Acne with rosy cheeks

I’ve had acne since I was a teenager. Of late, my face always appears pink and looks like I’ve applied blush. This is quite embarrassing.
— Madhuri, 45 years

You have an adult acne condition called acne rosacea. When exposed to certain triggers like the sun, a hot bath or anger, there is a sudden increase in blood flowing through the blood vessels under the skin. This causes the blood vessels to become wider, leading to your flushed appearance. Your skin may become sensitive and react to simple products such as lotions and soaps. If untreated, rosacea may lead to rhinophyma, which causes the nose to look enlarged, red and bumpy. With rosacea, you need to opt for medical help as this type of acne may not respond well to over-the-counter products.

My back has large painful boils and scars. I feel ashamed and have not gone swimming for the past two years. I can’t go shirtless even at home.
Eshwar, 37 years

Acne on the back takes several forms, such as blackheads, red pus-filled boils, nodules and cysts, which are painful and form deep under the skin’s surface. These breakouts are usually triggered by excessive perspiration and friction on the back due to tight-fitting clothes that constantly brush against the skin. Back acne tends to be more severe than that on the face. This may be either due to improper skin care as the back is not very easily accessible to cleaning or due to the fact that treatment is usually delayed as it is not an exposed area. So, apart from taking timely medical help, it is important to wear loose-fitting cotton clothes, take two showers daily and use dusting powder liberally to absorb excess perspiration.