Shortly before my 32nd birthday, red pustules, typical of rosacea, appeared on my cheeks and forehead. I tried to find a solution on my own and started with a change in diet. Unfortunately, avoiding dairy products and artificial additives and flavorings, as well as an otherwise balanced diet, did not help. Even leaving out and replacing my facial cosmetics did not bring any improvement in the symptoms.
Table of Contents
Finding the right diagnosis
My family doctor initially assumed that I had an allergy and undertook an allergy test. However, this did not yield any results. Another doctor prescribed me a cortisone ointment, which I refused. I turned to a doctor specializing in internal medicine, naturopathic medicine and homeopathy. He did an extended blood count, checked my urine and thyroid levels, but couldn’t find anything. The therapy to strengthen my intestinal flora was also unsuccessful. One day I came across the “rosazea.net discussion forum” on the Internet by chance. There I described my symptoms to a dermatologist in a chat. She suspected it could be the skin disease rosacea. A chronic illness that I had never known before and that meant nothing to me. I researched online for a while – through forums and articles – before searching offline for a solution to my redness and a dermatologist.