Rosacea 03 - 2021

Rosacea vs Acne - Spotting the difference

We all know about acne. Some people might say they know it a little too well. But, most people don’t know about rosacea. Rosacea is a common skin condition that can appear to be acne at first glance, but we think it’s worth knowing the difference. Why? Because health is wealth and skin care is self-care.

What is acne?

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands (a gland connected to your hair follicle) and can be classified as mild, moderate or severe. Acne doesn’t discriminate; it can affect all people despite gender, age or skin type. Symptoms can include:

Pimples (open and closed) Black and white heads Cyst-like pimples that are embedded deep in the skin

What is rosacea?

Rosacea is also a chronic skin condition, but it mostly affects women aged 30-50 who are of Northern European descent. If 2-3 of the following signs persist, you might have rosacea. Depending on the subtype (there are 4), symptoms can include:

• Pimples
• Persistent redness or flushing
• Burning, stinging, itching sensations
• Swelling
• Eye irritation
• Visible blood vessels
• Skin thickening and enlargement

OK, so now you know the most common symptoms of acne and rosacea. Hopefully, that means you are more informed than you were before. But we have another important point: taking care of your skin is a crucial part of your well-being. After all, the skin is our largest organ and deserves the same respect as the rest of our body. We want to empower you with knowing the difference between acne and rosacea. That way, if you experience these symptoms, you can talk openly with a specialist and find a solution that’s right for your skin.

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Sources:

James, W. D. Clinical practice. Acne. N. Engl. J. Med., 2005; 352, 1463–72
Wilkin, J., et al. Standard grading system for rosacea: report of the National Rosacea Society Expert Committee on the classification and staging of rosacea. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2004 Jun;50(6):907-12.
Wilkin, J., et al. Standard grading system for rosacea: report of the National Rosacea Society Expert Committee on the classification and staging of rosacea. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2002 Apr;46(4):584-7.