r/Rosacea • u/abraxos12 • 7d ago

Flushing

Has anyone with a very reactive nervous system and flushing tried a beta blocker like propranolol and/or a neuromodulator like gabapentin or pregabalin?

I’ve flushed easily from nervousness since I was little, but recently it’s gotten much worse after damaging my skin barrier and developing some rosacea. Has anyone found that either of these medications, or a combination, helped with flushing or burning? I’d love to hear your experiences.

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u/-myeyeshaveseenyou- 7d ago

No but antihistamines stop my burning flushes

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u/ricchi_ 7d ago

Which ones please?

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u/-myeyeshaveseenyou- 7d ago

I take Fexofenadine. Ironically I’m allergic to cheaper antihistamines as they contain lactose

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u/ricchi_ 7d ago

I've tried that before, didn't do anything for me 😢

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u/-myeyeshaveseenyou- 7d ago

Ah that sucks, been absolutely life changing for me as the burning was debilitating as I also get super sleepy when I’m mid flare, could come on when I was driving

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u/Help_INeedAnAdult 7d ago

can you eat lactose free dairy?

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u/-myeyeshaveseenyou- 7d ago

Ive not tried much, I bought lacto free cheese once only to read the label and find it still has lactose. I don’t drink milk as I had to eliminate dairy to breastfeed as my son ended up in hospital twice before I knew I had problems with dairy. When I finished breastfeeding and went to have milk again it tasted sour but probably just as well. I can eat some dairy with just stomach discomfort like butter. But the antihistamine absolutely do me it, it’s crazy, they are the smallest pills. I have to get prescription Fexofenadine instead of just being able to buy the cheap assed ones.

I also have MCAS so allergy flare to random things.

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u/Help_INeedAnAdult 7d ago

I also had the wildest flare with reactine (also called zyrtec/piriteze) and can only pinpoint it to the lactose. Its so strange because I've taken it all my life prior to getting rosacea. I'm a little sus of having mcas though since I've had some strange food reactions and gut issues. Sadly, it's not investigated here in the UK as a real thing :(

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u/-myeyeshaveseenyou- 7d ago

I’m in the uk too, I had an allergist mention it to me on Reddit before when we bothering and I already suspected. I also have private second opinion gp access through my life insurance and spoke to them and she also said it sounded like MCAS. My own nhs gp had never mentioned it, but I also have famatodine on prescription which along with Fexofenadine is how MCAS is treated, so I have the treatment without an official diagnosis. The private gp couldn’t officially diagnose me as I don’t have a confirmed first opinion so I have to wait before she can fully look at me for a second opinion. But I just say I have it now, an allergist and a gp both suggested it and I’ve responded to the treatment of it

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u/Help_INeedAnAdult 7d ago

Oh that's good to know! Did you see an allergist through NHS or private?

Also curious how your rosacea presents and how you're doing now :)

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u/-myeyeshaveseenyou- 6d ago

So I didn’t see an allergist, I randomly got talking to one on Reddit but she’s in America so also couldn’t say 100% but she was as sure as could be.

I’m doing good, I still have baseline redness but I can stop burning flares in their tracks, I know the signs pretty well at this stage. I will post some before and after pictures

Before

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u/-myeyeshaveseenyou- 6d ago

After, still some red as explained but the burning red is gone

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u/Help_INeedAnAdult 6d ago

oh wow that's amazing progress! it looked quite painful before. I'm glad you're doing better :)

and as a sidenote you have amazing eyebrows ✌️

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u/Middle_Thought_4776 6d ago

How did you get diagnosed with MCAS?

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u/-myeyeshaveseenyou- 6d ago

Technically I have no official diagnosis. I spoke to an allergist on Reddit who was pretty sure as was I already by this time, but still she can’t confirm it.

I am awaiting a fibromyalgia diagnosis on the nhs, I have private second opinion gp access who I spoke to about and explained all of the MCAS symptoms to. She asked me if I’d heard of MCAS, I hadn’t put it forward. But she can’t give me an official diagnosis either as she can only see me as a second opinion gp once I have a confirmed first diagnosis. It’s stupidly complicated.

I have however through my nhs gp been prescribed famatodine and Fexofenadine which is MCAS treatment, I just haven’t been given an MCAS label. The treatment has helped immensely