Extreme Sensitivity - anyone have success fighting this?

[24andred]

Hello Everyone,

I am really trying to focus on easing the extreme sensitivity of my skin. From the moment I wake up I can feel stinging across my forehead, cheeks, ears and nose. I have general redness on forehead, cheeks, chin and nose as well as enlarged pores and oily skin on these areas. I flush when I get upset, eat hot foods, exercise, etc. Your general rosacea. The main issue I have is the sensitivity that causes stinging and burning in all the aforementioned areas. I have stopped using a cleanser and moisturizer (only take oracea) because anything I use on my face causes stinging and redness. I have tried almost all topicals (for short periods and quickly gave up due to the extra stinging and redness). Does anyone have any advice to cut down on the stinging. Is this due to my lack of moisturizer? Should I push through the stinging and redness in hopes that it eventually improves my skin and sensitivity? I have all moisturizers that I would expect people on here to mention as I have spent tons of time going through this forum.

[laser_cat]

Hello Everyone,

I am really trying to focus on easing the extreme sensitivity of my skin. From the moment I wake up I can feel stinging across my forehead, cheeks, ears and nose. I have general redness on forehead, cheeks, chin and nose as well as enlarged pores and oily skin on these areas. I flush when I get upset, eat hot foods, exercise, etc. Your general rosacea. The main issue I have is the sensitivity that causes stinging and burning in all the aforementioned areas. I have stopped using a cleanser and moisturizer (only take oracea) because anything I use on my face causes stinging and redness. I have tried almost all topicals (for short periods and quickly gave up due to the extra stinging and redness). Does anyone have any advice to cut down on the stinging. Is this due to my lack of moisturizer? Should I push through the stinging and redness in hopes that it eventually improves my skin and sensitivity? I have all moisturizers that I would expect people on here to mention as I have spent tons of time going through this forum.

Hi I think there are lots of things to try. Have you tried before:

tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, doxepin, etc can help with pain)
lyrica (really cut down the pain for me, but it is sedating)
gabapentin
SSRI's
mexiletine (works via sodium channels ... minimal side effects for me)
NSAID's (if I take an excedrin I can actually feel normal for a few hours)

I wouldn't think any topical (even lidocaine for me caused more trouble than it was worth!) / moisturizer would be able to help with this ... but I could be wrong. I also don't think the oracea would be able to help with the stinging.

I know it sucks

[Brady Barrows]

Have you tried the ZOSSO (aka, ZZ cream)? It has a menthol ingredient that cools my skin when I have the stinging on my forehead. It also contains zinc and sublimed sulphur. If you type in ZZ cream in the top right search box you will get loads of results discussing it. Here is just one of so many.

[24andred]

Hi I think there are lots of things to try. Have you tried before:

tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, doxepin, etc can help with pain)
lyrica (really cut down the pain for me, but it is sedating)
gabapentin
SSRI's
mexiletine (works via sodium channels ... minimal side effects for me)
NSAID's (if I take an excedrin I can actually feel normal for a few hours)

I wouldn't think any topical (even lidocaine for me caused more trouble than it was worth!) / moisturizer would be able to help with this ... but I could be wrong. I also don't think the oracea would be able to help with the stinging.

I know it sucks

Thanks for the responses,

I forgot to mention that I also have ocular rosacea and depression. Having the ocular really limits me from taking a lot of the medications you have mentioned considering they are very drying to the eye. I have tried SSRI's and found them drying, worsened my rosacea (lots of bumps when I do not usually have them), and really messed with my eyes. I found the same thing with tricyclics and the lyrics/gabapentin. I have never heard of the mexiletine so will look into that.

Brady,
I have not tried the ZZ but have tried other items with sulfur and menthol (separately). My face hates those ingredients. It is hard enough for it to not go nuts over filtered water let alone that stuff. I just feel it is so sensitive and that is why I am wondering if there would be benefit to letting something sting and make me red for a bit and hope that the benefits eventually outweigh the negatives.

[Nobrakes]

Have you tried a urea cream? It's been a revelation for me. I don't want to speak too soon as it's only been a week but the difference it's made in that short time with redness, oiliness and sensitivity is astonishing. Try and get something with a reasonably high percentage of urea. I started off with a cream that had 10% urea and 5% lactic acid, but felt the lactic acid was slightly irritating so have switched to a gel-cream that's 30%.

[24andred]

Have you tried a urea cream? It's been a revelation for me. I don't want to speak too soon as it's only been a week but the difference it's made in that short time with redness, oiliness and sensitivity is astonishing. Try and get something with a reasonably high percentage of urea. I started off with a cream that had 10% urea and 5% lactic acid, but felt the lactic acid was slightly irritating so have switched to a gel-cream that's 30%.

I have not tried Urea but it seems like it may be rough on sensitive skin? Do you have trouble with all cosmetics like I do?

[Bluedog]

Hi there,

I got to the point where I could not even tolerate tap water on my face and we have very soft water here on the West Coast.
I only use distilled water and Dead Sea salts as a wash once per day.
The minerals in the Dead Sea salts are naturally very hydrating, strengthening the function of the skin barrier.
I have found it extremely calming to my skin and it has softened it over months I have been using it.
I let my skin naturally moisturize itself.
At first, it was a bit dry, then it balanced out and moisturizes itself.
I do not put anything else on my face cosmetics or sunscreen - wise, just use physical protection.

Best to you,
Bluedog

[Nobrakes]

I have not tried Urea but it seems like it may be rough on sensitive skin? Do you have trouble with all cosmetics like I do?

I was worried about trying it too as I'd heard some people had a stinging reaction to it but I felt like I'd tried everything else. Yes I had a lot of trouble with cosmetics. Even just touching my face or getting water on it would send it into overdrive, instant redness and flushing. It is early days yet but so far my skin feels more resilient and less on the edge of flushing. Redness is down heaps, texture is far better and the weird combo of dehydrated skin with excessive oil on top is gone.

[24andred]

Thanks for all of the responses. No brakes, I private messaged you about the 30% Urea cream you use. I think I will give it I go once I know which one and see if it works for my skin. If that doesn't work I will give the sea salts a try.