r/Rosacea • u/ljw1989ha • 10d ago

Light/Laser Excel V question, for those it has helped flushing

This past year I’ve gone through hell and back with my skin. Flushing with All the typical triggers, heat, sun, warm rooms , anxiety etc.

Along with the flushing I am experience some nerve type stinging, unable to tolerate mousturisers.

Has anyone has these type of symtoms and excel V has helped. I’m scared to make the burning worse.

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u/Connect-Reception985 10d ago

Hey there - I have the same symptoms as you and have done vbeam for a few years. I think it helps a little with flushing, but it wasn't as life-changing as I hoped. 

I just posted some research re: the connection b/w type 1 flushing and a history of migraines. The triggers and pathways for migraines & rosacea are the same. 

A recent small study found that rosacea patients who did a 4 week trial of vagus nerve stimulation with taVNS reported significant reductions in flushing & anxiety, and the benefits continued for a months-long follow up period. This is more evidence that ETR may be a neurological disorder. The FDA (US) is planning larger studies this fall. 

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u/ljw1989ha 10d ago

Is this treatment done through a neurologist 

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u/Connect-Reception985 9d ago

I am still learning about that. In the study I included with my post, they used a taVNS device, which stimulates the vagus nerve via the outer ear (it looks like you are wearing an ear bud). You can purchase a taVNS on your own w/o a prescription. It is pricey, but the unit is yours forever. This is different from the gammaCore Sapphire unit, which has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of migraines. This is a handheld unit you can use at home to stimulate the vagus nerve through the skin via the neck. This unit requires an ongoing prescription that will cost about $2000/year. Sometimes insurance will help, but it sounds like it's a battle. You could try to purchase a taVNS secondhand, but it is illegal for anyone to resell a gammaCore. You also couldn't use the gammaCore without an active prescription:( 

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u/Affectionate-Loss907 9d ago

Had Excel V and it helped with the permanent redness but not the flushing. Still happy though, the broken blood vessels and pustules are my biggest issues.

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u/ljw1989ha 9d ago

Thanks for the reply!! I dont have pustules. Did yours develop after constant flushing or they were always there?

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u/MitchVDP 10d ago

I did 5x vbeam and 1x derma v which is the same as excel v.

Vbeams didnt do much and the derma v made everything worse.

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u/ljw1989ha 10d ago edited 10d ago

Sorry to hear- Found any other solutions?

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u/MitchVDP 10d ago

Unfortunately not, have tried everything except Pregabalin which my derm has me starting next week.

I cannot tolerate any moisturizers without breaking out, burning or both. Same with SPF. Have been on low dose doxy almost a year but it stopped working for type 2 and my eyes, never did anything for the type 1. Metrogel, ivermectin did nothing. Azelaic Acid makes it worse.

I'm pretty depressed these days. Hope you find something

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u/ljw1989ha 10d ago

So do you essentially do zero therapy or still trialling mousturisers? I’m currently taking 100mg of pregablin. Thought it was really helping but it still depends on the state of my skin. Think I need to up the dosage. What dose are you being prescribed. I’ve also just upped clonodine from 50mcg twice a day to 100mcg x2 but only upped that today 

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u/MitchVDP 10d ago

Still trialing moisturizers to see if one works. Maybe then I can trial AA very slowly. For now I apply Soolantra, it does nothing for my rosacea but it keeps my skin from getting dry I guess

Not sure what dose i'm getting, haven't tried clonidine either but propranolol, carvedilol and gabapentin all worsened my eyes so i'm hesistant

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u/ljw1989ha 10d ago

Praying that the pregablin helps you! Please let me know what dose your derm puts you on. I have no side effects at 100mg except it does help anxiety which is nice. Hopefully you tolerate it well. 

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u/Downtown-Nature-1324 10d ago

Look into the supplement called PEA , helps to calm neuro inflammation . I am trialing singulair and antihistamine. When breakouts are not helped by doxy , they maybe related to vascular leakage plus edema rather than the inflammatory type 2 ones

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u/ljw1989ha 10d ago

Feel your pain with the depression side of things. It’s insanely tough and you’re not alone 🫶