04/06/2026
You think you have acne. But what if it’s rosacea? Getting this wrong means the wrong treatment – and making your skin worse. 🔍
Acne and rosacea are two of the most commonly confused skin conditions. Both can cause red bumps on the face. Both affect adults. Both knock confidence.
But they are completely different conditions with completely different causes, and treating one as if it were the other can make things significantly worse.
The key differences, according to our consultant dermatologist, Dr Maria Gonzalez:
• Blackheads and whiteheads (comedones) are specific to acne. If you have bumps but no comedones, rosacea is more likely.
• Rosacea tends to appear in the 30s, 40s and 50s. Acne typically starts in the teens, though adult acne is increasingly common.
• Rosacea flares are triggered externally – heat, UV, alcohol, spicy food, stress. Acne flares tend to track hormonal changes.
• Rosacea stays on the face – typically the nose, cheeks, forehead and chin. Acne can affect the chest and back too.
• Standard acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide can severely irritate rosacea-prone skin.
The only way to know for certain which condition you have is a proper dermatological assessment. And knowing makes all the difference.
Book a consultation at Specialist Skin Clinic, Cardiff. Link in bio.
