Is That Red Mark ACTUALLY Acne?

What It Looks Like: A small, firm pink mound on the skin.

The Likely Culprit: Dermal nevi, benign growths that often appears in young adulthood. What To Do About It: It won't hurt you, but if you want it gone, see a derm.

What It Looks Like: Inflammation or an infection stemming from one or multiple hair follicles.

The Likely Culprit: Folliculitis (or inflamed hair follicles).

What To Do About It:

See a doctor, who can pinpoint whether the condition is bacterial or fungal – you may be prescribed an antibiotic cream or oral antibiotics.

What It Looks Like: A red, mole-like growth of any size.

The Likely Culprit: Cherry angioma, a common growth created by a collection of small blood vessels.

What To Do About It:

You can leave it alone, as they are usually harmless. Still, it's worth getting the growth checked out to make sure it's not something else, and you'll need a doc's help if you want it removed.

What It Looks Like: A scrawled red line on the face or body.

A broken blood vessel, also known as a spider vein. These can occur due to weather changes, pregnancy, or genetics.

What To Do About It:

Laser treatments or sclerotherapy, which utilizes a very fine needle to inject a solution into the vein, can help these veins go away. Costs for these treatments run between $300-700 a session.

What It Looks Like: A mole that has become red or begins to bleed.

The Likely Culprit: Probably an irritated mole. What To Do About It: If it remains irritated after a week or two, see a derm.

What It Looks Like: Small, lightly-colored hard bumps that make your skin feel like sandpaper.

The Likely Culprit: Keratosis pilaris, a harmless genetic condition. What To Do About It: Try lotions with salicylic acid or lactic acid.

What It Looks Like: A shadowy red spot where acne used to be

The Likely Culprit: Inflammation of acne leaves shadows of inflammation that can stay red, then fade to pink or brown depending on your skin type.

What To Do About It:

Dr. Rogers relies on a three-step process to help fade acne scars: 1. Wear sunscreen to avoid the scar darkening. 2. Use a product with retinol or glycolic acid in order to promote skin-cell turnover. 3. Don't pick at the marks, it could make them worse!

What It Looks Like: Small, red bumps on the cheeks or jawline that don’t look like normal zits.

The Likely Culprit: Inflammatory papules, brought on by skin irritation. These could be from over-exfoliating or using a product with fragrance or essential oils.

What To Do About It:

Avoid active ingredients, like retinol, acids, and scrubs, until they go away. If the little red bumps itch after you wash your face, try coating skin with 1% hydrocortisone cream and following with moisturizer at bedtime.

What It Looks Like: Painful, red bumps with pustules (whiteheads) mixed in.

The Likely Culprit: An infection, such as staph infection. What To Do About It: Go to the doctor and have the red bumps examined.

What It Looks Like: Hives or patchy red marks on the skin that may be raised or flat.

The Likely Culprit: An allergic reaction, which can come from plants, beauty products, animal hair... pretty much anything.

What To Do About It:

To immediately soothe itching take an over-the-counter allergy medicine like Benadryl. Though something like hives might not seem like a big deal, it's worth checking with your doctor for proper diagnosis.

What It Looks Like: Hives or patchy red marks on the skin that may be raised or flat, or in patches or lacerations.

The Likely Culprit: Heat rash, or inflammation caused by sweat that won't evaporate due to obstructed sweat glands.

What To Do About It:

The good news: Most mild cases of heat rash tend to go away on their own within a few days. Help it along by washing the area with cool water and a gentle soap.

REMEMBER: Self-diagnosis, even when bolstered by the proxy of a few derms, is by no means definitive. Trust your gut and get yourself doctor if something worries you.

Source: Dermatologists Debra Jaliman, M.D. & Heather Rogers, M.D

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