What is the Difference Between Acne and Pimples?
The difference between pimples and acne and zits is actually more definitive than physiological. For starters, pimples are basically clogged skin pores that are as a result of the accumulation of excess sebum and dead skin cells. This accumulated mass is often infected by p.acnes bacteria and if relief is not sought, it plugs the hair follicles leading to the characteristic painful swelling that we often associate pimples with.
Acne, on the other hand, is a general description of the tendency of pimples breaking out every now and then - to the point where the skin now becomes scarred or even disfigured. In other words, as far as the symptoms go, acne and pimples difference is centred on one being a one-time occurence and the other being a recurrent and persistent phenomenon. Visually, even the difference between acne and pimples pictures can bear testimony to this. It may sound complicated or abit technical but the bottom line remains that acne is majorly a condition while pimples are essentially the lesions that make up the acne.
Types and Causes of Acne and Pimples
Contrary to what most people believe, there are various types of acne and pimples and each of them calls for a different approach in its treatment and management for quick relief. The different variants of acne stems from the fact that there are different types of pimples to begin with. Whiteheads and blackheads, for instance, are essentially non-inflammatory pimples which are clogged by a combination of sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells. The blackheads often turn dark due to the progressive oxidation of the follicle mix as a result of an opening that allows air to get in. Whiteheads, on the other hand, are the non-oxidized versions of these non-inflammatory pimples.
Now, if any of these pimple types is left untreated and neglected, there is a possibility for infection and inflammation to set in thereby paving way for the formation of angry-looking pustules and papules. These sores are now called inflammatory pimples. Building up on these two types of pimples gives rise to inflammatory and noninflammatory acne. The non-inflammatory type is composed majorly of uninfected whiteheads and blackheads while the inflammatory variant is characterized by nodules, swellings, pustules and papules.
That being said, it is sometimes common for acne to be categorized based on where they occur on the body or the most prevalent type of pimple in its manifestations e.g face acne, back acne etc.
Generally speaking, the main causes of pimples and acne revolves around clogged and infected skin pores. The indirect cause, nonetheless, is not as straightforward as that. These multi-pronged causes can be any or a combination of the following.
- Bad skin hygiene (this is the most common one)
- Stress
- Living or working in a polluted environment
- Lifestyle habits
- Genetic predisposition
- Dietary habits
- Hormonal fluctuation
How to Remove Acne and Pimples at Home
Seeing that acne is such a common and debilitating condition, it is always handy to have a few home remedies for pimples and acne that you can count on; such as these ones.
1. Herbal or Alternative Acne Treatment Methods
Herbal or folk acne remedies were often used to clear up breakouts back in the day when modern medicine had not yet taken root. And despite the glaring lack of scientific research on most of these herbal solutions, there is no shortage of anecdotal evidence and observation. As expected, herbal remedies often tend to have far fewer side effects than conventional modern treatments. Besides, some herbs have a host of anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiseptic benefits that can prove to be beneficial in reducing the activity of acne-causing bacteria or speeding up the healing of inflammation and blemishes.
Should you decide to go this way, however, it is important to first make sure that the alternative acne remedy will not further exacerbate and worsen your symptoms. At the end of the day remember that a vast majority of tinctures, herbs, extracts and herbal salves have not been extensively studied to be deemed safe for use by everyone. That aside, there are a few home remedies that have shown some considerable promise in clearing acne, especially those that are centred around green tea extract, zinc, and neem tea tree.
2. DIY or Kitchen Acne Treatment Remedies
These remedies were invented as an answer to the common question of, 'how to get rid of acne and pimples overnight' that most people really struggle with nowadays. But even before you go down this road it is worth knowing that if simple kitchen acne remedies were as effective as they are touted to be, then comprehensive modern medications for zits would never exist. Nonetheless, this does not necessarily mean that these handmade remedies or medicine for acne and pimples are entirely worthless. On the contrary, you can use them to make your skin softer and moisturized without necessarily having to break the bank.
Also, exercise caution, a bit of common sense and restraint when making and using these DIY acne facial masks. The most popular acne home treatments floating around the interwebs often call for the use of garlic cloves, cinnamon, lemon etc, which are simply quite abrasive and unsafe for sensitive acne-inflamed skin. In fact, there is sufficient proof that they can cause contact dermatitis when applied habitually. Limes and lemon in particular can trigger phytophotodermatitis when the skin that they are used on is exposed to the sun's UV rays.
The bottom line here is that if you decide to formulate your own homeopathic and DIY herbal salves for acne, make sure that you are using trusted recipes that have stood the test of time.
3. OTC (Over the Counter) Acne Treatments
OTC treatments are not exactly what comes to the mind of most when they think of homeopathic cream for acne and pimples but they are as potent nonetheless, if not more. They are easy and inexpensive to fund at supermarkets, drugstores or standard big-box stores.
The idea here is to make it easy for you to clear acne at the comfort of your home without having to put up with the inconvenience of having to speak to someone else about your acne symptoms. Speaking of which, the most effective OTC acne-fighting ingredient that is commonly available is benzoyl peroxide. You can pair this active ingredient with one containing or made of salicylic acid to lather up an acne mask. This can give you a crucial helping hand in combating breakouts more effectively or keeping them at bay.
Actually, as far as home remedies and DIY treatments go, OTC methods that are based on a proven scientific formula are likely to give you the biggest bang for your buck.
4. Toothpaste, Sulfur, Differin and Acne Spot Treatment
While some people can swear by the effectiveness of toothpaste in clearing individual blackheads and pimples, there is no evidence (even anecdotal) that a toothpaste mask can completely get rid of a severe case of acne. And it is easy to see why.
Most toothpaste brands contain triclosan which is added to kill bad-breath-causing bacteria. Triclosan is also an active ingredient in a few standard acne remedy products. Therefore, essentially it is similar to applying acne treatment products only that this time you are doing it unconventionally and without a prescription. But there is a catch, most modern toothpastes contain less triclosan and other antiseptic products that may not be ideal for your skin.
Instead of a toothpaste mask, you could try using sulfur or differin to implement a more effective acne spot treatment approach. Sulfur, in particular, can dry out the pimples and reduce inflammation significantly. Differin, on the other hand, has proven to be more effective in exfoliating or clearing out the skin pores to enable better breathability and less sebum accumulation. If anything, it is just the brand name for the active ingredient adapalene that features in most OTC acne treatment remedies.
5. Effecting Dietary Changes
While your diet alone can hardly cause acne - it has to be a combination of several multi-faceted factors - eating a healthier menu is a good way of building a foundation for a flawless skin. There are a few studies, for instance, that have linked certain foods such junk, sugarly and highly processed carbs to acne severity in those who are prone to it. In other words, if you are genetically predisposed to breakouts and zits, you want to beat a plentiful portion of vegetables and fruits to lower the incidence of developing full blown acne.
Aeno Acne Treatments
Aeno has been at the forefront of churning out top class acne fighting solutions that are both affordable and effective. So it does not come as a surprise that their flagship products feature among the creme de la creme of proven remedies for breakouts. These are some of the best treatments for acne and pimples that you can order at the click of a button.
AENO Acne Scar Remover and Acne Treatment Salve
The cream is formulated with the goal of clearing breakouts and the unsightly hyperpigmentation that they leave behind after healing within the shortest time frame possible. According to the manufacturer, this salve employs 100% natural and organic ingredients to solve a wide range of skin care concerns such as pustules, zits and even ordinary pimples. The formula that the acne-fighting remedy works on is also observed to minimize scarring and oil build up in addition to giving you a flawless skin.
One of the upsides of using such a proven remedy for your acne woes over home and DIY acne concoctions is that you can actually keep track of your usage pattern on a day to day basis. The biggest problem with folklore and herbal treatments is that you can go overboard in mixing in one or two active ingredients thereby predisposing yourself needlessly to an even worse breakout episode. Using a proven acne cream like this one eliminates that risk and improves your odds of sporting a flawless skin.
AENO Acne Face Cream
At this point, it is possible that you may be wondering whether there is a reliable acne removal salve that is safe enough to be used on a daily basis in substitute of your regular lotion. Yes, there is. Enter the famed AENO Acne Face Cream which doubles up as a moisturizer and skin cleanser, only this time round the active ingredients in its formulation are rigged towards stopping the progression in its tracks.
Being an AENO flagship product, the cream is largely organic and does not contain traces of parabens and GMO steroids like most other standard acne treatments that you can find in a regular drugstore.
AENO Cystic Acne Pills
When is the last time you came across acne pills designed for eliminating severe cases of breakouts and zits? These AENO pills are so good and convenient at restoring severely acne-damaged skin that some past users have nicknamed them the 'magical anti-acne pills'. Unlike your regular standard zits treatment methods that try to heal the skin by treating the symptoms rather than the cause, these pills employ a completely different yet ingenious approach.
AENO has dubbed it as the bottom-up and inside-out method of eliminating breakouts for good. It is centered on the idea that acne is just a symptom of an underlying imbalance that manifests itself by excessive sebum secretion. The excess sebum will sooner or later trigger a series of events that eventually culminates in a really bad case of acne. These pills attempt to solve this by promoting an internal environment that can promote a harmonious balance of the conditions that influence the overall appearance of your skin. And, this does not just clear present breakouts but also effectively prevent future flare-ups from happening.
Acne Patches from AENO
Have you ever wished that you can cover your zits and pimples with a magic-like mask, go to sleep only to pill it out in the morning and wake up to a blemish-free skin? Well, it turns out that now it is possible to patch up and wish your pimples away. First off, this acne patch is hypoallergenic and quite breathable too- that means that you shouldn't worry about it clogging and drying out your sensitive skin. Secondly, its relatively fast-acting compared to other conventional acne-combating remedies. In fact, reviews from past and present users peg it at being around five times as effective as traditional DIY acne masks.
What's more, apart from just being an acne-fighting patch, it also packs a decent antibacterial punch beneath its hypoallergenic layers. Medical-grade and chemical-free hydrocolloid will prevent the p-acnes bacteria from colonizing your skin further every time you slap it on. Could there be anything better than this? I highly doubt.
In Closing
As much as herbal and folklore acne remedies can come in handy every once in a while, you will still need a comprehensive and proven acne care package to incorporate into your daily skin care regimen. The problem arises when you can only spare a couple of minutes yet you still have to cut a few garlic pieces before blending them with honey/banana peels as part of your skin care regimen. It is at that juncture that it will hit you that investing in a proven formula that works consistently day-in-day-out is not such a bad idea after all.
