Rosacea flare-up, anyone else experiencing this?

I stopped using soap years ago because it caused so much itching and dry skin. I gave up using a face cloth when I was a kid. Also I use a bath towel only once. I suspect if you're not careful they can carry all sorts of bugs and you definitely don't need that. I use aquaeous cream that comes in a huge tub and use it all over. It's better than some of the soap substitutes because they can still cause some dryness and itching. I had rosacea some years back and I must say alcohol set it off. But when I cut out the alcohol, topically applied Rozex was brilliant. It has to be used sparingly and to the problematic areas but one can slowly see terrific improvement. It is prescription only here in New Zealand.

I was diagnosed with Rosacea more than 10 years ago. The red bumps do not occur anymore so I don't have to go on antibiotics (which was terrible). Now like other posters have mentioned I have the tiny blood vessels on my cheeks and nose.

I finally decided to do something about it because I was self conscious and was getting sick of pancaking my face with foundation and concealer. I went to a reputable laser physician and he perfomed a treatment on my face. Well oh well....my recovery was supposed to be a couple of days. No one warned me what might happen if you have a reaction. Well my husband was out of town and I woke up the next morning realizing I couldn't see. My face swelled up so much it shut my eyes. My doc wanted to see me that day but I couldn't drive and no one else could either. It was terrifying and the swelling, pain, and redness went on for 2 weeks during which time I was put on steroids. Of course, I looked like a monster so I would not go anywhere unless it was to the doctor's office.

Needless to say, just be well informed that not all people's skin reacts so easily with the laser treatments. Being that people with rosacea tend to have sensitive skin to begin with I would think it would be more likely that we would suffer some bad side effects. I just wish I would have known. Since that time, more have come back so I will just have to go back to the heavy make-up.

I had a similar experience with a different treatment that uses pulses of fluorescent light. It worked great on my rosacea, but on the third treatment, I had a bad reaction to the topical anesthetic that the doctor uses before he can do the treatment. I had to have a course of prednisone to get over that, and I don't dare try that treatment again. I use a special makeup mixed by a cosmetologist in my area, and it keeps things pretty well covered. It's a bit of a pain, but it could always be worse. I did not notice any particular flare of problems after my surgery.

I finally figured out that the cause of my face swelling is a severe outbreak of rosacea. I was diagnosed 3 years ago and used Metrogel, but since OCT, it hasnt helped but I didnt know it was rosacea that was causing the sweling and neither did my doctor. I have been tested for everything under the sun and came back neg. Went to dermatologist yesterday and she said it is a severe outbreak from hormone changes. She started me on Minocyline. I sure hope it helps cause I am tired of being miserable. It has affected my eyesight and my balance. The funny thing is, no acne, just redness and swelling. I guess thats why I didnt think about it being rosacea. I wish I had know 7 months ago cause now its been going on a long time and it might be a while before it goes into remission. The doctor said at least 3 weeks. I hope I didnt do permanent damage. I hope I dont have to be on antibiotics for the rest of my life. I didnt want to take them now but Im so miserable, I have no choice.

All these treatments sound a right pain; seeming to cause as many problems as they are meant to help!
My success at clearing rosacea was to some extent an accident. I stopped using soap which had caused skin problems a good part of my life but also it happened that a year after giving up alcohol I had my diagnosis for breast cancer. My treatments included Tamoxifen.
Well as many of you might be aware one has to avoid direct sunlight as much as possible. So one becomes a little wan and pathetic looking but it sure finished off the rosacea for me!
I'm on Arimidex now but still tend to avoid the direct sunlight; it's pretty fierce here in New Zealand! That and also largely because I am still having hot flushes at nearly 59. Bit of a worry that! I must assure you not as severe as in my mid to late 40s.
( As an extra little bonus the use of Tamoxifen caused development of spectacular polyps leading first to the exploratory and D & C and then Total Hysterectomy because endometrial cancers cannot be monitored as carefully as might need be.)
I still get the odd pimple and particularly annoying are the ones that won't clear up. They I suspect need watching as I also have skin tags as a legacy of cooking myself in the sun with coconut oil in my youth. Well I had a fabulous tan and nobody thought about the effects then did they?