Aging Gracefully and with Great Health

Is It Really Adult Acne, Or Do You Have Rosacea?

27 October 2016 by For Content

Having pimples pop up on your face as an adult is incredibly frustrating. Weren't you supposed to get over this during your high school years? You might run out to the drugstore and invest in products designed to clear up your acne. However, there's a chance that what you're suffering from is not really adult acne, but rosacea. Since the two respond differently to treatments, it's important not to confuse them. Here's a closer look at the signs that you may have rosacea – and what to do about it.

How can you tell the difference between rosacea and adult acne?

Both involve pimples, but that's really where the similarity ends. If you have a lot of blackheads, you're probably suffering from acne, but if you have few to no blackheads, then rosacea is likely to blame. Also, rosacea often causes pronounced redness around the pimple-covered areas, where with acne, only the pimples themselves tend to be red. Rosacea sufferers also often feel their skin flush or burn a little when they get too warm, are embarrassed, or are exposed to cold winds. Sometimes rosacea sufferers notice that their noses, in particular, swell and become red.

How is rosacea diagnosed and treated?

If you suspect your have rosacea rather than adult acne, you should really visit a dermatologist. While acne often responds to over-the-counter remedies, rosacea often requires prescription treatments.  Your dermatologist will look over your skin and confirm that you do indeed have rosacea. Based on your symptoms and overall health, they will recommend one or more of these treatments:

Oral antibiotics: Some patients respond well to oral antibiotics like doxycycline or minocycline. These antibiotics help your body fight off the bacteria that contribute to rosacea breakouts. They do, however, cause side effects like nausea in some patients.

Topical antibiotics: If you don't tolerate oral antibiotics well, a topical antibiotic like clindamycin may be recommended. You'll typically need to apply this to your face once or twice per day after washing it.

Anti-inflammatory creams: A large part of rosacea has to do with inflammation. Topical creams to relieve inflammation may be prescribed.  Sometimes, you may be instructed to apply these daily. Other times, you may be told only to use them when you're having a flare-up.

If you are developing pimples as an adult, make sure you rule out rosacea before you just assume you have acne. Rosacea can be tough to treat, so you'll want a dermatologist on your side. You can click for more info.

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