The Effects of Acne on Rosacea

Rosacea and acne are two entirely different conditions, although they can and do appear together. Rosacea is very often accompanied by acne pimples in over 76% of patients while approximately 35% have seborrheic dermatitis which makes for an even more sensitive skin condition. When the acne and rosacea appear together the result is often called by many names: acne rosacea, rosacea, or adult acne.
Clogged skin pores and bacterial infections cause acne. The blackheads, whiteheads and pimples associated with acne are not associated with rosacea.
The pimples, pustules, and cysts that occur in rosacea may look like typical acne, but closer scrutiny reveals the absence of whiteheads and blackheads. In rosacea, the pimples and cysts rarely appear on the chest and back. Rosacea consists of red bumps called papules. These papules are usually solid and hard. The papules range in size from small bumps that resemble the measles or chicken pox, all the way to larger, penny-shaped nodules.
Acne does not cause rosacea, but many of the medications used in the treatment of acne can contribute to the onset and/or aggravation of rosacea symptoms.