My mum has always suffered from something called Rosacea. If you’re not sure what that is, its basically a skin condition that usually effects your face cheeks, making them red in colour, for brief episodes. Sometimes it also has other symptoms, such as; permanent redness, burning and stinging sensations, spots, and small blood vessels in the skin becoming visible. However, for the most part its nothing too serious. Rosacea is something called a “relapsing” condition, meaning that sometimes there are periods where symptoms are particularly bad, and sometimes there are periods where the symptoms are less severe. Some symptoms can be controlled with treatment, but changes can occur to your physical appearance which are obviously not controllable. These changes, depending on the severity, can effect confidence and in turn have a social or psychological effect. If you have the same condition or any other skin-related issues, it’s better to consult a dermatologist to know how to best handle it. They also do other dermatological treatments, including mole removal, skin peels and acne removal.

Anyway, I digress from my original topic. My mum has rosacea and while I remember it being pretty bad at times, for the most part – these days at least – it seems to have calmed down. She does get this other skin reaction, which I believe it connected, where her neck goes red every time she’s ill. Luckily, it wasn’t something that has effected me. I do remember getting a rash once when I was young and at school, but it turned out I just had skin that was sensitive to too much chlorine in the water at swimming pools. I always felt like perhaps some form of it was passed onto my children, as they tend to get a rash on their legs and stomach, every time they get so much as a cold, let alone a full blown illness. Just recently though, it seems like possibly I have inherited some form of it.

I have recently developed a rash. By recently, I mean in the last six months, but recently as in I’ve never had anything like it before. It’s located just under my boobs and now spreads down to just above my stomach.  When it first started, it was something very small and barely noticeable. I didn’t really think much of it, but over time it does seem to have got larger and spread.

For a while now, I’ve been saying I should got to the doctors and get it checked out. It doesn’t hurt and it doesn’t really effect me so as usual, I’ve procrastinated and ignored it, saying I’ll do it at “x” time and then just never getting around to it. I casually mentioned it to my mum in passing and after she googled a little, she seems to think it might be a form of rosacea. There are two options, from what I can see – pityriasis rosea or pityriasis versicolor. Anyway, mum has given me some cream which I’m going to try out and see what happens, failing that I really should go and see the doctor!

While this skin condition doesn’t really effect me psychologically or socially, I have to admit as its spread a little, it has made me more self conscious of it. Luckily for me, Chris is very accepting of things like that and it doesn’t effect us at all. The only thing I think is beginning to worry me, is if it spreads further up my chest and starts to show at my cleavage and above. I know that had it been on my face, I would definitely feel very differently about it all. I’m not a vain person, but to suddenly develop a skin condition that effects your face, would be pretty upsetting.

Skin clinics have treatment for rosacea which I would definitely consider looking into if this condition was worse. They also do various other treatments, including mole removal, skin peels and acne removal. I’ve always been grateful not to suffer from bad acne but if you have ever suffered yourself, you should definitely check out the Clear Skin Challenge.

Fingers crossed my weird rash will disappear soon. If not I’ll definitely be seeking some medical advice!