Is it eczema or acne? How to tell the difference

Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought, “Is that eczema or acne?”

If you’ve experienced both in the past, or if you’ve had family members with either, you can easily become confused. Both conditions can appear on your skin in ways that may look similar.

The good news is that they usually have some obvious differences once you know what to look for. This is important because eczema and acne require different care. Using the wrong kind of product can sometimes make your skin feel worse instead of better.

What is eczema (and do you have eczema or acne?)

Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition that makes your skin inflamed, dry and very itchy. Think of it as your skin’s protective barrier becoming weak or damaged. When that happens, your skin panics and reacts to things that wouldn’t normally bother you, like certain soaps, fabrics, cold air, or even stress.

Eczema usually manifests as:

• Red, dry or scaly patches on the skin
• Intense itching (often worse at night)
• Skin that looks thick or leathery in some areas
• Small bumps that may ooze or crust over
• Skin that feels raw or super sensitive

Eczema loves to hang out in places like the insides of your elbows, behind your knees, and on your hands, face, and neck. It can come and go in “flare-ups” – meaning it gets bad for a while, then calms down, then comes back.

Eczema is not contagious. You can’t take it from someone else. It often runs in families and is often linked to allergies and asthma.

What is acne? (And is it eczema or acne you’re seeing?)

Acne is what happens when your pores become clogged by dead skin cells, oil (sebum), and sometimes bacteria. Your skin produces oil to stay healthy, but sometimes it produces too much, and that extra oil gets stuck in a pore. When bacteria join the party, you get inflammation, and then things like pimples and cysts appear.

Acne usually looks like this:

• Whiteheads (clogged pores that are close to the surface)
• Blackheads (clogged pores that are open and dark)
• Red pimples or pimples (the ones with the white tip)
• Deeper, red, swollen painful cysts or lumps under the skin, known as inflammatory acne
• Oily looking skin around the affected area

Acne tends to linger on your face (particularly on the forehead, nose and chin – the “T-zone”), but it can also appear on your chest, back and shoulders. These are the areas with the most oil glands.

Unlike eczema, acne is very closely linked to hormones. That’s why it often shows up during puberty, around your period or during times of great stress. Bacteria also play a major role, as does inflammation.

Is it eczema or acne? How to tell the difference

This is the easiest way to compare these two conditions when looking at your skin.

Texture

Eczema usually feels dry, rough or flaky. Acne usually feels bumpy, with individual spots or clogged pores.

Itching versus pimples

Eczema is often very itchy. Acne is more likely to cause pimples, blackheads, whiteheads or painful bumps. Acne can be irritated, but severe itching is more indicative of eczema.

Cartridge

Eczema often appears in spots. Acne usually appears as individual pimples or clusters of pimples.

Skin type area

Eczema can occur anywhere, often in areas that become dry or irritated. Acne often occurs on oilier areas such as the face, chest and back.

Your age

Eczema can start when you’re a baby and last throughout your life, although some children grow out of it. Acne usually starts in the teenage years, when hormones kick in, although adults can get it too.

Which makes it even worse

Eczema can flare up if you use harsh soaps or fragrances, if you are stressed, or if you are exposed to weather changes or irritants. Acne can be worsened by products that clog the pores, friction, hormones or overly aggressive skin care that irritates the skin.

Whether thick moisturizers help or hurt

If applying a thick moisturizer makes your skin feel calmer and better, it’s probably eczema. If your skin starts to break out more, acne is likely the problem.

How to treat eczema or acne: the right approach for everyone

This is the part that’s really important. Treating eczema like acne can dry it out even more. Treating acne like eczema and using heavy products or products that clog pores can make pimples worse.

If it’s eczema

The goal is to calm inflammation and restore the skin barrier.

Useful habits:

• Use a gentle cleanser (no aggressive scrubbing)
• Moisturize regularly, especially after showering and bathing, and after washing hands
• Avoid products with fragrances or irritating ingredients
• Keep showers and baths lukewarm, not hot
• Avoid triggers – find out what causes your eczema to flare up (harsh soaps, fragrances, certain substances, stress, heat) and minimize contact with those things
• Use gentle, non-toxic products – eczema skin is already irritated and sensitive, so use clean beauty products like those from CV Skinlabs that are specially formulated for sensitive skin conditions like eczema and acne inflammation.

For eczema flare-ups, our Rescue + Relief Spray is a total game-changer. It immediately cools and soothes itchy, inflamed, burning skin. Dermatologists regularly recommend it for eczema complaints. Spray it on for instant relief and then use the Calming Moisture and the Body Repair Lotion to deeply hydrate and help repair your skin barrier.

For drier, rougher areas, our Restorative Skin Balm is ideal for treating areas that need extra moisture and healing support. All three products contain our exclusive Tri-Rescue Complex: a gentle blend of turmeric, alpha-bisabolol and reishi mushroom that fights inflammation and supports skin recovery.

If it’s acne

The goal is to clear clogged pores and reduce breakouts without excessively irritating the skin.

Useful habits:

• Use gentle, acne-friendly skin care, but cleanse consistently – at least twice a day; avoid scrubbing too hard
• Avoid picking or squeezing pimples
• Use non-comedogenic products (do not clog pores).
• Don’t skip moisturizer – even oily, acne-prone skin needs hydration; By skipping moisture, your skin will produce more oil to compensate
• Stick to lightweight, oil-free formulas
• Calm the inflammation

CV Skinlabs can also help acne-prone skin. Our Rescue + Relief Spray is oil-free and contains antimicrobial ingredients, making it a great option for calming acne inflammation and soothing skin after breakouts. Our Calming Moisture is another good option as it is lightweight and helps calm redness without causing breakouts.

I’m still not sure?

It is possible to have acne and eczema at the same time. If you notice dry, itchy patches and pimples, or if your skin is getting worse because of what you’re trying, it’s a good idea to contact a dermatologist.

You should get professional help if:

• You’re not sure if it’s eczema or acne
• It is painful, widespread, or severe
• It affects your sleep or self-confidence
• The products you try make it worse
• You are frustrated and can’t seem to help your skin

A dermatologist can tell the difference and help you create a plan that addresses the real problem.

Can you tell if you have eczema or acne?

Featured image by Polina Tankilevitch via Pexels.