Acne or Rosacea?

[Eoin]

For the past year and a half I have been consistently treating acne with both benzoyl peroxide and more recently with the use of witch hazel. Before I started treating my acne I picked my skin horribly, leaving small (slowly healing) pitted scars. These scars fall in the t-zone, lining the sides of my nose, my chin, my upper lip, and my forehead.

These lasting scars have turned more to red marks as my treatment has progressed, leaving a dull redness in my t-zone. I have believed this to be a passing problem of my dwindling acne.

But recently I attended a party,and realized that when engaged in serious activity (dancing hard), these areas of my face become more inflammed, making the redness painfully obvious.

The redness only occurs on my t-zone, where small amounts of acne scars are still healing. My question is, is this redness a result of my acne, or does it sound more like rosacea?

[GJ]

It sounds - perhaps - like the sort of redness associated with long use of acne treatments. These may often help acne, but are not always kind to the skin.

It would very probably be worthwhile stopping these acne topicals and treating your skin very gently for a spell. This may mean no products at all.

If your acne in itself is upsetting for you then seeking advice from a professional about alternative treatments might be appropriate. (But they would need to understand - be made to understand - that this reddening you have experienced is a bad thing and one that needs to be avoided.)