Soolantra

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Originally Posted by Brady Barrows

Congratulations MissM on your success. It was reports like yours that made me try Soolantra. I still use it occasionally (maybe twice a month) but use the ZZ cream every week since I found the Soolantra too strong for me. Different strokes for different folks.

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Thank you, Brady! I am also very interested in trying the ZZ cream for dry skin when it comes out! I just want to know what the ingredients are before I try it...so hopefully it will be available soon. :)

M.

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Originally Posted by MissM

Thank you, Brady! I am also very interested in trying the ZZ cream for dry skin when it comes out! I just want to know what the ingredients are before I try it...so hopefully it will be available soon. :)

M.

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My recommendation is to try the sample which is free.

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Originally Posted by Brady Barrows

My recommendation is to try the sample which is free.

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I think I will hold off until I can see the ingredients first. My skin has been so sensitive to certain ingredients in the past, that I don't want to rock the boat! Thank you for the encouragement though.

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Originally Posted by MissM

Hi Everyone!

I have made it to the 3 month mark of Soolantra usage. From my experience, I encourage anyone to try Soolantra who is thinking about it! It has been the most beneficial treatment I have used and my symptoms are 90% reduced. I know now that my rosacea was primarily demodex related and as soon as I wiped those buggers out, my symptoms disappeared.

I no longer have issues with:
- pustules....after 2 weeks of application, they were gone for good!
- scaling, dryness, and irritated skin
- burning, stinging has gone too!
- my skin is pale and does not react to triggers like it used to

What I am still dealing with
- flushing occasionally to extreme temperature changes (although this has reduced greatly too and continues to improve), intense cardio exercise, or when embarrassed/stressed. I never flush without these triggers now...no more random flushes. I can take hot showers, eat spicy foods, even dark chocolate (which I love to indulge in on occasion)! Caffeine still makes me warm (if I decide to drink a Kombucha or green tea), but I don't flush, just kind of a warm feeling in my face if that makes sense. It's all very strange that my flushing/blushing could have been related to demodex infestation. I don't drink alcohol anymore, so I can't report back on that...but I assume that it would make me go red. I always flushed to red wine in the past.

-broken caps on my upper cheeks that developed during the last year tend to be more reactive since they are on the surface of my skin. I am looking into Excel V to address this issue. I will keep everyone posted on this!

What I have learned
-to properly cleanse and hydrate my skin. I went through a time period where I didn't cleanse my face (water only) and/or only used oils on my skin...I believe this greatly contributed to the demodex proliferation on my skin because these mites love sebum and dead skin as nourishment. Here is my current routine: I use a natural zinc sunscreen (Burn Out sensitive skin and Colorscience SPF powder) during the day and then in the evening I use coconut oil to remove, then I cleanse thoroughly with Vanicream gentle cleanser and then apply Soolantra. My skin barrier has improved so much! My skin is healthy, smooth, hydrated and less reactive overall.

I am forever grateful to Soolantra and that I was able to eradicate those little mites causing me so much grief and pain! I plan to finish up my current tube of Soolantra with daily application, then taper down to 2x/week for a maintenance dose.

I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any questions!
M.

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Thanks for sharing and for all the encouragement. I'm right behind you on week 9!
Please keep revisiting and keep us updated.
I have a feeling that once ppl feel sorted on this forum they never return....I get it life goes on.... but it really helps/supports us when ppl check in. I'm really interested to hear from ppl who've moved on after 3 months of soolantra & whether or not there are any consequences to the treatment or coming off it. Does maintenance help & how often ? Was there a back lash of symptoms? etc

So pleased you found some relief.
My story is so similar to yours.....I washed my face literally once in a blue moon over 20 years. Just splashed with water & used natural moisterier at night and in the last 2 years, a natural oil serum at night. Almost exact conditions you spoke of for demodex overpopulation. I'm curious you still use coconut oil. I stopped this 9 months ago when i originally thought my symptoms were due to yeast/seb derm. I havent taken it up again as have also read that all natural oils feed demodex. Whats your take on this?

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Originally Posted by Elmo

Thanks for sharing and for all the encouragement. I'm right behind you on week 9!
Please keep revisiting and keep us updated.
I have a feeling that once ppl feel sorted on this forum they never return....I get it life goes on.... but it really helps/supports us when ppl check in. I'm really interested to hear from ppl who've moved on after 3 months of soolantra & whether or not there are any consequences to the treatment or coming off it. Does maintenance help & how often ? Was there a back lash of symptoms? etc

So pleased you found some relief.
My story is so similar to yours.....I washed my face literally once in a blue moon over 20 years. Just splashed with water & used natural moisterier at night and in the last 2 years, a natural oil serum at night. Almost exact conditions you spoke of for demodex overpopulation. I'm curious you still use coconut oil. I stopped this 9 months ago when i originally thought my symptoms were due to yeast/seb derm. I havent taken it up again as have also read that all natural oils feed demodex. Whats your take on this?

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Hi Elmo!

Thanks so much for your kind words. Yes, I will be sticking around. :) Even though my demodex population and most of my symptoms are under control, I still count myself has having rosacea and want to stay connected with others with this condition!

I use coconut oil only to remove my zinc based sunscreen, I do not leave it on my face at all. I use a small amount and rub it between my hands to warm it up and turn it into liquid, then lightly rub it into my face, then I wash thoroughly with my Vanicream cleanser. If I don't do this step, I still have a white film on my face which is the zinc oxide from the sunscreen. Fortunately, the Vanicream cleanser removes the coconut oil and my face is clean and fresh afterward. I will no longer use oils as a moisturizer on my face ever again after this experience because, like you, I believe they can be nourishment for demodex. Right now, I am using Soolantra as my "moisturizer" post washing my face. My face has tolerated La-Roche Posay Toleraine moisturizer as well, so I will be using that in the future (it does have squalane in it, but it's really light and I'm hoping it won't be an issue) when I start using Soolantra twice/week for maintanence.

xx,
M.

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Originally Posted by MissM

Hi Everyone!

I have made it to the 3 month mark of Soolantra usage. From my experience, I encourage anyone to try Soolantra who is thinking about it! It has been the most beneficial treatment I have used and my symptoms are 90% reduced. I know now that my rosacea was primarily demodex related and as soon as I wiped those buggers out, my symptoms disappeared.

I no longer have issues with:
- pustules....after 2 weeks of application, they were gone for good!
- scaling, dryness, and irritated skin
- burning, stinging has gone too!
- my skin is pale and does not react to triggers like it used to

What I am still dealing with
- flushing occasionally to extreme temperature changes (although this has reduced greatly too and continues to improve), intense cardio exercise, or when embarrassed/stressed. I never flush without these triggers now...no more random flushes. I can take hot showers, eat spicy foods, even dark chocolate (which I love to indulge in on occasion)! Caffeine still makes me warm (if I decide to drink a Kombucha or green tea), but I don't flush, just kind of a warm feeling in my face if that makes sense. It's all very strange that my flushing/blushing could have been related to demodex infestation. I don't drink alcohol anymore, so I can't report back on that...but I assume that it would make me go red. I always flushed to red wine in the past.

-broken caps on my upper cheeks that developed during the last year tend to be more reactive since they are on the surface of my skin. I am looking into Excel V to address this issue. I will keep everyone posted on this!

What I have learned
-to properly cleanse and hydrate my skin. I went through a time period where I didn't cleanse my face (water only) and/or only used oils on my skin...I believe this greatly contributed to the demodex proliferation on my skin because these mites love sebum and dead skin as nourishment. Here is my current routine: I use a natural zinc sunscreen (Burn Out sensitive skin and Colorscience SPF powder) during the day and then in the evening I use coconut oil to remove, then I cleanse thoroughly with Vanicream gentle cleanser and then apply Soolantra. My skin barrier has improved so much! My skin is healthy, smooth, hydrated and less reactive overall.

I am forever grateful to Soolantra and that I was able to eradicate those little mites causing me so much grief and pain! I plan to finish up my current tube of Soolantra with daily application, then taper down to 2x/week for a maintenance dose.

I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any questions!
M.

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Amazing, well done! Thank you for all your updates and dedication to the forum.

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Originally Posted by RedRecluse

Amazing, well done! Thank you for all your updates and dedication to the forum.

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Thank you, RR! :)

Congratulations on your continued success MissM! Your experience with Soolantra definitely gives me hope and a kick in the pants to give it a fair shot.

Before you started Soolantra would you say you were more subtype 1 or 2? I know you've mentioned it's helped with your flushing and I'm curious how bad you'd say your flushing/blushing was prior? Did you find it helped with the blushing? (I'm using blush to mean the warm transitory, full-face redness that one gets out of embarrassment, momentary physical strain, excitement, any extreme emotion, anxiety, or, in my case, most social situations and even vaguely alarming thoughts! Although sometimes it happens to me without provocation while just sitting alone. And flushing to mean the pattern of burning redness that crops up on your face for seemingly no reason sometimes and stays for a while...the one that requires fans, ice packs, etc. I haven't really identified any myself besides heat and prolonged exercise, but I'm assuming when people talk about "triggers" that flushing is the end result. Hope I'm using these terms correctly.)

I'm definitely mostly subtype 1 and am hoping against all hope that Soolantra will help me in some way. I could see how controlling demodex (if that's even my problem) might help with the flushes, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around how it would help with the blushing. Blushing seems, to me at least, more connected to vascular stuff and an overactive sympathetic nervous system and/or weak capillaries. Curious to see what you think (and any one else who wants to chime in)! Thank you!

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Originally Posted by Crimson

Congratulations on your continued success MissM! Your experience with Soolantra definitely gives me hope and a kick in the pants to give it a fair shot.

Before you started Soolantra would you say you were more subtype 1 or 2? I know you've mentioned it's helped with your flushing and I'm curious how bad you'd say your flushing/blushing was prior? Did you find it helped with the blushing? (I'm using blush to mean the warm transitory, full-face redness that one gets out of embarrassment, momentary physical strain, excitement, any extreme emotion, anxiety, or, in my case, most social situations and even vaguely alarming thoughts! Although sometimes it happens to me without provocation while just sitting alone. And flushing to mean the pattern of burning redness that crops up on your face for seemingly no reason sometimes and stays for a while...the one that requires fans, ice packs, etc. I haven't really identified any myself besides heat and prolonged exercise, but I'm assuming when people talk about "triggers" that flushing is the end result. Hope I'm using these terms correctly.)

I'm definitely mostly subtype 1 and am hoping against all hope that Soolantra will help me in some way. I could see how controlling demodex (if that's even my problem) might help with the flushes, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around how it would help with the blushing. Blushing seems, to me at least, more connected to vascular stuff and an overactive sympathetic nervous system and/or weak capillaries. Curious to see what you think (and any one else who wants to chime in)! Thank you!

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Hi Crimson,

I would say I'm mostly subtype 1--I have always been a flusher since I was young, mostly to alcohol, temperature changes, physical exertion, and emotions. About a year and a half ago, I started to break out in pustules after being exposed to heat/sun. I noticed then that my skin became irritated easily, and was VERY sensitive. All the normal things I could use on my skin before would sting upon application. I would have these burning type blushes that would come out of nowhere, especially when I would be sitting at the computer for a long time, or concentrating, or eating warm foods, etc. Also, after these burning blushes, I would breakout into tiny pustules. My blushing/flushing progressed to nightly flushes, flushing whenever I would lay down, or if I slept on one side of my face, I would wake up with that cheek burning.

Back in February, my therapist encouraged me to try a SSRI---I was VERY depressed, anxious, lost a bunch of weight due to food restrictions (I was trying everything--anti-histamine restrictions, low carb, no grain, etc...trying to figure out if this all was food related), I couldn't sleep....this disease really jacked me up for awhile. I chose to go on Remeron (mirtazapine) due to some success in reduced flushing I read about in forum members here. Within about 4-5 months, my flushing was probably about 60% decreased. No more nightly flushes or burning when I laid down.

Soolantra really pushed me over the finish line. I did not expect it to help me the way it did with my blushing/flushing. I have had only one hardcore burning flush since I've started treatment and that was due to an extreme temperature change. I was in really cold, windy weather and I came in from that and took a hot shower. I flared all night...so it was a not so nice reminder to be careful with temperature extremes. Since I started Soolantra, I do not have issues with the burning blushing anymore (it took about 6 weeks for the burning to totally go away). I only flush now to the things I used to flush to before this dreaded disease took over. It has really been a miracle for me. I have no idea how Soolantra has helped in this way...was it the demodex that caused the irritation? Is Ivermectin and anti-inflammatory (there has been some research indicating yes)?

I definitely think it's worth a try...the worst thing is that it doesn't work, you know?

I hope this is helpful!
M.

Thank you so, so much for your reply MissM. It was indeed very helpful to me. I find writing and reading on this forum in and of itself to be very cathartic, as most people in my life not only don't understand what I'm going through, but seem to have some sort of block/resistance towards discussing it with me for whatever reason.

I can relate to a lot of what you've written: I've also been dealing with this since childhood and am suffering greatly psychologically from it...I have even had to train myself to sleep on my back as well! It really sucks to have to alter the most mundane, basic and comforting of needs just in order to not suffer. When you're flushing/blushing, it feels like you're reduced to red, burning, horrible skin and all you can think about it is making it stop or hiding away. It is really a values changer in some ways and can change you as a person.

I know I will definitely try Soolantra soon. I have a tube sitting in my drawer, waiting for the night where I muster up the courage to actually go through with a full face application. I've been all worked up about it for a few reasons but I need to just go for it (and keep my fingers crossed for demodex or whatever anti-inflammatory properties it may have!) Lately I have been daydreaming of an anti-flushing medication, especially an SSRI, and the mental and physical relief it could potentially give me in many aspects of my life. I just don't know where to start or which one to try and am really worried about all the potential side effects of any given one. The never ending quest to try to put all these puzzle pieces in order is exhausting!

Again, thanks so much and thanks for giving us all a little hope! I hope I will have more positive things to add to this thread in the coming weeks.