Pimple or herpes? As you wake up with an uncomfortable red bump around your lip, you may worry if you have a pimple or herpes. Even though they are different skin disorders, they can appear remarkably similar.

Pimples can be classified as a rather unpleasant phenomenon and are particularly annoying when they occur in the lip area. Rashes are pretty painful. In addition, this area of the face is most often attacked by the herpes virus, which should be treated differently. It is essential to be able to distinguish between herpes and ordinary acne. Let’s look at their features and differences.

Features Of Common Pimples

Pimples throughout life appear in every person. In adolescence, hormonal changes contribute to their occurrence. Also, the leading causes of pimples can be the following:

• clogged pores;
• decreased immunity (see how to strengthen the immune system);
• hormonal changes in the female body;
• oily skin;
• low-quality cosmetic products;
• gastrointestinal diseases;
• taking certain medications;
• stress;
• allergies;
• tissue damage and inflammation;
• heredity;
• Demodex.

Having found out the cause of acne will be necessary to take them into treatment. The main drugs for acne are considered “Skinoren,” “Basiron AS,” “Zinerit,” and salicylic acid. 

Suppose after the use of these drugs, the problem still needs to be solved. In that case, you should consult a dermatologist, who may prescribe antibacterial drugs, such as “Tetracycline”, “Clindamycin” or “Erythromycin.”

Dermatologists distinguish between several varieties of acne:

• Comedon. Externally, such a pimple looks like ordinary fatty acne due to clogged pores.
• Papula. A full-fledged red pimple that hurts when pressed.
• Pustule. It has purulent contents and may develop from a papule.
• Nodular cystic pimples are a scattering of pustules.
• Lightning pimples are a severe form of acne which must be treated urgently with medical help.

Depending on the number of pimples, they are divided into several stages:

• Minor local rashes in the form of comedones characterize the first stage.
• The second stage has more rashes in the form of comedones.
• The third stage may be accompanied by itching and burning of the skin. Rashes occupy a larger area of the skin.
• The fourth stage is quite severe – rashes everywhere, their color purple, they leave scars on the skin.

You should visit a dermatologist for the last two stages to prescribe a complex therapy.

How to spot a pimple:

When pores clog, pimples develop. For example, a red, inflammatory pimple might result from normal skin bacteria entering the pores.

You might feel the pimple. You can experience pain or swelling in the area immediately beneath the skin. It frequently happens for pimples to appear.

The lip itself never actually gets pimples. Herpes is probably to blame if you have a pimple in the center of your lip.

Instead of a blister, the pimple develops a raised red lump. A white dot that peaks in the center of the red bump may develop as the pimple develops. But there is no doubt that it is not a blister. Most pimples are just one white dot. However, others grow to be multiple heads.

It is impossible to spread pimples. Pimples are not transmitted, unlike herpes. You can give someone a kiss, a hug, and some lip balm and never get a pimple yourself. Knowing the difference between pimples and herpes allows us to stop the spread of the disease if we are aware that we already have it.

Features Of Herpetic Pimples

Herpetic rashes occur in most cases on the skin of the face, lips, and genitals. Still, they can also be located on other parts of the body. Herpes is an infection that is caused by a virus. Causes that cause herpes can be as follows:

• hypothermia;
• avitaminosis;
• chronic fatigue;
• alcohol abuse;
• taking certain medications, such as antibiotics.

Herpes rashes look like bumps filled with fluid. They are often located near the mouth and over the upper lip and transmitted to another person by direct contacts, such as kissing, touching, or using another person’s utensils. The virus often affects children, accompanied by fever and severe pain. Adults with the disease may experience lethargy, headache, chills, and sometimes an increased body temperature. Read more about herpes symptoms here.

The disease has several stages. In the first stage, blisters appear. Then they burst and eventually turn into crusts, which fall off and leave scars on the skin.

Medicine also distinguishes six main types of this infection. Still, there are eight in total (the last two are extremely rare, their causes and symptoms are poorly understood).

It is impossible to be cured of the herpes virus completely. Once in the body, it remains there forever, silent for a while, and then it comes to light again. More than 95% of people worldwide are carriers of the virus, but it does not manifest itself in any way for many of them. Others suffer from its activity several times a year, especially during the fall and winter. Also, the virus may begin its activity against a background of reduced immunity and severe stress.

A virus, specifically the herpes simplex virus, causes herpes (HSV-1 or HSV-2). It’s a relatively frequent virus. It is estimated that approximately 70% of the population has it, albeit it does not necessarily cause rashes.

Herpes causes blister clusters. The appearance of a pimple and herpes is a good way to determine the difference. Clusters of small blisters are caused by herpes. When the blisters pop, fluid can seep from them.

Herpes appears on the lips, nose and nostrils, chin, and (less frequently) the eyes. Herpes generally occurs around the mouth, right below the chin’s lip, or between the mouth and nose. However, they can also occur on the lip itself.

Herpes causes tingling or burning sensations. You may notice that your skin is itchy or tingling a few days or hours before herpes emerges. However, as the herpes virus spreads, it may cause pain, throbbing, or burning.

Herpes blisters crust over in a few days.2 As they dry out, they may crack and ooze.

Herpes is contagious. HPV-1 is contagious and is passed from one person to another.1 You can get it by kissing someone with herpes, sharing dishes, or drinking water from the same glass or straw. HPV-2 is more often transmitted sexually but can also be transmitted to the face.

Pimple or Herpes: Comparative Characteristics

Is it a pimple or herpes? We can distinguish them by comparing the characteristics of the two.

A pimple appears on the skin for the following reasons:

• The skin is not well cared for if the sebaceous ducts are clogged. In addition, when the pores are clogged, subcutaneous fat cannot escape, and an inflammatory process begins under the influence of bacteria.
• Allergic reaction to cosmetics.
• Inflammation of the facial nerve.
• A change of climate.

Herpes rashes appear due to herpes virus activity. They are located in the corners of the lips or along their contour.

The appearance of regular pimples differs from those caused by the herpes virus. The following signs can help distinguish herpetic pimples from regular pimples:

• With the virus, small pimples appear in the lip area in the form of bubbles with liquid.
• An ordinary pimple looks like a cone-shaped swelling of red, the top of which soon turns white.
• If the appearance of pimples is accompanied by itching and burning, it is herpes.
• Pimples caused by the herpes virus are irregular in shape, and the number of rashes is always different.

Herpes has the following distinctive features: it is contagious, incurable, accompanied by itching, pain, and burning, has several stages of development, and leaves scars on the skin.

You can distinguish herpes from an ordinary pimple by its localization because common rashes do not appear as often in the areas where you can find a herpetic rash. Also, rashes differ in symptomatology and origin. But treating acne of any origin is a must.

How To Treat And Prevent Pimple

Because pimples are not contagious, you cannot spread them to other people or portions of your body. Be encouraged, for healing should begin within a day or two.

Do not squeeze or squeeze out the pimple. Squeezing a pimple might aggravate it significantly. It can also result in scarring.

Freeze any huge or sore areas. Wrap an ice cube in a soft cloth and place it on the affected area for a few minutes several times each day. This will assist in minimizing swelling and pain.

Individual pimples should be treated with an over-the-counter spot treatment. Pimple treatment can hasten recovery. However, do not use them more frequently than recommended, as they can dry up and irritate the skin.

Avoid any oddity marketed as “miracle” acne treatments. Toothpaste, Windex, and garlic are examples. They do not treat the pimple but instead aggravate it.

If you get pimples frequently or appear all over your face or body, it’s time for professional acne treatment. Effective acne treatments will prevent pimples from forming. In addition, using them will keep your skin clear for an extended period.

How To Treat Herpes

Patience is required when treating herpes. It will eventually recover, but in the meantime, you must take precautions to prevent the virus from spreading.

Don’t come into contact with the herpes virus. Because the herpes virus is contagious, contacting the wound might spread the infection to other persons or parts of your body.

Attempt an over-the-counter herpes treatment. Although it may not appear to proceed quickly enough, most herpes wounds heal within 10 to two weeks. Over-the-counter and prescription antivirals, such as Abreva, can decrease the healing time.

Request prescribed drugs from your doctor. If you are prone to herpes rashes, your doctor may recommend drugs you can take at the start of the rash to lessen the intensity and length of time it takes to heal.

If necessary, apply lip balms and ointments. Apply a balm on dried herpes crusts to keep them moist and prevent unpleasant breakouts. Use a cotton swab, not your finger, to apply balms and ointments.

Prevent contamination. To avoid product contamination, always use a fresh cotton swab (no “double dipping”). In addition, to be safe, always wash your hands before handling the balm again to avoid contaminating it and exacerbating the disease.

Word from Verywell

Time is the most effective treatment for both herpes and pimples. Of course, they will go with time, but it could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

Of course, you should see a doctor if you’re unsure what’s wrong with your skin or if the lesion isn’t healing or growing worse.

Your doctor can tell you whether you have a pimple or herpes, or something else with a quick exam. Furthermore, your doctor can assist you in treating that bothersome item so you can get better.

Now, is it a pimple or herpes? You know that.