I tried posting this earlier this evening. I don't see it so I hope it doesn't show up twice. I'm sorry if it does.

Warning: Long post! Sorry but I need to vent.

I was diagnosed with Rosacea in December by my primary care doctor. My primary care doctor gave me a prescription to Metrogel 1%, but it made my skin even redder with lots of papules. Once I stopped using metrogel and slowly added things back my skin finally cleared up.

I went to a dermatologist for the first time today. He confirmed that I have stage 1 rosacea. I was expecting my derm to be like Dr. Baumann, someone who seemed to care and would look at what I'm currently using and suggest other products, etc. He wasn't.

Dr. Baumann recommended that anyone diagnosed with rosacea should be tested for H. pylori. When I asked the derm about this he said to go back to my primary care doctor.

The main problem that I experience is red skin on one side of my face. I asked the derm about prescription cleansers and prescription medications for facial redness. I showed him Dr. Baumann's book. On page 131 she has a stage 2 prescription regimen for flushed skin, rosacea, and redness. He said it would only treat rosacea acne not redness. The derm said the only thing that would help the redness is laser treatment. He said I would need 1 or 2 treatments at about $600/each. He said that it would last between 5-10 years. Then the derm asked if I had any more questions and walked out of the room when I said no.

My questions are:

1) On good days my skin looks almost normal; my friends don't notice anything, so I feel that laser treatment is premature. Would you consider laser treatment without exhausting other things first?

2) Have any of you used any of the prescription regimens that Dr. Baumann recommended to help with facial redness?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Kate