What is the difference between a zit and herpes

Pimples and herpes each have distinct symptoms, though. Pimples can appear one at a time or in small clusters. If you wear a jockstrap or tight underwear , pimples may break out where the strap or underwear clogged your pores. Pimples feel firm if you poke or squeeze them.

They may also bleed or leak thick white fluid if they get scratched or irritated. They only jut out if they become filled with pus. The blisters may appear in clusters and can also appear on your rectum and mouth. The blisters tend to feel squishy. When herpes blisters break, fluid will spill out and may cause more pain. The blisters may not heal for 4 weeks.

You can have an outbreak at any time after contracting the virus. After the first outbreak, symptoms are usually less severe but can still be painful. Pimples are a result of pore blockage, not sexual contact. HSV is spread primarily through genital sex but can be spread through oral or anal sex, too. Pimples are easily managed with changes in your personal hygiene or by using over-the-counter OTC treatments.

Your doctor may be able to make a diagnosis just by looking at the bumps. Your doctor will swab a lesion or blister and send the sample to a laboratory for testing. The sample can indicate whether the herpes virus is causing the outbreak. Results are ready after about a week. Known as nucleic amplification tests, these are often done using polymerase chain reaction PCR to get the virus to quickly multiply itself.

Results are available in about 2 hours. Your doctor will take a blood sample and send it to a lab for analysis of certain HSV antibodies. This test also takes about a week. If your doctor diagnoses herpes, talk to them getting a full STI panel. Pimples often have single blisters while herpes sores have several blisters which are lumped together. You can spot pimples on your face, cheeks, neck, arms, and even on your back. Most often, herpes sores occur around the mouth especially at the lip area.

We also have what we call genital herpes. It occurs in the groin area, and it can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. To be able to get rid of your pimples, you should regularly wash your face. Washing your face removes the build-up of dirt and oil which often causes pimples.

When you have pimples, avoid putting on makeup. Makeup can irritate your skin and can make your pimples swell even larger. If your pimples are on your back, avoid wearing tight clothing. Wear loose clothing instead. Avoid touching your face with dirty hands. Wash your hands first. As for your herpes sores, it is better to consult a physician. Herpes sores are actually caused by a viral infection. Your physician will then prescribe you recommended special soaps, medical ointments, and medicine.

Unlike pimples, herpes sores are more difficult to treat. Pimples fade away as long as you wash your face regularly. But with herpes sores, it requires medical intervention. Pimples can be treated with regular washing while herpes sores require medical intervention.

Cite APA 7 Franscisco,. Differences Between a Pimple and Herpes. Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects. The ones most often confused with cold sores are papules and pustules, which are bumps filled with white or yellow pus.

Papules appear as small pink or red bumps, while pustules are similar with a white or yellow cap. Depending on the type of pimple you get, each pimple can last from a couple days to about two weeks.

Pimples with a lot of pus may take longer to heal. They will likely heal faster when kept clean and undisturbed. Constantly touching—especially popping—a pimple can make it larger, more uncomfortable, and delay the healing process. Papules and pustules are caused by inflammation of clogged hair follicles. Buildup of oil sebum and dead skin can trap bacteria in the follicle, leading to an infection. To combat this infection, the immune system starts an inflammatory response that increases blood flow to the area—causing the redness you see—and recruits cells to trap and fight the bacteria.

This process forms pus—the collection of dead cells and tissue, bacteria, white blood cells, blood serum, and other debris. A pimple generally starts with a clogged hair follicle. This may be seen as a blackhead may also be dark yellow , if it is an open comedo, or a whitehead, if it is a closed comedo. At this stage, the skin may or may not be raised, and there may be some redness around the head as inflammation begins.

The sebaceous glands around the hair follicle continue to produce sebum, but because the follicle is now plugged, the sebum builds up, pressing on the skin above and against the walls of the follicle. This can be seen as a raised bump that makes the skin feel tight and can be painful to the touch. A bacterial infection is also possible, which would increase inflammation and may lead to the formation of a cyst.

If the sebum bursts the walls of the hair follicle, the papule may become a pustule. A pustule is filled with a mixture of sebum, cellular debris, white blood cells, and bacteria. The pustule might feel a bit looser than the papule, and it may be tempting to pop the pimple, but resist the urge to do so. Popping a pustule might make the infection worse and actually make the pimple last longer.

If there is a bacterial infection, the pimple may extend deeper into the skin and form a nodule or cyst. These cover a larger area of the skin and can be very painful. Depending on the severity and the individual, pimples can last anywhere from a few days to over a week. As long as the pimple was left alone, it will rarely result in a scar. The pus will simply drain into the body's filtration system to be discarded, and the pimple will disappear, possibly leaving a bit of discoloration.

However, scars can easily form if cysts break the surface of the skin. Razor burns also have the symptoms of red skin and itchiness and can also create small bumps that resemble pimples or herpes blisters. Small cuts when shaving the face or the genital region can irritate the skin increase the risk of an infection. This is made worse by the possibility of ingrown hairs. To combat the irritation or infection, the body may respond with inflammation and recruitment of white blood cells, resulting in the formation of small, pus-filled bumps.

If you notice these bumps, and you recently shaved, that's most likely what caused them. As mentioned, the small cuts increase the risk of an infection. Practice good hygiene and disinfect the area immediately after shaving help reduce skin irritation and prevent an infection from occurring. Don't be ashamed. Genital herpes is extremely common. If you have herpes, it is possible to keep it in check, and understanding your options can help you live with the virus.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be used to diagnose. Albrecht, Mary A, MD. Patient education: Genital herpes Beyond the Basics. Bowe, Whitney P. Diet and acne. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 63 1 : CDC Fact Sheet. Genital Herpes. Craine, Esther.

Are Those Razor Bumps Or an STD? Grinde, Bjorn. Herpesviruses: latency and reactivation — viral strategies and host response. Journal of Oral Microbiology 5 1. Looker, K. Melnik, Bodo C. Role of insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, hyperglycaemic food and milk consumption in the pathogensis of acne vulgaris. Experimental Dermatology 18 10 : Stanford Children's Health. Acne in Children.

WebMD Staff. What Are Cold Sores? Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency. I have a rash in a cluster with inflammation and it's red but it's not filled with puss also I never had it before it started 1 week ago also I shaved when it started to pop up please help im afraid to let my parents know.

My son is 30 years old and got hsv-2 and he dosen't want to live anymore. I am really worrie about it. Please i need an advice. I'm getting small like pimples in clusters and it has white puss is it for sure a pimple and not herpes. I had unprotected sex about 12 hours ago. It was in a pool, and I went home and showered afterwards, however about 4 hours ago, before bed, i itched.

And about an hour or two after it itched, I noticed a pimple. It's hard to tell if it's a herpes blister. It doesn't burn, just itch. I've tired looking to check for clear liquid stuff as said in the chart above. But still it's hard to tell.