Acne, pimples. Tomato, tom-ah-to, right? Not quite! Although these words are often used interchangeably, they’re not technically the same thing. You can have pimples without having acne, but you can’t have acne without pimples. Confused? Keep reading to find out what makes them different.

What are pimples?

A pimple is an individual blemish on your skin. You might also know it as a spot or zit. They often appear on your face, but can also pop up in other areas like your chest, shoulders, and back. Breakouts are a collection of pimples. They can appear in clusters around a specific area of your face or body, or scattered across your skin.

Pimples can appear red, raised, bumpy, with a noticeable blackhead, or with a gunky whitehead. Some pimples can be ‘blind’, meaning they don’t have a ‘head’ at all. Pimples generally don’t feel inflamed or painful. On the other hand, cysts and nodules can be. Cysts are deep-rooted and appear red with a whitehead. Similarly, nodules feel deep and look red, however, they don’t have a whitehead.

While you shouldn’t ever try to pop or pick any kind of pimple, it’s especially important to leave cysts and nodules alone. They won’t release fluid and squeezing it could result in hyperpigmentation or scarring.

What is acne?

Acne is the short name for a medical condition called acne vulgaris. It refers to persistent breakouts that occur over and over again. It can be caused by many factors, but often it’s related to hormones. Why? Hormones control your sebum (oil) production, which can then contribute to clogged pores and the formation of pimples.

Acne is super common among teenagers and young adults, but it doesn’t necessarily end there. People who menstruate may experience hormonal acne in adulthood due to – you guessed it – hormonal fluctuations. Other kinds of acne include cystic acne, nodular acne, and fungal acne (an infection of your hair follicles).

How are acne and pimples similar?

Acne and pimples are both frustrating to deal with and can be caused by many factors. Age, genetics, gender, hormones, and medical conditions can contribute to it. So can lifestyle factors like your skincare routine and stress levels.

Thankfully, it’s been disproven that yummy treats like chocolate directly cause acne or pimples. However, there’s plenty of evidence suggesting that a balanced diet may improve your skin health overall, so doing your best to eat well is a wise idea.

How do I manage acne and pimples?

Acne should be managed based on your doctor’s or dermatologist’s advice, but maintaining a gentle skincare routine can be helpful for anyone experiencing breakouts. The most essential steps in your daily skincare routine are cleansing, moisturising, and protecting your skin from the sun. Nail these and you’ll be giving your skin the best chance to feel strong and resilient.

You can also use our range of pre-breakout, during breakout, and post-breakout products to help reduce the look and feel of pimples

• If you feel a pimple brewing, use our Pimple Patch Micro Dart to target it early. These are also fantastic for blind pimples, cysts, and nodules.

• Pimples that have come to the surface can be kept clean and protected with our range of targeted pimple patches, including our best-selling Pimple Patch AM+PM.

• Once a pimple has run its course, apply our Dark Spot Fade Patch to help reduce the look of any redness or hyperpigmentation. Use preventative products like our Peel Pad, Anti-Acne Mist, and Breakout Bar to assist with minimising the formation of pimples.

Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this site is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.