[rosacea] Re: Antibiotics , Ocular Rosacea, etc.
From: "Catherine Beres"
Date: Sat Feb 27, 1999 3:15 am
Subject: [rosacea] Re: Antibiotics , Ocular Rosacea, etc. .
Alex:
Bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics, not us. The problem with improper
use of antibiotics (shorter duration than required or when not necessary) is
that it allows the bacteria to "learn" to cope with the antibiotic. Because of
their short lifespan and short reproduction cycles, genetic mutations are
faster in coming (selection of the toughest of the species)...so the bottom
line is that bacteria with the "resistance" to antibiotics will thrive and the
others will die off. Thus we get antibiotic resistant strains of the bacteria
causing tuberculosis, etc.
The other problem in taking antibiotics over the longterm is that they may kill
off the friendly bacteria in our bodies call the "normal flora". This can set
you up for other, equally undesirable infections, for instance those caused by
yeast, fungal infections, etc.
Don't know if this clarification is of interest to you.
Cathie
-----Original Message-----
From: traveller7@_.com [mailto:traveller7@_.com]
Sent: February 25, 1999 11:13 PM
To: rosacea-support@egroups.com
Subject: [rosacea] Antibiotics , Ocular Rosacea, etc. .
I decided to stop whining for a minute (though I may whine again soon. I am
really very, very depressed about having gotten this disease) and share some
moderately useful information i have gathered via research and conversations
with doctors (since so many people have already expressed bitterness, i will
hold my peace on this issue, at least for now)
A lot of people have expressed concerns about antibiotics and developing
antibiotic resistant bacteria. From what I understand, and I am NOT a doctor,
antibiotics such as tetracycline and doxycycline are used primarily for skin
diseases-- because they tend to concentrate in the skin (I don't know about
mincocycline-- I read some stuff that frightened me off of it, but that's
because I am now competely paranoid of taking medications after my bout with
the acne concoctions). So, even if you develop a resistance to tetra or doxy,
that does not mean that the next time you get bronchitis, you will be resistant
to all antibiotics. You will be resistant to tetracycline and ?maybe its
derivatives. Erythromycin is more of a broad spectrum antibiotic and used more
frequently by internists.
So, developing a resistance could be somewhat more serious. (This probably
shouldn't keep anyone from using it for rosacea however if they are getting
good restults.) Zythromax is somehow remotely related to erythromycin-- but by
remotely, I mean quite remotely. The reason you can use it for only a few days
is that it has a long half life-- that is, if you use it for only five days, it
stays in your system for up to ten (by the way, an unrelated point, but i read
that people can be photosensitive (as a result of tetra, doxy or erythro usage)
for up to two weeks after stopping the medication. so stay out of the sun, or
if you are lucky enough to tolerate sunscreens use them!) Cipro is generally
used for bladder infections, from what I understand, but heck, if it work for
rosacea for some people, great! Anyways, all that above is not to say that
antibiotics should be used with careless abandon. I went on them for a while,
and then went off, myself. Though I may need to go back on again....
Anyways, i think someone also mentioned (or the Kligman book) mentioned facial
massage. I think I read or heard soemthing to the effect that it could be
useful simply because it may stimulate lymphatic drainage (particularly useful
for those of us who swell up like a pufferfish posessed) but I haven't tried it
yet, mostly because my skin is still super sensitive. Anyways, the
recommendation was to use some sort of bland, non-irritating lubricant and
gently massage from the nose outward to the ears.
Ocular rosacea: I have had pretty good results with plain old Johnson's and
Johnson's baby shampoo (available at any store), diluted, twice a day. I kinda
put a little drop of baby shampoo on my palm, and mix with an equal amount of
water. Then I rub the stuff on my closed eyelids, and then rinse with water. I
use Refresh lubricant eye drops-- without the preservative-- blue box (they are
sometimes hard to find). As I said, the eyes are (relatively) ok now, but I
don't know whether its the shampoo/lubricant or just a temporary random
reprieve. It seems to be very unpredictable. One day my eyes could be just
peachy (giving me false hopes )and the next day WHAMMO! I look bleary, teary,
puffy.. and all that jazz. I tried antibiotic ocular creams that you are
supposed to apply along your lash line, but they seemeed to make it worse.
Dont' know why. My opthalmologist (who is a relative sweatheart compared to my
dermatologist) also doesn't know but she takes the sensible attitude of! If
its making it worse, let's try something else.
sunscreens: I have found reference to an article written by a doctor who did a
study on rosacea and sunscreens. I will try to look it up the next time I go to
a medical library and report on the recommendations. i am hoping that he will
have a list of ingredients to stay away from. That would help out a lot.
Questions: Has anyone taken antidepressants while having this disease and did
it make it better? worse?
Did you take them while you were taking antibiotics? Any drug interaction
problems?
bye. Alex.