Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that causes redness of the face. It may look like acne in some cases, with small red bumps or pustules. But rosacea isn’t acne and having had acne is not a risk factor for adult rosacea.

If rosacea is left untreated, it gets progressively worse over time. Rosacea may lessen and worsen in cycles. The exact cause of rosacea has not been proven and may have a hereditary factor.

The good news is that there are treatments for rosacea that can relieve its symptoms. Topical antibiotics may be prescribed to reduce the inflammation and redness. Oral antibiotics can also be used and sometimes both are used in combination.

If you have redness in your skin, enlarged blood vessels or pustules that resemble acne, seek the professional advice of a dermatologist. If he diagnoses you with rosacea, there is help. In addition to prescribing treatment, he or she may help you identify everyday triggers for flare-ups and give you advice on avoiding common triggers.