9 replies to this topic

[AlisonB]

Sorry, but I'm another newbie trying to work out what my skin problems are. I'd be grateful for any opinions. I have taken a lot of photos, but I found it difficult to capture the thread veins on my cheeks. Can't get over how horrible I look in the photos!

Thank you.

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Edited by AlisonB, 24 August 2011 - 03:34 AM.

[AlisonB]

Mmmm 41 views, but no replies.

I would be really grateful for some comments.

I am now in my 50s and have noticed the number of lumps are increasing and spreading in size (particularly on my nose and forehead) and my pores are so deep, my skin is looks a bit like a dried up orange peel. I think this is how rosacea develops in later years.

The redness and thread veins I have coped with all my life, but the coarseness of my skin and the lumps are very hard to disguise with makeup and the deep pores are almost impossible to conceal.

I live in the UK and already have a number of health concerns and at this time don't want ask my GP about what is basically an aesthetic problem. More medication is the last thing I need, but I would like to research for myself what I can do to improve the appearance of my skin. If I had to pick one thing, it would be to disguise the appearance of my pores.

Anybody please?

[PaulH85]

Hi Alison

I can't comment from experience and my knowledge of Rosacea is next to nothing to be honest, but what I see in your pictures and from the description you gave of your skin, it seems a lot like something a former colleague of mine has. I don't if it's just coincidence, but she's in her 50's as well. As I recall, a lot of the scarring and redness she has, as well as that sort of texture you described, is as a result of all the products she used and treatments she's had over the years. She did a course of Accutane many years ago now and from what she told me it was kind of new here, she wasn't monitored well and it did more harm than good. And years of topicals like high percentage Benzoyl Peroxide seem to have caused a lot of the redness and texture.

I may be way off the mark there as obviously I don't what products you've used over the years or what you're using at present, but unless this is a new condition to you, it may be that some of the products have been making it worse during the time you've been using them. Hypothetically, if you're using any prescribed medications or topicals for your skin, I'd be tempted to check with the doctor and see if they could be adding to the redness and so on. It may well seem like an aesthetic problem in some respects, but it may also be that something's not quite right with your skin or how it responds to what you use, and that's a justifiable concern and worth checking out.

I don't know if this is of much use given my lack of experience, but hopefully somebody in a similar situation will see your pictures and be able to give you more detailed advice.

Edited by PaulH85, 25 August 2011 - 10:55 AM.

[AlisonB]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your reply.

From all the research I have done, I think it may be a combination of things. One is that on my Dad's side a lot of the family have skin like mine and it changed in a similar way as we've grown older. On my Mum's side the female relatives have high colouring and thread veins. So I'm guessing it is partly genetic - I always did have rosy cheeks!

I've never really thought of myself as someone with problem skin until the last few years or so, and that also fits in with a general deterioration in my health. I've been on quite a few different medications (some hormonal) and that has got to take some toll on my body.

I have used spot treatments like Oxy or Clinique's blemish gel since I was a teenager, but only on small areas like my chin or forehead where I had a spot and never for any real length of time. My cheeks and nose were generally clear and I've never used special skin care products for acne prone skin.

Now though I've realised that although my skin was never that bad as a teenager, even now at 51 ( ) almost every day I still get simple pus filled spots (that pop easily ), on or around my nose and chin (plus a monthly hormonal spot!). I thought these spots were caused by the products I use on my face and I have been chopping and changing for ages now, without any real improvement (I have no regular regimen just now).

The redness on my face is not particularly sensitive or at all painful and I don't get the flare ups that I have read about. That's why I'm not sure about having Rosacea. My cheeks and nose have been red with thread veins now for as long as I can remember and I just used make up to even out my skin tone.

My biggest concerns now are the lumps and pores on my cheeks and nose (I have 6 small lumps on one side of my nose alone, in an area of about an inch square). The pores are not blocked, just open and empty (some are like pin holes) and I can't find a way to disguise this problem with make up because they are on a red area of skin. The lumps can be covered up easily enough, but they look like covered up spots, but I did wonder if the lumps were caused by Sebaceous Hyperplasia because they are skin coloured i.e. not red and fit the description of Sebaceous Hyperplasia very well.

I sound like a bit of a moaner, but I don't want to end up with horrible skin if I can do something about it. Just typing this out had made me realise that I should speak to my GP. I just wanted the opinions of some posters on here who have more experience and knowledge than me about this.

[OPeggyGordon]

me da has this same thing you have from the looks an texture of it.
eh never treated it though, he is proud of his 'drinkin roadmap!
my Auntie Mag had some prescription from her doctor which made the redness less obvious, think its some type of antibiotic for rosacea. but she hasta avoid things like alcohol an spicy food. Not that we eat many of those lol

[WishClear127]

Have you seen a dermatologist?

I use Finacea (it's for rosacea & acne). You could look into that.

[Oil King]

This is likely an early stage of rosacea. No papules or broken capillaries (from what I can see in the pictures). A bit of an orange peel textured skin which usually points to very oily skin or consistently flushed skin.
Is the redness noted in the picture permanent? or does it come and go?
Have you had red cheeks your whole life or has it been getting worse over the years?
Does your skin get flakey in the red areas?
Keratosis pilaris would be a possibility if it hasn't been getting worse and has been this way since childhood, but your age and gender give you a great chance of it being rosacea.
My advice would be to see a dermatologist because rosacea is easier to treat in an early stage.

[AlisonB]

Thanks for the replies.

me da has this same thing you have from the looks an texture of it.
eh never treated it though, he is proud of his 'drinkin roadmap!
my Auntie Mag had some prescription from her doctor which made the redness less obvious, think its some type of antibiotic for rosacea. but she hasta avoid things like alcohol an spicy food. Not that we eat many of those lol

It does make me look like a drinker , but I don't drink or like spicy foods.

Have you seen a dermatologist?

I use Finacea (it's for rosacea & acne). You could look into that.

I haven't spoken to my doctor yet because of the other more 'serious' health problems I have, but I am thinking now about asking her for a referral. Googling Finacea, I don't think it is available in the UK, but maybe something else is. Can I ask you what difference has it made to your skin and can you still wear makeup with it?

This is likely an early stage of rosacea. No papules or broken capillaries (from what I can see in the pictures).

No red papules, but several uneven raised white lumps (Sebaceous Hyperplasia?) and lots of broken capillaries on my cheeks and nose - particular bad one on the left hand side of the nose with 'offshoots' (hard to photo on cheeks though).

A bit of an orange peel textured skin which usually points to very oily skin or consistently flushed skin.
Is the redness noted in the picture permanent? or does it come and go?
Have you had red cheeks your whole life or has it been getting worse over the years?
Does your skin get flakey in the red areas?
Keratosis pilaris would be a possibility if it hasn't been getting worse and has been this way since childhood, but your age and gender give you a great chance of it being rosacea.
My advice would be to see a dermatologist because rosacea is easier to treat in an early stage.

Orange peel texture is all over my cheeks and but the pores are dry and empty. My cheeks are permanently flushed and always have been. I don't get flakey areas on my cheeks, but the orange peel texture has only been obvious in recent years.

I think I need to make an appointment with my doctor.

[WishClear127]

Finacea cleared my cheeks. I had a lot of redness, especially because I am very pale.

You can wear it with SPF & make-up.

[AlisonB]

Finacea cleared my cheeks. I had a lot of redness, especially because I am very pale.

You can wear it with SPF & make-up.

Thanks. I am very pale too (think Celtic Irish/Scot - I am a Scot) and that's why using makeup to cover up my pores has become a problem.