Who doesn’t want skin that’s glowing, smooth, and healthy?
Pimples, pustules, redness, and splotchiness can really spoil your look, causing you to feel self-conscious and making you want to hide your skin rather than reveal it.
Unfortunately, skin problems aren’t just reserved for teens. In adults aged 20-40, up to 50% of women and about 12% of men are affected by acne, for example.
You might be confused as to why your skin isn’t looking better though, if you’ve armed yourself with products that fight oiliness and acne — but they don’t seem to be helping. In some cases, that “acne” may in fact really be rosacea, an inflammatory vascular skin condition that looks similar to acne to the untrained eye.
As primary care experts who offer a full scope of dermatology services, Dr. Mingliarti Tjahjana and our team at One Health Medical Center in Reston, Virginia, treat skin issues with expertise and compassion. We investigate your symptoms thoroughly, talk with you about your treatment options, and devise a highly customized plan to improve your skin.
This April, in recognition of Rosacea Awareness Month, we’re taking a closer look at how rosacea is often confused with acne — and why the right diagnosis is key to clearing your skin.
Both rosacea and acne are inflammatory skin conditions, but they’re definitely not one and the same — and each requires a different line of treatment.
It can be confusing to tell the two conditions apart. This is because both conditions cause:
That’s where the similarities between acne and rosacea end, though. Let’s look at the differences between them:
The underlying causes of each condition differ, too. Rosacea is a systemic inflammatory immune response that may be linked to vascular and nervous system disequilibrium. Genetics may also play a role in its emergence.
Acne, on the other hand, is triggered by factors that stimulate too much oil production, bacterial growth, and problems with the skin cell shedding process. Genetics, hormonal shifts, and medications have all been linked to the development of acne.
If you’re suffering with any of the symptoms we’ve mentioned, it’s important to seek expert care and get evaluated by Dr. Tjahjana, so you can receive an accurate diagnosis. She can then create an effective treatment plan for your condition, and you can be on your way to having clear, healthy skin once again.
If you’re diagnosed with acne, Dr. Tjahjana may recommend treatments such as topical products and antibiotics to treat your current eruptions and prevent new ones from developing.
Since rosacea isn’t curable, Dr. Tjahjana seeks to help you manage it and keep flare-ups under control with topical and oral medications. Identifying your rosacea triggers — or the things that prompt your rosacea skin flares, like time in cold, windy air or red wine — is also paramount.
We’re invested in helping you keep your largest organ — your skin — healthy and looking great. Dr. Tjahjana also offers advice on how you can support skin health as time goes on, so you can maintain your results indefinitely.
Ready for clearer, healthier skin? We can help. Call 571-572-9198 to schedule a visit at One Health Medical in Reston, Virginia, today, or book an appointment online at your convenience.
