Acne vs Rosacea – How to Identify?

Acne and Rosacea are pretty common skin conditions. Both show signs of inflammation and redness and look very similar. Now hopping onto the main question, how to identify them?  Both of them are treatable. That does not mean they go away on their own! Acne and Rosacea if not treated can last for a long time. So, it’s pretty obvious to identify them correctly before you treat them. Let’s find out how.

Acne

Acne occurs when the hair follicles are clogged with bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells. It often looks like blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, or cysts. Acne can appear on the face, back, neck, chest, and shoulders. Hormonal changes and excessive oil production can lead to the formation of acne.

Rosacea

Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition and affects the face primarily. A person having Rosacea has visible blood vessels and persistent redness. Papules and pustules also might develop resembling acne. Rosacea is known to affect people after the age of 30 and usually with fair skin.

The answer to the question, ‘What causes Rosacea?’ is still unknown. However, genetics and abnormal function of the blood vessels may be linked to it. Heat, sunlight, spicy food, and alcohol can trigger Rosacea. This further leads to flushing or blushing episodes.

The Difference

Let’s learn about the difference between Acne and Rosacea. This will make things a lot simpler in identifying and treating these conditions.

Location of the Lesions

Acne occurs usually on the face, back, shoulders, and chest.

Rosacea occurs on the central face. It also appears on the cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin.

Nature of the Lesions

Acne consists of different types of lesions. These include blackheads, whiteheads, nodules, and pimples.

Rosacea lesions are characterized by redness and flushing. Small red bumps and pimples occur occasionally. It does not produce blackheads or cysts as acne.

Skin Texture

Acne-affected skin has a rough and oily texture. This is because of the presence of excess sebum and dead skin cells.

Skin affected by Rosacea appears dry and sensitive. The skin is easily irritated and has a tendency to flash and burn.

Triggers

Bacteria, hormonal changes, and excessive oil production are some of the acne triggers.

Rosacea can be triggered by sunlight, stress, alcohol, and spicy foods. Hot and cold weather can also trigger it.

Differentiating between Acne and Rosacea is very challenging due to their overlapping characteristics. Now that we understand the key differences between them, managing them gets a bit easier. If you’re still unsure about the condition, it is always advisable to consult a dermatologist.