Posts by Susan Parker2

velvetmoose9 said:The photo is a bit blurry, so it's hard to tell.
1. Is this exact same "redness" showing up on both cheeks? On your forehead? Anywhere else on your body, or just general skin changes?
2. Did this pop up out of nowhere, or did it kind of creep up on you over time?
3. Did it start during puberty, or was it even back when you were a kid?
4. Does anyone else in your family deal with similar "redness" (mom, dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles...)?
5. Do your joints ever ache—like your hands, knees, or ankles—without any obvious reason why?
6. Do your joints ever swell up, or maybe feel warm and painful?
7. Do you ever wake up with stiff fingers in the morning (with no real cause, like heavy manual labor) where you have to basically "work them out" before they actually function properly?
8. Is there a history of rheumatic or autoimmune diseases in your family?
9. Any issues with your heart?

It’s mostly symmetrical, though sometimes one side flares up more than the other. It doesn't show up anywhere else on my body.

2. Did this happen suddenly, or was it gradual?

Honestly, I really don't know.

3. During puberty, or even back in childhood?

Roughly since I was 15. Though, looking back at some old photos from elementary school, I can faintly see the early outlines of the redness—it's subtle, but it's there.

4. Does anyone in your family have similar "redness" (mom, dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles...)?

As far as I know, no, but I'll double-check.

5. Do your joints ever ache—like your hands, knees, or ankles—without any obvious reason?

No.

6. Do your joints ever swell (and/or feel warm and painful)?

No.

7. Do you perhaps experience morning stiffness in your fingers (with no clear cause, like heavy physical labor), where you have to "work them out" before they function properly?

No.

8. Has anyone in your family suffered from rheumatic or autoimmune diseases?

I don't think so.

9. Do you have any heart problems?

No.

I'll post a clearer photo tomorrow.

Fine, whatever you say.

Tyler James5 said:@Susan Parker2 -

Check out this info on antihistamines here:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hives/articles-20103527

Basically, these are just meds meant to dial down the allergic reaction. If you're dealing with an acute hives flare-up like this, your regular family doctor can prescribe them. They're all pretty much in the same ballpark, but because of those tiny little differences, you really gotta find the specific one that actually works for *your* body. For instance, Claritin isn't even on that list, but honestly? It’s the only thing that ever touches my symptoms...

As for covering it up with makeup, you've got a bit of a situation there. When the inflammation is this intense, your skin starts acting totally erratic and hypersensitive—I mean, even plain water might sting at this point. So, trying to slather concealer over it is probably a bad move... it'll likely just drive you crazy how much it irritates everything.

Dry, cold compresses can help a bit, but that's just a quick fix, really. You've gotta figure out what's actually triggering this so you can treat the root cause instead of just chasing symptoms.

...

I suppose I have no choice left but to head in for allergy testing. If they don't find anything conclusive, then I'm truly at a loss.

In the meantime, should I start taking something like Allegra now, or would it be wiser to wait until my test results come back?

Perhaps your dog managed to sneak itself right under the duvet 🙂

Not really. What exactly falls under the category of antihistamines?

Before I can actually get this sorted—assuming I even can—is there anything I can use to temporarily mask this redness?

I used Oranozol until I ran completely out—so, for about a month, applying it twice a day.

According to my dermatologist, some people are just more prone to this than others. On top of that, certain things tend to flare up the redness, like spicy food, stress, alcohol, and so on...

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=30j69gn&s=6

Tyler James5 said:@Susan Parker2

so, based on what you've been through, what actually triggers it for you? have you ever gone for those allergy panels? maybe an IgE blood test?

like, does your skin freak out over certain chemicals—you know, cosmetics, laundry detergent fumes in the house, whatever—or is it more about stress, or the Sun, or specific foods (which ones?), or even just shifts in the weather?

and how old are you, roughly? how’s your health generally... things like BMI, blood pressure? any meds you're currently on?

does the redness come with itching and some surface swelling, or is it just intense flushing? can you actually see capillaries with the naked eye? does it always pop up in the same spots on your face or body? is there a seasonal thing going on with it?

...

Best,

It’s been ages since I last did any testing; I had a childhood allergy to penicillin, but nothing since then.

I haven't really tracked whether food triggers anything or not. As for skincare, I occasionally use Neutrogena, but I don't notice any reaction to it. Before I started using this French cream, I remember using Oranogel as part of a treatment plan my dermatologist prescribed. If anything, that might have been the most helpful thing I've tried, though it didn't provide any definitive results.

If I had to guess, the redness definitely flares up more during the summer.
For instance, if I go a few days without applying moisturizer, my skin starts peeling. It feels tight and incredibly dry, which then leads to a stinging sensation.

I'm 22. My blood pressure is fine, though it runs a little low sometimes. I'm rarely seriously ill and don't take any regular medication.

The redness always hits the exact same spot (I can send a photo if needed). Occasionally, a tiny dot about half the size of a period will appear that's much redder and looks slightly swollen, which causes a bit of a sting.
I wouldn't call it simple blood flow; I can't see any visible capillaries at all.

Forgive me if there's already a thread covering this exact topic.

I've been struggling with facial redness for quite a few years now, dealing with everything from peeling skin to constant stinging sensations. I've actually sat through two separate appointments with a dermatologist regarding this issue. Before my first visit, I was using Elocom, but she told me to cut that out immediately and prescribed a milder regimen involving Johnson's Baby and another cream. During my second follow-up, since the redness just wouldn't budge, she switched me over to a product from La Roche-Posay—which, to be fair, is just the name of the pharmaceutical brand.
They gave me this little tube, but from what I can tell after two weeks of consistent use, there hasn't been any noticeable change at all. It's also pretty damn expensive.

I’m under no illusions; I know a complete cure is basically impossible because it’s all tied back to stress, alcohol consumption, diet, and all that other nonsense.
Still, I haven't managed to find a single decent medication that actually manages to dial down the redness even a little bit.

I'm certainly no medical genius, so if anyone here has actually dealt with this and found something that works, I’d truly appreciate you sharing your experience.

It’s also being a total pain...

Kevin Garcia12 said:It's complicated...

Honestly, it all comes down to how old you are; if you're younger, you might see some partial correction through physical therapy and perhaps wearing a brace, but true scoliosis usually requires surgery if you're looking for any kind of significant result—though that’s a heavy decision and certainly not a minor procedure.

If you're actually in pain, my best advice is to go see an orthopedic specialist in your city to figure out what your actual options are...

I'm 20... Are there actually exercises that work, or is it all useless?
I've seen some workout routines online, but nothing specifically for straightening the spine. I don't really slouch, it's more this constant, nagging misalignment that's bothering me.

Hey everyone...

So, about my back. It’s shaped like a literal letter S, and frankly, I'm getting tired of looking at it. I went to see a doctor recently, and they basically told me there isn't much they can do—that this is just how I was built. Personally, I'm not buying that for a second, so I'm turning to you all: is there actually a way to fix this and straighten things out?