What causes acne? What’s the difference between acne and pimples?

What causes acne?

Breakouts can be triggered by hormones, specifically androgen, which stimulatesTrusted Source sebum production. Genetics, diet, overuse of skin products, and environmental factors (like pollution) can also cause skin irritation, including acne.

Other common causes include:

puberty, pregnancy, and the menstrual cycle

squeezing or picking at existing pimples

cleaning or rubbing your skin too harshly

pressure from things like hats, helmets, and backpack straps

high humidity

cosmetics, like oil-based products

some medications

What’s the difference between acne and pimples?

Although acne and pimples are terms that are often used interchangeably, acne is considered to be a skin condition, while pimples are a symptom of it. Acne refers to an ailment that affects the skin’s hair follicles and glands.

Different symptoms of acne can indicate the cause of breakouts. These may include:

blackheads (plugged pores on the skin’s surface that are open)

whiteheads (plugged pores under the skin’s surface that are closed)

papules (small, tender red or pink bumps)

pustules (papules with pus on top)

nodules (large, painful lumps deep under the skin’s surface)

cysts (painful, pus-filled lumps under the skin’s surface)