It Looks Like Rosacea But Isn't

Acne and Rosacea

Though both conditions are common - acne is the most widespread of all skin diseases - they are quite different. Acne is caused by excess production of oil in the sebaceous glands of the hair follicle.

Rosacea, on the other hand, usually does not involve the inflammation or infection of the follicle. Though its causes are still a mystery to science, its main symptom is flushing of the skin. I some cases, papules appear, leading patients to confuse rosacea with acne.

Another obvious difference between the two diseases is that there are no comedones, white heads or blackheads in rosacea as there are in acne. Still, due to the appearance of spots on the face, rosacea is sometimes called "adult acne". As much as acne looks like rosacea, it is different in terms of demographics as well. Acne tends to strike mainly during puberty and is called the "bane of teenagers", whereas rosacea tends to show up post-30. Also rosacea appears partial to very white-skinned Caucasian people and has earned it the nickname "Curse of the Celts" in countries such as Ireland and Scotland.

Other Close Cousins

There are several other skin diseases that look like rosacea but are not the same. One of these is lupus erythematosus. This is a serious disease that involves disturbances to the skin and several other organs.

Patients with this disease exhibit red scaly lesions to the skin that are very sensitive to light. The lesions appear on the face but often spread to other organs of body.
Lupus profundus on the other hand affects the subcutaneous fat and causes nodules that lead to depressions on the skin. Do note that rosacea does not lead to the formation of nodules, cysts or rash. It is a vascular disease, whose main symptom is excessive flushing usually restricted to the face.

Rosacea and Dermatitis
Another skin condition that looks like rosacea is contact dermatitis. As the term suggests, this develops when repeated skin contact with certain allergens or chemicals causes the epidermis to get damaged and appear red and raw. For instance, frequent or compulsive washing or rubbing of the face damages the upper layer of the skin and causes redness that is easily aggravated. That's why contact dermatitis is sometimes confused with rosacea. Sometimes, overuse or an allergic reaction to certain chemicals in cosmetics can lead to the same effect.

Like we said, rosacea has many cousins and perioral dermatitis ranks among the closest. Though it is in no way related to rosacea, it closely mimics the skin disease. Patients with perioral dermatitis develop a facial rash and itching around the mouth, upper lip and chin. This is also accompanied by redness and could be aggravated by the use of creams with a steroid base. It strikes mainly in one's teens and at menopause in women.
What Causes Rosacea?

Unlike acne whose causes are well researched, the causes of rosacea are obscure. This is important in the context of treatment of any disease as the course it takes will depend on the kind of disease and its severity. Mild cases of rosacea are effectively treated with topical applications such as foundations and other similar skin camouflage products as the main objective is to cover up the facial flushing.

Medical treatment of rosacea includes the use of medicines - both antibiotic and otherwise - that come in two forms. Some are medicated creams and lotions while others need to be taken orally.

The active ingredients in these are azelaic acid, sodium sulfacetamide or metronidazole, which either reduce pigmentation or inflammation in patients with rosacea. Make sure you get the right diagnosis though because you may have a skin condition that looks like rosacea but is actually quite different.

Acne and Treatment - More Undeniable Facts That Will Help You Get Rid of This Annoying Skin Problem

If your call was to settle for some cream that is sold in the drugstore, you are going to have to be extra careful when seeking to treat acne. You have to read the label of any medication with a lot of care to make sure that your skin does not respond unfavorably to the medication. Once you are sure of that, you can go on with the treatment.

As a second fact, you must realize that acne is mostly a disease that is related with the natural coming of age or adolescence in several people. You may have noticed that most of the people who suffer from the disease are people who are entering into the mature phase of their lives. As a result, you may want to consult your doctor first to determine if that is why you are suffering from the condition. If it so happens that it is, you may want to take an acne treatment that is specific to the hormonal changes that are going on in your body at the time.

A secret that a lot of people do not know is that the disease appears mostly in adults when they suffer from some kind of endocrine disorder. However, younger people suffer from it when they have hormonal changes in their bodies. As a result, the phase of your life in which the condition attacks you say a lot about the way you need to treat it.

If you can keep these two simple points in your mind, you will never go wrong about the kind of acne treatment that you choose to use, and you will get the clear skin results that you need all the time.

Inexpensive Ways to Treat Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic condition usually related to the reddening of the face. It is common in both genders but more frequently diagnosed in women. Usually pimples are also associated with this disease.

Skin redness can be combated by the use of azelaic acid cream which constitutes wheat, rye and barley. A number of Rosacea treatments are available and most of these treatments have yielded only positive results.

A Rosacea remedy differs on the basis of severity and varies from patient to patient. In case of mild conditions, it does not need a full time treatment. Simple and normal cosmetics would suffice the need. Usually mild cases can be countered by avoiding any such causes leading to development of Rosacea. Other Rosacea remedies include natural treatments which use herbs or topical extracts. Natural treatment for Rosacea begins by avoiding those conditions which may trigger this disease.

Apart from this, people affected by Rosacea can use herbal ways as means of Rosacea remedy. A cream containing an extract of the herb, Chrysanthellum indicum, has been added to one of the treatments for the disease. Even green tea cream was found to be a successful Rosacea remedy. The green tea Rosacea treatment was found to be more effective than the one using placebo.

Topical Rosacea remedies include the use of niacinamide cream and licorie herb. Usually Rosacea affects a person's digestion of fatty foods. The process slows down in people suffering from Rosacea and thus causes indigestion of such fatty foods. Pancreatic enzyme supplements will not only help in controlling indigestion but also significantly reduces the disease and may act as a Rosacea remedy.

A proper diet and avoiding intake of food which may severe the case should also be done to get rid of Rosacea at the earliest possible stage.