Ways to Treat Acne and Rosacea
Acne is a common condition where you get pimples on your face resulting from clogged pores. It can affect anyone but is more common in teenagers and young adults. Rosacea is a common disorder that causes redness on your facial skin. Over time, the redness may become severe, causing a rosy appearance, and small blood vessels may become visible. Both Asheville acne and rosacea cause facial redness, bumps and pimples. But redness in acne usually occurs around the pimple, while in rosacea, it often covers a large region. Also, acne presents with more blackheads and clogged pores than rosacea. There are many treatments for acne and rosacea, including:
Treatments for acne
Acne treatment varies based on your age, the severity of your condition, and the type of acne you have. Treatments for acne focus on stopping the formation of new pimples and healing the existing blemishes on your skin. These treatments include:
Topical medications
Your provider can recommend benzoyl peroxide leave-on gel to target surface bacteria that often aggravate acne. Azelaic acid can kill microorganisms on your skin and reduce swelling. Topical antibiotics like clindamycin and erythromycin can control surface bacteria that worsen and cause acne. These antibiotics are more effective when combined with benzoyl peroxide.
Oral medications
Oral antibiotics like tetracycline and doxycycline can treat moderate to severe acne from bacteria. Contraceptives containing estrogen and progesterone, like Yaz®, can treat acne in some women. Your doctor may recommend hormone therapy if you experience acne flare-ups during menstruation that results from excess androgen. This hormone therapy contains low-dose estrogen and progesterone.
Other therapies
Your doctor may suggest other acne therapies if topical or oral medications are ineffective or if you have acne scars to clear your skin. Lasers can deliver heat under your skin to promote collagen production, encouraging new skin growth to replace old scarred ones. Your doctor can administer steroid injections into large nodules to ease inflammation.
Treatments for rosacea
Treatments for rosacea depend on your symptoms. These include:
Topical treatments
Your doctor can recommend metronidazole to help reduce inflammation and irritation. If you have severe redness, oxymetazoline cream or gel may be beneficial. Applying a gel, foam, or cream containing azelaic acid can help manage rosacea that involves papules or pustules.
Oral medications
Oral antibiotics like tetracycline, minocycline, or doxycycline can help manage symptoms of rosacea resulting from bacteria. Since using high doses of antibiotics for the long term can lead to resistance, doctors usually prescribe lower doses to act more as an anti-inflammatory than an antibiotic.
Laser and light therapies
Your doctor may recommend laser or light therapy to reduce rosacea redness. These therapies are effective in many patients but do not give permanent solutions.
Lifestyle modifications
Avoiding triggers that worsen your rosacea, like spicy foods, stress, hot liquids, sun exposure, and hair spray, can help manage your condition. Using gentle and non-irritating skin products can ease your rosacea symptoms. Always use mild cleaners and moisturizers, especially those specifically formulated for rosacea-prone skin.
Acne and rosacea are common skin conditions that cause redness and bumps on your face. Both conditions can be treated and managed by topical and oral medications, laser and light therapies, and certain lifestyle changes. Schedule an appointment at Beacon Dermatology for acne and rosacea treatment to improve your facial skin tone.