Acne Rosacea Overview

There are a number of different skin problems that can affect us at times and can be difficult to tell which of these problems you are dealing with.  This is the case whenever it comes to rosacea and acne, two problems that share some similar symptoms but are actually two different conditions altogether.  Let’s take a look at these two conditions as well as some acne and rosacea treatment options that may be able to help.

What are the symptoms?

The first thing you should understand is although the condition is often referred to as being acne rosacea, the fact is that rosacea is not acne at all.  As a matter of fact, it is a condition all of its own and although some of the symptoms may mimic acne, the treatments may actually vary quite widely.  As a matter of fact, it is possible to use an acne treatment which will actually irritate the rosacea to a certain extent.  That is why it is important for you to make sure what kind of skin condition you’re dealing with before you begin trying any kind of treatment.

Many people try to self diagnose themselves but this actually could lead to a wrong diagnosis.  Even a doctor will not be able to do any tests that will let you know if you have rosacea or not but they are better prepared to give you an accurate diagnosis after screening you with some questions.  Once you have been diagnosed with acne rosacea, you can begin using a natural skin care product or other type of natural acne treatment which will work for this particular problem.

Is it acne or rosacea? How do I tell?

There are several different ways for you to be able to tell the difference between rosacea and acne.  Although they will have many similar symptoms, rosacea tends to have a small acne rosacea papules or red patches on the skin without the presence of blackheads, whiteheads or pimples that are often seen in regular acne.

Most rosacea flare-ups do not start until a person is in their adulthood. There are pre-rosacea signs that appear earlier. Many times, the individuals will develop issues with blushing or flushing that lasts far longer than normal.

Acne rosacea can be crippling to one’s self-esteem, but thankfully the flare-ups rarely occur in the teen years. It is more important to look for signs of flushing in stressful situations, extreme heat, or under certain lights. There is also a tendency to blush easily. These early signs suggest that the person experiencing them may develop rosacea in their adult years. While there is no cure for rosacea, there is a chance that following a rosacea skin care treatment can help reduce the symptoms down the road.

Acne tends to affect people more in their teenage years and this is another way for you to be able to distinguish the difference between the two.

What areas on the body does it affect?

Rosacea often looks like a bad sunburn in the T zone area of the face. The main symptoms of this facial condition include red or pink patches, visible broken blood vessels, small red bumps, red cysts.  Its appearance is usually most prevalent on the cheeks and can be extremely hard to hide, even with make-up. In fact, the make-up can often help lead to additional flare-ups.

It may also affect the inside of the eyelids, a condition that is known as ocular rosacea.  This is why many individuals who are suffering from rosacea also complain of burning or gritty feeling eyes.  Some may attribute this to oily skin but it is actually a matter of an irritation on the inside of the eyelid.

Who gets it?

Rosacea is not contagious at all, and current research shows that the cause of the condition is not hereditary though research on the latter is ongoing. Almost half of all diagnosed patients claim they know at least one family member who also has the condition. There is a strong link between those diagnosed with rosacea having at least one parent who is part Irish or English. There is also evidence that the disorder is often stronger in those with British blood. Why this occurs is still unknown?

With this, rosacea tends to occur in people who are fair skinned but it may also appear on Asian skin, Latin skin and even black skin.  Of course, depending on the tone of the skin, the symptoms may appear a little bit differently.  It may also come and go or it can be chronic and it tends to be a progressive problem.  That is why it is important for you to have your acne rosacea diagnosed as early as possible so that a skin treatment can be started.

Is there a  treatment?

There are a number of different ways that your adult acne rosacea may be treated.  Most of these amount to a skin treatment that is specific for this condition but there are also times when an internal medicine is prescribed.  There are also forms of treatment that are herbal and treat the condition naturally.  A rosacea treatment gel may also help in many instances and also some forms of acne treatment that can help with this condition as well.

Furthermore, it may also be necessary for you to identify triggers that cause your rosacea to occur and to avoid them in the future.  Although there are not any treatments which will fix the problem permanently, by carefully keeping yourself from things that irritate the problem, you can keep it to a minimum.