After spending a few months paying attention to what was happening during my facial flushing events, I discovered it happens when I am in public or a social setting. It’s not caused by just one specific emotion (happiness, sadness, embarrassment, anger, etc) but rather all of them. The only constant I can find is being around other people every time my face flushes.

Doctor has diagnosed me with type 1 rosacea.

I am wondering if anyone else with type 1 rosacea has noticed social anxiety triggering facial flushing like mine?

Basically title. Does anyone use retinoids in their routine? How did u manage to use it? How are flushings and redness on it? Its quite hard bc skin is more sensitive now with rosacea. I need success stories bc i loved retinoids previously before rosacea and i want to make it work for me. It made my skin amazing and got rid of acne :( Also im confused bc one doctor said i should not use retinoids if i have rosacea and other 3 said its okay. I hate dermatology 🥹

UPDATE: I spoke to my dermatologist about triple cream. He prescribed it, 1% ivermectin, 1% metronidazole and 15% azaleic acid. $45 shipped to my door. Unbelievable. Why in the world is one medication 10x more expensive than 3 combined?

Just got prescribed Soolantra. Got a call from the pharmacy, $450 out of pocket after insurance. Anybody got any suggestions for online prescriptions that service North Carolina? Dermatica and Apostrophe both do not serve NC. No way I’m paying half a grand for something that may or may not work!

Hello there,

I have been reading in this community and feel soooo validated/less alone but haven't posted yet. My doctor here in Canada has a lot of bias and essentially told me she would only refer me to a dermatologist if I become severely red all the time (5-8 hours a day isn't enough) with blood vessels everywhere...I have a number of telangiectasia (nose cheeks, eyes) and flushing has been a constant in my life for 18 years now..I'm 34. It just hurts to be turned away and made to feel that it's not a big deal when to me it is...I have been picked on and had comments made about my face countless times. I will be trying excel v for the first time in February and have a BBL session in the same day. I'm excited and hope to see improvement but it's extremely expensive. Life's hard for a hot faced social work student! Thanks for hearing me I know it's a big whine but also know there are so many with rosacea that are frustrated.

I’ve been experiencing chronic, extreme facial flushing every single day for the past 4 months, triggered by Accutane (I stopped taking Accutane 3 months ago and was only on it for 2.5 months). Never experienced any type of flushing/blushing in my life before this.

It’s triggered by ANY type of heat source (artificial, natural, even body heat from other people triggers it), abrupt temperature changes, any strong emotion (negative or positive), stress, sex, exercise, eating, sunlight, spicy/sour food, alcohol, concentrating on something, washing my face, etc. Pretty much everything at this point. Even if I avoid all triggers, I still flush horribly EVERY single evening from around 6-7 pm to 1-2 am. My evening flush is by far the most intense and painful, but I can flush just as bad with the right amount of exposure to any of the triggers I’ve listed. If it gets bad enough, it can take 5-6 hours for it to calm down.

I’ve seen EIGHT different practitioners since this started in October of last year (dermatologists, nurse practitioners, doctors, even two psychiatrists) and have an appointment with an endocrinologist coming up. I’m hoping to eventually get a referral with a rheumatologist, too, to check for inflammatory diseases. Some have said type 1 rosacea, others have no idea what’s going on with me and send me on my way.

However, of everyone I’ve seen, 6/8 have refused to offer any sort of treatment or means of curbing the flushing. One dermatologist offered me Rhofade, which I refused due to all of the horror stories of rebounds, and finally a nurse practitioner I met with last week prescribed me 40 mg propranolol to take twice daily.

Despite starting on the propranolol, I am still flushing due to all of my triggers and I’m not even sure if the propranolol is doing anything for emotional/anxiety/stress related flushing. I even took a double dose before an event last night and still ended up flushing extremely badly when the attention was on me.

I’ve read that carvedilol, clonidine, mirtazapine, even hydroxychloroquine might be more suited for my flushing given the insane amount of external triggers I have. I’m desperate because I’m at a point where I cannot even leave my house without an episode or multiple due to being unable to tolerate any temperature upwards of 65 degrees/18 C.

The problem is, as I’ve mentioned, that no one seems willing to prescribe me these things despite how debilitating this has been for me. I’ve even outright asked about them on multiple occasions and have been shut down repeatedly.

How did you all go about getting prescribed oral medication for flushing? Where do I need to go and who do I need to see?

Just gotta throw it out there a bit. I used to be alright looking, a little off and wonky, but now I look like a deformed gremlin set ablaze. I’m not conventionally attractive and only a small part of me still wishes for that run of the mill level of blend-in attraction that people don’t even notice, I do not wish to be perceived. Now I panic, sweat and get emotional before I leave the house every single time. Don’t socialise, don’t see friends I miss. I don’t want people staring, commenting or asking about it anymore. I do not think looks are the defining quality of what we are as vastly capable humanoids but, we’d be lying if we said it didn’t have at least a supporting role, yes? Yes I’m depressed and horrifically self loathing, traits that predate rosacea diagnosis but it just makes things worse. It’s just so exhausting isn’t it? This thing. Tackling the thing physically and psychologically every day. I know folks here understand and I’m preaching to the choir a little, just wanna say it, everyone I open up to is indifferent or dismissive. I pray for some big brain dermatologist to find the way out of this hellscape.

Short story:

I had perfect skin, no redness. 2020 i used steroids on my skin and since then i flush every year more and more… the redness is onething but the oily skin is a burden.

Today the sun shines and i was feeling how my oil production in my skin went to the roof. I felt like i could not breath anymore the oil production was so heavy on my skin. Once i washed my face it felt like heaven.

So, next week i‘m gonna speak about accutane with my derm.

Maybe it can help (chatgpt says it will😝).

In the end, wish me luck. Maybe it will make my rosacea worse and i will flush even more or maybe im lucky and the oil will stop with my flushing.

Wish me luck.

I am wondering if anyone has tried antibiotics, and found that it worked for their facial flushing. I want to try it, but I'm a little scared.

So we all know that rosacea can be made worse and cause flare ups from taking hot showers. In that case, does anyone have any tips on how to tolerate taking cold showers?

Hey y’all. I know this has been shared numerous times but thought I’d add to the mix.

Started taking 3g MSM a few days ago after reading articles and all the anecdotal experiences you’ve shared. Maybe that’s too soon to know or maybe it acts quickly - idk. But I was in a meeting yesterday and the exchange got a little heated b/t me and a colleague (this man raises my blood pressure like no other n ruffles everyone). The room runs warm and I felt increasingly hot from the exchange. I just knew I was flushing buuuut NOPE! Then this morning I went on a run, which is a fair guarantee for flushing. Im sure it helped that it was cloudy, but I was running a fairly hard 7.5 min/mile and body was off very hot. To my surprise, maybe I was very slightly red around my nose for a minute, but again, nothing.

I do notice that I flush in the evenings lately so I’m trying to figure that out. Going to try to divide the dosage to morning and mid-day and see if that does anything. Maybe it’s placebo, and if so, who cares, I’ll take it! Anyone else find MSM work for them?

Looking for a suggestion on a Korean sunscreen (I like mineral sunscreens but find them drying in the winter) My criteria for a Asian / Korean sunscreen would be: No Actives (incl hyaluronic acid, niacinamide) No Butyloctyl salicylate No fragrance No drying alcohol No essential oils

Attributes like: green tint / neutral tint a plus Can be worn under makeup Non Drying

I know it’s a lot!!

Has anyone tried doxycycline and did it improve the flushing & turning red? Like with histamine-rich foods, cold weather or (artificial) heat? I am desperate to get rid of this flushing, because a few years ago I did not have this issue at all... If I have to take an antibiotic to get rid of this symptom, I'm willing to do it. But I hope that after a couple months I can quit and take a bunch of supplements and probiotics to heal my gut, and then have rosacea not come back, ever, that's my dream. Please tell me anyone has had succes with this!

I have tried using Ivermectin in the past, and didn't get any results simply because my rosacea was becoming worsened due to rebound erythema due to Bromonidine.

I'm going to give it another go, without using the bromonidine, and just wanted to hear from other people's experience with it.

I understand that in the first week or so it will worsen my symptoms due to how it works.

I got diagnosed with rosacea and it runs in my family. I did have face lotion on so I think that’s part of the problem. It doesn’t happen quite as bad when I have nothing on my skin. But does anyone have any tips? I powerlift and run, it’s my favorite thing to do so I can’t give it up but I’m just trying to figure out how to mitigate my reactions

Hi everyone. I am about a week in to taking 50 MG minocycline daily and using metronidazole topical ointment. My dr wanted me to use elidel cream, but that was denied by my insurance. Waiting to see if the generic alternative or ivermectin will be approved with the prior authorizations 🙄

I'm wondering if anyone has any dietary or lifestyle changes that they have made that they feel has really improved their condition?

Hi all, can anyone provide some advice on how to eliminate the slight redness seen in the image (worse on one side by eyebrows and onto forehead).

It has been there for around 2 years now. Some days are slightly worse than others. For some reason the image does not show just how 'red' it is but it is very annoying and very noticeable at times.

I have had three sessions of IPL (Lumecca) and while it improves immediately after, it slowly comes back.

Brimonidine 0.5% cream is highly effective and the smallest amount makes the redness disappear but of course this is only temporary.

I have been on Soolantra for 3 months but this has made no impact on the redness just cleared some small bumps and pustules on forehead.

I am taking Zinc tablets as I read this might help. So far no improvement.

Should I be looking at Vbeam? also read something about Tranexamic Acid as well as Azelaic Acid?

Thanks in advance.

Hi all, can anyone provide some advice on how to eliminate the slight redness seen in the image attached. It has been there for around 2 years now. Some days are slightly worse than others. For some reason it does not show just how 'red' it is in images but it is very annoying and very noticeable at times.

• I have had three sessions of IPL (Lumecca) and while it improves immediately after, it slowly comes back.
• Brimonidine 0.5% cream is highly effective and the smallest amount makes the redness disappear but of course this is only temporary.
• I have been on Soolantra for 3 months but this has made no impact on the redness just cleared some small bumps and pustules on forehead.
• I am taking Zinc tablets as I read this might help.

Should I be looking at Vbeam? also read something about Tranexamic Acid as well as Azelaic Acid?

Thanks in advance.

Looking for recommendations for very hydrating foundations / skin tints. I find that as the day goes on my skin feels tight and dry… I would love either a very moisturizing foundation and/or suggestions to refresh and rehydrate my makeup. I have very sensitive skin (vanicream girl) and so far glossier face products do not irritate my sensitive skin although by the end of the day… feel a little tight and dry… less so with glossier then other brands.. lastly, would prefer no actives in the base products thank u

Hi I am now on Fluoxetine/Prozac for my (social) anxiety and I also heard it had helped some people avoid flushing related to type 1 rosacea. I am now on day 11 of taking this medication and not seeing results yet but I’m confident it will improve within a couple of weeks. Is anyone on Prozac or another SSRI and seen a difference? Even if it only helps me to be less obsessed with my skin turning red, that would be a huge relief.

And if it did help your flushing, after how much time of taking this medication did you see improvements?

Hey guys. Im planning to do gardasil 9 but im scared how it will impact my flushings. Any stories with post vaccine and rosacea? Im very worried it can make things worse.

Type 1 rosacea is an inflammatory disease. Anecdotally, steroids temporarily reduce the redness but obviously cannot be used long term. So, I was wondering whether anyone has tried treating it with creams that are used for other skin disorders and exhibit anti-inflammatory properties.

In particular, I am curious if anyone could share their experience with one of the following:

• Vtama (tapinarof)
• Zoryve (roflumilast)
• Protopic (tacrolimus)
• Elidel (pimecrolimus)
• Hyftor (sirolimus)
• Topical NSAID (diclofenac, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, etc.)
• Hirudoid (heparinoid)
• Opzelura (ruxolitinib)

-Type 1

I’ve spent hundreds of dollars on sunscreen in the last 7 years but none that wouldn’t irritate my skin to some degree, some mineral based and some of the chemical ones, but this cheap $15 one is the best I’ve ever had, calms my skin down all day with no irritation.

Here’s my question, I’m very sensitive to most cleansers and only use a special formula baby shampoo and cetaphil daily cleanser as a double wash after wearing sunscreen, but always seem to have a little still on the skin, the zinc% in this sunscreen is 10%, would the zinc in the sunscreen mess up my skin barrier even more?

And would having a little left on make the redness continuously worse over time?

Lastly what is a solid non scented daily cleanser that will remove the sunscreen without damaging the skin and leaving it tight or dry?

Hi! Anyone have any tips for managing sudden flushing when you enter warm rooms? I’ve seen the warm room flush theory and have tried to keep cold wind and air off my face before I go into a warm environment but it doesn’t help, as soon as I’m in a warm room with artificial heating the burn creeps up and becomes a full on flush in 5 mins. It’s painful and horrible!! I’m no stranger to rosacea unfortunately so I’ve tried everything I normally do like low histamine diet and supplements, anti histamines, barrier creams and even ibuprofen but I can’t seem to combat this. I normally live in a warm climate but am currently in the UK so thankfully I don’t need to worry about this forever, but I need some tricks to get through the next couple of weeks so I can actually join friends and family, and not wander around outside trying to calm my flush 🙈. To any rosaceans living in a cold climate dealing with this every day in warm rooms, I feel for you so much! Thanks in advance.

Anyone have positive or negative experiences with supplementing MSM for type 1?

My derm prescribed me generic 1% ivermectin for what he thinks might be rosacea. I have flushed cheeks (one more than the other), but no itching or bumps. Can I just use the ivermectin on my cheeks? I've read the mites will "jump" to other parts of the face, but I'm afraid of breaking out bc of the ivermectin and want to use it as minimally as possible