UC and Rosacea

Greetings UCers!

I had Rosacea for several year and tried topical and oral antibiotice. This was before I had UC. The only bad thing a read about Rosacea was "low self esteem" and since I didn't noticed any difference from the treatments I stopped. Well...I just had an eye appointment and found out that the Rosacea can spread to the eyes!

Now I got Optical Rosacea which causes burning, stinging, and eye infections (eye infections may need antibiotic treatment)! I was only told to do warm compresses several times a week but it was recommended to follow up with a dermatologist on the Rosacea. So how can I be treated for this with UC? Are topical antibiotics safe for us? Is there a treatment not using antibiotics available?

Eye doctor only referred me to a Dermatologist. I haven't followed up with my GI yet.

I don't think it's related to UC, but it is thought to be autoimmune disorder to some specialists/researchers,etc. I would lean in that belief as well.  I think with one autoimmune issue, others seem to follow.  I believe tendency rather than set in stone...plus, rosacea seems to be inherited.  Is there anyone at all in your family who has it?

I feel for you to have to deal with this in conjuntion with UC and other stuff...I have a friend with it and it is distressing at times for her, especially when things have exacerbated.

The fact that it's now affected your eyes puts you in a different category I think...I didn't realise a dermatologist would deal with the eyes as well.

I hope you're able to get in quickly and are able to help keep things in check with meds and other treatments.

quincy

I just thought of something...maybe certain medications can also bring it out? or once the body has gone into "overdrive"?

My friend who has it has other health issues, and she didn't get it until she had her two kids. No UC, however, but she does have allergies and genalised itching that's helped by some medications.

Her mother has rosacea...but no other autoimmune issues that she knows of, but does have some circulation problems.

My SIL has rosaces and many sensitivities, her daughter has rosacea and a TON of health issues. My husband has it a bit, but it's never gotten really bad.

None have it in their eyes as of yet.

I strongly suggest you venture into these forums:

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADRA_enCA372CA372&q=rosacea+forum

 

I did find a nature treatment and checked several website that had very positive reviews.

Has anyone here tried this product? Rosacea-Ltd IV?

http://www.rosacea-ltd.com/

There's a lot of interested information on this site.

I have a very mild case of rosacea. I was dx about 15 years ago. I used metrogel for a few years, but figured out my trigger foods/drinks and avoiding those keeps mine under control.

My Dad was dx with ocular rosacea a few years ago (he has mild rosacea as well). He went on a pretty heavy course of antibiotics and it went away. His eyes looked amazing! They were so white and clear. I went to the eye doc earlier this year and asked her to check for this as well. I don't have the ocular type, but it's something to watch out for.

My Mom also has rosacea. Hers is much more severe than mine, but has no other issues.

My best

NECRO-POSTING......

So, I have mentioned several times here that I thought I had developed medication induced lupus (or at least med induced rosacea). It has ended up going to my eyes. The diagnosis isn't clear cut, but my doctor said my eyeballs (the conjunctiva) had a lot of inflammation. Possibly rosacea related....

In any case, she looked for demodex mites and couldn't really see any. There was a little bit of crustiness around one or two eyelashes, but she wouldn't have thought anything about it.

She prescribed eye drops and wetting drops and I also bought eyelid scrubs. I have been doing the protocol that she suggested BUT, I have also added tea tree oil to to the mix.

My routine:

Hot compresses, eyelid scrub, RX eye drops, then with diluted tea tree oil and a Q-tip I add some to each eyelid & eyebrow. I then add a drop or two of the oil to my face cream and rub it in on my face neck & ears.

I am a research junkie and I found on an ophthalmology website where ocular rosacea is now being discovered to be very much related to demodex mites !!! I was astonished to know this. Also, often times even FACIAL rosacea is related to this tiny mite.

In many cases, rosacea is an immune response to them. So, despite her not seeing an overgrowth, this doesn't;t matter because my immune system is bat crap crazy.

I began using the tea tree oil (diluted) on my eyelids and face. And even washed my hair with is and added it to my soap. Guess what?

In only 3 days I have had about a 75% reduction in my facial blushing. Maybe this is a coincidence, I don't know.....but to me this is HUGE. It is also a double edged sword. I now have to accept that my immune system IS nuts. It's not just my colon.....or the bugs in my colon.....but also the ones on my face too.

But at least bringing down the numbers of them seems to have offered a reprieve. Maybe a fleeting one, but I'll take it

AND......this is also a sign that maybe, just MAYBE, if I can alter the balance in my colon, maybe I can eliminate that immune response too.

I wanted to put this out there for other UC folks who may be having rosacea issues.....I will update if anything changes !

Interesting article about it:

http://optometrytimes.modernmedicine.com/optometrytimes/news/treat-rosacea-treating-cause-demodex

EDIT: typos & add article.

Post Edited (MarjieKay) : 7/1/2017 12:17:28 PM (GMT-6)