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

[etrelogiquesvp]

I was originally diagnosed with cystic acne by a physician at a military hospital. After taking doxycycline for a couple of months, the pustules did improve a little, but my stomach was killing me. I stopped taking them and became discouraged about going to the doctor again (he didn't even refer me to a dermatologist). A few years later my mother was furious that I hadn't seen a doctor since (being discouraged, and no longer having health insurance). She forced me to see a Derm in my area. He, again, was not very helpful. He "diagnosed" me with rosacea after asking if I had an English/Irish or other heritage (which I do). He then Prescribed a drug with a low dose of doxy which would be less harsh on my stomach (I also have GERD) and gave me no other helpful information aside from "avoid triggers". After a few months of breaking the bank and seeing no results I, again, gave up hope. About 2 years later my mother insisted I see a derm in her area, that she had heard great things about. This derm did not do any tests either, but to be fair, I made the appointment being PRETTY darn confident that I had rosacea. He prescribed Sulfameth and two topical creams, and told me to use eucerin face wash. The first day of treatment I could feel a difference in my skin, and maybe 10 days later all of my pustules and irritation were alleviated.

[jrhampt]

My dermatologist didn't give me any tests, either. I suspected rosacea by the time I got in to see him - it does run in my family - but he just sat me down and asked me a few questions before prescribing metrogel. I have a follow-up appointment in a few weeks - maybe I can ask him some more questions then.

[nat007]

After my dermatologist suggested I might have underlying mastocytosis, I have been doing some research about it. He has given me medication and blood test referrals for it. A friend sent me a blog link from a girl suffering from mastocytosis and facial flushing. Her face looks just like mine and her hands as well.

This is her blog with pictures

http://photographingpots.wordpress.com/tag/mastocytosis/

And here is my blog entry about rosacea versus mastocytosis. Any suggestions are welcome by the way as I am not a pro or medical student so I am missing out on heaps probably

http://scarletnat.blogspot.fr/2013/08/facial-flushing-due-to-mastocytosis-or.html

[nat007]

I made an inventory (or tried to) of most other medical conditions which can cause rosacea-like symptoms, such as facial flushing, burning and redness.
It includes symptom description, images of diseases and comparisons with rosacea symptoms, to hopefully make it easier for rosacea patients -or those suffering from facial flushing- to inform themselves about other illnesses that can cause similar/overlapping symptoms. Hope I didn't make mistakes, if so fee free to say so.

http://scarletnat.blogspot.fr/2014/05/other-conditions-that-cause-facial_29.html

[Sally]

This is a postscript to my ‘heads up’ about Cocamidopropyl Betaine (CAPB) which causes me to have severe contact dermatitis. And I feel has probably been confused with other skin disorders in the past.

I dismissed Cocamide MEA on Cetaphil’s Restoraderm body wash the other day, as it wasn't quite the above offending ingredient, but unfortunately after a small application of this stuff I came out in a ghastly itchy rash that I know will persist for weeks. Luckily I didn’t put it on my face.

I have looked on the internet and cross-referenced the ingredients in any body wash, shampoo, conditioner etc. that has caused me bad irritation in the past, and it seems as though Cocamidopropyl Betaine, or Cocamide MEA, is the common denominator.

It's used as a foaming agent and it's in loads of products!

[Melania]

I've been to dermatologists in three different countries starting when I was 16, and I'm now 41.
When I first started going to them, they didn't know a lot about eczema and dermatitis and the treatment course was antibiotics and cortozone creams. (Not much has changed)
Even then I knew foods and hormones were triggers or the cause of the skin eruptions.

I've had dermatologists tell me it's not rosacea and dermatologists tell me it is. One things for certain out of the more than 30 dermatologists I've seen in my life time, no two have had the same things to say.
However last time I was at one, she did look up patronizing and say, yes we now know hormones can affect eczema...as if her telling me that made a whit of difference to what I have already known.

In the UK, where they have now said it is rosacea, I have had no other tests. The dermatologists I've seen refuse to accept other countries diagnosis of food allergies. They refuse to take into consideration what I'm saying, about my upper eye lid cracking (it's been cracking there my whole life, so much so I've a deep scar) and the bubbling around my eyes, and over my brows.

In the end, I think a they've learnt mo about the what some skin problems are, they seem to have bunched the rest as rosacea. Which appears to me to be a blanket term, covering a huge amount of things.

My daughter who is a nurse, says that Drs aren't taught that the patients themselves know their chronic condition and it's ins and outs better than they would.

[AlenaCena]

This thread is exactly what has me worried. My dermatologist diagnosed Rosacea within seconds without checking anything. Despite the strange occurrence of it following trauma which doesn't seem too common (I was choked unconscious doing martial arts, my face turned red as the blood and facial veins were obviously put in a ton of stress, some redness stayed and got worse) they didn't listen and just said "Oh it happens with age" and I said, "it never occured at all until I got choked out and my face turned red" but they wouldn't listen. Now most of the general Rosacea triggers and even the P/P's don't apply to me, but I'm treating it like it's Rosacea.

[AlenaCena]

This thread is exactly what has me worried. My dermatologist diagnosed Rosacea within seconds without checking anything. Despite the strange occurrence of it following trauma which doesn't seem too common (I was choked unconscious doing martial arts, my face turned red as the blood and facial veins were obviously put in a ton of stress, some redness stayed and got worse) they didn't listen and just said "Oh it happens with age" and I said, "it never occured at all until I got choked out and my face turned red" but they wouldn't listen. Now most of the general Rosacea triggers and even the P/P's don't apply to me, but I'm treating it like it's Rosacea.

Just an update and to show the importance of knowing what you have, I saw a Rosacea specialist with 20 years of treating and research under his belt, and made the appointment saying "Trying to treat Rosacea" as the reason. The second I came in he was confused and wondered where the Rosacea patient was. He looked at me and told me I absolutely do not have Rosacea, he's seen thousands of cases over decades and it's simply not it. And it's not caused by being choked, ever. It was thinned skin due to Steroid Creams, and thankfully, he caught that because the General Practitioner who 'diagnosed' me with Rosacea prescribed steroid cream. The most alarming was that the general practitioner gave me Metrogel which I understand is meant to help Pimples, and I have absolutely zero of those.

[lleae]

My dermatologist looked at me for no more than five seconds before telling me I had rosacea, acne and combination skin.

[kfranke]

My dermatologist checked me for lupus before diagnosing me with rosacea. The test came back negative, and I have been responding well to some rosacea treatments (such as red light therapy and Soolantra) so while I'm pretty sure I actually do have rosacea...it still worries me sometimes, to think there's a possibility that it might be something else.

Certainly everyone's doctor should be checking to make sure there isn't some other underlying condition. It's the responsible thing to do!

[ladycappuccino]

My dermatologist(s) said it is not rosacea, it's SD (I don't think so). Only one examined my face thoroughly and was still dubious about AR. All of them were quite frank, almost harsh: "there's no cure for that, get used to it, take antibiotics or have a laser treatment. Diet won't help. Nothing will help apart from the strict hygiene..." As if I looked or were dirty as a cavemen (cavewoman ) or a beggar. Doctors I encountered have been very depressing. Always in a hurry. 15 minutes of hasty doctor's small talk and then automatic prescriptions and "come back to see me in 3 months".
I am so glad I found this forum!

[spacedkitty]

Oh yes, I was diagnosed the same way. Gave me Rozex metrogel and Tetracycline. Rozex doesn't work and Tetrasyl gave me side effects. Going to another dermatologist on Friday.

The thing is that is not only my face but other symptoms too which is why I've been to blood tests through another doctor, or two, who doesn't know what they're doing because my thyroid levels been coming down. Seeing an endocrinologist in June.

Last time I told the doc that why the reference values even exist if they don't give a **** until it's only under the references. Like people couldn't have symptoms with values close to it.

Oona

Even when its' under or over they dont give a **** in the UK anymore..

[spacedkitty]

I'm seeing my gp next week. I have mild flushing and small visible blood vessels on cheeks and legs. Thought it might be roseaca but reading your stories not so sure now.

Think it could be this which has many causes?

https://www.healthline.com/health/telangiectasia#diagnosis

Not sure if it could be from taking codeine&paracetomal& caffeine painkillers for migraines frequently? Or from steroid inhaler for dustmite allergy. I also came off HRT last October. So perhaps its drug side effects. I also suspect i have SIBO but it could be coeliac disease as i have autoimmune genes.

I'm also pre-meopause i think from symptoms and doc just tested my FSH and was slightly high. Iron was finally normal tho so perhaps not coeliac? I've been taking probiotics.

[Brady Barrows]

Broken Links in this thread

Some of the links in this thread are broken so here are the updated links:

What to ask my physician?

Diagnosing Rosacea

What is involved with diagnosing rosacea?

Can You Get A Diagnosis For Rosacea On The Internet?

Diagnosing Rosacea In Five Minutes Or Less

[Brady Barrows]

My dermatologist(s) said it is not rosacea, it's SD (I don't think so). Only one examined my face thoroughly and was still dubious about AR. All of them were quite frank, almost harsh: "there's no cure for that, get used to it, take antibiotics or have a laser treatment. Diet won't help. Nothing will help apart from the strict hygiene..." As if I looked or were dirty as a cavemen (cavewoman ) or a beggar. Doctors I encountered have been very depressing. Always in a hurry. 15 minutes of hasty doctor's small talk and then automatic prescriptions and "come back to see me in 3 months".
I am so glad I found this forum!

15 minutes is probably more than most are reporting. I started a thread a long time ago about a five minute diagnosis (14 page thread), and many agreed that it was less than five minutes. I wrote an article about this subject as well.