fscial flushing/bumps

[tittensaw]

Is there any skin problem other than rosacea ( as rosacea has been discounted by 3 GPs and 2 Dermatologists) that can present itself as flushing, gransient redness, bumps that come and go, tingling. My symptoms stated 3 months ago when I woke to find some bright red spots down the side of my cheeks between my nose and my mouth. Then my face went bright red. Since then I have been having problems with my face flushing and getting hot, sometimes hypersensitive, going red and coming out in bright angry bumps that sometimes disappear within 24 hours, a redidual redness that is slow to subside. i am 59 years old and 20 years post menopausal. The problem is primarily on my cheeks and the front rather than the sides. My skin also has a tendency to feel dry, although it is quite soft. My dermatologist is now going to do a skin biopsy and also some flushing tests, but I don't really know what she is looking for. Could I have some medical underlying problem that is causing this? If so, what sort of consultant should I be seeing if the dermatologist runs out of options?

[jrice80]

Do you have an onset of bump/cyst-like things on your upper arms, upper things, or buttocks? If so you could have Keratosis Pilaris (KP rubra faceii for facial redness/flushing). The test should reveal what you have and the common treatment for the flushing/redness is a pulse dye laser.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

I think you should either ask the dermatologist now or cross that bridge when you come to it.  Your symptoms do sound a bit like rosacea, but I say that from a distance, and would have to defer to the dermatologists who have seen you and are taking care of you.  I really can't be any more specific than that.  Your symptoms do not sound as though they are related to any underlying problem, though.

Take care.

Dr. Rockoff