Ok folks. This is another one of those letters asking for your
support for the Rosacea Research Foundation. If you're just
plain sick of me and my pleas, well, just disregard this and I
apologize in advance for bothering you. I would however like to
share a bit of information I got from the latest issue of
Dermatology Times so maybe just try and bare with me.

DT has a "Special Report on Rosacea" starting on page 58. The
lead article has a big, bold title stating "STUDY CONFIRMS
BENEFITS OF METRONIDAZOLE GEL TX." It goes on to say that
a large phase 4 clinical trial has reaffirmed that Metrogel, and
here I quote, "Safely and effectively treats rosacea while
simultaneously improving quality of life for affected patients."
Gee, I wish I had learned a long time ago that buying a tube of
Metrogel was all I needed to get rid of my rosacea and get my life
back (tongue planted firmly in cheek here).

Other articles talk about the "new" classification system for
rosacea subtypes and how doctors now know better which
patients to treat with doxycycline, Metrogel or Finacea. Of course
the avoidance of triggers are mentioned and it's even suggested
that we start keeping diaries of what sets our flares off. Oh, and
if we reduce our stress levels that will be helpful too. Wow, big
one handed clap for that information.

A Dr. Bikowski did talk about inflammation and his success with
using baby asprin which I found interesting. Then there was Dr.
Nase's article which by far blew everyone out of the water. He
was the only one to talk about flushing, neuropathic and ocular
rosacea and actual ways of treating both successfully. His
perspective is fresh, informative and to the point. Much different
then the blah, blah, tell me something I don't already know stuff
coming from the other articles.

What I'm trying to say here is that we have two paths to follow
with this disease. One is the conventional treatment of
metrogel, doxy, finacea and a kick in the rear as you walk out of
your derm's office.

The other is not well known and maybe a little scary but it offers
so much more hope because it centers on treating the vascular
nature of rosacea, the true heart. We have the leading specialist
in the rosacea field on our side, experimenting with triple pass
lasers, macrolide antibiotics, pre-laser flushing and so much
more. He's even gone on, with other members of this board, to
form a research foundation to be used solely to fund new and
innovative ways to beat this disease.

Nobody else is doing this and nobody else will because the
viewpoint from the medical and pharma communities is that
rosacea can be contained with what's on the market already. Do
you feel like your flushing is contained and under control? Are
you satisfied with your tube of Metrogel or Finacea that's burning
your face off? Do you feel avoidance of triggers is an acceptable
form of treatment.

Well I personally don't and believe the RRF is an oppoprtunity we
can't afford to blow.

They need $20,000 to fund their first study and we are currently
at the $14,000 mark. I say in two weeks we can be there! Let's
put all differences aside and just concentrate on meeting this
one goal of raising $6,000. I know we can do this! Just go to
rosacea-research.org to make your donation.

I put up $200 last night, who wants to match me? Or better yet
top me? If you can't afford that, 10 or 20 will do as well. And of
course if you can't afford anything than don't feel bad about not
donating. We'll never know anyway.

Thanks for reading.

Tricia