I suffer from rosacea and have for years. I go through periods where it doesn't happen too often, but then it flares up for awhile. One thing I do notice is that when my rosacea is really bad, my PN seems to flare up and hurt even worse. Does anyone know of any possible connection?


Just as a side note, rosacea has been connected with lupus, but I have been cleared of that.

Hope, I've had rosacea for years too. I never noticed a connection between it and PN flares, but now that you've mentioned it, I'll try to take note of it. Like you, I've been tested as negative for lupus. I have no basis for it whatsoever, but the connection makes sense to me on a gut level (I prefer to call it a "cellular" level).

But you shouldn't take too much stock in what makes sense to me: we were both just fine, rowing and cycling and enjoying life. But ever since we quit smoking, I got cancer, GI problems, a hip replacement, and PN. My partner developed PMR. So we're both whiny messes at this point. She's an amputee from the hip (from childhood) so while we expected a certain number of challenges from life, these new disabilities with both of us have presented us with a whole new set of, um, things that optimists call "new opportunities." At some times we are given to wistful memories of when we were both hale, hearty, and smoked. But we never consider starting again, so don't worry about that.

Anyway, I will try to pay attention to when I have rosacea flares and if they coincide with PN flares.

Hi
I have rosacea too, in my eyes even! I don't notice a connection with flares and pain, it is an interesting thought! But, if you do, think about what is happening at that time? More excercise, in the heat, or cold? What causes your rosacea to flare? Or your PN? Are you doing both at the same time, and then quit?

Hi Joan, it is crazy the way life goes. In 2005, I lost a lot of weight, began exercising and eating right and felt wonderful........and then I was hit with every crummy health problem out there. I know it was probably just a coincidence, but geez!

Hi Barb. Though I can get the rosacea anytime of the day, it mostly hits in the evening hours. I sometimes think it's the colder weather, or the fact that I just got out of the shower, or sometimes it hits for no reason at all. But it almost seems like the rosacea irritates my PN. As my face burns and hurts with the rash (I also have it in my eyes) My PN will start to hurt all over my body feeling all sharp and prickly. It's very strange...

Hi Hope,

I've had Rosacea for a long time which effects both my eyes and face. I've only had PN for a short time but I did notice that my hands and feet were on fire last night and my face was beet red. Had I not read your post, I wouldn't have given it another thought, but now I think its worth noting. I don't know if there would be any common link between the two or not, but I will keep track for awhile and bring it up to my doctor at my next appointment. My PN is idiopathic polyneuropathy, for what its worth. Thanks for posting this. I'll be watching to see if anyone else has noticed anything or has additional information about it. Also, here is a link to the National Rosacea Society. They have a feature on their website where you can post a question to a doctor, presumably someone from their advisory board, and they will answer.
http://www.rosacea.org/index.php

Take care.

Hi EEO3, you just described me as well. My face will get beat red, and then the PN pain gets quite intense. It feels as if one is really irritating the other. I'm glad to hear that my fellow rosacea sufferers are going to keep a watch for this. I am also ideopathic. Thanks so much for the link!

I wonder.... do you use metronidazole for that rosacea?

I wonder if enough is absorbed into the skin to affect the nerves?
Metronidazole (Flagyl) is a known causer of PN.

Hi Mrs D.
I don't use that med, and haven't for years. I use the Eucerin products on my face, and that seems to help as much as anything else.

Mrs. D, I have been using Metrogel and I'm guessing the main ingredient is Metronidazole, but I only use a small amount on my face at night. I would be amazed if that little bit could cause it to flare off the charts. Would it be a cumulative effect?

By the way, I'm so glad you're here. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!