response 21 of 40:

Jul 12 14:08 UTC 1998

Now, why do I think that it would be fun to know that woman? ;-)

response 23 of 40:

Jul 13 18:11 UTC 1998

Needles near my eyes? Hell no. Last weekend I saw some woman getting her
eyelashes dyed black. Eliminated need for mascara, I guess. I could be a
candidate for that since my lashes are light brown, fading into white. But I am
not about to put permanent dye anywhere near my eyes. Hard to appreciate that
permanent makeup when you've been rendered blind.

response 25 of 40:

Jul 14 14:39 UTC 1998

thank you for the feedback, Misti.  I would really rather not be bothered with
the time, effort and expense of makeup at all, but the difference is very
significant at my age.  And I, definitely, look far, far better with makeup
on then without.  When my face has color from the sun or tanning ingredients,
I can sometimes, do without foundation, but even then, my skin is a bit
blotchy.

response 27 of 40:

Jul 14 23:22 UTC 1998

I just last week got diagnosed with Rosacea, myself.  I am treating it with
an ointment but after a week, nothing seems to be happening.  Even discounting
the rosacea, I have developed spots (brown and red) and an uneveness of
coloring on my face.  I bought a powder from Benefit, which, when dusted
lightly across the face, tends to even the color out.  But then, I feel like
I have a yellowish caste.  Maybe I'm wrong.  But, my perception is, I look
the best with a coating of foundation, some rouge and my eyes done.  I wish
I didn't believe I looked so much better so I could just wash my face and hair
and go out, but that's not the way it is.

response 29 of 40:

Jul 15 23:21 UTC 1998

That sounds exactly like rosacea, Chris.  You should have your doctor check it
to be sure, but it sure sounds like it.  In extreme cases it can infect your
eyes and cause real trouble, so even if not for vanity, it's a real good idea
to treat it.  

Audrey,  give your treatment 6 - 8 weeks to show any improvement.  About 4
years ago I started using Metrogel -- a clear gel type medicine.  It took about
8 weeks of daily use to see any improvement, and about a year of treatment
before the results were consistent.  Now I use the medicine twice a week or
when I've been exposed to one of my triggers.  (For me it's mainly heat,
extreme cold, or a drying wind.)

response 31 of 40:

Jul 16 19:47 UTC 1998

do you know what roseacea is, or how one 'gets' it?

response 33 of 40:

Jul 16 23:03 UTC 1998

My understanding is that rosacea has a genetic component, and though the
standard prescription (Metrogel) is an anti-biotic, my understanding is that
doctors aren't sure *why* it works.  It does have something to do with strange
circulation in the face, though.

Rosacea, as long as it stays in your skin, is disfiguring but not dangerous. (
W.C. Fields was perhaps the best known person to have visible rosacea -- and
thanks to him it's often mistakenly called "drunkards nose")  

But if it spreads to your eyes, which it can if left untreated, it can cost you
your eyesight.

Also, as Audrey says, it doesn't go away if left untreated the way acne does. 
It gets worse every time you're exposed to one of your triggers, and after a
while it spreads and becomes permanent.  But the medicines they have developed
to treat it are very effective if used consistently -- so much so that after
four years of treatment the only visible symptom I have left is the enlarged
veins in my cheeks and nose.  The bumps and redness are pretty much gone.

response 35 of 40:

Jul 17 02:44 UTC 1998

This brings up an ongoing question for me.

It's rude to comment on someone's complexion.  It just is.  But is ther any
polite way to tell someone with obvious, apparently treatable rosacea that
their condition is treatable?

I know I would have given my left arm to have someone tell me what was going
on with my face years before the irreversable damage was done.  (The
dermatologist was useless -- he put me on tretinoin ointment which only made
matters worse.

response 37 of 40:

Jul 18 15:53 UTC 1998

Most people seem to treat doctors like some kind of mortal gods.  They
should be treated like auto mechanics.  There're big differences between
the good ones and the bad ones, how well they communicate works varies a
great deal, and switching around & getting second opinions often pays off.

Don't be content being in the dark about your medical condition because 
"the doctor knows what he's doing", either.  There was a study a few years
back of doctors who lost major malpractice cases.  (I'm assuming that you
- or your estate - *really* don't want to wind up a "winner" this way.)
The study didn't find any correlation between a doctor's academic ranking
(how high he finished in his class at how fancy a med school, certification
in specialties, etc.).  But there WAS a big correlation with how well the
doctor communicated with patients - doctors who communicated poorly with
their patients wound up in front of juries that judged them guilty of 
malpractice much more often.

It's your life and health at stake, not the doctor's.

response 39 of 40:

Jul 24 17:42 UTC 1998

i recieved a copy of the rosacea from headdoc. it looks like i
have it...