Other people's reaction to rosacea

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1-10-00 6:16:22 PM Eastern Standard Time,

mbromage@... writes:

<< I find it very hard to talk to people in my life about the rosacea,

because they just don't understand how painful it is emotionally to

have this disease.I am so glad to have found this support group because

people in this group really understand. When I have brought up my

rosacea to friends and family they say I don't see it. Well that is

because it is covered by makeup. If I ever told them that I was

considering photoderm they would call me crazy for even considering

this. I am even seeing a therapist for anxiety problems and she told me

that I don't need the photoderm and she asked me why I was using a

topical medication when I didn't need it. I am amazed at how people

underestimate the amount of pain and loss of self esteem that a person

experiences with a skin disorder. I look in the mirror and want to cry

sometimes because of how I look.

Do other people in this group experience similar reactions from family

and friends? I really am amazed at how people just don't get it.

Hello ,

I understand perfectly what you are saying....I have had 6 photoderm

treatments and have not told a sole. Finally just prior to x-mas I finally

told my mother and to my surprise she was understanding and supportive.

Sometimes it is in the timing....2 years ago when I was battling panic

attacks along with the horrrible outbreak of rosacea the couple of people I

shared my fears and emotional pain with reacted just as you said...I never

mentioned it again and only shared my concerns with God, and my husband. I

tried conseling (one time) and I knew in my heart it wasn't going to help

me...no9 one was going to convince me that this disease was something I

should live with and accept. Prayer (alot of it) got me through and then

(God is so good) I found this group it had just begun and it has been a real

lifeline for me. Things will begin to look brighter....prusue any and all

treatments that your heart leads you to...

Darlene

>>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/10/00 6:16:27 PM Eastern Standard Time,

mbromage@... writes:

<< Do other people in this group experience similar reactions from family

and friends? I really am amazed at how people just don't get it.

>>

Hi ,

I didn't tell really any of my friends but I did tell my mom, dad, and

daughter. When I complain about my skin my daughter looks at me like I'm a

mad women. When I read alot of the posts here I sometimes call her over when

someone as yourself bears her soul but she looks at me and says yes but thats

not you or you don't look like some people are explaining that they look. Yes

I do! I wonder sometimes if I making too much of this condition and my family

is right or if there just being nice and not saying anything. Either way I'm

paranoid lol. I can't figure it out.

Barbara

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/10/00 6:19:00 PM Pacific Standard Time

BARB450@... writes:

>When I complain about my skin my daughter looks at me like I'm a

>mad women. When I read alot of the posts here I sometimes call her over when

>someone as yourself bears her soul but she looks at me and says yes but

thats

>not you or you don't look like some people are explaining that they look.

Yes

>I do!

Barbara,

I have done this with my family too. When I have showed them

posts where people are explaining how this makes them feel, hoping that they

will better understand what I have been going through, they get this strange

look on their face like what is this all about? I have to say though that

some members in my family have been really supportive.

You could talk to people all day about this (which I

sometimes do at work) and they don't really get it. They aren't living with

it. Since I am doing all of these procedures like photoderm and

microdermabrasion and I talk about it all the time at work I get people

asking me where they can get these cosmetic procedures done. I work in a hair

salon so this is all a part of the concept of " beauty. " I have given quite a

few people advice when they or their kids are going through bad skin periods

and they see that these products do work, so that makes me feel that

something good is coming out of this.

One important thing that I have learned from going through

this is that people's perceptions of things vary a great deal. When I think

that my skin looks all beat up after a microdermabrasion treatment people

comment on how my skin looks great. When I think that Im looking red and

splotchy, people think that I look pale. I have about come to the point where

I say the hell with what people are thinking. Most of the time what they are

thinking isn't what you are.

Bill

[Guest guest]

>

>

> I find it very hard to talk to people in my life about the rosacea,

> because they just don't understand how painful it is emotionally to

> have this disease.... When I have brought up my

> rosacea to friends and family they say I don't see it. Well that is

> because it is covered by makeup.

. I look in the mirror and want to cry

> sometimes because of how I look.

> Do other people in this group experience similar reactions from family

> and friends? I really am amazed at how people just don't get it.

>

Very much so ! I couldn't even tell my husband that I had an

appointment with a dermatologist last Friday. My husband would have fussed

at me for wasting money over " nothing " . I am glad I went on and got a

diagnosis. I am still at the stage where I can cover most the redness up

and hope to be able to keep it under control.

Lyndia

" Only cat lovers know the luxury of fur coated, musical hot water bottles

that never go cold "

meet my family at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Park/8396/

[Guest guest]

mbromage@... writes:

<< Do other people in this group experience similar reactions from family

and friends? I really am amazed at how people just don't get it.

Yes, everyone -- both family and the friends I have confided in -- think that I

am

magnifying my problem and that I should just forget about it. That's easy to

say

when you never know how you are going to look when you get up in the morning.

Got

a big event planned? Then you can be sure the rosacea will act up. I know that

no one notices our skin like we do but you can't tell me that people are not

aware

of the change in both the texture and tone of my skin in the past year.

My mother still thinks it is going to go away even though I have told her

rosacea

is chronic. My husband thinks I am overreacting although he is concerned about

the depression this rosacea has put me in. And my daughter who gets excited if

she gets a blemish you'd have to use a magnifying glass to find says I look the

same as always.

Oh well.

a

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

Just my theory, of course, but if this junk isn't on their FACE, they really

don't care---and probably do not notice like we afflicted ones do---if later,

they get the rosy cheeks and lumps/bumps to accompany and complete the picture;

suddenly, they're lots more " sensitive " to the social outcast feeling we tend to

get!

my best to you!

Carol

mary bromage wrote:

> I find it very hard to talk to people in my life about the rosacea,

> because they just don't understand how painful it is emotionally to

> have this disease.I am so glad to have found this support group because

> people in this group really understand. When I have brought up my

> rosacea to friends and family they say I don't see it. Well that is

> because it is covered by makeup. If I ever told them that I was

> considering photoderm they would call me crazy for even considering

> this. I am even seeing a therapist for anxiety problems and she told me

> that I don't need the photoderm and she asked me why I was using a

> topical medication when I didn't need it. I am amazed at how people

> underestimate the amount of pain and loss of self esteem that a person

> experiences with a skin disorder. I look in the mirror and want to cry

> sometimes because of how I look.

> Do other people in this group experience similar reactions from family

> and friends? I really am amazed at how people just don't get it.

>

>

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>

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[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/11/00 7:19:40 PM Eastern Standard Time, BARB450 writes:

<< Subj: Re: Re: Other people's reaction to rosacea

Date: 1/11/00 7:19:40 PM Eastern Standard Time

From: BARB450

To: BThom8254

In a message dated 1/10/00 10:39:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,

BThom8254@... writes:

<< One important thing that I have learned from going through

this is that people's perceptions of things vary a great deal. When I think

that my skin looks all beat up after a microdermabrasion treatment people

comment on how my skin looks great. When I t >>

Hi Bill,

It's really funny that you should mention the above. When I went back to

work from a 10 day Christmas Vacation ( I'm a school teacher) My friends

commented on how wonderful I looked and how I must have really needed the

vacation meanwhile that morning I dreaded going to work because I thought Imy

skin looked terible. Go figure!

LOL,

Barbara >>

In a message dated 1/10/00 10:39:14 PM Eastern Standard Time,

BThom8254@... writes:

<< One important thing that I have learned from going through

this is that people's perceptions of things vary a great deal. When I think

that my skin looks all beat up after a microdermabrasion treatment people

comment on how my skin looks great. When I t >>

Hi Bill,

It's really funny that you should mention the above. When I went back to work

from a 10 day Christmas Vacation ( I'm a school teacher) My friends commented

on how wonderful I looked and how I must have really needed the vacation

meanwhile that morning I dreaded going to work because I thought Imy skin

looked terible. Go figure!

LOL,

Barbara