I’ve been at this for over 18 months now. Dozens of failed sunscreens - mineral, chemical, hybrid, Korean, European.

My skin will not tolerate ANY. It’s either the zinc is too drying, the film is too heavy OR drying, the formula is too active (looking at you Korean spf), has alcohols, fragrances. If I find something that I can’t feel sensory wise, it breaks me out! To top it off I have a skin cancer history so my only line of defense are upf hats.

Sorry.. today I am having a pity party. I am sick of searching for sunscreen, sick of my derm telling me I have to wear it, sick of wearing enormous hats while trying to play with my kids. Sick of skin cancer. Sick of ultra sensitive skin. And sick of myself for being so incompatible with something that is supposed to protect me from the very skin cancer I keep battling

Rant over 😔

. After aggressive, unsupervised use of Epiduo (Adapalene + BPO) alternating with AHA/BHA 2-3 years ago, my upper cheeks (bilateral malar area) are stuck in a chronic state of severe redness, swelling (edema), and extreme burning. My skin now reacts to literally everything—including ambient night air, mild heat, and even "safe" creams like Cicaplast and mineral/chemical sunscreens.

Background / Timeline:

• Age 19: Started self-treating mild acne. Alternated Epiduo and AHA/BHA every other day with a basic moisturizer.
• Day 15: Experienced a massive chemical burn—cheeks extremely red and swollen. Stopped Epiduo, let it calm down, then tried Epiduo again 15 days later with the same severe reaction.
• Next 6 months: Cut Epiduo entirely but foolishly continued AHA/BHA. Skin was chronically inflamed and felt slightly swollen, though not yet super sensitive to the sun.
• The tipping points:
  • Tried an acne exfoliating cream (Keracnyl/glycolic acid) once → severe burn, peeling, and crusting. Used LRP Cicaplast B5 for months. It soothed the raw skin, but left it ultra-sensitive.
  • Later used an AHA/BHA cleanser by accident → 3 days later, my skin felt on fire. Applied Cicaplast, but it no longer worked and even irritated my eyes/cheeks. Avène Cicalfate calmed the acute crisis slightly, but my skin never returned to baseline.

Current Symptoms (Age 22):

• Strictly localized: The problem is isolated to my upper cheeks / high malar area (over the cheekbones). Forehead, chin, and jawline are fine.
• Severe Neuro-Vascular Reactivity: Even with NOTHING on my skin, just stepping outside or coming home in the evening (transitioning between cold air and indoor warmth) triggers an intense, hot flush, burning, and visible swelling.
• Skin Texture Changes: Because of the chronic swelling (edema) and barrier loss, my pores look stretched and large ("orange peel" effect). My skin looks prematurely aged and leathery despite being only 22.
• Intolerance to ALL Topicals:
  • LRP Cicaplast B5 & Avène Cicalfate: Now feel like they trap heat and sting/cause redness.
  • Sunscreen (LRP Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF50+): Burns instantly (likely due to chemical filters/alcohol).

Questions for the community:

1. Has anyone experienced chemically-induced neurogenic rosacea or chronic malar edema after retinoid/acid burns?
2. Did going on oral medications (like low-dose anti-inflammatory Doxycycline) help shut down the internal vascular fire when topicals were impossible to tolerate?
3. How did you calm your skin when even barrier-repair balms (Cicaplast/Cicalfate) caused burning and trapped heat?

I used Dr.Jart soothing cream the one that's green and turns into a foundation color this morning, came home at 2pm and washed it off and this is how angry my skin has been ever since. It hurts and it's so uncomfortable. I just took a Benadryl pill and slathered some Benadryl cream on it. What else can I do?! It's even angrier in person than on camera and I have work tomorrow😭 What's one thing that works fast to calm it down?? Diaper rash cream?!

Hi everyone,

I have had persistent redness/pinkness around my moustache area for around 12 years which I think looks prominent when I smile. I saw a private dermatologist who said it was probable rosacea and prescribed metronidozole gel twice a day. He also prescribed me with brimonidine, but this caused me to have rebound redness.

I’ve used the gel just under four weeks but haven’t noticed any improvement. If anything, I feel the redness has looked worse since starting it, so I’ve decided to stop using it.

My main concern is the colour of it which has started to severely affect my confidence and mental health. I’m not completely sure rosacea was the correct diagnoses and I’m waiting for an nhs dermatology appointment to have it reassessed.

Would anyone have any tips on trying to help reduce the colour? Has anyone else experienced this?

I would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

My skin is super dry and reactive. In addition to rosacea I have eczema. Most things make me flare so lately I’ve avoided make up entirely. For make up I just want a dewy glow. I’ve had three kids in six years and I swear my skin became more sensitive after this. Any suggestions are appreciated and for moisturizer I have tried a slew of them but not really successful there either. I do not have the pimples that sometimes come with rosacea. I’m just tired of the trial and error and want to feel normal..

I have been dealing with this bumps since 7 months. I have white icthy bumps on cheeks along with some hormonal acne. I only get those white itchy bumps when i get burning sensation around my mouth area. That is soo weird. Why my mouth area burns and i get bumps on my cheeks. I dont know the connection. My derm told me perioral dermatits due to burning around my mouth area. But i dont get bumps around mouth area. I get it on my front cheeks and cheekbones.

Please suggest what is going on. I am frustrated.

Hi! I started using ivermectine for my (mostly type 1) rosacea.

After about an hour, my neck and chest started flushing. Red / stingy / itchy!!

Could this be the cause of applying Soolantra on the face and the demodex mites freaking out and making their way down? Or is this just a coincidence?

I never get flushing on my neck and chest, unless I’m very emotionally or stressed out.

Anyone tried this azelaic acid?

Looking at trying as it doesn’t contain niacinamide and I have tried finacea multiple times but it does not agree with my skin.

Thanks☺️

My case of type 2 papulopustular rosacea is severe. At least… for about 1-2 weeks out of the month. Around the luteal phase. When estrogen drops.

Sadly it seems there is pretty much no research on this. Next thing my (male) derm wants me to try is isotretinoin (acutane). Well, fine. Nothing else has worked. But if there is a hormonal component that I’m missing here, i feel as if I’m about to take a risky / intense drug for possibly no reason.

Has anyone had any success in reducing their rosacea flareups by addressing underlying hormone issues first?

Hello there 🩷 I have rosacea (I think light type 2) and I noticed that my skin gets quite sensitive after I use my makeup remover (cotton pad + Garnier makeup remover). I wanna try a new one that gets the job done without the need to use cotton pad.

Do you have any suggestions for me? I tried centella before but I don’t think it removes my makeup efficiently

I have always had type 1 (redness, flushing), but lately my skin has been a little dryer, and I've been getting these tiny bumps, esp. at the top of my cheeks, but occasionally I get some similar looking irritation on my forehead (though I'm oilier there, but that's combo skin for you). Very slight itch or irritation, pretty small bumps, more on one cheek, mostly skin colored. Dry on those parts of my cheeks.

Does it look like it's becoming type 2 rosacea, or something else (e.g., PD, fungal acne, regular breakout)?

Wondering if I should use Amazon Pharmacy for ivermectin or metrogel vs. looking at other treatment options. I also have csu (chronic hives), not sure if that's related. Leaning toward rosacea type 2/maybe demodex but wanted to ask. I use azelaic already, which helps just a smidge with the flush.

Periorificial dermatitis is also possible - I'm sensitive to SLS and was put on high fluoride toothpaste that was supposed to be gentler (prevident), which it turns out still has sls . . . But obv I've never reacted like this before. So I will try cutting that out too.

I’ve been in a type 2 flare for maybe 6 months at this point. I do have a two year old so this started when he was around 18 months (maybe it’s a result of the ever fun postpartum hormone shifts). I also recently went through a d&c for my second pregnancy due to an abnormality so everything is out of whack.

I went to the derm and he prescribed 1% ivermectin. My pharmacy is out of stock but I’m also concerned about starting it if I were to decide to try for another pregnancy. Any tips? My self-confidence is in the pooper along with still recovering from everything else.

Here’s my routine:

AM:
- splash cool water
-hypochlorous acid spray
- purito oat moisturizer
- a few drops of squalane

PM:
- double cleanse with squalane if wearing make up
- wash with untoxicated gentle cleanser OR Prequel sulfur wash (using sulfur every 2 days to build up tolerance to it)
- purito oat
- squalane to seal
- Vaseline under eyes and any especially dry spots

I am a 70 year-old woman with mild rosacea type one. As far as I know, I do not have ocular rosacea. But my annual eye exam my new eye doctor suggested I use a heated VIVA eye mask every evening. She said you pop it in the microwave and you keep it on for 10 minutes. She said it is preventative. But now I am reading if you have rosacea that this could bring up a flare and bring on ocular rosacea in fact, I read that if you have ocular rosacea, you should be wearing a cool eye mask not a heated one. Please advise thank you.

Not only did laser not help it maybe made it worse and I developed lymphocytic perifollictulitis with comedonal dilation I can’t get rid of 4 months later… but I still have these tiny veins under my eyes/upper cheeks and they drive me insane, are there other ways to remove them besides laser?

Having a flare up this week on my chest and to a lesser extent face, and it’s burning so much. Just feeling so uncomfortable and sad that this stupid condition affects everything.

Not looking for advice cause I’m kinda doing everything I can , just would love some support.

Im not asking for any diagnostic because i know ppl are gonna say just go to a derm but i have visited so many and never actually got a clear answer. But im confused about my redness and rly thought a ktp laser would be beneficial. These truly look like broken caillaries to ME it’s always in the same spot my redness never spreads and i don’t really feel it or flush. Does anyone know if vbeam or ipl would help or have similar skin and know what could help ? I also have scarring/pigmentation from previous lasers which add to my confusion because if it is scars or pigmentation from previous lasers derms who i have told everything never said anything about scars just redness and basically told me « some people are just more red than others » and i have heard that a lot from derms i just want to be able to at least get somewhat clearer skin.

Hello, I’ve been suffering from rhinophyma caused by rosacea. I was prescribed Triple Cream by one Derm and Soolantra by another. I’ve tested each one for several weeks separately.

My concern is that the Triple Cream is doing absolutely nothing. When using the Soolantra my face burns slightly which I’ve come to understand is the mites dying off? This burning sensation doesn’t happen with the Triple Cream. Really, it doesn’t feel like much is happening at all.

Also, my derm told me to use the triple cream twice a day but the Soolantra prescription says night only? How could something with Ivermectin/Azelaic Acid/Metro be used twice but Soolantra (Ivermectin) is only once at night lol.

Any ideas or info would be much appreciated! I’ve terrified of letting this condition progress further. I feel my existing bumps are getting smaller but new ones are appearing.

I don’t think in my (almost) 36 years on this planet there was a time that I have posted my face with flares/no makeup, but this community feels safe.

I’ve tried it all. I could list all the RX topicals, RX medications, laser treatments, etc. I also have ocular rosacea. Stress is the most common trigger for me but life is stressful so I pretty much am always having a flare 🤦🏼‍♀️

This is just a vent sesh but feel free to comment any solutions/any ease that’s not the norm that have worked for you.

Here we go #1: I am getting DM’s on the ocular rosacea. Most are caring and have questions but for those saying I’m lying and it’s pink eye… give me pinkeye any-day of the week over ocular rosacea.

Here we go #2: Ah yes the of DM’s on my appearance on a sub on medical appearance. I’m well aware that my eyes are uneven and also I’m very well aware I have bags under my eyes 😂 I’m 35. Im tired.

What would be the best moisturiser for erythrosis rosacea.

I would like to moisturize cheeks ( the high part).

Cause my skin ie dry and stingy.

Before I was using very nice moisturizer but it's discontinued ( hyaluronic acid, céramides, niacinamide)

Actually I put Uriage Gel repair cica daily but it's not enough.

I have hear about toleriane sensitive fluide

S nature aqua squalane

Don't want an occlusive moisturizer to avoid break out.

Safe malassezia would be nice too.

And for my forehead I have a vbeam laser scheduled to erase redness that doesn't heal for 4 months now near the hairline sides and top + center of my forehead.

No visible vessels but erythrosis ( persistent redness)

So need a good moisturizer for post laser.

To clean my forehead and nose I use malezia hyaluronic acid cleanser it's gentle but drying a little bit.

Can anyone give me some advice on where to start with ocular rosacea? After years of suffering with dry eye I was finally diagnosed.

However they left me with just a prescription for xidra and few other instructions.

Where do I start? What do I do? I am reading that demodex mites might be an issue. What do I do about that?

This is a serious issue for me because I’m quite near sighted. I don’t like wearing glasses for that reason but contacts are just misery to wear.

I’ve had rosacea for a few years now and it is always at its worst in winter. The last picture was in February and I’ve been working on it religiously the past few months and found Kiehl’s barrier repair cleanser and moisturiser wihr azealic acid 15% every morning and night, plus soolantra in the evenings has really calmed it down.

Now we are heading into winter in the UK I am preparing for it to get worse again. What do people recommend for winter? I am worried about the central heating as well as the cold and wind. I tried LRP cicaplast balm and found it just pilled so I gave up.

Hello , im using soolantra since 2 month and it works well even if its not magical, my question is : i want to introduce azelaic acid (ACM 15%), but i dont want to re-wash my face in the morning (i do everything after the shower at night before bed and my sensitive skin suffers when i wash it to often).

So an AI tells me i can apply both soolantra and azelaic acid at night, with the soolantra first. But im skeptical since the soolantra is very thick and greasy, i fears that the azelaic acid cant do its job. I was thinking to put the azelaic first because its less thick and also because it have to go on and inside the skin and be absorbed, and then the sollantra since the main actions are on the skin surface ( please tell me what do you think of my logical vision haha?) .

so if someone have an opinion on that, i would be very happy to hear you experiences . thank you very much !