Although it is now known that there is no connection between acne and rosacea, the term “acne rosacea” was once frequently used to describe the bumps (papules) and pimples (pustules) of papulopustular rosacea, and the misleading term is still sometimes used today. This has often led to confusion by the public, and rosacea sufferers with bumps and pimples may mistakenly diagnose themselves as having acne. The two disorders require different treatment, however, and acne medications may cause rosacea symptoms to get worse.

Inflammatory acne and rosacea are both common in Latin Americans, but because rosacea is usually associated with lighter skin tones, it is often missed or misdiagnosed in those with darker skin, according to a recent article in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.¹

Although rosacea patients often have to cope with other skin disorders in addition to their rosacea, treatment for other conditions may tend to reduce rosacea flare-ups, according to a new survey by the National Rosacea Society.

Acne and rosacea can share common features, and accurate diagnosis is especially important because antibiotic resistance is a growing concern worldwide, according to Dr. Hilary Baldwin, associate professor of dermatology at the State University of New York-Brooklyn.¹

Q. Is there any evidence that certain vitamins help control rosacea?

Medical scientists from around the world heard updated reports on advances in the understanding of the potential causes and other key aspects of rosacea at the National Rosacea Society (NRS) research workshop held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Society for Investigative Dermatology in St. Louis. The NRS conducts the annual workshop to promote interest in rosacea research and to share new information from ongoing studies.

Q. If you have acne as a teenager, are you more likely to get rosacea as an adult?

A. While both conditions may cause pimples, no relationship has been established between teenage acne and rosacea. In fact, many rosacea patients have reported that they had always enjoyed exceptionally clear complexions prior to developing this disorder.

Q. I suffer from regular acne in addition to rosacea. Is this common?

While a host of conditions can cause symptoms that may superficially resemble rosacea, dermatologists are increasingly able to pinpoint this widespread disorder and any concurrent conditions in order to tailor appropriate therapy for the individual patient. Proper diagnosis of rosacea can be especially important, since treatments for similar-appearing conditions can often make rosacea worse.