What’s the difference between Acne and Rosacea?
Monday, December 28th, 2009 at
7:24 am
I was just wondering…
Filed under: Rosacea
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This question is not an easy one to answer since acne looks so much like rosacea. However, there are factors to consider when a physician diagnoses rosacea. You should know about these factors:
(1) Rosacea does not usually present itself with blackheads (comedo formations) that are seen with acne vulgaris.
(2) Acne usually presents itself with plugging of the ducts of the oil glands, resulting in blackheads and pimples on the face and sometimes also the back, shoulders or chest. Rosacea seems to be linked to the vascular network of the central facial skin and causes redness, bumps, pimples and other symptoms that rarely goes beyond the face.
(3) The age of onset, and the location of redness is a clue. Rosacea is commonly an adult disease, and is generally restricted to the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead. However, young ones have been diagnosed with rosacea. Also, one report “indicated that some people who have rosacea do not have it on their face at all, but rather on their back or elsewhere” which adds to the confusion.
(4) Rosacea is usually accompanied with frequent flushing and a persistent redness while acne vulgaris usually doesn’t present itself with flushing. However not all report frequent flushing and flush no more than the general population.
(5) Acne treatments tend to aggravate rosacea leading to a diagnosis of rosacea. Common treatments for acne such as Salicylic Acid, Glycolic Acid, Tretinoin, Retin-A Micro, Avita, Differin, Benzoyl Peroxide, Azelaic Acid, Triclosan, Acne peels, Chemical peels, Topical exfoliants, Toners, Astringents, Witch Hazel and Alcohol tend to aggravate rosacea (but not always). Rosacea sufferers have extremely sensitive skin. Therefore, when a patient doesn’t respond to acne treatment and the acne treatment aggravates the condition it may be diagnosed as rosacea.
(6) Eye symptoms are not associated with acne, so a careful examination for eye symptoms or a finding of ocular pathology will help confirm the diagnosis of rosacea. 50% of rosaceans have ocular rosacea.
(7) Unlike acne, rosacea is not driven forward by Propionibacterium , and subsequently should not be treated using acne medications. However, to add more confusion there is a theory that P. acnes may be a potential aggravating factor in rosacea.15 But before you get excited about this, be sure to read my chapter on What Causes Rosacea?
Just to really add to the confusion it is not uncommon for acne and rosacea to co-exist. Yes, you can have acne and rosacea at the same time! You are beginning to understand the confusion, frustration, mystery, and misunderstanding that rosaceans go through.
acne is zits and pimples
rosacea is when your face is always red…u look like ur embarressed all the time
Acne is formation of papules, pustules, cysts.. in other words, pimples/zits.
Rosacea looks like a rash, feels very bumpy like sandpaper; It appears bright red as well. Sometimes a person can develop some pimples/zits along with the rosacea.