I have read where some have had great success taking Plaquenil. Has anyone else had success on this drug?

Also, is Plaquenil an antiparasitic? IF so, in theory would it then kill demodex mites?

And I have heard it helps with photo sensitivity which is my biggest trigger. Ive read some believe photo sensitivity has something to do with Th1? If it does, would increasing Vit D levels help as Vit D counteracts Th1?

Thanks!

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Doug

Doug,

Plaquenil is an oldy but goody, especially for rosacea sufferers that are deemed "untreatable".

They first noticed that people who flushed or were 'red faced' back in the 70's and 80's took plaquenil when travelling to tropical areas (to prevent nasty diseases carried by their insects and mosquitos.... that many of these flushers and red faces cleared up nicely.

To date, no one knows the exact mechanism and you to have to weigh the benefit risk ratio as there are side effects.

Currently there are two schools of thought:

1. Plaquenil reduces redness by reducing overative neutrophils that dilate blood vessels.

2. Plaquenil increases melanogenesis (the production and activation of melanin) which protects the skin from sun and decreases photosensitivity.

On a side note: In the Southern States and Australia I have consulted with many rosacea sufferers and their physicians and they have been extremely successful in most cases by treating them with the lowest dose during the summertime to allow them to enjoy the outdoors, calm down their rosacea, and decrease photosensitivity. Physicians do ask you to come back every month for a blood draw to check your blood count to see if it has any effect on bodily systems.

A surprisngly effective option when used at the lowest dose for a few months per year.... under the strict supervision of a caring and resourceful physician.

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__________________
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Best,
Geoffrey

Dr. Geoffrey Nase
Ph.D: Neuro-Vascular Physiologist

Email: drnase1000@hotmail.com
Bibliography: http://drnase.com

All posts are for informational purposes only. Please visit our Home Page to view our Medical Disclaimer.

Thanks Dr Nase!

I think I will try it as my doctor said he would prescribe it for me. Its funny, my derm didnt want to prescribe it at all.

I am wondering if Plaquenil will help with my sensitivity to fluorescent lights?

__________________
Doug

Mr. Smoof,

I don't think it will help at all because I believe this is primarily a visual response -- a sensory nerve feedback loop when the fluorescent lights and their "rays" hit your retina. This is still a working hypothesis, but it makes sense:

1. The right type of HEV Blue Ray Blocking glasses reduce or eliminate flushing to fluorescent lighting, televisions and computers.

2. If it was a "skin-mediated response" then a 80 SPF sunblock over all the facial skin (with blockad of blue bands of light) should stop this type of flushing, but it rarely has any effect at all.

3. The sensory nerve reflex loop is both fascinating and frustrating:

-- Various sensory nerves can loop back to different parts of the facial skin and cause a rosacea flare or general reaction.

-- While slicing onions, the aroma stimulates sensory nerves in the nasal mucosa (nose passages) and this one nerve reflex loop causes your eyes to water

-- Crying during a sad movie..... we've all seen the red noses that result (independent of tissues)

-- Dr. Bitter, Sr. did some interesting experiments showing this sensory reflex loop in many of his rosacea patients. With their permission of course:

(1) Gentle, but forceful stroking of an open paperclip on the left cheek resulted in dilation of the opposite cheek seconds later in most patients.

(2) Gentle, but forceful squeezing of the left ear lobe of rosacea sufferers caused many to flush around their nose or central cheeks.

(3) Selective heating of the feet with hot water soaks (with no change in body temperature, just local foot temp.) caused most rosacea sufferers to flush quite intensely minutes after immersion of the feet.

These are all examples of complex dilator sensory nerve feedback loops.

..... Fascinating and frustrating all at once.

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__________________
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Best,
Geoffrey

Dr. Geoffrey Nase
Ph.D: Neuro-Vascular Physiologist

Email: drnase1000@hotmail.com
Bibliography: http://drnase.com

All posts are for informational purposes only. Please visit our Home Page to view our Medical Disclaimer.

Which type of eye doctor should I see?

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Doug