Maybe I notice complexions more as a result of
struggling with my own... but have you ever
noticed this?...... be talking to people riddled
by diseases of all sorts.... and their skin will
be beautiful; no indication whatsoever that there
is anything wrong within.

Don't get me wrong... I wouldn't trade places b/c
even though my face has "activity" and "shadows"
from scarring, when I start to feel sorry for
myself about this horrible condition, I remind
myself that I am as healthy as a horse otherwise
and I could have any one of a lot more horrible
conditions.

I made an appointment with (yet another) DermaDoc
in another town about 100 miles away. I'm going
to keep trying until someone helps me.

I am presently using:
B5 10 G / D
"Culturelle" acidophilus 2/day
assorted vitamins
Minocin 100 mg 2/day
Benzamycin individual dosages... (what a fleecing
that is... bp and erythromycin - cheap to make-
cost me a fortune!)
Differin and Tazarac (I switch back and forth
between the 2)

This kind of acne began for me at age 35. I say
"this kind" b/c it does NOT act like the
occasional acne I had in my teens. It occurs in a
cluster (many pores involved in one area) so I
have a huge area of involvement OR it will occur
in a line about 1/2 inch in length... one pore
after another. It starts out as a deep itchy
feeling like a Mexican jumping bean is down there
hopping around, then followed by erythema and
white "plugs" (round balls) which are stuck in the
pore, inextractable by squeezing (sorry about the
graphics). The top layer of skin sloths off b/c
there is something underneath that is needing to
come out so then I am left with a wound which the
dermatologist accuses me of "picking" which may or
may not be the case but he doesn't believe me when
I tell him it comes off by itself. I can use a
splinter tweezers to extract the plug as they are
stuck tight. It will appear then to be clean and
I have hopes that it will close up and go away but
there are always more plugs to follow. This can
go on for months (I am not exaggerating! - there
is a place near my lip (in the fold where I
smile - ouch!) that began last January - it is
still going strong.)

I may only have one or 2 places on my face but
they are huge, many pores involved all in one
area. My skin is very oily. I do not appear to
be "bad enough" to receive a script for Accutane
b/c out of all the dermatologists I've gone to
(and it's been many), no one has prescribed it.
However, I do have a lot of scarring which (to me
anyway) indicates "disfigurement", one of the
requirements for accutane candidates (sounds like
an honor, doesn't it?). How much more scarring do
I need before they'll prescribe it? Are the ones
I've chosen all worried about law suits? I'm post
menopausal so no danger there of conception.

Sorry to be long winded about this but it felt
good to put it down... the continuing saga of this
very disappointing, baffling and "patient"
disease.... and I continue on a daily basis to be
................BAFFLED.

Thanks for "listening",

Chere

"Walter"???

Geez, Kita... how are mites treated?

I'm all itchy now!

Chere

chere wrote:
months ago! I've progressed to dust mite obsession, though

Below is the list of symptoms from their site. The itchy tickle
sensation is what made me think of it from your post. They offered a few
treatments here (gratis) if those who received it would post about it
for the group (we are a skeptical bunch). I don't know if that's still
available, though. I'm still waiting to hear/read any updates..

Anyway, check out the site www.demodexsolutions.com
or email for info/help/questions info@demodexsolutions.com
(Walter is the owner or representative or whichever (of that company,
demodexsolutions) that has posted here and offered the trials, and has
been very informative.)

Sounds like your problem might be follicular of some nature (having to
do with the hair follicles), but that's just a guess (i'm not a doc).
But if you have the tickle sensation, perhaps it is the mites. The
products seem pricey (imho) but if it takes care of the problem once and
for all, then it would be very cheap. I don't know if they have any sort
of money back guarantee. Anyway, check out the symptom list below, on
the site there is a lot of info. I haven't tried this stuff, so buyer
beware and all that, of course. (Clinacally it's (the ingredients) been
proven to help rosacea. Whether it helps acne, I personally am waiting
to see what people say..)

I'd love to chat more about it, but my face and scalp are now itching
like crazy.. ::::scratch, scratch::::

GL,HTH
kita


"What are the most obvious signs from demodex activity? There are
numerous different signs of demodex activity. This is not a complete
list, rather it contains some of the most common cases.

One of the most obvious signs of the condition is a itching, crawling
sensation on the face or (and) in the scalp, but most of the time, there
is no itching at all, and people are not aware they are infested with
Demodex mites.
Often, the pores on the nose, forehead, chin and cheeks, become visibly
larger. At a further stage, acne can develop, after some time, the
facial skin can become red in places (rosacea) enlarging and damaging
the capillaries, thickening the nose (brandy nose) etc.

Tickling sensation on the face. This occurs most frequently on the lower
nose, forehead and cheeks, especially in the evening and night. This is
the highest period of activity, usually when they mate. Many people are
not aware of this tickle, because it starts gradually and it becomes an
automatic reaction to scratch without noticing. You may have observed
someone repeatedly scratching his face without realizing it.

Tickle on the scalp. Naturally, there can be also other conditions that
give cause for scratching, like lice and dandruff. These should be ruled
out in order to determine proper treatment.

Hair loss. In some cases, premature hair loss can be linked with
extended demodex folliculorum activity.

Widened pores. Starts usually on the nose and cheeks.

Acne. Forms include pimples, pustules, papules, popular eruption etc.

Red skin. Usually appears on the lower sides of the nose, forehead and
cheeks.

Itching eye lashes. Many times the eyelashes are thinning and falling out.

Itching eye brows.

Excess facial oils.

Demodedic rosacea.

Swollen nose."

Thanks Kita (I think - scratch, scratch),

I went to the site. I was interested in the
active ingredients but they no givie-uppie.
Hmmmm. There's another brand - Face Doctor/Face
Surgeon that has a 100% money back guarantee.
http://www.chinamystique.com/catalog1.asp

I suppose it's worth a shot. Have you heard any
reviews from anyone trying it?

Thanks,

Chere

chere wrote:
The Xin Fumanling contains 2% Metronidazole (active ingredient) among
other herbs. I'd talk to my doc before using Metro (which is also
available rx),
They don't say what is in the Zhongzhou ointment. But that's the stuff I
personally would try, I'm hesitant of metronidazole due to the
potential long term effects.

(ingredient and use info:
http://www.demodexsolutions.com/vpas...pexd.asp?id=25
http://www.demodexsolutions.com/vpas...pexd.asp?id=24)



I didn't see an ingredient list there, did you see one? I've never heard
of this stuff until now. The site isn't too impressive/informative
though. But aside from that, can't say...

TJU has been trying demodexsolutions, maybe he'll post in. Last I heard
he liked it..

oh, http://motherearthscreations.safesho...8/8206.htm?282 sells
the soap for 11.43, btw

(still trying to find the ingredients for that stuff..)

This "mite" theory (?) makes a lot of sense. I'll
bet if I continue with Tazarac and Benzomycin
(faithfully.... that's the problem with me)...
that I can clear these things up. "Vigilance"
seems to be the key. Once I begin to get clear, I
"forget" to use the products. I can't imagine
this guys web site creams could be stronger than
Tazarac or Differin h.s. and benzomycin the other
14 hrs. Sounds like the key is to keep something
on the entire face to keep the demodex from
setting up household in yet another pore... I'll
keep trying with the products I have with a lot
more consistency and let you know.
Chere

It's certainly worth giving the mites consideration.

I'm one of the people Walter Freyne supplied free creams to, after I'd
bought my first 'set' from the site.
I had the feather-tickling common with mite infestation and its seems to be
the case that the mite population increases with age, to the point that
symptoms occur.

I have great results using both creams. No tickling and much more even skin
tone.
That said, my acne is controlled by low-dose accutane so I can't say
conclusively that the demodex creams are truly effective. I wish I'd done a
microscope evaluation prior to starting, but I don't have one hanging
around...

Currently I use the Zhongzhou every other night and use the Fumanling cream
almost daily.
Despite my original criticism that the pot sizes are small for the money,
they do last extremely well, about 6-8 weeks.
I don't have any particular concerns about the ingredients.

My conclusion to date is that demodex creams are worth investigating for
rosacea and mature adult acne, especially in late-onset cases. I'd revise my
original advice regarding accutane and suggest trying the demodex creams
first.

"kita" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:3F1F0FBD.7010108@privacy.net...

I heard from the China Mystique people. The
"active ingredient" in "Face Doctor" (proported
treatment for demodex) is "seabuckthorn oil"...
ever heard of it?
Chere

I'd say that seabuckthorn is a synonym for "snake"

chere wrote:
I saw that on another site that sells it.. Dunno what it is though..
First instinct is to agree with Scarred, tho, <g>

Hi Kita,

I'm trying a anti-mite soap for my rosacea. So far, I really like what it
has done for my skin. It's only been about a week so I need to wait longer
and see what happens. What I notice is that the bumps go down after using
it but come back by the end of the day.

ar

"kita" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:3F200FA4.9090609@privacy.net...

Chere,

That's the stuff I'm using.

ar

"chere" <athey12@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bfp8k6$h13at$1@ID-200203.news.uni-berlin.de...

arlyn wrote:

Did you see it cheaper at the second link I posted (11 dollars)?

Ar

Glad to see you are back. I was wondering where you were. What happened
though? It sounds like your rosacea got bad again. Did you cheat on the
diet? Doughnuts too tempting? I am dealing with a bad breakout due to
doughnuts and double fudge brownies. When I look in the mirror, I don't
like what I see... guess it really wasn't worth giving in to temptation.

I've been interested in the demodex theory for some time now. Please keep us
updated on your success with the Face Doctor soap.... and good luck, of
course!

Hi Scarred,

I have to do some traveling for my job so I was away for the week.

No doughnuts for me! Just Ben & Jerry's icecream and cake! (I had a
birthday). I'll be broken out in a few weeks and wondering what I was
thinking.

Unfortunately, the rosacea doesn't respond to my diet at all. It also
doesn't respond to the prescription meds. I'm pretty much at the end of my
rope with it and fairly desperate. The mite theory seemed to make sense
because I've always had some sort of skin problem since I was 13 or so.
Acne then seborrhea (which I can't spell) and then rosacea.

What I noticed years ago about the rosacea was that it always started around
the hairline and then creeped down over the rest of my face. And then one
day it would just be gone. Then a few weeks later, it would start creeping
down again. I also noticed that my skin itched at night and I kept thinking
there were bugs on it. Now that I've moved to Vermont and I'm not in the
sun as much, the rosacea has taken over. I already have such a strong
steroid to use for it that my current doctor told me that I should never put
that medication on my face and I needed to find something else to do about
the rosacea. So, let's hope this works.

Double fudge brownies does sound pretty good.....

Take care,
ar

"Scarred For Life?" <dontemailme@bellsouth.net> wrote in message
news:i_1Va.8644$1m.7828@fe03.atl2.webusenet.com...

Scarred For Life? wrote:
Same, happy bday Ar!

Thanks!

Of course....I had always thought that by the time I hit 38 I would have
clear skin...

Oh well.

ar

"Kita" <omg8pv4802@sneakemail.com> wrote in message
news:3F25A533.80205@sneakemail.com...

I thought that when I reached 48......

"arlyn" <arlynsg@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:9xjVa.4959$gn6.886518@news1.news.adelphia.net ...

Arlyn

Since I know you believe in the healing power of natural foods and remedies,
I thought you might find this interesting.

J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2002 Dec;32(3):797-803. Related Articles, Links


Eucalyptus globulus (camphor oil) in the treatment of human demodicidosis.

Morsy TA, Morsy GH, Sanad EM.

Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo
11566, Egypt. morsy2000@hotmail.com

Demodex folliculorum (Follicular or Demodicid mite) is a zoonotic obligatory
parasite with clinical manifestations range from normal infestation to
complicated ones. Treatment of human facial demodicidosis with freshly
prepared camphor oil with or without glycerol dilutions gave complete cure
with concentrations of 100%, 75%. and 50%. Incomplete cure but marked drop
in infestation density was achieved with diluted camphor oil at
concentrations of 25-20%. Camphor oil application proved to be safe with no
side effects.

PMID: 12512812 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]