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Skin conditions : acne or rosacea ?

Acne is caused by inflammation and blockage of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles. The bacterium involved is propionibacterium acnes. The familiar appearance is of whiteheads and blackheads on the skin. The resulting rash is often embarrassing to teenagers and young adults.

The appearance of acne vulgaris is known too - red popular lesions, pustules and blackheads. Located particularly on forehead, nose chin and beard area but any part of the face can be affected. It affects teens and usually clears but can persist into adulthood. Acne lesions can be found on the neck, chest and back.

Features of acne

When a pore becomes completely blocked, it traps oils and dead skin within, creating a white surface.This is known as a whitehead.

Blackheads are caused when pores become partially blocked which allows a small amount of oils and dead skin to drain to the surface. Pigments in the skin react with oxygen in the air, forming a black colour.

Papules are inflamed red bumps that appear on the surface of the skin and can often be quite painful. They should not be squeezed as this can cause scarring.

Nodules are large and hard lumps situated under the surface of the skin. Do not squeeze a nodule - this will result in scarring. Nodules only occur in severe cases of acne and should be treated by a dermatologist.Cysts only develop in severe cases of acne, and are similar to nodules and they also contain pus. Cysts are quite large and painful and squeezing will result in more extensive infection and scarring

A pustule has the appearance of a white head but is usually larger and more inflamed.

Drugs that can change factors predisposing towards causing acne include - isoniazid, lithium, birth control pills, phenobarbital, phenytoin and steroid drugs.

Rosacea

Any acne type rash occurring later in life may be rosacea. This starts off as facial flushing or a red rash over the cheeks or bridge of the nose. The rash is usually symmetrical in appearance and can be described or referred to as a butterfly rash due to its outline shape. The nose can become enlarged, rounded and red. Antibiotic treatment is necessary for successful treatment.

This type of acne is common amongst people over thirty years of age and has a higher prevalence in women. Acne rosacea will display as a red rash over the face along with bumps and pimples; blackheads do not occur in this type of acne.

However there is another butterfly type rash that can appear over the nose and cheeks where the lesions are more scaly to the eye than in acne vulgaris or rosacea.

This is SLE or systemic lupus erythematosus, a rare condition that can be brought about by certain prescription drugs in some cases: Beta blockers hydralazine, isoniazid, lithium, methyldopa, phenytoin and penicillamine.

It is important to determine which condition you might have and avoid the urge to squeeze blemishes and cysts if present. A soap free product should be used to cleanse skin and avoid irritation. At the same time avoid touching affected areas too frequently as this can encourage the condition to move to another section of skin. kill folliculitis with tea trea shampoo