It’s important to know the difference between acne and pimples. Both are common skin conditions that affect many people. But pimples are harmless and appear on the skin’s surface, while acne is a more severe form of pimples that affects the oils and hormones in your skin.
To many, pimples seem like the same old thing. They pop up, are annoying, and make you feel uncomfortable whenever you catch sight of one. But pimples aren’t the only skin issues you can have. They’re just one of many types of skin conditions.
If you’re not aware of the difference, you might be causing your pimples to worsen, making them more difficult to treat. Here’s everything you need to know about pimples and acne.
What You Need To Know About Acne And Pimples
Suppose you’ve heard a lot of rumors or are curious about the differences between acne and pimples. There is a difference between the two; let’s analyze both.
What Is Acne?
Acne is a skin condition that produces blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples. It’s a chronic skin condition that affects the hair follicles on the skin.
The condition causes the sebaceous glands in the skin to become clogged with excess sebum, which in turn causes the hair follicles to become clogged with bacteria and dead skin cells.
However, bacteria in the skin can also cause inflammation and redness around the blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples.
Types Of Acne
There are many types of acne. But here are the common ones.
- Whiteheads: Whiteheads are clogged, puss-filled bumps on the skin’s surface. They’re small and soft, while blackheads are harder and larger.
- Blackheads: These are sebaceous glands that produce sebum. Basically, most people confuse blackheads with pimples, but they are quite different.
- Spots: Spots are flat red marks on the skin.
- Cracks: Cracks are also called silvers. They’re red marks on the skin caused by inflammation. They are easily identified but not as much as blackheads.
- Scars: These are marks on the skin you leave after your breakout heals.
- Molds: Molds are blackheads that are darker than the surrounding skin.
Signs And Symptoms Of Acne
The signs and symptoms of acne usually differ from person to person. But here are some of the common ones.
Excessive pimples and blackheads: This is one of the most common signs of pimples.
Oily skin: If you have acne, your skin might be oily or too dry due to the overproduction of sebum by the sebaceous glands in your skin. The excess sebum can cause your pores to get clogged with dead skin cells that lead to blackheads and whiteheads (pimples).
Redness and swelling around pimples: The redness around pimples results from inflammation or an allergic reaction to an ingredient in cosmetics or skin care products such as soaps or sunscreens that have come into contact with the skin surrounding the pimple after you apply it to your face.
Irritation from touching or popping pimples and hormonal changes during adolescence and menstruation (periods) can also lead to acne development.
Treatment For Acne
There are several acne treatments.
- Hygiene. Clean your skin using a mild cleanser. Never scrub your skin or use harsh soap. Soap damages the skin’s natural barrier, which can make acne worse.
- Wash your face: Wash your face twice a day with a gentle, milky cleanser.
- Exfoliate: Exfoliate your skin every night before sleep to remove dead skin cells and impurities.
- Moisturize: Moisturize your skin before bedtime. Water and oil don’t mix, so you can’t moisturize while washing your face with water.
- Avoid greasy food: Greasy food can clog your pores and worsen acne.
- Don’t pick: Although it may feel good, picking at your pimples is bad.
What Is A Pimple?
A pimple is a red mark caused by sebaceous glands that become clogged with puss and bacteria.
Pimples are also known as closed comedones. They result from sebum, the oily substance in the skin’s pores. They can also result from bacteria that grow inside the puss-filled bumps. The bacteria produce p. acne, which usually lives in the skin’s pores and it is an active acne.
How Do You Get Pimples?
Pimples are caused by sebaceous glands that become clogged with puss and bacteria. These glands produce sebum, and it collects in your pores.
Your pores become clogged, which is what causes pimples. The body makes sebum in your pores, and it collects and gets trapped inside your pores.
Excess oil in your skin can also cause pimples because it can clog your pores and cause them to become larger. But don’t worry if you have pimples. There are several things you can do to clear your skin completely.
What You Can Do To Get Rid Of Pimples
There are several ways to get rid of pimples. To start with, ensure you clean your face regularly. Use a mild cleanser two times a day and give the face time to dry. You can also avoid pimples by exfoliating your skin every night before you sleep to remove dead skin cells and impurities.
Also, apply acne treatments once a day, such as a benzoyl peroxide gel or gel wash. Additionally, suppose you have a blackhead or whitehead, don’t pick at it. Typically, you should avoid touching your face when you’re breaking out—this makes it worse.
Pimples and Acne: What’s the Difference?
Pimples are caused by sebaceous glands that become clogged with puss and bacteria. These glands produce sebum, which collects in the pores of your acne-prone skin. The sebum gets trapped in the pores, which is what causes pimples.
In summary, sebaceous glands clogged with puss and bacteria cause the pimples to develop. Typically, the bacteria inside the puss-filled bumps produce acne, which lives in the skin’s pores. On the other hand ac,ne condition is characterized by the appearance of comedones, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts.
While pimples are a type of blemish that everyone experiences at some point in their lives, acne is more severe. Acne can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
Severe acne is usually treated by a dermatologist. Medications used to treat severe acne include oral antibiotics, isotretinoin (Accutane), and birth control pills.
Conclusion
Having read the entire guide, you know the difference between acne and pimples. You know the causes and how best to approach each of the two for treatment. Just remember: Pimples are harmless and usually just a sign that your skin needs a cleanse. If you clean your face and moisturize it before bedtime, you should be good to go. This applies to acne too.
