Hi, I'm a long time sufferer of Acne Rosacea who is finally clear (8
weeks now) after suffering for over 20 years. I wanted to share my
solution in the hope that I can help someone else. This is a long e-
mail, but I want to provide all the details.

My experience with Rosacea started when I subletted a room from a
Salvadorean lady of about 52 who I worked with. She suffered from
Rosacea, but at the time (about 1987) people still suspected the
condition was Gin Blossoms and cruel rumors were spread around the
office that she had a drinking problem, which I found to be entirely
untrue.

This lady, who I'll call Gina, told me that she acquired the Rosacea
one year (I think it was1983) when we had an unusual amount of
rainfall in the San Francisco Bay Area (Sunnyvale). Apparently a leak
in the common wall caused a mold infestation to bloom behind her
entertainment center and she claimed that she acquired the condition
at exactly that time.

After living in the house for 2 years, I started to get red flaking
patches of skin around my nose. I eventually consulted a
dermatologist and he diagnosed Seborrheic Dermatitis and prescribed
Selenium Sulfide Shampoo and Hydrocortizone. This combination seemed
to work pretty well, and I started buying the OTC versions (Selsun
Blue and Cortizone 10 (only Cortizone 5 back then)) and using
them regularly.

At about this time, I became very allergic and would sneeze terribly
in springtime and fall. I used to use pseudofed for this and
would buy 100 count bottles of pills to control my allergy. This
allergy stuck with me for 15 years and I was only able to get over it
when I finally sold my condo and moved into a house. Long story
short, there was a mold infestation behind the wood paneling in my
bedroom, which I only discovered when I remodeled the condo for sale.
After fixing this, I have had very few problems with allergies, and I
am relatively sure that I am very allergic to this particular type of
black mold, endemic to the Bay Area.

Unfortunately, after a few years of treating my face with
Hydrocortizone, the medicine gradually stopped helping and I started
to develop a very bad rash on my face. This time, about 1995, I was
able to consult the Internet and found out about Cortizone induced
Rosacea. It turned out I had been causing Acne Rosacea by treating
myself daily with Hydrocortizone.

I went to another dermatologist and he diagnosed Rosacea and
prescribed the (then new) drug Metragel. This worked for a while, but
I went to another dermatologist and he prescribed the (now newer)drug
Elidel for my face and recommended(now available as generic) Metragel
only for outbreaks on my chest and back.

The Elidel worked (barely) for a few years, but eventually the
Rosacea came back stronger than ever. My next dermatologist continued
the drugs I was on and added Doxycycline (oral 100mG, twice daily). I
kept up with this regimen for about 4 years with little to no
improvement in my condition.

During this time, reasoning that my dermatologist wasn't getting
anywhere, I did some experiments with OTC skin treatments and found
that Clearasil at least temporarily improved my condition. I reported
this to my dermatologist and he discouraged me from using this and
encouraged me to stick with his medication.

Things went on like this for another 2 years, I looked awful, and
felt terrible. The rosacea acne was actually painful and would break
out at very inopportune times. About 2 months ago, I took a business
trip to Taiwan and the stress of the 13 hour flight actually caused a
terrible breakout. My face was purple and swollen and hurt. I
looked like I had been in a prizefight and lost. I was almost too
embarassed to step outside my hotel room.

At this time I discovered, to my chagrin, that I was nearly out of
doxycyclin, and I had no idea how to get a prescription filled in
Taiwan. In a fit of desperation, I bought some tinted Clearasil and
basically tried to cover up my bruises. I'll admit it, I'm a guy and
I don't like the idea of using makeup, but if it's medicine and it
just happens to cover up blemishes, well then I guess that's OK.

Funny thing was, the Clearasil seemed to have an immediate effect on
the Rosacea. It seemed to dry up the pustules and after using it for
one day, I was noticeably better. I tried applying it thickly at
night and in the morning I looked much better. I continued doing this
for the rest of my trip, and by the end of the week, I looked almost
normal.

So now, I believe I am cured. My face actually looks pretty spotless
now and I feel confidence that I haven't felt in many years. I am
still using the clearasil intermittently when I feel like an outbreak
might be coming on, but the worst is definitely over, and I can
certainly manage my condition now. I use a little hydrocortizone to
prevent dermatitis on my cheeks, where there is little chance of
inducing Rosacea, and Metragel on spots on my chest and back, where
it does a fine job.

So that is my story. I hope it can help someone who, like me, is
getting no help from their dermatologist, and would be better off
spending $6.99 at the drug store than $100's on medical advice.

Essentially, I believe that the rosacea started as an allergic
reaction to black mold, then got progressively worse as I used
Hydrocortizone to treat it. The Elidel was no help at all, and the
anti-biotics did nothing for it because it was not a bacterial
infection. Good old Benzoyl Peroxide dried up the Rosacea, and, I
surmise, killed the mold infection which was causing the inflammation
to continue. Hopefully, somebody else will be inspired to try this
remedy and let me know if it helps.

Good luck,
-Tim Shepard