• Acne is rarely misdiagnosed:

o  The recently described and topical steroid damaged face (TSDF) should also be excluded

o  Milia, sebaceous hyperplasia, pityro­sporum folliculitis, perioral dermatitis and acniform drug eruptions should be kept in mind.

o  Trichoepithelioma, steatocystoma multiplex, psudofolliculitis barbe, keratosis piliaris, neurotic excoriations, lupus miliariaris disseminatus facei (LMDF) can mimic acne.

• The commonest mistaken diagnosis is rosacea, which occurs in older patients and lacks comedones, nodules, cysts or scarring.