OT-Treating redness/flushing (likely related to Rosacea)

[Corriel]

Hi everyone and happy Friday! It's getting to that time of year that I dread the most. Warmer temperatures exacerbate everything but I have a specific flushing issue that I would love to nip before the temps rise too much.

I can handle facial redness but my redness is all around my jaw and upper neck in addition to chest area. This happens with a minimal core temp increase (like drinking a beer, or waiting for the car's a/c to kick in on a sunny day). The middle of my neck stays normal and since I am pale naturally, the flushing stands out a lot and will last over an hour until I cool down. Sometimes if it is really bad it will not go away completely until I am either half dressed or sitting in front of an a/c unit.

I would rather not have to do medication for this but am wondering if anyone here has had any natural/homeopathic success that I could try out? I am getting desperate. I didn't have this before my dx three years ago but don't think it is MS related because I have had rosacea for several years.

Thanks very much!
Corrie

[essdipity]

Hi, Corrie. This can be really complicated to pin down, and I know you're on Tec, which makes it even more complicated.

For the past several years my cheeks and the sides of my face have been quite pink, much more so than formerly. My ophth. commented on this, calling it rosacea and linking it to dry eyes and 'ocular rosacea,' which I'd never heard of. So I looked it up, of course, and found that it presents with itchy, burning red eyes, which I ONLY get from allergies, so I think he was off base. Still, I do have dry eyes (also nose and mouth) attributed to autoimmune autonomic dysfunction. In my case that's MS, natch.

Anyway, months later I saw a derm for something entirely unrelated, and I asked him about rosacea. He said I do have a very mild case. It's not from heat and I don't flush. It's claimed that diet can be related, but that's so vague and contradictory that to me it's useless.

So, have you seen a derm? That would be my first stop if I were you. I know of no meds that work for this, but people with severe cases use makeup with a greenish tinge which properly applied counteracts the red. Sounds thick and hot to me, so I'll just have to be pink-faced. Mine's pretty mild, though, and hasn't gotten worse. I'm very fair-skinned too.

Which brings us to whether or not rosacea itself is an autoimmune disease. I think that's controversial scientifically, so ???? But if it is, it's not surprising I (and you) have it. I've also had autoimmune hypothyroidism for a great many years.

[Corriel]

Thanks so much everyone!

I have tried a cream that my GP prescribed years ago. Found it kind of irritated my face and made it super sensitive to the sun.

Because I also have hormonal acne the dermatologist I saw couldn't do much at the time (8 years ago) because the best acne treatment was one I was allergic to. I wasn't as concerned about the rosacea at that time.

Fast forward to years of using green primers and heavy foundation (the redness does kind of look like the Lupus butterfly rash but my ANAs were fine 3 years ago when I was having this issue) and now that the redness is spreading to neck/jaw area and chest I have also developed broken capillaries on my cheeks.

I guess I will have to suck it up and see about another derm referral. We only have one in the city so the wait list is long and the newest derm is apparently a witch (so I have heard from 3 different patients of hers).

With that referral they might also be able to pin down my Tec related flushing issues. When that flushing gets bad (2-3 times/week) I get a rash on my arms and red hot blotches on my chest, neck and shoulders.

I used to blush a lot as a kid but not as much as an adult so who knows what is related to what?

Thanks again!

Corrie

[aspen2]

I can offer no ideas to help, but want to post this research I read earlier in the week.

http://multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com/2016/03/24/rosacea-might-be-linked-to-ms-in-women-study-finds/

[suspiciouscombo]

Hi Corriel-

Your post caught my attention as I've had these issues in past. In 2008 I had a terrible bout with raised red patches on my face that lasted for 3 months. They were obvious and covering up with makeup was a challenge. It also felt hot, and tingling.

Saw my GP and he suggested seeing a specialist at the Mayo. A Rheumatologist and Dermatologist. After being tested for Lupus, RA and possible skin disorders, everything returned normal. The Rheumatologist stated that this type of "butterfly" rash is usually common in Lupus but that my tests were negative for any autoimmune disease.

A friend of mine has Rosacea and I remember her using a topical antibiotic medication. After a good cleansing, and use of this topical medication, she notices an improvement, but it returns over time. I believe the medication is called, "metrogel".

Mine eventually subsided but I vividly remember how awful I felt with this raised facial redness for months. A dx was not provided so no remedy could be suggested.

Hope you can find remedy for this to diminish the time span it appears. So sorry you are having this issue.

[tj3762]

Hi Corriel,

I am still undiagnosed with MS as of yet, but 2 years ago after having a cold and then feeling ill, I started with facial flush and autonomic dysfunction of cold and then hot sensations minutes at a time.  It would happen like every 15 minutes and last seconds.

At that time, I went to my Primary Care Physician because I was worried about a secondary autoimmune disease of lupus because of the facial flush.  I also at that time developed some kind of lesions on my abdomen (sores) that would come and go for a period of time.  My PCP did lupus blood work etc., came back normal.

I then went to an endocrinologist and had a lot more blood work, but everything came back normal.  This doctor did say that I had a confluent "butterfly rash" on my face.  This eventually went onto my neck and chest as well.

My PCP did tell me, after I asked him, that you can develop other autoimmune diseases as well, which I already had investigated myself.  I also have been hypothyroid for a number of years prior.

Now, 2 years later, my facial redness has gotten worse, basically staining my skin.  I have to use a concealer to cover it up, which is the only thing that works for me.  It is just embarrassing to have this bright redness on my face to go anywhere.  A social drink or being hot or in warm weather makes it worse.

I did go and see a dermatologist as well, which I did not like because he did not listen to me, and said it was rosacea.  I showed him the lesions on my stomach and he had no explanation.  Just gave me a script for cream.

I am not sure if this is related to MS, but it sure is not coincidental.  It seems for me that there is something new that happens for me every couple of years and this hot flush is "one more thing."

There are some expensive creams out there that you can get from your doc that must block things to keep the redness at bay for a few hours.  Best of luck to you and sorry that you have this as well.