Acne vs Pimples Decoded: How They’re Different And Ways To Reduce Both

Are hands and fingers the same thing? No, right? The same difference exists between acne and pimples. Pimples are a part of ance, or more accurately put, pimples are a symptom of acne. A lot of people use these terms interchangeably, and although it really doesn’t make a difference in treatment and prevention, it is ideal to know the difference so you can treat it better and quicker.

Before we get into the proven methods, tips, and tricks on how to reduce them, let’s look at exaclty what the both are and what is the difference between acne and pimples.

What Is Acne?

Acne is a common and temporary skin condition that occurs when hair follicles or pores get clogged with oil, sebum, dead skin cells, or bacteria. They commonly appear on the face, chest, back, or bottom as raised bumps filled with the clogged substance. There are many reasons and causes for acne, some physical, mental, hormonal, genetics, and diet and they can be treated with the right products and care. Although acne is commonly found among teenagers, even adults experience acne. Even though it is a common condition, there is no permanent cure because its occurrence depends on many factors, some even beyond our control. Depending on the severity of the acne, you can experience pimples, breakouts, or cystic acne that all occur due to different causes and potentially scars if left untreated.

Causes of Acne

Acne is caused due to a variety of reasons, some of which we can control, and some that we can’t. So let’s look at some of the common causes for acne before we learn to treat them.

• Hormonal Changes: This is one of the biggest causes of acne. Hormones trigger several issues and changes in our body and one of the biggest manifestations is acne. Hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands and lead to an increase in the oil production. The presence of the propionibacterium acnes within the clogged follicles can trigger inflammation causing acne breakouts, rashes, redness, and pimples due to raging hormones.
• Genetics: Genetics also plays a huge role in the occurrence of acne. People with acne-prone skin tend to have relatives or family members too who are prone to developing acne for no apparent reason.
• Other Causes: Other reasons that can trigger an acne breakout are diet - too much oily, fried, and spicy foods can cause excess oil production, and excessive alcohol consumption can also increase body heat and thus cause acne. Stress is another major contributing factor to acne. Overmedication or the wrong skincare products can all cause acne.

Types Of Acne On Face

There are different ways in which acne can manifest on the skin and face. Acne is a skin condition that triggers excess oil and sebum production on the skin and which manifests in different ways, let’s look at some of the types of acne on the face.

• Mild Acne: When you have mild acne you can occasionally see pimples, whiteheads, or some redness on your skin that is triggered by hormonal changes or diet. This type of acne is also called Acne rosacea.
• Moderate Acne: Moderate acne occurs when you have a burst of acne symptoms popping at the same time.
• Severe Acne: This occurs when your pores are constantly clogged due to abnormal clumping of cells in the follicles called Acne vulgaris.

What Are Pimples

A lot of people get confused with the difference between acne and pimples. Pimples are small inflamed bumps on the skin that are caused by clogged pores. It occurs when dead skin cells mix with oil and debris clogged in the hair follicles. They commonly occur on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, back, and the butt. They are different from acne since acne is a skin condition and pimples are the physical manifestation of the condition.

Types Of Pimples On Face

There are different types of pimples on the face, here are a few common ones:

1. Whiteheads: Closed pores on the skin’s surface that have oil, sebum, and dead skin cells trapped under it lead to small, raised, white bumps on the skin.
2. Black Heads: Open pores on the skin’s surface that are similar to whiteheads but are exposed to dust and air leading to them turning dark due to dirt and oxidation.
3. Papules: These are small and red inflamed and clogged pores that are sensitive to touch and cause pain as the skin stretches.
4. Pustules: These are slightly bigger pimples filled with yellow pus often caused by bacteria or infection.
5. Nodules: These are large, deep, hard, and painful lumps within the skin that cause severe inflammation and pain and last more than weeks.
6. Cysts: These are deep, soft, pus-filled inflammation that is often extremely painful, sensitive to touch, and leaves a scar.

Reasons Behind Pimples On Face

The reasons behind pimples on different parts of the face are as follows:

Forehead: This is linked to poor digestion, stress, or hair products seeping down to the forehead.

Nose: This is due to excess oil production, poor blood circulation, and hormonal changes.

Chin & Jawline: Hormonal imbalance and diet can cause pimples on the chin and the jaw.

Cheeks: Dirty pillowcases, unclean phone covers, pollution, makeup, and high sugar intake are causes of pimples on the cheek.

Chest & Back: This can occur due to tight clothes and hormonal fluctuations. Even stress can exacerbate it.

Proven Ways To Reduce Acne & Pimples On Face

1. Watch What You Eat

   This may seem like an unrelated method, but in fact, diet plays a huge role in acne breakouts. Eating too much dairy, meat, deep-fried foods, or oily foods can increase your body's heat and oil production. This causes your skin to break out as a way to process excess oil production. Another thing to avoid is alcohol and smoking, the heat of the alcohol and nicotine in cigarettes also affect our skin.

2. Drink Ample Water

   The toxins in your body are difficult to eliminate when you don't drink enough water. This results in an unneeded buildup in your body, which puts pressure on your skin to generate more oil in order to keep it hydrated. As a result, dehydration from not drinking enough water leads your body and skin to produce too much oil, which in turn produces acne.

3. De-Stress

   Stress is one of the most untreated causes of constant acne. Believe it or not, our mental health also plays a big role in the acne journey. To tackle this, maintain a regular schedule where you can work in some time to exercise, meditate, or unwind to cope with the stresses of the day.

4. Maintain A Regular Skincare Routine

   Make sure to follow a simple and uncomplicated skincare routine that helps you keep acne at bay. An ideal routine would be a CSMS routine for acne-prone skin. It includes a cleanser, moisturiser, serum, and sunscreen, all the basic essentials you need to keep your skin clear, hydrated, and oil-free.

Nykaa Recommends:

The cleanser is made with 2% Salicylic Acid and Zinc that gently exfoliates and cleanses deeply to wash out any sweat, sebum, oil, or makeup. The serum penetrates your pore lining and removes even the most stubborn form of acne such as whiteheads and blackheads from the skin. The moisturiser is oil-free and lightweight perfect for acne-prone skin. The copper, zinc, and magnesium in the moisturiser contain anti-bacterial properties that help control excess oil and bacteria. Finally, the light-as-air sunscreen offers a thin yet effective layer of sun protection free from the nasties and white cast.

Parting Thoughts

We hope you have understood the difference between acne and pimples, and how to treat them. Although they can occur on your skin due to a variety of factors, a simple routine, lots of water, a proper diet, and a regular exercise routine can keep your acne under control.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between acne and pimples?

   The difference between acne and pimples is the category. Acne is a broader term that refers to the skin condition where the skin produces excess oil and sebum, resulting in multiple concerns. One of the effects of acne is pimples. Pimples are the physical manifestations of ance and they can appear in different ways.

2. Are pimples a sign of acne?

   Yes, if you experience pimples, they are a sign that your skin has acne. Acne is a condition where the skin produces excess amounts of oil due to various causes and it manifests in the form of pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, etc.

3. Is acne more severe than pimples?

   The difference between acne and pimples is the condition. Acne is a skin condition whereas pimples are the physical symptoms of acne. Hence, if you treat your acne-prone skin or the causes of an acne-breakout you can stop the appearance of pimples as well.

4. Can pimples turn into acne?

   Pimples are a symptom of ance and thus can’t turn into new acne. You can treat pimples individually when they appear, but to treat your acne you need to maintain a proper CSMS routine for acne-prone skin. Your pimples can further exacerbate if you pop or touch them since they can spread the bacteria to cleaner and oil-free spots on your skin.

5. Do acne and pimples look the same?

   Pimples are a sign of acne, acne can have multiple symptoms such as redness, scars, dark spots, inflammation, oil accumulation, and greasy skin. One could get confused with respect to the difference between pimples and acne, but remember acne is a skin condition and pimples are just a symptom of the same.