Its a beautiful day. Something felt just a tiny bit magical. Today, after 2 months of self diagnosis and my docs rather half hearted diagnosis, i was heading to a dermatologist. Finally some answers. Well, just got back from the dermatologist...
My face isn't that bad today, luckily I had taken some pictures of my flares to show him. The conversation went something like this...
Dermatologist: 'I see...does it get scaly?'
Me: 'No. Oh and i also have MGD and blephitits which is how all this started. I was outside on the swing seat in summer and came in and I had a red patch on my cheek. I thought it was sunburn, but it never went away and only got worse' I said.*
Dermatologist: 'Does it itch?'*
Me: 'No, but it does burn a lot and*I also blush a lot more then I used to and that's when it flares'*
Dermatologist: 'Hmm' he says... 'I think it's Seborrheic Dermatitits, but it could be rosacea, but I doubt it and you seriously wouldn't want that'
Me: 'Right, what about the flushing and flaring? I didn't think that was a symptom of Seborrheic Dermatitis, nor the burning' I said
Dermatologist: He shrugs 'do you flush to alcohol?'
Me: 'No, luckily I don't. But I do flush to embarrassment, excercise, cold weather, hot baths, spicy foods, stress and my skin has become very sensitive to face wash. I never used to flush to these things like this'
Dermatologist: 'I'm going to prescribe you a steroid cream, apply it...'
Me: 'I don't want to use steroid cream'
Demontologist: 'And why is that?'
Me: 'Because it may work in the short term, but if it is rosacea, then it could make it worse' I said
Demontologist: 'You shouldn't believe eveything you read. But if it does get worse, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it'
Me: 'I really don't want to risk it' i said, worried now 'maybe another treatment is available?'
Demontologist: 'This is hydrocortisone. It's the most mild of all steroids. I'm not giving you a strong one. It won't thin your skin. Apply it when your skin flares'
Me: 'With all due respect' thinking not much was due at this point 'it might also be*Keratosis pilaris rubra atrophicans faciei' I said pronouncing it completely wrong 'I hadn't even thought of it unit I saw someone on a forum had been mis-diagnosed with rosacea and was that. Apparently a white patch in the middle is typical of how it manifests on the face. That's what I have in the middle of mine. Plus, also flushing and blushing. That and rosacea seem quite similar'
Demontologist: 'It's not that. That is a horrible condition and you don't want that. Try the hydrocortisone cream and in two days it'll be gone'
Me: 'With respect, I won't use it even if you prescribe it to me'
Demontologist: 'Well what's the point of coming to see a dermatologist then?'
Me: 'So I can get am accurate diagnosis'
Demontologist: 'No one can give you an accurate diagnosis'*
Me: 'Well, there has been some research and apparently you can test for*Glycomics Analyses of Tear Fluid in the tear film'
Dermatologist: 'Well' (laughing) 'I'm not an *Optometrist, so I cannot help'
Me: 'I just thought as the skin and eye conditions are so closely related, you might be able to test rather then giving me something that might make it better or worse as you cannot give an accurate diagnosis'
Demontologist: Try the steroid cream or if you prefer I don't have to prescribe you anything'
Raised eyebrows followed and a sustained period of uncomfortable silence while he wrote out the paperwork...
So I am no further forward...I still don't really know what it is I'm dealing with... Rosacea, SD, KP. All? Some? One? Something else entirely?*
Is it a good idea to try the steroid cream? Maybe he is right?
Maybe I should posts some pics on here and get some opinions.