I can't believe I didn't come across this thread sooner. Here I am sitting in front of the computer looking up WebMd and also this forum to try and understand why I am having a flareup!!

In another thread that I posted earlier about some skincare products, my skin was doing fine. I got the Sundari Pitta oil that seemed to calm my red spots down for a while. But all of a sudden, wham! I woke up with my face feeling itchy all over with little red bumps as if little mites or bugs had bitten me all over. It has happened before, and I would take a Claritin pill for hives, thinking I ate something I was allergic to. But I've been really careful....

The more I read up on this subject, the more I believe I may have early signs of rosacea... I do not have flushing on face, but I do have little red bumps all over one side, and they flare up now and then. I have always attributed this to probably food (nuts?) or environmental (dog? goosedown comforter?) allergens -- which I still have to rule out by visiting an allergist sometime down the road. Even the part about sensitivity to light applied! I would always develop itchy red bumps all of a sudden, at various times, on various areas of my face during the daytime at work. And I am diligent about NOT touching my face... so I knew it couldn't have been bacteria from my hands or hair. It was so embarrassing and still continues to embarrass me, leaving me quick to run and cover it up with concealer or rub my Cellex-C perfecting pen so the swelling would go down.

I live in the Los Angeles area... does anyone have a dermatoligst rec who is good at detecting this condition? The last derm I went to just looked me really quickly and prescribed me with Cleocin T and NutraCort lotion (hydrocortisone prescription) to calm my face down (it had severe dry patches from me trying to treat the red bumps/pimples at the time).

When will I feel less itchy and go out without so much coverup? Any recs for a derm in the LA area would be much appreciated. Or any recs for skincare in the meantime would be greatly appreciated! You can email me at g_beli@yahoo.com.