The received wisdom on this common condition is that there is no cure and it can be treated only by the topical application of antibiotics. In January, Body&Soul published her story, which provoked a huge response from readers who had similar problems. It also attracted the interest of a specialist surgeon, Bryan Newman, who offered to help her. Nearly a year later, Todd is delighted to proclaim herself cured.

Dr Newman treats rosacea in the UK and US with the same technique that is used to remove varicose veins. Six months on, Todd, a mental health nurse and trainee homoeopath, says that the rosacea is “80 per cent better”. “I still blush, but that's personality and nothing's going to stop that. But the difference is that the blush isn't still there an hour later and the prickly itchy feeling doesn't happen. My baseline of redness is so much reduced and my pores have shrunk because they're not being pushed apart by veins any more.”

The exact cause is unknown

Rosacea is a persistent skin disorder that causes redness on the face, usually across the cheekbones and nose, from dilated blood vessels. It is sometimes accompanied by facial swelling and sometimes it spreads to the neck, chest, scalp or ears. Some people develop acne-like spots on the cheeks too. The exact cause is unknown, but various causes have been mooted: a change in normal skin bacteria; an infection of the stomach by helicobacter pylori; or microscopic skin mites. It affects up to one person in tenin the UK.

Todd, who said that rosacea had made her look like a “rugged gardener”, had been told frequently that there really was no cure. “I felt that there was a root cause and I was so tired of just treating the symptoms,” she says. The symptomatic treatments recommended by doctors include taking antibiotics to dampen any infection and using cover-up make-up.

“But Dr Newman said that there was a better solution. He believes that rosacea is caused by chronic low-grade infection that blocks the pores. He looked at my skin with a cross polarised light and I could see it on a TV screen. My pores looked huge, but it was fascinating. I could see the veins and the big red blotches with smaller veins coming out of them, called spider nevi.”

Todd began using asylaic acid, which removes the top layer of the skin for four weeks.

There was an immediate improvement. Then Dr Newman administered “thermo-coagulation treatment” with heated needles. A very fine heated needle, part of a Veinwave machine, was used to puncture alongside the veins, allowing the blood to be released.

“The machine sounded like a mosquito zapper and the needles prickled and stung a bit,” Todd says. “The worst part was having the big veins done on the inside of my nostril. I jumped a mile and it really made my eyes water.” The next stage was to use a day and night cream that contained 10-20 per cent human placenta, from Russia, which helps to regenerate skin cells.

Todd is delighted with the success of the treatment, and Dr Newman says using the placenta cream for another year should eradicate the final traces of rosacea. “I honestly can't believe I no longer suffer. As soon as I knew the treatment had worked I started telling fellow sufferers. It feels like a miracle,” Todd says. But she is still dealing with the legacy of her former self-consciousness.

“Even though my pores are much smaller, I haven't used foundation yet. It almost feels as if I haven't got used to having a new face and I'm worried about drawing attention to it! It feels like showing off.”

For more information on Dr Newman's rosacea treatment visit www.drnewmansclinic.co.uk . Linear vein removal costs about £350 a session, and follow-up consultations are necessary

Rosacea - The Lowdown

What is it? Rosacea often starts intermittently but becomes permanent with pimples and prominent tiny blood vessels (thread veins). It usually begins after the age of 30 and affects up to one person in ten.

Why does it start? Environmental factors can trigger a flare-up - hot or spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine, exercise, temperature change, stress. But exactly what causes rosacea is still not known.

Can you treat it? Rosacea often responds to treatment but cannot be cured. If untreated, it is more likely that pimples will develop and blood vessels will become more visible.

What can be done? The pimples are sometimes successfully treated with antibiotics. Skin specialists also use a type of vitamin A (isotretinoin) that reduces the skin's natural oils. These treatments can also reduce redness. Another medicine, Clonidine, can help to reduce facial flushing, and corticosteroid creams, such as those used for eczema, can reduce inflammation temporarily. Intense pulse light (IPL) or laser treatment can shrink thread veins.

Camouflage creams GPs prescribe these to hide the rash. Some are also commercially available. Visit www.rosaceacare.co.uk Micro-thermocoagulation treatment (Veinwave) The treatment that Allie Todd had involves destroying a thread vein by heating it using microwave technology. The treatment is not always permanent and there is a small risk of scarring. You should check with your GP first in case your thread veins indicate another underlying condition. Veinwave costs about £350 a session.

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