All opinions are mine and mine alone.
If you were to ask most people what their biggest skincare concern is, they’d probably say either acne or pimples. Ironically, we use these two terms interchangeably as synonyms of one another. But, are they actually the same thing?
This may not seem like the biggest issue in the world, but it’s pretty important. If you have acne but think you only have pimples, you may not get the right treatment to deal with the condition properly. Likewise, some people get pimples and seek acne treatment, which is often not what’s needed!
So…what’s the difference?
Acne is a skin condition
People with acne will suffer from an underlying skin condition. This condition causes your pores to clog, which leads to red pimples covering your face – or your body. There are lots of different reasons someone can get acne, with one of the most common being changes in hormone levels. This is why many teenagers get acne as they go through puberty – the dramatic hormonal changes affect the production of oil in your skin, leading to the dreaded logged pores.
Plenty of other things can cause this condition too, such as:
- Certain medications
- Skincare habits
- Excessive oil in skincare products
Pimples are a symptom of acne
While acne itself is a medical condition, pimples are a symptom of it. They refer to the red blemishes or spots you will see on your face or body. You can have whitehead or blackhead pimples, and it’s also important to note that they exist independently of acne.
What does this mean? Well, it means you can get pimples without acne. Anyone can get a few pimples now and then, usually down to your own habits.
For example, if you don’t wash your face regularly, you may break out in a few pimples now and then. Similarly, using certain products may make spots form. This won’t necessarily mean you have acne, and tackling the cause of your pimples will make them go away.
How do you treat acne and pimples?
As mentioned above, treating pimples can be as simple as figuring out why you have them. Are you now washing your face or wiping sweat away from your brow? If you start cleaning your face and not allowing sweat to dry, you may see instant improvements and a lack of pimples. Effectively, a good skincare routine will help prevent and get of pimples.
On the other hand, acne is much harder to get rid of because it is a skin condition. Sometimes, following a great skincare routine isn’t enough – particularly if you get really bad acne breakouts. Instead, the best treatment is to see a dermatologist who can prescribe certain topical ointments to try, or possibly even give you medication. It can take months, sometimes even years before you see acne fade away.
I hope this clears things up and lets you see both acne and pimples in a new light. Whenever you have a few blemishes on your face, don’t panic and assume you have acne. If the pimples are really sore and there are loads of them that don’t go away even after you follow a great skincare routine, then you may have acne and should contact a skin expert for professional help.
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