Rosacea is a common and complex skin condition. People start to wonder what it means only when they develop it. It is good to know that this problem may occur and appear different form person to person and that, even if it is an incurable conditions, treatments are developed in order to reduce and even eliminate the flare-up.



Many people wonder about the different types of rosacea. Specialists agree with on single classification. Rosacea classification includes four groups: erythematotelangiectatic rosacea, papulopustular rosacea, phymatous rosacea and ocular rosacea. It has been observed that the papulopustular rosaea occurs along or after the erythematotelangiectatic rosacea just as the phymatous rosacea occurs after the two subtypes mentioned earlier. It is also true that this classification is consistent with common concepts about rosacea natural history and in the same time provisional and subject to change.

Another classification of rosacea might also include rosacea fulminans, steroid-induced acneiform eruptions and perioral dermatitis.

Hearing about acne vulgaris, people begin to wonder about the differences about rosacea and the mentioned condition. It is good to know that are some distinctive signs such as the blackheads that are seen in acne vulgaris but in rosacea they are not a problem. The age of onset or the location of the redness might also help in realizing whether it is rosacea or acne vulgaris. Rosacea is a problem that usually develops in adults and it is restricted to the nose, cheeks, chin and forehead. Rosacea is a condition that might coexist with acne vulgaris.

It is also a known fact that rosacea sufferers develop significant acne component in their symptoms so they can confuse the two conditions. A noticeable difference is the rosacea less follicular papules and pustules.

Rosacea will develop underlying redness that is related to flushing and look different than in acne vulgaris sufferers which do not develop the accompanying redness.

A common thing in rosacea patients is that it begins with flushing that usually leads to a persistent redness.

The treatment for these two conditions might be similar because both of them are inflammatory problems. Even so there are some differences because some acne vulgaris treatments are too harsh for rosacea affected skin and might lead to a severe and much more complicated condition. That is why rosacea patients are advised not to use as treatments alpha hydroxyl acids, topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, topical azelaic acid, triclosan, acne peels or chemical peels.