figured out that it's from eating sugar. I don't know how to heal it permanently but if I eat a really clean diet I have no problems with it. It seems like wheat might bother it also.

[ChrisLAM]

I have the same problem! I have figured out that it's from eating sugar. I don't know how to heal it permanently but if I eat a really clean diet I have no problems with it. It seems like wheat might bother it also.