Acneform dermatoses: features of diagnosis and treatment

Acne is considered one of the most common dermatological diseases. However, do not forget about acneform dermatoses, which can manifest under the mask of acne, misleading even the most experienced doctor. Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor of the Department of Skin and Venereal Diseases of VNMU named after V.I. N.I. Pirogova, President of the Ukrainian Academy of Dermatology and Venereology - Marina Anfilova.

What acneform dermatoses do you most often encounter in your practice?

M.A.: In fact, acneform dermatoses – this is almost 50% of the appointment of a dermatocosmetologist. These include:

• rosacea;
• perioral dermatitis;
• seborrheic dermatitis;
• benign neoplasms, such as steatocystomas;
• sebaceous hyperplasia;
• sometimes even atopic dermatitis can manifest under the guise of acne.

Acneform dermatosis is a very hot topic. After all, the course of dermatosis will greatly depend on how correctly and timely the diagnosis is made. Very often, patients who come for a consultation have already undergone more than one course of treatment with various drugs. And sometimes, as a result, it is even difficult to make a diagnosis – the clinical picture of the disease changes so much.

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What is the main difficulty in the differential diagnosis of acneform dermatoses?

MA: To be honest, differential diagnosis in dermatology – is generally a priori difficult. This is due to the fact that the patient, in whom everything is allegedly "written on the face", requires an instant decision from you.

A whole kaleidoscope of diseases can have similar clinical manifestations.

A competent specialist will see comedones and inflammatory elements – and diagnose acne, emphasize peeling and specific seborrheic zones on the skin, and determine that it is seborrheic dermatitis. The mere question of whether the patient has used topical hormonal drugs can already be a step towards the diagnosis of perioral dermatitis. Each doctor has his own clues, the subtlest nuances that he uses in his practice to make the correct diagnosis.

Read also: How allergic dermatosis manifests itself

Should I prescribe skin care products for acne dermatoses?

М.А.: For acneform dermatoses skin care cosmetics – it is one of the necessary components of successful treatment of the disease. Wrongly prescribed care can only worsen the condition of the skin. Everything matters, from the cleansing gel to the moisturizing cream. It is no coincidence that companies create entire lines for the care of one or another type of skin:

• For dry and atopic skin - blue or blue line of products with desensitizing properties;
• For oily skin and skin with acne - a green line that contains components that regulate sebum secretion;
• For skin with rosacea – a red line that helps to reduce redness of the skin and make it less sensitive.

The doctor determines the type of skin and prescribes special products for skin care.

Once every six months/year, it is recommended to change face care products in order for the skin with "new emotions" perceived certain means. 

For the treatment of acneiform dermatoses, it is important to correctly diagnose and follow the treatment protocols that are now absolutely free. Competent therapy of the disease, combined with effective skin care, allows you to achieve the best results.

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