Red spots on the face do not always mean acne. Rosacea can also cause inflamed lesions, but it is often accompanied by persistent redness and sensitive skin. Telling them apart matters, because the two conditions are not treated the same way.

What helps tell them apart?

Comedones, that is blackheads and whiteheads, are typical of acne. In rosacea, redness across the central face, flushing and inflamed lesions may predominate. A dermatological examination helps establish which condition is present and which features need treatment.

Rosacea treatment may target redness, spots or visible blood vessels differently. For this reason, using an acne treatment without a diagnosis is not always appropriate.

What does this mean for someone living in Athens?

Living in the city is not, on its own, a reason to blame symptoms on the “Athens atmosphere”. What matters is assessing your personal exposures and daily skincare, rather than assuming that a single environmental factor explains every flare-up.

Gentle skincare and choosing products according to your dermatologist’s advice are part of management. A short symptom diary can also help the discussion at the clinic: when the redness appears, which products you use and what happened before a flare-up.

Source: American Academy of Dermatology – Rosacea