Acne and rosacea stem from different causes, but both can leave your face with ugly marks and coloring. In the case of acne, badly infected lesions can lead to depressed scars or colored marks where the pimples used to be. Rosacea sufferers, meanwhile, suffer from progressive redness along with visible blood vessels and pimples. Fortunately, dermatologists offer several treatments that can reduce the appearance of both acne scars and rosacea.
Causes
Heredity seems to play a role in both acne scars and rosacea. If a close relative scarred after a teenage bout with acne, it's likely you will, too, and if rosacea runs in your family, especially if you have fair hair and skin, you're also at risk. Most people develop acne as a teenager, but rosacea is a progressive condition that generally worsens as you get older.
Types
Your first line of defense against some acne scars and rosacea may be a topical ointment. The prescription cream tretinoin, which is probably best-known by the brand name Retin-A, can treat both the redness associated with rosacea and less severe acne scars. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), tretinoin works well to fade the discolored spots that often are left behind once pimples resolve, and also treats the inflammation that leads to redness in rosacea.
More Types
If tretinoin doesn't work for your acne scars or rosacea, your physician may suggest laser treatments. Although different types of lasers can be used, rosacea responds well to pulsed dye lasers, according to the AAD, and depressed acne scars, which resemble pits in the skin, often become less noticeable after treatment with a fractional-type laser. In either case, your dermatologist likely will recommend several treatments.
Effects
Multiple medical research studies show that both tretinoin and laser therapy can treat rosacea and acne scars effectively. For example, a 1994 study in the "Archives of Dermatology" looked at 20 patients with severe rosacea using either tretinoin cream or a placebo, and found significant improvement in symptoms after four months. In the case of acne scars, a 2009 report in the "Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology" compared two different types of lasers and found they're both effective in treating acne scars.
Time Frame
Regardless of whether you're fighting rosacea or acne scars, you need to give your chosen treatment time to work. Dermatologists consider tretinoin to be a long-term treatment, and generally expect results after a few months when using it for rosacea or acne scars. Laser therapy can work faster, but both acne scar patients and rosacea sufferers still may need more than one or two sessions. If you suffer from either rosacea or acne scarring, talk to your personal physician about your treatment options.
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