11 replies to this topic

[kanookie]

Hello,
I've been off of accutane for 2 months now. My problem is my constant facial redness. At first I would only flush if I woked out for an hour. When heavy lifting I would flush normal then go back to normal skin color. Even on accutane it wasen't too bad. When I would wake up in the morning my face was not red at all. Now anything heat, touching my face, anything for sensitive skin, shaving, nervous, just looking in a mirror to see if my face is red (it will turn red right before my eyes) and I'm beet red. I do any exercise i'll be red for many hours.
I've tryed Metrogel... seemed to work at first with facial redness ( people would be like you need to get some sun your so white) then it stopped... Then I tried Clondine (I asked my doctor for it) it seemed to work then it stopped. I went back again got every blood test you can imagine and everything is perfect or better. Doctor says there is nothing he can do and I might just have to live with it. I told him after I took the accutane it happened and he said he has prescribed lots of accutane and never seen this. He says if it persists for another month he will send me to another derm. I've read alot about this topic. My condition seems to get better then worse to the point it look like I'm always red. Anyone have any luck with anything? I'm open to suggestion.
Derms just want your money now he doesent think it's Rosacea.
Thanks brandon

[kanookie]

I can't avoid triggers because everything is a trigger. I got a hair cut that reduced the thickness of my side burns and the part that was shaved it white. That part always stays white along with me jawline and my chin. I'm so cunfused. It's motly my cheeks.

[kanookie]

Oh I'm also on effexor xr for depression and anxiety. I woulden't need it if I didn't have acne then deal with accutane and now flushing facial redness.

[AsiaXiah]

I'm surprised that your doctor says he has never seen a case like this. From a lot of the post-accutane posts I've read, redness and flushing sound like a common side effect that haunts many people.

Although I did not take accutane, I had to deal with the very same problem due to have used a lot of retinoids for a long time. After all, accutane and retinoids are all the same substance - concentrated vitamin A.

So since applying that on my skin was enough to make my skin freak out and irritate, I can imagine how ingesting mega doses of vitamin A into your entire system would make the problem much worse.

I think few people I have spoken with who took accutane have said that with time, it does get better. For some, it takes a year, for others it takes a few. But aside from that, I think the most important thing would be to let your skin calm down from irritation. I would definitely avoid any benzoyl peroxide or any other topicals that may be harsh. Even using anti-rosacea products may not be a good idea for skin that's gone off the deep irritation end (the only cure for that is just to let time rebuild what's been damaged).

[kanookie]

Thanks AsiaXiah that is some good advice. Yes even anti rosacea may irrate the skin. We all should just let time heal. It's so funny my doctor said that "I've precribed lots of accutane but your the first one with this sideeffect" He tried saying it can't be accutane and I was like did I have this before the accutane? Then he confesses no I didn't notice it. On the positive side I've also done lots of blood work and everythiung comes up perfect.

[kanookie]

I just finished rounding up the garbage and taking it out. It's colder outside but I'm turning beet red like I just ran a marathon.. Everything I use on my face for sensitive skin shave gel(pretty expensive compared to other), face wash, moisturizer. I've even tried just washing my face once a day and I'm so gentle. It just seems like it's getting worse and worse every day. That doctor told me to give it another month but at this rate I don't have it. It's just so sad after years of acne I think all will be well. I won't mention the other sideffects I still have from accutane but the post red marks, the scars, and facial flushing. It's like I traded one problem for a dozen!

[chaseryder]

yea man it is rather unfortunate, but heres hoping it stops for you...mine never did...but if anything, coming to terms with it earlier then later is the best option. Getting too stressed out may cause other problems...i believe that is what happend to me...good luck tho, wish the best.

[kanookie]

Thanks. Yeah I'm trying to deal with it. Flushing seems just as bad as acne if not worse. All acne scars seem more obvious when you flush. I just cant do anything I like anymore Motocross, gym, drink etc..... I look at my self in the mirror and can flush. I't seems like it is getting worse as time passes.. I diden't notice it till the end of my accutane course.

[chaseryder]

well I wouldn't let it control your life...Do what you normally do. If you flush. You flush. I still go to the gym. I dont flush everytime. but I still do. Its not so bad. Just live your life normally, and just accept that you have flushing. It is what it is.

[soul78]

Hey, I'm in the same boat - 6 months post Accutane and not much better to be honest. All you can really do is play the waiting game and hope for the best as I have also read various people having some if not complete resolution in a year or two etc.

I see you are on Effexor, which is suppose to be beneficial for flushing, any improvement since taking it? If not, there is another medication called REmeron I am on and it has helped, do a search in google for REmeron and Rosacea and you will see it has helped others too. Ask your doctor about it if you are interested.

I know how debilitating it can be. Try to live as stress free as possible, but I personally would not just carry on doing things that make you flush, flushing has been said to progress or get worse the more you flush, plus if you are like me you probably get that intense and painful burning sensation that accompanies the flushing, which makes it literally impossible to enjoy whatever you are doing - so try to avoid things that cause deep flushing, like heavy weight training or intense exercise, sauna's, alcohol etc. etc. It is hard I know, I used to work out 5 or 6 days a week in the gym but now just walk and do light resistance training.

Try to make some life adjustments, do things to keep your mind occupied (reading, walking, listening to music, etc.) If you look in the mirror and flush, don't look int he mirror (same thing happens to me so I only look when I wash my face). Also, keeping a glass on ice cubes on hand seems to help as well, just munch the ice chips if you feel heated or a flush starting, it usually helps to reduce it.

Good luck and just try to remember that there are several medications you can try to help with the flushing and that nothing is forever - this too will pass, just keep going.

[kanookie]

Thanks for your reply. I'm off the effexor because I just didn't like having to take more drugs after accutane. The problem is I motocross as a hobby. So really, I can't avoid it nor am I willing to give it up. So I think I'll look into treament... For now I just live my life and not worry about it.
Goodluck!

[Deadbeat007]

I'm the opposite - I got Rosacea before I went on Accutane. Obviously, I can't treat the Rosacea while on Tane, so I've cut sugar, caffeine, and carbonated drinks from my diet, which has helped a lot. Laser treatments can sometimes help, sometimes hinder, so I'd talk with a derm who specializes in Rosacea before planning a new course of action.