Acne and Rosacea – Why It's Important You Know the Difference

Hannah Clapham

Hannah Clapham is the author of the Acne Skin Care Center website, a complete online resource for all your Acne and Rosacea questions

Acne and Rosacea are very difficult condition for anyone, young or old. But of course acne and rosacea are not the only problems that you can have with your skin, whether it's the skin on your face or anywhere else. Cysts, moles, and blackheads are also very common problem that many people have, and what is unfortunate is that many people just don't know the difference. They put acne medication on their cysts or think that moles are blackheads, and so on.

One of the easiest mistakes to make is confusing rosacea for acne itself. If you don't have a proper understanding of what the difference is between these conditions it's very possible to not only ignore acne at the source but to actually make the condition even worse; especially with rosacea as the skin become inflamed and irritated if it's not treated properly. But how is rosacea different from acne?

Acne is a very unique condition of the skin wherein dirt, oil and bacteria get trapped in hair follicles or pores and a thin layer of skin or a skin cell forms over it so that it can't be washed away. This then grows into what we call a pimple. Because pimples are usually red and the area around these breakouts is typically also red, itchy, and inflamed, it's easy to see how it can be confused with rosacea and vice versa.

But it's important to understand that it is not acne because it is not a collection of dirt, oil and bacteria. Instead, rosacea is a condition wherein the skin becomes red, irritated and inflamed. It can also be somewhat dry and scaly. You can have small bumps with this condition, but these pustules are not the same as acne. As a matter of fact, using acne medication on rosacea can actually make the condition worse, since most topical treatment options for acne are very drying and contain harsh ingredient such as peroxide and alcohol. Imagine adding any of these to an open wound or scrape you have on your skin!

The best way to understand rosacea is to compare it to a skin rash. There are many reasons for rashes, and those with rosacea can inherit it from their parents or it just may develop over time. While sadly there is no overnight or quick cure for rosacea, it can be successfully treated and treatment is important as it does seem to get worse if ignored. Sufferers will be well aware that it's difficult to cover or hide rosacea, but with the right treatment options its impact can be lessened.