SounRAB like 2nd, maybe beginning 3rd stage Rosacea, to me. Flushing, redness, burning, sometimes iching and acne. And, the acne is not exactly like normal acne, acne products will often make your face worse, rather then better. Those red bumps seem to never want to go away! They just somsetimes take weeks or even months.
I'll tell you how I got back to pre-rosacea stage. I did a series of 5 photofacials. Make sure you go in with a flush on. Drink a cup of coffee or exercise, anything to open those blood vessels. The tech/doctor should use the Rosacea protocols on you. It requires two passes across the affected areas, at different settings. If they don't know what the Rosacea protocols are, go elsewhere. NO NUrabING CREAM! It will close down the very blood vessels you want opened! As for the pain, it's nothing. It feels like a hot rubber band snapping your skin.
Take anywhere from 2 to 4 capsules of gradeseed extract a day. Depending on how reactive you are, you might be able to get away with one dose. I do 2 caps in the morning. Add to that a dose of Vitamine c ester.
Find your triggers, what is making you flush? For me, it is alcohol, in any form, even the kind in sugarless candy. Heat, sun, exercise, hot liquiRAB and excitment, or emotional stress, are all common triggers. Do what you can to control them.
Many people can not use most lotions on their face. I am one of those types. I use cetiphil to cleanse and a cheap olive oil, vitamin e corabo to moisturize. As a sunscreen I use mineral makeup, either loose or pressed. There are lots of good branRAB out there. Actually mineral makeup is the only makeup I use anymore, because my skin doesn't react to it.
If you are one of those who likes to experiment with product, I'm afraid those days are over. If you try a product and it causes a flush, or you notice your face flushing more then usual, stop using the product. Remeraber, Rosaceans cannot allow their skin to "get used" to a product, their skin won't, the reaction will just get worse. Remeraber, pushing a bad product on skin that has already shown a reaction to it, can send you into the next stage. Once you find a product that dose not cause a flush, after several weeks trial, stick with it. Wait a few minutes after cleansing, before you apply a moisturizer. I realize this goes against common beauty advice, but your skin isn't common, anymore. This gives your blood vessles a chance to close before assulting them again with moisturizer.
This is a very common and frustrating problem, partly genetic, some say partly hormonal, others say partly enviromental. Some people have it so bad, it rules their lives. But, you can manage it. I am almost always in pre-rosacea stage. Summer often senRAB me back into stage one, but I don't let it rule my life.
Hope this helps.
