Justin's HIV Journal: Justin vs. Rosacea

I SO HATE ROSACEA SHE HAS GOTTEN ON MY LAST NERVE!!!!  Okay One day I looked in the mirror and I started seeing redness on my nose.  I didn’t think too much of it because even since I was a teenager my face used to break out every time the seasons change.  It didn’t matter what season it was my face would look like a pizza for a week’s time.  So after a week went by I started see the redness grow from my nose to my cheeks.  I got a little worried because this had never happened to me before.  The infection was really gross, it was red scaly and dry and in some cases there would be little pimples that would show up in the redness.  SO I was really worried at this point.  I consulted my doctor and asked him what he thought the problem was.  He looked at my face and gave me an examination.  He said, “It looks like Rosacea to me”.  I jumped and thought ohh god another infection.  So he prescribed me Metrogel.  I started using Metrogel as my doctor prescribed.  It started to work a little bit but I would still wake up every morning with a rash on my face and redness.  I then started to reach out to people on facebook and my friend Lizzy from ATL said she used a medication called Prosacea.  I did some research and found out it was $8.00 at my local Walmart.  My husband picked it up for me and I started using the same day.  3 days later there is a vast improvement.  Prosacea is a homeopathic topical gel and it is amazing. 

A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia.

Rosacea

Acne rosacea

Last reviewed: October 22, 2011.

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that makes your face turn red and may cause swelling and skin sores that look like acne.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Rosacea is a harmless condition, but it may cause you to be self-conscious or embarrassed. The cause is not known. You may be more likely to have this if you are

• Age 30-50
• Fair-skinned
• A woman (but men usually have more severe symptoms)

Rosacea involves swelling of the blood vessels just under the skin. It may be associated with other skin disorders (acne vulgaris, seborrhea) or eye disorders (blepharitis, keratitis).

Symptoms

• Redness of the face
• Blushing or flushing easily
• A lot of spider-like blood vessels (telangiectasia) of the face
• Red nose (called a bulbous nose)
• Acne-like skin sores that may ooze or crust
• Burning or stinging feeling in the face
• Irritated, bloodshot, watery eyes

Signs and tests

Your health care provider can usually diagnose rosacea by performing a physical exam and asking questions about your medical history.

Treatment

There is no known cure for rosacea.

Your doctor will help you identify the things that make your symptoms worse. These are called triggers. Avoiding your triggers may help you prevent or reduce flare-ups.

Here are some steps that may help ease or prevent symptoms:

• Avoid sun exposure. Use sunscreen every day.
• Avoid a lot of activity in hot weather.
• Try to reduce stress. Try deep breathing, yoga, or other relaxation techniques.
• Limit spicy foods, alcohol, and hot beverages.

Triggers vary from person to person. Other triggers may include wind, hot baths, cold weather, specific skin products, exercise, or other factors.

• Antibiotics taken by mouth (such as tetracycline, minocycline, or doxycycline) or applied to the skin (such as metronidazole) may control acne-like skin problems.
• Other medications (isoretinol or Accutane), which are similar to vitamin A, are stronger alternatives that your doctor or dermatologist might consider.
• Rosacea is not acne and will not improve with over-the-counter acne treatment.

In severe cases, laser surgery may help reduce the redness. Surgery to remove some swollen nose tissue may also improve your appearance.

Expectations (prognosis)

Rosacea is a harmless condition, but it may cause you to be self-conscious or embarrassed. It may be a long-term (chronic) problem. It cannot be cured, but may be controlled with treatment.

Complications

• Permanent changes in appearance (for example, a red, swollen nose)
• Loss of self-esteem

References

1. Habif TP. Acne, rosacea, and related disorders. In: Habif TP, ed. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 7.
2. Goldgar C, Keahey DJ, Houchins J. Treatment Options for Acne Rosacea. Am Fam Phys. 2009 Sep;80(5).
3. Webster GF. Rosacea. Med Clin North Am. 2009 Nov;93(6):1183-94.

Justin's HIV Journal: International AIDS Conference 2012 & Capital Pride Hero 2012

Pride is a great event no matter where you are, how big your pride gets, or how many organizations are a part of it.  This was a particular special Capital Pride for me.  I was honored as one of five Capital Pride Heroes Award Recipients.  I was so surprised and happy, when I got that call. 

Also I’m being inducted into the DC AIDS Heroes Exhibit at the International AIDS Conference that is happening in Washington DC July 22^nd-27^th.  I will definitely be there for about two days at the conference because that is all I could afford.  But there is the Gay Men’s Health Summit that I have already registered for and that is separate from the International AIDS Conference, but I will be attending that as well from July 20^th-21^st.  These events for very informative and I suggest everyone attend.  HIV affects and can infect us all. 

Here are the bios written by Metro Weekly’s Will O’Bryan of all the award recipients:

 

Barnett

That gala, the ''Heroes Gala & Silent Auction,'' is Wednesday, May 30, marking the start of Capital Pride, which ends Sunday, June 10, with the Capital Pride Festival. But the celebration of these heroes has already begun.

Barnett, executive director of metro D.C.'s Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL), says he learned of the honor about two weeks ago, adding that while the award may be in his name, he ''absolutely'' hopes that it will help with his organization's work.

''It's a huge honor,'' says Barnett. ''My hope it is it will raise awareness of SMYAL's mission.''

Being a hero means, however, that Barnett may have to forgo marching with the SMYAL contingent in the June 9 Capital Pride Parade. Traditionally, a hero rides alone – in a convertible, of course. He has no doubt the SMYAL parade showing, already on track for something big, will be just fine.

''I'll definitely miss being a part of the SMYAL contingent this year, but it's going to be a memorable contingent even if I'm not part of it,'' Barnett promises.

Bell

Bell, whose BOI Marketing & Promotions gives D.C. its annual Capital Queer Prom, says she'll miss hitting the parade with her prom peers, but she certainly won't have time to dwell on it. She'll be too busy helping with an array of women's events during Capital Pride, performing at the festival, and on and on. It's that sort of community involvement, though, that's raised her to hero status.

''I'm completely honored to have this award in that, one, I was nominated, and, two, the board selected me,'' Bell says. ''Every year, I'm completely in shock that people continue to notice the work that I do. It's motivation for me to continue what I'm doing. That other people recognize it is absolutely amazing, truly an honor.''

Platte, founder of the DC Cowboys, plans on running back to the cowboys' rolling parade stage after making it through the route on hero duty, saying the parade is enough fun to warrant two or three rides along the route.

Platte

With the DC Cowboys dance troupe having entertained in the District and well beyond for nearly two decades, Platte knows what he's talking about. He's enjoyed more than his fair share of Capital Pride festivities. That makes it all the more appropriate that the cowboys have scheduled their last appearance for the Capital Pride Festival, adding even more weight to this special honor.

''I'm truly honored to be recognized for all the good work this organization's done,'' Platte says of his cowboys, stressing that the title of Capital Pride Hero isn't really his alone. ''This honor has to be shared with all the dancers, past and present, and the fans.''

Between being named Capital Pride Hero and the DC Cowboys curtain call, Capital Pride will obviously be an emotional time for Platte. ''It's exciting. It's nerve-wracking. It's sad. It's all the emotions tied together,'' he shares.

There's also good reason for Benecke, co-founder of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), to experience an extra jolt of emotion as she rides the parade route, remembering back nearly 20 years when participated with less jubilation, more determination.

Benecke

''I will always remember marching in the Capital Pride Parade in 1993 when DADT was being debated, just before C. Dixon Osburn and I founded SLDN, seeing straight colleagues from law school in the crowd applauding the military veterans group I was marching with,'' says Benecke, an Army veteran, of walking with Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America, emphasizing an appreciation of Capital Pride being not just for the LGBT community but for allies as well.

Of course, the award itself is not too shabby.

''The national capital area has been my home for 20 years. D.C. has been a beacon for me,'' she says. ''To have one's community recognize your life's work is deeply gratifying.''

Terry-Smith

Simply being in Benecke's company as a fellow Capital Pride Hero is also gratifying, says Terry-Smith, just starting service with the volunteer Maryland Defense Force, thrilled to be named with a co-founder of SLDN.

The recognition as hero, however, comes not for defending his state, but largely for helping individuals defend themselves from HIV, or better cope with the virus if already infected. While his service to the community has been recognized by The DC Center, DC Leather Pride and others, Terry-Smith says this particular honor tells him his activism has greater impact than he realized.

''When you receive an award, you think, 'Who's giving it to me? How did my work impact that community?''' says Terry-Smith. ''When you get an award like Capital Pride Hero, you realize you're affecting every LGBTQ person in the D.C. area – transgender, leather, bi, lesbian, twink – everybody. I'm really honored to even be considered. I'm so excited about this.''