My face is bright red, tight and itchy because of my rosacea. I’ve been prescribed Soolantra, which seems to be helping my redness, but the itchiness is worse. I also had a bad reaction when I used CeraVe. What can I do?
Dr Ellie Cannon replies: Rosacea is a skin condition characterised by redness, flushing and spots. It can also make the face sensitive to touch and feel hot with a stinging sensation.
Treatment options are fairly limited. However, many patients respond well to antibiotic tablets or creams. The condition is not usually caused by an infection, though, so it is not known why they often relieve symptoms. There is also brimonidine – a fairly new type of cream which reduces flushing.
Soolantra is the brand name of an anti-parasite cream called ivermectin. It is more effective on spotty rosacea than the types that cause general redness and flushing. It is supposed to be applied daily for four months.
If the ivermectin appears to be working then it might be worth combining it with another cream that specifically combats itchiness and dryness. This would likely be a non-perfumed emollient such as Cetraben, Aveeno and CeraVe. All three are suitable for rosacea and do not trigger bad reactions.
Rosacea is a skin condition characterised by redness, flushing and spots. It can also make the face sensitive to touch and feel hot with a stinging sensation
There is a version of CeraVe called CeraVe SA, however, which contains salicylic acid. This chemical compound is too harsh for rosacea patients.
Pharmacists should be able to help find an emollient best suited to the specific needs.
Many sufferers also find certain habits worsen their condition, such as sunlight, stress, strenuous exercise, hot or cold weather, hot drinks, alcohol, caffeine and spicy foods. It is key to identify triggers and avoid them.
I was recently told I had high blood pressure and must regularly measure my levels using an at-home monitor. I’ve found that my blood pressure appears much higher in my right arm than my left, however. Why could this be?
Dr Ellie replies: A significant difference in blood pressure between arms may suggest that there is disease in the arteries.
Blood pressure describes the strength with which the heart pushes blood around the body.
Patients are given their blood pressure as two numbers: the first is the pressure when the heart pushes blood out around the body – known as systolic; the second is the pressure when the heart rests between beats and blood fills inside the heart – or diastolic. A normal blood pressure score is typically between 90/60 and 120/80.
High blood pressure is an at-home score of 135/85 or higher, while low blood pressure is considered to be 89/59 or below.
Low blood pressure is not usually a major health problem, although it can raise the risk of dizziness and fainting.
However, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart-related diseases such as heart attacks and strokes. GPs often ask their patients to check their blood pressure from home with a simple monitor – which can be purchased for just £20.
Patients checking their blood pressure in both arms typically notice a slight difference between the two. This is, in part, because monitors are not always 100 per cent accurate.
The right arm also tends to provide slightly higher readings than the left because of how the arteries are laid out.
The variation in figures should be no more than ten, though.
If they are, it could point to an issue with the arteries – known as cardiovascular disease.
Anyone with a sizable difference in blood pressure between their arms should inform their GP.
I’m 56 and have never been offered a bowel cancer test. I’ve read about these at-home kits and apparently they are meant to be offered to everyone over 54 – why haven’t I had mine?
Dr Ellie replies: Anyone aged over 54 should have been offered at least one bowel cancer screening exam – called a faecal immunochemical test (FIT) – which the NHS sends to people at home.
It is meant to look for blood in the stool that is too small to be seen by the human eye – an early symptom of bowel cancer.
Patients collect a sample of their stool using an instrument inside the kit. This is then placed inside a test tube – also provided – to be shipped back to the NHS at no cost. The results normally take two weeks.
If the sample returns positive for blood, then the patient will be invited to an appointment with a specialist nurse to organise further investigations such as a colonoscopy – a probe inserted via the anus to look at the bowel.
Those aged between 54 and 74 should be sent an FIT kit in the post every two years. However, patients can slip through the cracks. Anyone of this age and registered with a GP should automatically be sent a test. If they don’t, their GP can request one on their behalf.
Anybody in the UK can register with a local GP surgery if they have not already. This can be done by filling out a registration form typically found on the surgery’s website or via the NHS app.
Women’s snoring is more than just a noise
I’m worried that many women put off seeing a doctor about their snoring, as it can be the symptom of a dangerous health problem.
While snoring is often viewed as a male issue, a recent survey found that as many as half of women do it. And because they can be embarrassed about it, they often won’t seek help.
Snoring often gets worse during the menopause, but it is also a sign of weight issues and breathing problems linked to deadly heart disease. This is why it should always be assessed by a doctor.
Have you got a long-standing snoring problem? Would you talk to your doctor about it? Please let me know what you did about it, using the email address below.
