When you look at yourself in the mirror, do you have what looks like pimples on your cheeks, nose, and chin? If you have always battled with acne, you may assume that you are dealing with run-of-the-mill acne. But have you ever considered that you may actually have acne rosacea?
Is Acne Rosacea Really Acne?
No. However, when just looking at it in the mirror, it can be difficult to distinguish acne rosacea from normal acne. Even the name that was given to this type of rosacea is a little bit confusing. Although the conditions are different, they do share some similarities. For example, the reason why you get normal acne is because something is going wrong with your pores. The same is true for this form of rosacea. Traditional acne causes small pimples. So does this form of rosacea.
The reason why these two disorders are different is because of the factors that cause them. You can have traditional acne anywhere on your body. It’s not uncommon for people to have serious breakouts on their shoulders, back, and chest. Rosacea only happens in the center of your face. You will see the symptoms on your nose, your cheeks, your chin, and your forehead.
With acne rosacea, the breakouts usually don’t happen until they are at least 30 years of age. Standard acne affects anyone regardless of their skin color or their sex. While rosacea can affect anyone as well, it is more predominantly seen with individuals who have lighter skin, and it affects women more often than it does men.
What Symptoms Will I See?
In many cases, standard acne outbreaks will dissipate over time. However, with acne rosacea, the symptoms will just get worse, causing the redness and bumps to become more severe. It can reach a point where the skin becomes so lumpy that it causes the nose to become large and take on a bulbous appearance. Thankfully, in the vast majority of cases, this condition does not reach this level of severity. For most people, rosacea is mild and can be treated.
How Do I Know if I Have Acne Rosacea?
The best way for you to know is to visit a skin care professional at Dermatology Consultants of South Florida. There are no skin tests that can be used, but with just a visual inspection, our skin care professional should be able to differentiate between acne and rosacea.
Do you think that your acne may actually be acne rosacea? Would you like to know for sure? If so, feel free to contact us today to schedule your consultation at one of our offices in Sunrise or Coral Springs.