Hi all! I'm 48 years old and female, and have had problems with acne
for years and years, although I have usually been able to control
those problems with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide products.

But about 3 months ago, something new and much more disturbing
starting happening to the skin on my nose. It turns bright red and
then suddenly gets completely covered with pus-filled blisters that
are completely different from the zits I've been getting for years. I
live in Mississippi, and sometimes heat seems to trigger them, and
sometimes hormones. I went to a new dermatologist about 6 weeks ago,
and she didn't seem my skin at its worst, so she seemed to think it
was just acne (and she suggested that it didn't matter which one it
was). She gave me Retin-A and Metrogel, and said to use the Metrogel
in the morning and the Retin-A in the evening. My symptoms went away
for a few weeks, but this week, I have had several really bad
attacks--my son called me Rudolph. I get the feeling from what I've
been reading that the Retin-A is bad for the rosacea. What do you all
think?

Carolyn