Dear Doctor
I’ve had continuous acne for about 8 years and all the products I;ve used haven’t made any difference. I have so many little acne scars now that its taken a toll on my self esteem.
I don’t get much acne on my forehead or my chin but my cheeks always have redness and acne. My skin is typically normal to dry on my forehead by very oily on my cheeks and on my nose. I rarely ever get blackheads.
I have never been prescribed any acne medication. I’ve only used over the counter. I’m not sure what to do anymore. I would just like to have partially clear skin at least.
Dear Patient
It seems we are dealing with the age old question of is it acne or rosacea?
I think you may have rosacea rather than acne vulgaris because you say you rarely get blackheads and I cannot see any from the photo. This lack of comedones (blackhead and whiteheads) is one of the factors that helps differentiate acne vulgaris from rosacea.
In addition, rosacea is characterized by redness and those pimples and pustules (small swellings with pus) that are on the cheek area.
I would like to give you hope and tell you that you can have partially clear skin and eventually totally clear skin but it will involve some work.
The first phase of your treatment will involve clearing the breakouts and once they are under control we can now work to clear the scars.
Rosacea Treatment
I suggest you follow these steps:
*Go through this list of Foods that trigger rosacea and eliminate them one by one so that you can identify which one may be contributing to your breakouts.
*Go through this list of other Rosacea Triggers article and identify if any of them are contributing to your condition so that you can eliminate them from your life.
*If you are taking medications for other conditions, consult your doctor and find out if they may be contributing to the breakouts.
* Stop using all skincare products, makeup, cosmetics, etc on your face
* Cleanse your face with a gentle, soap-free cleanser like Eucerin Redness Relief Soothing Facial Cleanser.
*Rinse your face with lukewarm (not hot or cold) water after cleansing it and pat (not rub) it dry.
*Consult your nearest doctor for a prescription of Metronidazole gel as it is used to treat rosacea. This should be applied after cleansing your face and before applying the sunscreen.
*Apply sunscreen every day to your face when it is totally dry. You can try Eucerin Redness Relief Daily Perfecting Lotion with SFP 15
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