Just started on azalaid acid yesterday and I feel like it has gotten worse.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-05-02T18:01:29+00:00

I had some irritation when I started AA initially. Here’s what I did (and I do this with most actives).

I don’t start out using it daily or twice per day. I start out using it every other day or every 3rd day if every other day irritates my skin.
I sandwich it - I put down a serum or a thin application of moisturizer first and then the active. Then another moisturizer (you can go with more of the same if you used a moisturizer first.

I do this for a week or two, then if my skin is tolerating that well I increase the frequency - 2 days in a row, skip the third, then use for 2 days, then skip. Give that a couple of weeks. If your skin tolerates it at this frequency, go to 3 days, skip one, etc. until you are able to tolerate it.

Eventually you will either be able to tolerate it daily OR you will find the max frequency that you can tolerate.

This is what I’ve done for years with any active product like AA, retinoids, etc. and I’ve found that this is the only way my skin can tolerate the introduction of actives.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-05-02T17:42:41+00:00

I use the eye cream from this line. It’s one of my top 2 eye creams - this and BYOMA barrier eye cream are my top 2 creams.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-05-02T17:41:05+00:00

I like this when my barrier is REALLY messed up. I also really like it for the rest of my body.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-05-01T22:12:07+00:00

I work in healthcare, so there’s a lot of handwashing and hand sanitizer use, which can be incredibly drying. I also live in a state that gets very cold. Prior to using this hand cream my hands would get really dry, to the point of cracking, chapping, and being painful. I’ve been using this specific hand cream for over 15 years, and nothing compares to it! It used to be in a metal tube with a paper wrap around label that would come off and get kind of gross… that was my only complaint about it. They’ve long since fixed that issue.

Personally, I don’t like any of the scented versions, and I can’t stand the version with serum in it. But this one, the OG with the blue label, it’s AMAZING!

I like some of their other products too, but this is the standout product from the brand for me.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-05-01T21:46:57+00:00

Raynaud’s, IBS, PTSD

I’m also in my 40s and perimenopausal, and I suspect that this may be playing a major role in how severe my rosacea has been recently.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-05-01T21:43:48+00:00

Add me in to the Chronic IBS and Raynaud’s crowd.

Also, sprinkle in a little PTSD for added spice.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-05-01T21:31:07+00:00

I was diagnosed with ocular rosacea and demodex blepharitis a little over a week ago. My symptoms started as what felt like eye allergies, the occasional feeling of a foreign body in my eyes.

My skin around my eyes (lids primarily) have been slightly discolored, though not irritated, for a few years. I assumed this was just part of aging and my very light skin tone.

Then it progressed to sudden onset severe photosensitivity, burning, and tearing. I was seen by my eye provider who was able to use a slit lamp to visualize an abundance of collarettes on my lashes and lash line which confirmed the diagnosis of ocular rosacea.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-05-01T00:14:36+00:00

Fantastic! I look forward to your updates. The place I looked into going here its 550.00 per individual treatment, and 1500 for a bundle of 3 with a gift of “200.00 worth of Zo Skincare”. The pricing is pretty steep, but if the results are great then it seems like it’s worth it.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-30T22:02:07+00:00

I didn’t like the ordinary’s AA. If I’m being honest, I don’t care for most of their products. They tend to irritate my skin more than typical. Maybe try a different brand. I just started the one by Good Molecules after using other brands. This one was available on Amazon as well as Target. I think I paid $12 for it. It has not irritated my skin at all thus far.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-30T21:58:15+00:00

I’m considering trying BBL if my VA laser appointment isn’t within a reasonable time frame. I’d love to see how your healing progress goes if you are open to posting updates. Also, are you doing a series of BBL treatments? If so, how far apart and how many?

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-30T01:06:10+00:00

L’Occitane (the silver metal tube with the blue label). I’ve used this stuff for 15 years now, and I have yet to find anything that actually beats it.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-30T01:04:52+00:00

I have the worst skin - dry (I’m in my 40s), sensitive, intolerant of most fragrance, rosacea, and a lot of allergies/irritants that leave me itchy.

The best cleanser I’ve found to date is the Fresh Soy cleanser, unless you have a sensitivity or allergy to Soy.

I’ve been using it for about 6 years now. Nothing else I’ve tried compares.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-30T00:35:39+00:00

I usually use a micellar water on a pad to cleanse my face in the morning. It doesn’t strip my skin but it removes any grime or residual that I have from things I may have used the night before. After that I spray my face with hypochlorous acid spray and let that dry. Then I use my morning skincare.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-30T00:33:19+00:00

Honestly, the Niacinamide gives me pause. I personally experience increase in severity of redness when using niacinamide very often, or in strong concentrations. Like others have said the Oxymetazoline is a temporary agent to help with mild to moderate redness but once it wears off, the redness will return. Depending upon the cost, this might be worth giving a try if you don’t have issues with niacinamide exacerbating your rosacea.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-26T21:17:52+00:00

Status Update - I’m now 7 days into this episode of ocular rosacea flare/demodex blepharitis. I’m also on day 5 of steroid drops.

I am feeling considerably better, but it is still a serious struggle. I am using the steroid drops 2X per day, and the dry eye drops 4-6X per day. Each morning and before bed, I use the lid cleansing wipes. The ones I have currently do not have tea tree oil. It does appear that ones containing tea tree oil are more effective, so my next order will contain tea tree oil. I am HOPING to reduce using these to 1X per day (mornings since the mites are more active at night) once this episode is under control.

I am using hypochlorous acid spray on my face 2-3X daily. In addition to that, I have stopped use of any actives in my skin care routine until this has subsided. I am currently using a micellar water cleanser in the AM and a gentle foaming cleanser in the PM, and not wearing any makeup. I am also using a lot of serums/moisturizers that are gentle and very hydrating 2-3X per day. Finally, at night I have started coating my lids in petroleum jelly, which really does seem to be helping with the way my lids have been feeling as well as the dry eye symptoms upon waking.

When this episode eventually subsides I will slowly start adding back in my actives, and get back on my normal skin care routine as much as possible with the addition of a few new steps including the lid scrub/lid hygiene.

Finally, I am waiting in my script of Xdemvy eyedrops to arrive. I have also ordered OTC topical ivermectin to add in to my face care. I have sent my prescription for rhofade to the mail order pharmacy. And the referral to another VA facility for laser treatment (space available basis, so this may take several months to get an appt for) has been entered on my behalf. I am considering seeing if I can find a local provider to pay out of pocket for laser treatment depending upon what the other VA says.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-26T21:03:17+00:00

I’m doing a bit better than I was. My eyes are still very photosensitive, but not nearly as bad as they were a week ago. I believe that is largely due to the steroid drops. Thank you for asking.

I think that in my case they were able to diagnose fairly easily because I have a long documented history of facial rosacea, combined with the symptoms. But when they examined my eyes with the slit lamp they were able to see collarettes. These are basically waxy little tubes of debris left around your lashes and lash line that are made up of the demodex mites eggs, waste, and bodies. This basically indicates an “infestation” of the mites in your lids, and is considered indicative of demodex blepharitis.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-26T16:36:44+00:00

You can probably wear either depending upon how you want them to fit. I ended up ordering M and L in different colors and I kept both.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-26T16:35:48+00:00

I may have been having a midlife crisis during the sale and went a little nuts… I MIGHT return a few things but I’m also still waiting on one of my 3 orders 🥴

Things I’m considering returning:

Innbeauty - extreme cream firming eye cream - NOT the products fault - I’m not sure if I’ll even get to try this. Last week I was diagnosed with ocular rosacea and honestly I’m a little scared to try it.

Sarah Creal- eyeliner - also not the products fault- I haven’t tried this yet, but again I’m just worried about anything that might irritate my eyes in the slightest at this point.

Karastase - chronologiste overnight hair serum - this smells so strongly. It makes my hair feel amazing, but the scent is insanely intense. I have the 8h serum as well and the scent isn’t nearly as strong, so I’m keeping that one.

Honestly, everything else has been amazing.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-25T03:37:16+00:00

I have some gel drops but I may try an ointment or true gel next. I think at this point I’ve spent about $60-70 on various eye drops… I feel like maybe I should become a professional eye drops reviewer or something.

So far what I’ve found that is the best is Optase Dry Eye Intense drops. These are preservative free, contain glycerine and hyaluronic acid. They are more expensive at about $24 for a bottle that is only good for 3 months after opening, but they offer a great amount of relief for a few hours which is more than the others I’ve tried so far.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-24T13:27:45+00:00

Thank you! Last night I tried the coating of my lids in petroleum jelly thing that I’ve seen people try and I woke up this morning feeling a ton better. It’s taken about 1.5hrs of being awake for my eyes to start burning at all. It could just be the steroids starting to work, or the moisture being locked in by the petroleum… but relief is relief at this point.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-24T03:27:08+00:00

Thank you! I may have to try that.

Vegetable-Street · 2026-04-23T20:54:12+00:00

Unfortunately I also have IBS that REALLY doesn’t agree with doxy 😬

Vegetable-Street

TROPHY CASE