Breakouts Location… If you’re anything like me, you’ve struggled with acne long past the age you thought it would go away. Despite my hopes that it was just a teenage phase, those pesky breakouts have persisted well into my thirties. Dealing with acne can be incredibly frustrating, but I’ve come to understand that addressing the root cause is essential to making real progress in clearing it up. If you’re struggling with severe acne, it’s a good idea to see a dermatologist or board-certified acne specialist for personalized advice. For a more general overview, let’s take a look at what your breakouts could mean and how to effectively treat and prevent them!
What Your Breakouts Location Mean?
Cheeks
Breakouts location on the cheeks are often attributed to acne mechanica, a condition caused by friction or rubbing of the skin. This can occur from a variety of sources, such as pressing a dirty cell phone against the cheek, rubbing against a pillow while sleeping, or the friction caused by wearing a face covering. Cheek acne typically presents as inflammatory papules, pustules, nodules, and cystic acne.
Similar to forehead acne, cheek breakouts can also be caused by using makeup or skincare products that contain pore-clogging ingredients, using dirty makeup brushes, and touching your face frequently. These factors contribute to the development of cheek acne and warrant attention when addressing skin care routines and habits.
Tips & Products for Breakouts Location on Cheeks:
- Incorporating salicylic acid into your skincare routine can be very effective in treating cheek acne. This ingredient is known for its exfoliating properties, which work to slough off dead skin cells and loosen excess oil in the pores. A salicylic acid cleanser is an excellent place to start, as it helps break up sebum and debris trapped in pores, promoting clearer skin on the cheeks. Incorporating salicylic acid into your regimen can help fight acne and improve the overall health of your skin.
- Consider adding a retinol to your skin care routine to help treat cheek acne. Over-the-counter retinols work at the cellular level to accelerate cell turnover, reduce inflammation, and decrease oil production. Start by incorporating a retinol serum into your regimen a few times a week and gradually increase the frequency as your skin adjusts to the treatment. Retinol can help improve the appearance of acne on the cheeks by promoting skin renewal and reducing oiliness, ultimately leading to clearer, healthier-looking skin.
- Make it a habit to change your pillowcase at least once a week, especially if you have active breakouts. This will help prevent the buildup of oils and bacteria that can make acne worse.
- Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands regularly. You may unknowingly touch your face throughout the day, and surfaces like your phone, keyboard, and doorknobs harbor many germs that can contribute to breakouts.
- Check the ingredients in your skincare and makeup products to identify any pore-clogging ingredients. Choose non-comedogenic products to minimize the risk of clogging your pores and worsening your acne. Regularly checking and switching to non-pore clogging products can help maintain clear skin on your cheeks and prevent future breakouts.
Forehead
Your forehead is susceptible to excess oil production due to hormonal fluctuations, especially during puberty and periods of increased stress. Forehead acne occurs when pores become clogged with oil, dead skin cells and bacteria, causing inflammation-a process similar to acne elsewhere on the body.
The primary factors that contribute to excess oil production include genetics and hormonal imbalances. Additional factors such as stress, dietary habits, and environmental exposures can also exacerbate oiliness. In terms of diet, consumption of refined grains and sugars – such as white bread, pasta, cereals, rice, sodas, sweetened beverages, candy, pastries, and artificial sweeteners – are among the top culprits for acne. Some people may also find that dairy products trigger acne. In addition, food sensitivities can trigger an inflammatory response that can worsen acne symptoms.
Tips & Products for Breakouts Location on Forhead:
- Incorporate benzoyl peroxide into your skin care routine to treat forehead acne. Benzoyl peroxide effectively targets and eliminates acne-causing bacteria on the skin, preventing breakouts and reducing inflammation. You can choose to use a benzoyl peroxide cleanser once a day or use it as a spot treatment for individual pimples. By incorporating benzoyl peroxide into your regimen, you can help treat forehead acne and promote clearer, healthier-looking skin.
- Salicylic acid is particularly effective against blackheads and whiteheads because of its oil-soluble nature, which allows it to penetrate deep into pores. It works by exfoliating the skin and dissolving excess oil and debris, helping to unclog pores and prevent the formation of acne lesions. Salicylic acid is generally well tolerated by sensitive skin types when used at a concentration of 2%. By incorporating salicylic acid into your skincare routine, you can effectively target and control blackheads and whiteheads for clearer, smoother skin.
- To help speed the healing process of acne lesions, consider using hydrocolloid pimple patches. These patches work by creating a moist environment that promotes faster wound healing while preventing you from touching or picking your face, reducing the risk of further irritation or scarring. By applying hydrocolloid patches to acne spots, you can speed up the healing process and maintain clearer, healthier-looking skin.
- Eat a nutritious diet rich in omega-3 fats, probiotics, vegetables, whole grains, protein, matcha, and golden spice.
- Eat a balanced diet of omega-3s, probiotics, vegetables, whole grains, protein, matcha, and golden spice.
Back and Body
Acne often appears on the chest, neck, shoulders, upper arms, and back. The same elements that cause facial acne can also cause back and body acne. Like the face, the upper part of the body contains numerous sebaceous glands. Because these glands are concentrated on the upper body rather than the limbs, the follicles are more susceptible to blockages caused by excess oil and dead skin cells.
Body acne can result from the use of certain makeup and hair products. Products that can clog pores include shampoos, conditioners, hair oils, pomades, and thick moisturizers. In addition, tight clothing, sports gear, and other equipment can trigger back and body acne. Friction or pressure on the skin, combined with heat or sweat, aggravates and inflames the follicles. Sweat itself can also aggravate body acne.
Tips & Products for Breakouts Location on Back and Body:
- Gently wash with a salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide cleanser. As mentioned above, both are excellent breakout-fighting ingredients.
- Look for products labeled „non-comedogenic“ or check the ingredient list to make sure there are no pore-clogging substances in products that come in contact with your back and body.
- If you’re struggling with acne in any of these areas, use these strategies and products to eliminate breakouts from the inside out.
- Avoid sources of friction such as overly tight clothing, backpacks, purse straps, and athletic pads or equipment if you’re experiencing a breakout.
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