Pyoderma Faciale May Be Mistaken For Rosacea

Pyoderma faciale is an unusual skin condition occurring in young adult women. It can resemble severe acne or rosacea.
Unlike acne, pyoderma faciale:
Starts abruptly
Rarely persists more than a year or so
Is not associated with oily skin
Does not arise from comedones
Is confined to the face
Does not affect males
Compared with rosacea, pyoderma faciale:
Affects younger women
Is not associated with flushing
Does not affect eyes
There are unsightly and painful large red bumps (nodules), pustules and sores on very red areas of the cheeks, chin and/or forehead. The lesions may leave scars. When there are nodules but no pustules, it is sometimes called "rosacea fulminans". There is some debate whether pyoderma faciale is the same as or different from rosacea fulminans.
Despite the severity of the inflammation, there are no internal symptoms. No infective organisms are found in bacterial cultures of the affected skin.
Pyoderma faciale
Treatment
As this condition is rare, it is not certain which is the best medication to use. The following oral medications may help:
Antibiotics
Isotretinoin
Steroids
Most cases can be expected to clear up with a combination of these medications taken for three to six months. The patient should be under the care of a dermatologist.