What's the Connection Between Acne and Rosacea

 

Both acne and rosacea may lead to reddened skin and pink or red bumps on your face. It’s quite common to mistake one skin disease for the other. But they’re entirely different in the way they arise. 

Is it possible to suffer from both acne and rosacea at the same time? Yes! It is possible. So, it’s necessary to get a proper diagnosis during your skincare treatment in California from a dermatologist, particularly if you have a family history of rosacea. Although a few treatments overlap, multiple treatments are specific to the condition. 

In most reputable skincare clinics, you will find that experienced dermatologists diagnose and treat acne and rosacea with expertise. Despite the similarities in these skin conditions, they aren’t the same and one doesn’t cause the other. 

Concept of Acne 

Acne is a skin condition that develops because of an increase of androgens in your body. Androgens are male hormones, like testosterone, that activate your follicles or pores to generate a surplus quantity of a waxy oil called sebum.  

Sebum becomes a type of glue in your follicles that stops old skin shells from shedding. Rather, oil and dead skin clog your pores, causing lesions, like whiteheads and blackheads.  

Subsequently, the bacteria may start feasting on the clogs and grow rapidly. This may lead to inflammation. That’s when you begin seeing pustules, pimples, and cysts. 

The Comparative Rarity of Rosacea 

Dissimilar to acne, which seems to impact almost everyone in the Western world at a certain point, rosacea isn’t that omnipresent. Nearly 16 million people in the United States suffer from rosacea. A lot of them have never been diagnosed. Rosacea seems to appear later in life, unlike acne, generally after age 30. 

Hormones don’t affect rosacea. Rather, it tends to be a genetic condition passed down in families, particularly those with light-skinned Caucasian or Northern European roots. The mushrooming of another skin microbe, called the Demodex mite is mostly linked with rosacea and may partially be the main cause for its inflammatory, red appearance. 

The symptoms of acne and rosacea are a bit different. Though each may lead to red bumps and reddened skin, rosacea may also cause the following: 

• Visible veins  
• Rough patches or rashes 
• Enlarged nose 
• Red eyes 
• Flushing or blushing 

Researchers have found that the primary cause of rosacea may be due to the result of a hyperactive immune system. Rather, people suffering from rosacea are at a higher risk for more significant inflammatory disorders. That includes cardiovascular disease and specific cancers. This suggests that the reddened skin and lesions are caused due to systemic inflammation. 

Treatments: The Link Between Acne and Rosacea  

Even though acne and rosacea are recognizable skin conditions, several treatments are the same. A few of the treatment options are as follows: 

Topical Retinoids 

Retinoids are vitamin-A derivatives to help your skin shed dead skin to show healthier skin beneath. They can be particularly effective to unclog the follicles in acne and are therapeutic for rosacea as well.  

Topical or Oral Antibiotics 

As acne and rosacea are linked with excessive skin microbes, both skin conditions can effectively utilize either topical or oral antibiotics.  

Laser and Light Therapies 

Both acne and rosacea respond to a wide range of light therapies, like lasers and pulsed-dye light, and blue light. Lasers and light break up excessively pigmented lesions and evaporate visible veins. They also boost the quality of your skin to minimize the frequency or acuteness of acne or rosacea flares. 

Acne-only Remedies 

Acute cases of inflammatory acne may necessitate an oral retinoid called Accutane®, which can exclusively be applied for short periods and isn’t suggested for women unless they’re focusing on birth control. As acne is impacted by hormones, women may find hormonal contraceptive therapy to be beneficial. 

Rosacea-only Remedies 

Rosacea may mandate immunosuppressive therapies. People suffering from rosacea may benefit from lifestyle changes too, like avoiding hot foods or liquids and avoiding dry heat or sunlight, which may lead to an attack. 

Conclusion 

It would be foolish to assume that the red bumps on the tip of your nose are acne. You need to get the diagnosis done by booking a consultation with the experts from an authentic skincare clinic in California so that they can guide you properly.