When a red face isn't rosacea is everyones doctor checking?

[Melissa W Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Melissa W]

Flushing hands and feet could be related to Raynauds as well I believe.

[Scully555 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Scully555]

It seems to be pretty well accepted in the medical literature that a diagnosis of rosacea can only be made once a multitude of other conditions are first ruled out. My doctor did but i wondering if everyones doctor or derm are ruling these things out to? Especially for people for who redness and flushing are the key symptoms (rather than P&P).

I remember back when i first started getting flushing that the only thing that came up on the internet for flushing was rosacea, but have since found out there are many many things which can look like rosacea, so thought i'd put it out there.


http://rosacea.ii.net/news/2006/08/r...t-rosacea.html

Most of these are unlikely or rare but there are also some pretty common conditons that can cause flushing or make it worse, such as allergies, food intolerances, thyroid issues, oestrogen imbalance (for women), lactose intolerance, fructose intolerance and coeliac disease.

Of course all of the above generally cause other symptoms aside from flushing or redness, most commonly GI issues, but some of these can be symptom less, like Coeliac disease, which is why only about 1 in 1000 people are diagnosised with it despite approx 1 in 100 having it. And the fact that lot's of rosacea say they improve when cutting out wheat or dairy products makes me wonder if some of us also have other things going on, aside from rosacea.

Anyway most of these are simple blood tests, so is everyone getting checked out for these things?

[Scully555 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Scully555]

When I went to the dermatologist with a thought "I believe I have rosacea" then she officially diagnosed me just by me having red cheeks and at least 3 common rosacea triggers.

Although I really believe it is rosacea that I have, there's a chance I have (also) something else..

Hi, I was diagnosed with Rosacea many years ago and lived with it for a long time believing my doctor even though he did nothing other than ask me a few questions and peek at my skin from 4 feet away. No blood tests, nothing like that. I was in and out of his office in less then three minutes. It took him longer to write up the prescriptions than it did to discuss the symptoms with me. I had previously been diagnosed with having a rash from shaving but when a years worth of treatment for that failed I consulted another doctor as I was a little suspicious of his diagnosis since I had the rash all over my forehead as well as large areas of my cheeks. After a years worth of expensive treatments for rosacea I learned from a coworker that some soaps and shampoos can cause long term rashes. After learning this, I went home and read all the labels on my soap packaging and on my shampoo bottle. It turns out that I was using a medicated dandruff shampoo that was not intended for daily use. I was using it every day and sometimes twice a day. It was only supposed to be used two or three times a week when dandruff was visible and only monthly if no dandruff was visible as a preventative measure.and the disclaimer on the label specifically warned of the possibility of a rash occuring and expressed the need to stop using the product immediately if a rash did appear and to consult a doctor if the rash persisted. I should have consulted that label before I consulted two or three dermatologist as well as my general practitioner. The rash went away 100% within two weeks and never came back or at least has not reappeared for 15 years. I lived with it for at least three or four years. I highly recommend that all of you who have been diagnosed with Rosacea but have not been tested for it check your hair care and skin care products as well as consult a good doctor.

[Melissa W Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Melissa W]

Hi Scully welcome to the RF and thanks for sharing your story. I agree that it is very important to get a proper diagnosis as that is the first step towards proper treatment. I am glad you are doing well and thanks again for informing us of your experience.

Best wishes,
Melissa

[Scully555 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Scully555]

This is what I'm dealing with right now. When my first derm diagnosed me with Rosacea 4 years ago, it was at first sight with no testing. My grandmother had Lupus pretty severe, and though I was tested for that 2 1/2 years ago (which came back negative), something else could be very much at work. The derm I saw a couple of weeks ago questions if I do have Rosacea since he was concerned about how sharply my redness cuts off. There are very defined borders on my neck. Also, my level of photosensitivity to fluoro lights concerned him, (he watched me turn 20 shades of red right in front of his eyes). Another thing that's been happening over the past few months is red, blotchy rashes under my eyes. They have a bit of a sting and scaliness to them. IN FACT, just yesterday I laughed so hard about something that I cried. The result of the tears were nasty rashes appearing immediately under each eye, which is still somewhat there today. If this is auto immune, or allergy related, I've been eating asprin like candy and taking antihistamines daily. I'm noticing some relief in color and other issues because of it.

I see a new 'special' derm on June 15. Hopefully, this will be a start to determine what it is I actually have.

I had very similar rashes that I lived with for many years that were so severe I stopped going out with friends on the weekends and avoided social contact with anyone but my closest friends because I was tired of the "What's wrong with your face?" comments and having people say EEEEEEIIIIIIIIIWWWWW. After years of misdiagnosis from two or three "specialists" I finally did what a coworker suggested. I read all the labels on my bath soap packaging and on my hair care products. It turns out I was using a heavily medicated dandruff shampoo loaded with "tar" that was only supposed to be used a few times a week when dandruff appeared and once or twice a month when dandruff was not visible, as a preventative measure. I was using it daily and sometimes twice a day for years. When I stopped using the shampoo, my face cleared up 100% within a few weeks and never came back. So, either 3 or 4 years of expensive creams and prescription drugs with little to no affect all of a sudden kicked in on one particular two week period for no apparent reason, or, my shampoo was loaded with a chemical additive that introduced way too much heavey tar into my skin that the skin could not handle causing flush, swolen and very irritated blotchy areas on my face, neck and forehead. I highly recommend that if your only simptoms are a red face with a bulbous nose and big lumpy chunks of swolen skin mass on your face or neck that you pleeeeaaasssse, read all the labels and accompanying warning disclaimers on everything that comes in contact with your face and hands, including clothing labels, dishwashing soap, bath soap, hair care products laundry soap, everything that you use on a daily or otherwise regular basis that comes in contact with your skin unless you have properly been diagnosed with anything at all through the proper and comprehensive testing from a very competent doctor. Without proper testing please do not assume that your doctor has made the correct diagnosis. My doctor looked at my skin from 4 feet away and asked me three questions. How long have you had this rash? Is the rash more severe in the sun? Does it get worse when you drink pop or alchohol? Yes, Yes and Yes. Boom, you have Rosacea. Please proceed to the pharmacist and pay the nice man there and we will see you in three months for some new and improved (and more expensive) treatment. Sorry if I sound bitter but I have no idea what I have (had) but it took several years out of my social life and yes, I am pissed that my so called specialist did not take the time to do any tests of any kind whatsoever.

[Auburn Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Auburn]

Hi Scully ,

Thanks for posting that, it's very helpful. You know, I've always inspected food labels but only this year did I start to check the labels of household products/toiletries.

You have all the right to feel that way, I would too! Many dermatologists should not be allowed to practice.

Take care.

[snivi Member Find all posts View Profile Close snivi]

A link to some of my thoughts on the subject as well

http://rosaceagroup.org/The_Rosacea_...818#post222818

[Mogge Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mogge]

Hi,

I found this to be very interesting, so thanks for bringing this topic up again Melissa... I'm going to the university derm center but my insurance will not cover it, so I would like to go to my regular doctor and get some testing done as opposed to at the derm. What kind of testing is suggested?? I would like to rule out any of these diseases or anything else that might be causing this awful flushing and redness, so can someone please provide a list of what should be tested for, deficiencies etc.and also diseases?? Thankyou!!

Something I notice also, I flush in my feet. What is that?? Lol! Really though, when I'm outside in the sun or the heat, or even if no heat and I'm walking or doing some kind of vigorous exercise, my feet will turn really red and flush, at first I thought, oh no it's sunburn, but my feet have never burned at all like that, and afterwards they always go back to white again. Is that a normal rosacea sign? Any thoughts? Thanks!

Bluesky

i have the same, but not just my feet. My face, back of the hands and top of my chest also gets really red. At first i thought of Lupus but since im a caucasian man in my 20's its highly unlikely. Does yours feel like "pulsating" or "throbbing" when they get really red? feels like some sort of swelling

[meg Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close meg]

i have the same, but not just my feet. My face, back of the hands and top of my chest also gets really red. At first i thought of Lupus but since im a caucasian man in my 20's its highly unlikely. Does yours feel like "pulsating" or "throbbing" when they get really red? feels like some sort of swelling

That may be Erythromelalgia (EM) - look at www.erythromelalgia.org. It's usually hands and feet, but faces can be involved too.

Meg

[Mogge Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mogge]

That may be Erythromelalgia (EM) - look at erythromelalgia.org. It's usually hands and feet, but faces can be involved too.

Meg

EM is rare though (about 1 in 100.000) which makes even Lupus Erythematosus more likely. My hands and feet tend to "flare" when im drinking alcohol,shower in warm water or even by wearing a long-sleeved sweater indoors so it kind of fits with EM but it seems unlikely to have such a rare disease

[meg Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close meg]

EM is not as rare as once thought, although it is considered a rare disease according to NORD. With that said, I have never heard of hands or feet involvement when it comes to Lupus, although I may be wrong. It you have flushed extremities that turn red and burn, then it qualifies as EM. You can have varying underlying causes and it's still considered EM if you have these combined symptoms.

Meg

[Mogge Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mogge]

EM is not as rare as once thought, although it is considered a rare disease according to NORD. With that said, I have never heard of hands or feet involvement when it comes to Lupus, although I may be wrong. It you have flushed extremities that turn red and burn, then it qualifies as EM. You can have varying underlying causes and it's still considered EM if you have these combined symptoms.

Meg

The most common rash in lupus is the butterfly on the face. Rash on the back of the hands and on the V-neck area are sometimes presented as well. But that is usually efter being exposed to UV-light. It could be EM but even if its more common than 1 in 100.000 the chance is still pretty slim. Something like Histaminosis (histamine intolerance) would be more likely. Anyway i think im going to get a new appointment with my dermatologist and show her all the rashes and not just the one on my face

[RosaceaMakesMeSad Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RosaceaMakesMeSad]

how can i create my own post?

could somone please tell me how to create my own post please, im sorry im replying to yours but this is the first one iv seen. need help

[Brady Barrows Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Brady Barrows]

replying to a post or thread

could somone please tell me how to create my own post please, im sorry im replying to yours but this is the first one iv seen. need help

At the bottom of each post on the right is 'reply with quote' and if you simply want to add something to the thread you look for the the button at the very last post on the page +REPLY TO THREAD on the left side. This same button, +REPLY TO THREAD is also to the left at the top of each thread.

Here is some helpful info.

[shantelle Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close shantelle]

Hi all

In regards to the above posts...

Yes, Lupus is not as common in males as it is in females (Ratio Females 9:1 Males). Lupus can present itself in may different forms, and symptoms (all inflammatory) often masquerade as other diseases or health issues. The butterfly rash is not seen in every Lupus patient, but if it does appear it can certainly masquerade itself as Rosacea (Type 1). Inflammatory hand and and feet symptoms are common symptoms of lupus, particular if the person has systemic lupus, or Raynards (Raynards is often seen in patients with autoimmune disease) or chronic cutenous lupus affecting the hands or feet (lupus chillblains/ lupus pernio). If anyone thinks that they might have lupus they should see their GP for a referall to a Rheumatologist (multiple inflammatory symptoms) or Dermatologist (symptoms all skin related). Lupus symptoms information:
http://www.dermnet.org.nz/immune/cutaneous-lupus.html
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/weba...268&zoneid=526
http://www.hopkinslupus.org/lupus-info/