Sudden Flair up!

[wrackum3]

Over the past year I have had these small red bumps that have broken out on my cheeks.  As the year went on It started to get worse. So now it is on my face, cheeks and jaw.  I also noticed these bumps by the edges of my nose and sometimes partially in the nostril.  They do not pop like a pimple. They will sometimes form a white-ish head but I go to pop it and only clear liquid comes out. Every once in a while it will act or look like it is clearing up, but then I am back to where I started again. I wash my face day and night with Dove soap for sensitive skin, followed by an application of Witch Hazel.  It is not from an allergy either.  It does not itch.  It is annoying and I feel like I am 15 again! Except I am pretty sure that this is not acne this time.  However I may be wrong.  Any suggestions would be more than helpful.  

I have posted a picture, hopefully this might help.  I have a little make up on so it covers up the redness in the area.  

[earthturnstogold]

I would guess that this is Rosacea. I say this because I had it. And I say I HAD it because I SIGNIFICANTLY reduced the symptoms by reducing the stress in my life.

In 2003 I noticed the same thing as you. I started to have something like acne, but it wasn't exactly like the kind of acne we're used to as a teenager. I would get little sort-of pus filled bumps on my cheeks. Though first it started with just red areas that then became inflamed. No itch or pain or anything. Just raised reddish areas. Then the bumps started and it looked worse than before.

I finally asked my doctor and she said that indeed it was Rosacea (I had suspected this because my mom has it).

It got pretty bad sometimes and other times it would be mild, but my cheeks were permanently red (when it wasn't so obvious with bumps and pimples, people would actually comment on my "cute rosy cheeks").

I got a Metronidazole cream prescription from the doctor, and that helped a little bit but it still wasn't going away. I looked into it further and found out that once you start to develop it it will not reverse - it can only slow down or possibly stop (with treatment), or it can get worse (if you don't treat it). But my understanding was that there is no reversal of it. Perhaps research since then has changed the validity of that statement... I don't know though because I mostly stopped looking into it because I cured myself of it.

The simplest way to do this is to reduce stress in your life. I am not kidding.

I didn't know that I was going to fix my Rosacea by changing other things in my life, but the two things coincided and I KNOW that it was matter of being much happier than ever before due to turning my life around and seeking what I really wanted.

I know this seems like an unattainable goal to many, but seriously - stress is such an undeniably dominant factor in unhappiness and ill-being in our lives overall, that if we can do anything to reduce it I am certain that positive changes will manifest.

If you feel that you absolutely cannot make changes in your life to get closer to doing/being what you truly want, then at least ask your doctor to give you a prescription for something like the Metronidazole cream. It'll help in the short-term.

Good luck.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
I cannot cofmirm anything without examination but it can be acne, clogged hair follciles or rosacea. Rosacea is a cutaneous disorder primarily of the central part of the face , such as forehead; cheeks ;nose; and chin. Pimples are sometimes included as part of the definition.
Treatment options vary from antibiotic creams, antihistaminics, sun screens to laser treatment. A dermatologist’s evaluation will be the best.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.