Some help please

[Stupid skin...]

Hi.

I've got a whole array of skin focused questions I'd like to ask, but I'll just start with the one affecting me the most at the moment.

I have persistent and very visible redness on my nose and on my cheek region, under my eyes (looks like I've been sitting out in the sun with sun glasses on). This problem started about 2 months ago and has stayed with me since.

Now, what I want to know is, what is it, how did it happen and how do I treat it?

It all started when we went to Whole Foods. I was on a College Trip in LA with a bunch of people from my school. At some point while in Whole Foods, my face just flared up. The entire thing got really red and fairly hot feeling. It went away within minutes, but in the coming days the region aforementioned started showing redness.

My possible theories for what it is are limited. I am hesitant to say Rosacea because a) I was lead to believe that Rosacea was non-existent in people my age (which is 17 by the way) and b) when I asked my doctor, he was very skeptical that someone my age would develop it.

As for what caused it, I've recently suspected it to be coming off of Doxycycline, which I had used for 10 days to treat an unrelated infection. Another possibility being perhaps the climate shift? (from Hawaii)

The only viable treatment options that I've seen are risky and expensive. This is why I would much rather use such treatments as a last resort, and hopefully gain some insight from you as to how I can treat this more safely.

Thanks for your time.

[shelley]

Unfortunately, Doxycycline is one of the worst antibiotics when it comes to unfortunate side effects. I'm very surprised they prescribed it to you. It's a tetracycline type, which almost always result in skin/teeth disorders. Sounds like you got too much sun while on the drug. Los Angeles' sunshine is EXTREME and not to be trifled with! And the drug makes you extremely photosensitive.

You have to follow the protocol for replenishing your friendly flora (drink 1/2 cup of Kefir each day, or take live acidpophilus supplements and occasionally eat yogurt). You may break out while doing this, but it must be done. After ten days of probiotics, work on the power of digestion, cleansing the lymphs, and eating my Protein Shake frequently. You should also do a stomach acid self-test. And get lots of Vitamin E (avocadoes and/or fresh wheat germ oil).

Most sun blockers have stuff you do NOT want on yoru skin, so keep out of the sunlight until the redness goes away, or wear a hat!