A red breakout occurs on your face. You jump to the conclusion that this nuisance is acne, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes, these red flare-ups are actually a less common skin condition called rosacea. Rosacea is a breakout that is red in appearance and seems very similar to acne, but is much more difficult to treat. So how do you tell if it’s acne or rosacea?
- Acne can take many forms: blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, or even deep and painful cysts. Rosacea will form fairly uniform pimple-like, red breakouts with no blackheads.
- Acne is most common on the face, upper neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Rosacea tends to affect just the face and eyes but can extend to the scalp, neck, and upper chest and back.
- With acne, your skin may redden around the breakout. With rosacea, redness will occur in the center of your face on your cheeks, forehead, nose or chin and may come and go or remain permanently.
- With acne, your skin will be oily or bumpy, but rosacea can cause the appearance of large pores and visible blood vessels.
- Finally, skin impacted by rosacea will be very sensitive. Applying products you might normally use such as sunscreen, lotions, and perfumes can cause itching or burning.
While people of all ages can struggle with both acne and rosacea, acne is most common in teenagers while rosacea usually occurs in people over the age of thirty. The two require very different treatment. If you think you are struggling with Rosacea, please make an appointment with your dermatologist. They will be able to give you an accurate diagnosis and start you on the proper treatment plan. Savannah River Dermatology is located at 575 Furys Ferry Rd in Augusta, Ga. For appointments or other questions, our office can be reached at 706-691-7079.
