Acne and rosacea are two skin conditions that can cause skin redness and sensitivity. Their causes and treatments, however, are very different from each other. Knowing how to recognize each condition can help you to determine how to best treat them. If your condition cannot be controlled through over-the-counter medications, a physician may prescribe oral or topical medications to reduce acne or rosacea.
Causes
Acne results from three contributing factors, notes MayoClinic.com. The first is the excess production of sebum, which can clog the pores. The second is due to a buildup of dead skin cells in the pores that can irritate the skin. Finally, bacteria can enter the pores, which results in inflammatory acne.
While the causes of acne are known, rosacea's causes are less clear. Some researchers believe genetics and environmental factors may be the cause. However, rosacea may be worsened by a number of factors, including spicy foods, alcohol, sunlight and/or hot baths that can dilate the blood vessels.
Identification
Because each causes skin redness, acne and rosacea can closely resemble each other. However, rosacea may cause you to experience spidery blood vessels when you view the face more closely, according to MedlinePlus. While rosacea areas may ooze and crust, acne can appear as whiteheads, blackheads, pustules that appear a large bumps with white pus inside, and nodules, which are lumps below the skin.
Prevention
Those with rosacea should refrain from consuming certain foods known to cause redness and flare-ups, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. These include spicy foods, hot drinks, caffeine and alcohol. Refrain from using skin-care products that contain potentially irritating substances. These include alcohol and perfumes, which can contain irritants that aggravate the skin. If you have acne, you should utilize products that do not contain oil, according to MedlinePlus. Oil can clog the pores, resulting in further breakouts. Look for products labeled "non-comedogenic" or "water-based." Maintaining a careful skin-care cleansing routine and exfoliating regularly also helps to remove oil and dead skin cells.
Treatment
If you experience acne breakouts, adopting a twice-daily cleansing routine to remove residual dirt and oils from the skin can help, according to MedlinePlus. Spot treatments, such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, can be applied directly to an acne blemish to reduce the amount of oil in the pore. Rosacea treatments include applying topical antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide or vitamin A applied to the skin regularly, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. If over-the-counter treatments no longer prove effective in treating acne or rosacea, your physician may be able to prescribe stronger medications.
Warning
You should refrain from picking or scratching at acne blemishes, according to MedlinePlus. Doing so can introduce bacteria into the skin and cause scarring, which can actually worsen the acne blemish. You also should avoid scratching or rubbing the face if you have rosacea, which may make the redness worse.
