Food/drink intake

breakfast: baguette with plum jam, coffee

lunch: dim sum

Dinner: sushi

My skin did not flare up.

Food/drink intake

Washed face with vanicream soap, put on vanicream moisturizer and sunscreen.

My face is a little red because it was hot and humid in the house.

Breakfast: granola, cheerios, apples, Greek yoghurt, flaxseed, milk -all in one bowl.

Went to yoga.

2nd breakfast: cappuccino, sourdough toast with raspberry jam.

Lunch: fried rice, handful of brown rice chips.

tea, gluten free cookies

dinner: spaghetti bolognese, slice of pavlova.

I have been trying to finish the desserts from last weekend so my face has remained the same all week -still have my new pimples. I need to stop eating the sugary desserts. I have been diligent in drinking water throughout the day.

Food/drink intake

My face is still pimply but less redder than yesterday.

Breakfast: seeded toast with grape jelly, cappuccino.

Went out to an errand and it is humid out there so my face is red.

Lunch: fried rice, handful of brown rice snacks.

Dinner: calamari, clam sandwich, blueberry peach cobbler, strawberry shortcake.

My face is still less red tonight.

Food/drink intake

I woke up and my face is still pimply but not overly red.

Breakfast: blueberry pancakes, cut up Asian pear.

Went to yoga.

2nd breakfast: sourdough toast with almond butter, cappuccino.

It is humid and hot out so my face is red. Sun/humid weather is a huge trigger.

Lunch: biryani rice with dumplings.

snack: brown rice chips.

Dinner: baked red snapper, potatoes and broccoli.

dessert: sliver of pavlova and napolean.

My face is breaking out with the dessert that I have been eating.

food/drink intake

My face is definitely reacting to all of the foods I ate yesterday!! I counted at least 6 new pimples/pustules!!

And this week I am using the Vanicream soap as a cleanser.

Breakfast: seeded toast with grape jelly, cappuccino.

Lunch: chicken, noodles and vegetables.

A handful of brown rice chips with sesame seeds.

Snack: egg tart.

Dinner: fried rice with roast pork, eggs and peas and soy sauce.

Dessert: small slice of pavlova.

I am having a very bad allergy day so my face has been and still is very red and blotchy all day. My eyes are very itchy and puffy too. It is humid today.

Food/drink intake

Saturday: Bacon and egg on toast, cappuccino.

Lunch: meat pie plus spaghetti bolognese - little of each.

coffee/oatmeal raisin cookie.

dinner: steak, mushroom risotto, cream brulee.

Sunday: buttermilk waffles, cappuccino.

Celebrating 70th birthday party at our house!

Lunch: chinese food; noodles, vegetables, beef kabobs, fruit punch.
dessert: cheesecake, pavlova, coconut cream pie, napolean cake, pineapple, oranges, coffee.

My face is very pimply mainly on my left cheek and mildly flared. It was humid today too.

Have been washing my face with the shampoo and putting on sunscreen.

food/drink intake

I woke up with pimples on my right cheek. Could it be from either the nuts or tomato sauce I ate yesterday? I am making more of an effort to drink lots more water and I know that helps with my skin.

Breakfast: cappucino, seeded toast with grape jelly.

Lunch: soba noodles with pork dumplings and broccoli.

Handful of potato chips.

Dinner: chicken tagine with rice.

Coffee/rugalach.

My pimples are clearing up. My face is slightly red from the humidity today.

I washed my face with the shampoo and put on moisturizer.

food/drink intake

Washed my face with the shampoo, put on moisturizer and sunscreen.

Breakfast: granola, cheerios, Greek yoghurt, flaxseed, blueberries, 2% milk -all mixed in the one bowl.

Coffee, pound cake.

Lunch: vegetarian biryani, chicken dumplings.

Apple cider donut, nuts and cut up apple.

I had to plant some annuals and my face is red from the hot sun outside!!! Uggh!

Dinner: spaghetti bolognese, Asian pear.
Handful of kettle corn.

Washed face with shampoo, and put on moisturizer.

Food/drink intake

I washed my face with Head and Shoulders shampoo, put on Vanicream moisturizer and sunscreen. I am thinking I will stick with the shampoo as a cleanser till the end of the week and then try the Vanicream soap next week. I want to see which one I like best.

Breakfast: Seeded bread toast with almond butter, cappuccino. I am still not sure about the almond butter -need to switch to eating it every other day.

Lunch: butternut squash soup, potato bread sandwiches with chicken and tuna, salad, coffee, banana bread. No flare ups.

Dinner: chicken with tomatoes, ginger, garlic, onion, spices, and chickpeas.

Went to a meeting and had 3 thin ginger cookies.

No flare ups today. I believe my skin looks less pimply today.

Washed my face with the shampoo and put on Vanicream moisturizer.

I suspect that strawberries and chocolate give me flareups. I do want to test this out.

food/drink intake

Breakfast: cappuccino, Seeded toast with grape jelly.

Lunch: meatballs on a roll.

Dinner; Spaghetti bolognese.

My face is slightly red probably from the tomatoes.

Cup of tea, gluten free cookies, handful of sour cream/chives potato chips.

I had my hair cut and colored so I flared up from the heat and the chemicals.

It hasn't changed from yesterday.

food/drink intake

Unfortunately I woke up and I have a new pustule/pimple! I am wondering whether it could have been the plain nuts I ate yesterday although I ate only a handful.

Breakfast: cappuccino, whole wheat toast with almond butter.

It was humid today so I know I am a little flushed from being outside.

Lunch: noodles with chicken, banana, handful of sour cream and chives chips.

Snack: iced donut

Dinner: fish with arugula and mushrooms. The sauce did have a little lemon juice and white wine. I had it with couscous and broccoli.

Slice of apple pie.

I think my face is slightly red. Tomorrow I am not going to eat the almond butter and see how my face is.

food/drink intake

I have to start again and not eat the foods I wasn't supposed to so that I can pinpoint the triggers. When I woke up, my face was slightly still red.

I washed my face with Head and Shoulders shampoo and put on sunscreen.

Breakfast: cappuccino, whole wheat toast with almond butter. Small slice of apple pie. No flare ups.

Lunch: potato and cauliflower soup, naan bread.

Snack: plain nuts, honey wheat snacks.

Dinner: beef bourguinon, rice, carrots, potatoes.

No flare ups today.

photos of face -update

I really like the Vanicream moisturizer -I use it on hands all the time and I feel my hands don't look as dry.

I feel that my face has made a slight improvement.






Thought I would post new pictures of my face at least on a weekly basis -to track if I see any changes.

What Rosacea Looks Like

I came across this website and found the many "faces" of rosacea.

Click on this site:

www.skincarephysicians.com

food/drink intake

It's the weekend so I am supposed to put on the topical cream. And I am putting on sunscreen. I am still washing my face with Head and Shoulders shampoo -it feels great on my skin.

Breakfast: sourdough toast with egg and bacon, cappuccino, handful of grapes.

My face has flared up moderately probably from all the foods I was eating yesterday- it could be either the strawberries, cheese or crabmeat.

Lunch was pork and rice. Still red.

Decaf coffee, oatmeal raisin cookie.

Dinner: pizza with proscuitto and gruyere cheese and a little tomato. banana split with vanilla icecream, cream and a little chocolate syrup. Still moderately red.

Food/drink intake

Breakfast: cappuccino, whole wheat toast with almond butter. I wanted to see if I would flare up and I didn't.

Lunch: Salad with crab, avocado and snow peas. Burger with grain salad, coffee, strawberry cheesecake. I am eating things I gave up for a week. I am testing one food per day although today I ate nuts, strawberries and cheese! I don't see any new pustules/pimples so far.

I am slightly red because I was outside and it was humid out. Definitely heat is a trigger!

Dinner: spaghetti with chicken meatballs.

I was definitely redder than usual.

food/drink intake

Today I stop putting topical cream on my face until the weekend as per Dr. K's instructions.

Breakfast: granola, cheerios, apples, flaxseed, plain Greek yoghurt, milk -no flare up.

Did a session of yoga which I just love.

Eating whole wheat toast with just raspberry jam and a cappuccino. I wanted to see if raspberry jam is a trigger. No flare up.

It has been 1 week of putting on my topical cream and I think that my skin is looking much better than before. Also, my right cheek is less pimple free and less red than my left cheek.

For lunch: vegetarian biryani, chicken cilantro dumplings.

A handful of plain nuts -no flare up.

Ate a banana -no flare up.

Dinner: leftover eggplant and chicken, rice, bok choy and cauliflower, arugula salad.

Coffee, apple pie. No flareups.

Food/drink intake

Breakfast: granola/cheerios with plain greek yoghurt, blueberries, flaxseeds and 2% milk. No reaction.
Toast with grape jelly. Cappuccino. No flare ups.

Lunch: soba noodles, fresh miso, bok choy, pork dumplings. Ate it lukewarm. Very mild flareup -wondering if it is the miso?
Handful of honey chex mix. no flare ups.

I am trying really hard to snack on foods that contain no cheese, nuts or chocolate. I found Trader Joes' Onion and Chive seeded corn crackers and it's gluten free.

Dinner: baked chicken meatballs, spaghetti with plain tomato sauce. No flareups. This is good because I was told not to eat tomatoes but I seem to be fine. Pears and grapes.

Food/drink intake

Started with a new cleanser as Dr.K suggested.

I washed my hair with Head and Shoulders shampoo -which was great on my hair. My head had been feeling itchy and this shampoo helped a lot. I also used Head and shoulders as a cleanser and there was no reaction to it.

Breakfast: cappuccino, whole wheat toast with grape jelly. No flare-ups.

Lunch: beef with scallions and rice, dumplings. California rolls.

So far, no flare-ups.

Dinner is: chicken in white wine sauce with eggplant. I put in half a teaspoon curry. Served with roasted potatoes and brussel sprouts. No flare ups.

Today was a good day!

Tonight I will wash my face with the Head and Shoulders shampoo.

Food/drink intake

Breakfast: cappuccino, toast with vegemite, toast with raspberry jam.

Mild flare up on my left cheek: it is caused by either the raspberry jam and/or vegemite. It is probably both because according to the rosacea.org list of triggers-essentially both of these are on there.

Tomorrow: I will not eat either of these and see what happens. I am thinking it is probably the Vegemite that is causing a flareup.

Lunch: mini chicken dumplings and vegetarian biryani. no flare ups.

handful of sweet potato chips.

1 iced donut.

Dinner: cauliflower and potato soup, homemade rosemary flatbread. No flareups. Grapes, Apples.
2 pieces of licorice.

Factors That May Trigger Rosacea Flare-Ups from Rosacea.org

The following list was compiled from patient histories by Dr. Jonathan Wilkin and produced by the National Rosacea Society.

Foods
Liver
Yogurt
Sour cream
Cheese (except cottage cheese)
Chocolate
Vanilla
Soy sauce
Yeast extract (bread is ok)
Vinegar
Eggplant
Avocados
Spinach
Broad-leaf beans and pods, including lima, navy or pea
Citrus fruits, including tomatoes, bananas, red plums, raisins or figs
Spicy and thermally hot foods

Foods high in histamine

Foods reported to be high in histamine are fermented cheeses (e.g. Camembert, Brie, Gruyere, Cheddar, Roquefort, Parmesan), brewer's yeast, shellfish, many fin fish, canned fish, tomato, spinach, red wine (especially Chianti), beer, unpasteurized milk (e.g., cow, goat or human milk), chicken, dry pork sausage, beef sausage, ham, chocolate, fermented soy products, and all fermented vegetables, such as sauerkraut.

For more information about foods and histamine: http://urticaria.thunderworksinc.com/pages/lowhistamine.htm

Temperature Related:

Saunas
Hot baths
Simple overheating
Excessively warm environments

Weather
Sun
Strong winds
Cold
Humidity

Drugs
Vasodilators
Topical steroids

Beverages

Alcohol, especially red wine, beer, bourbon, gin, vodka or champagne
Hot drinks, including hot cider, hot chocolate, coffee or tea

Medical conditions

Frequent flushing
Menopause
Chronic cough
Caffeine withdrawal syndrome
Emotional influences

Physical exertion
Stress
Anxiety
Exercise

"Lift and load" jobs

Skin care products

Some cosmetics and hair sprays, especially those containing alcohol, witch hazel or fragrances
Hydro-alcoholic or acetone substances
Any substance that causes redness or stinging

food/drink intake

My face is still slightly red and blotchy today.

Breakfast: cappuccino, croissant, slice of apple pie. Waited till food was slightly cooler before eating. Trying to remember to eat things lukewarm.

Was outside in cold weather (low 50s) -face turned a little red. Cold weather is a trigger.

Lunch: chinese noodles with pork and green vegies.

Dinner: miso soup, sashimi over rice, green salad.

Face looks back to normal -no food triggers today.

Have been very diligent about putting on the topical cream and washing my face with the vanicream products.

For night time routine: only washing face with vanicream soap and topical cream. Not putting on moisturizer.

Mild flare up today due to being outdoors in cold weather.

Food/drink intake

Washed my face with Vanicream soap, put on topical cream, put on Vanicream moisturizer and sunscreen.

Breakfast:

cappucino, apples, whole wheat toast with egg and bacon. no reaction

1 milano chocolate cookie. I forgot that I am not supposed to eat chocolate for a week!!! and it has affected my face! chocolate is definitely a trigger.

Lunch: carrot and potato soup, whole wheat naan bread.
Snack: a handful of sesame thin crackers.
hummus and tortilla chips

Dinner: steamed pork, rice and cooked green vegies.

I need to remember not to eat temperature hot food. My face has been red all day.

Food/drink intake

My face is definitely redder than yesterday. The minor car infraction didn't help along with my dc crying over the car incident. Because dc were crying, I was affected too. My skin is pretty blotchy today.

For Breakfast:

cappucino with whole wheat toast. 1 slice with vegemite. 1 slice with raspberry jam -wondering if I will react in anyway with the jam? no reaction.

lunch: ham sandwich, with mustard and lettuce
lemonade
decaf coffee -drunk lukewarm, lemon pound cake. no reaction

Sat outside for 1 hour and my skin is looking really red and blotchy!! A huge mistake : (

Dinner: leftover fried rice, mushroom/green vegie, chicken.
A handful of kettle corn, 2 pieces of licorice. no reaction.

Discovered one new pustule/pimple!

Type of topical cream I am using

This is what Dr. K has recommended that I put on my face 2 times a day for one week and then only on weekends.

Ketoconazole 2% Desonide 0.05%

I believe it is a very low percentage topical cream.

So far I have not reacted to it. (1:40pm)

Food/drink intake

Cappucino made with 2 % milk. Drinking it lukewarm.
1 slice whole wheat toast with a smear of Vegemite (yeast extract -supposedly a trigger)
1 slice whole wheat toast with boysenberry jam

Took 1 Claritin.
Washed face with Vanicream soap. Put on moisturizer and sunscreen #60. My skin feels good.

Picked up prescription for topical cream -put it on. No reaction.

Ate leftover fried rice for lunch and water. Need to increase my intake of regular cold water.
Ate a handful of potato chips.

Went out for a birthday dinner in a Chinese restaurant. No reactions.

Unfortunately, sideswiped a parked car and I flared up due to the stress of it all.

Came home washed face with vanicream soap and topical cream. No reaction.

What are the ingredients in Vanicream? Taken verbatim from the Vanicream website

VanicreamTM Skin Cream

A non-greasy, long-lasting moisturizing cream that is easy-to-spread, quickly absorbed and non-comedogenic*. Also available as a lotion.

non-irritating, non-staining
soothes red, irritated, cracking or itchy skin
soothes and retards the blistering of sunburn
use as a night cream and for massage
apply as needed to face, hands, feet and body
apply after bathing, showering, swimming or sun exposure
apply before exposure to wind or cold
beneficial in skin problems such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), psoriasis, and ichthyosis which may be aggravated by lack of moisture
used as a compounding base by physicians and pharmacists
long-lasting, easy-to-spread, and non-greasy
free of common chemical irritants

*does not cause blackheads

Ingredients
purified water, white petrolatum, sorbitol solution, cetearyl alcohol, propylene glycol, ceteareth-20, simethicone, glyceryl monostearate, polyethylene glycol monostearate, sorbic acid and BHT


VanicreamTM Sunscreens SPF 30 & 60

High protection from the sun without the use of sensitizing chemical sunscreens. Formulated with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

The ingredient profile you prefer!
total broad spectrum protection - blocks UVA and UVB rays
free of PABA, cinnamates, and benzophenones
free of preservatives
free of common chemical irritants
moisturizing
non-comedogenic*
The cosmetic elegance you demand!
light, elegant, transparent formula
easy to spread
for face and body
Total broad spectrum protection...
UVB
UVA I (long)
UVA II (short)
Critical wavelength exceeds
370 nanometers
*does not cause blackheads

ctive Ingredients
SPF 30: titanium dioxide 5%, zinc oxide 5%
SPF 60: titanium dioxide 7.5%, zinc oxide 7.5%

Inactive ingredients:
alumina, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, caprylic/capric triglyceride, cetearyl isononanoate, cetyl alcohol, isopropyl titanium triisostearate/triethoxycaprylylsilane crosspolymer, magnesium sulfate, methylpropanediol, PEG-12 dimethicone, PEG-30 dipolyhydroxystearate, phenyl trimethicone, polyethylene, polyhydroxystearic acid, purified water, sodium ascorbyl phosphate, stearyl dimethicone, tetrasodium EDTA, tocopheryl acetate, triethoxycaprylylsilane

VanicreamTM Cleansing Bar

A unique fragrance-free formula that moisturizes while gently cleansing the skin. Your skin will feel clean, fresh and soft without feeling dry or irritated.

free of fragrance and masking fragrance
moisturizing
non-comedogenic*
mild and gentle
ideal for daily use
contains VanicreamTM Skin Cream
for face, hands and body
for all skin types
rich lather in hard or soft water
free of common chemical irritants

*does not cause blackheads

Ingredients
sodium cocoyl isethionate, stearic acid, water, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, sodium isethionate, sorbitol solution, ceteareth-20, propylene glycol, cetearyl alcohol, glyceryl monostearate, white petrolatum, simethicone, polyethylene glycol monostearate, titanium dioxide, sorbic acid, BHT

Closeups of my rosacea

What I have eaten today and were there any flare ups?

We were at a friends house celebrating a birthday.

Lunch was salad -beets, lettuce, mandarin.

Salmon and orzo.

Birthday cake

Coffee

I believe there is no reaction so far. (4pm).

I am also going to post a picture of my face as it is now. Hoping to see a difference later on.

For Dinner I made fried rice with Chinese sausage, eggs, bbq chicken (which was in a marinade that included ketchup), and peas. I only added soy sauce. Supposedly soy sauce is a rosacea trigger.

I also ate a slice of apple pie.

Just checked my face -seems the same. (9:33pm)

My appointment with Dr. K.

I want to start this as a personal journal about trying to get rid of my rosacea permanently. I am hopeful. I really like Dr. K. It was a quick appointment but it was all business and I am okay about that.

(I have had rosacea for over 10 years -never really thought too much about it and now I am obsessed about it.)

She asked a series of questions like:

. Does anyone in your family have redness? I answered no but will find out for sure.

. Do I have a tendencies to get red when in the sun or drinking alcohol. I don't drink alcohol but I definitely get red in the sun very quickly!

. Do I get bloody noses? yes I do.

. Do I get red quickly when playing tennis and activities like this? Yes.

Dr. K also noticed how dry my hands were too. She looked closely at my skin and said she was certain it was rosacea but what she wanted to do was some bloodwork. The blood test was to see if there was no underlying thing that was causing my rosacea. I need to call back in a week to see if she found out anything.

So in the meanwhile, there was a laundry lists of things to consider and watch out for and skincare regime.

. Avoid anything hot, spicy foods, hot beverages.

. Ask family members about redness.

. Wash face 2 times a day with lukewarm water using either Vanicream or Lather of Head&Shoulders shampoo. I am to test one product for 5 days and then try the other product for 5 days and note down any changes/differences.

Right now I am washing my face with Keys products -all 100% chemical free. Did it make a difference? A little. I know when I used Eucerin -my face definitely was much redder.

. I am getting a prescription for Nizoral/Tridesilon -a topical cream. I am to put it on my face 2 times a day for 1 week only and after that only on weekends. I am going to google and see what the ingredients are.

. Then Monday to Friday -I am to put Vanicream Moisturizer and Vanicream Sunscreen #60.

. Keep a dairy of when I flare up.

I am to avoid the following foods for 1 week and then see what happens:

. Strawberries

.Shellfish

.Nuts

.Tomatoes

.Cheese

.Chocolate

. I am to take Claritin in the mornings.

Well, this is a lot to do but I have a feeling it will be worth it. Especially if my redness can dissipate and if I can see improvement within a week.

This journal will be my recordings of what I eat and if anything I eat triggers my rosacea.