Skin Conditions Similar To Rosacea
Rosacea is a skin condition which typically affects areas of the face. It appears as redness, ranging from a blush to pus-filled pimples as the condition worsens and typically affects the cheeks, chin, forehead, and nose.
As the condition progresses, the tiny blood vessels under the skin dilate and become visible and the nose can enlarge as excess skin tissue develops. There are also several other skin conditions which appear similar to rosacea and which can be confused with it.
Seborrheic Dermatitis
This skin condition is often confused with rosacea since it is also an inflammatory disorder which makes the skin red and puffy. Seborrheic dermatitis is one of the most common skin disorders affecting humans. It often appears on the scalp and face where there are more oil glands and where the skin is typically oilier.
Malessizia which is a type of yeast is believed to play a part in seborrheic dermatitis. This condition causes redness and flushing of the skin, as well as puffiness and redness in the eye area. Other symptoms of seborrheic dermatitis include yellow crusts and scaling on the skin. Another common symptom of this skin condition is the appearance of dandruff.
Seborrheic dermatitis cannot be cured, but it can be effectively treated. When the condition is affecting the hair-bearing areas of the body, a dermatologist will often prescribe a medicated shampoo. These shampoos contain certain ingredients effective in treating seborrheic dermatitis including antifungal antibiotics, tar, selenium sulfide, and zinc pyrithione. The doctor may also prescribe a topical treatment including steroid lotion to treat the affected area.
For the affected areas where there is no hair, the treatment is typically a topical antifungal cream or a topical steroid. Another option is to treat the affected areas with pimecrolimus or tacrolimus ointments.
This condition cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. However, if the treatment is stopped and the disease is still active, the symptoms will reappear. It is also recommended that the treatments be used just enough to control the symptoms of the seborrheic dermatitis because using the medications on normal skin can be damaging.
Acne Vulgaris
Acne vulgaris is the skin condition commonly referred to as pimples or acne. This is the most common type of skin disorder seen in the United States. It is caused when hair follicles become clogged and filled with material. Anyone can get acne vulgaris, but it is commonly seen in adolescents because of the hormonal changes that occur at that age.
This skin disorder affects many places on the body, but is most often seen on the face and the back. The symptoms include white heads, black heads, pustules, and papules. The condition may also include inflammatory reactions which cause pimples to turn into painful, deep cysts. If not treated, acne vulgaris can worsen and result in scarring.
Mild to moderate acne vulgaris can be treated with topical ointments or gels which contain benzoyl peroxide. Dermatologists may also prescribe salicylic acid to treat the whiteheads and blackheads that are associated with acne vulgaris. The skin should also be kept very clean and as oil-free as possible.
If the acne vulgaris is more severe, then the doctor may prescribe oral or topical antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications. These medications can help reduce the inflammation associate with nodular or cystic acne because they kill the bacteria these lesions contain. The most common antibiotics used to treat severe acne vulgaris are tetracycline, minocycline, and erythromycin.
Perioral Dermatitis
Perioral dermatitis is a skin order that exhibits a red rash which typically appears in the area near the mouth. It may also effect the areas of the nose, forehead, and eyes. The symptoms of this skin disorder include pustules and red bumps on the skin and often appears similar to acne.
The exact cause of this skin disorder is not known, but it appears that it can be caused by using certain types of lotions, creams, and topical steroids. This disorder also seems to be more common in those who also suffer from eczema.
This skin condition primarily affects women between ages sixteen and forty-five, but it also appears in men as well. It may also affect children and seems to be more prevalent in more developed countries. It appears as small pus-filled lesions or red bumps around or near the mouth and there will often be an unaffected area between the rash and the lips. The condition may also appear as bumps near the nose and eyes and may also exhibit flaky or dry skin in these areas.
This condition can be typically be treated successfully with self-care, however if self-care treatment does not clear up the condition within four to six weeks, a doctor should be consulted. Self-care treatment includes:
- Stopping the use of all lotions, face creams, sunscreens, and cosmetics
- Stopping the use of dental products containing anti-tartar and fluoride
- Cleansing the affected areas with only warm water until the rash disappears and then cleansing the area with a soap substitute
If self-care is not successful in healing the perioral dermatitis, a doctor may prescribe topical or oral antibiotics. One of the topical treatments often used to treat this skin condition is azelaic acid which is a dicarboxylic acid found in whole grains.
These skin conditions may appear similar to rosacea and can be confused with this skin disorder. If symptoms appear and it is not rosacea, then it may be one of these skin conditions.
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