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updated July 31, 2010

Acne Rosacea

Acne rosacea is well recognized among adults who suffer from it. But at the same point in time, in some ways, it remains a mystery. Acne rosacea is not your typical kind of acne. There is no "growing out of it," and it generally sets in during adulthood, usually around the age of 30 in fact. But in all reality, most cases of severe acne do not set in until later in adulthood.

This being said, acne rosacea is often characterized by red, inflamed skin that flushes easily. Sometimes it also comes with these little red bumps that can greatly resemble acne vulgaris. However, they say that it is more prevalent in Caucasian individuals as well as women. Some have stated that it may not be more prevalent in Caucasians, but rather more easily recognized with lighter skin tones as a general rule.

This being said, it could be far more prevalent than we think, especially if it is mistaken for acne vulgaris. However, it is also characterized by a higher sensitivity to the sun and even being painful and sensitive to the touch in general. So, that in mind, acne rosacea is something that you need to treat earlier rather than later as those who treat early tend to experience better results in general.

They theorize that acne rosacea is actually caused by a bacterial infection. They do not actually understand the cause just as they don't know the cause of acne vulgaris. They only know the symptoms and some treatments that have worked in the past, meaning they know what the contributors are. In this case, bacteria is the only known contributor.

Because of this, there are very few and limited treatments available for acne vulgaris. The first major treatment is known as metrogel. It's a powerful antibiotic, and it has been known in gel or cream form to eliminate signs and symptoms of acne rosacea. However, it has also been known to make the skin a hostile place for you, not just the bacteria. It has been known to cause redness, sensitivity to the sun, sensitivity to the touch, irritation, peeling, basically many of the symptoms of acne rosacea, really only eliminating the bumps in the end.

But the other alternatives are no better. The other major treatment option would be chemical peels. Basically speaking, any chemical peel will eliminate bacteria on the spot and peel away several layers of the skin. With this, many have seen success, and though you have to be extremely careful about which practitioner you happen to choose, it can be one of the best options out there. Unfortunately, it also causes redness, peeling, sensitivity to light and touch, and otherwise side effects that mimic the symptoms of acne rosacea.

From what I've seen, some people have seen results with tea tree oil, because it works somewhat like benzoyl peroxide, a major antibacterial and for that matter a major alternative to benzoyl peroxide, a common ingredient in many chemical peels. It works without any side effects, and it actually soothes and nourishes the skin. They have not conducted studies on this. So it's success is on a case by case business. But many find that it is worth checking out.