What Cause Acne

For many, pesky pimples and more severe acne breakouts can be unsightly or cause embarrassment. Some people have breakouts consistently on their cheeks. Others have breakouts confined only to their chin, and some have pimples across their entire face. But is there rhyme or reason for where acne presents?

“There is little scientific evidence to support the theories that the distribution of acne on the face can indicate internal health problems, ” shared Lauren Kole, M.D., dermatologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic. “However, the location of acne can give clues as to what may be contributing to the patient’s acne.”

According to Kole, acne presenting in the following areas can have some indicators for what may be the root cause of the pimple, ranging in part from hormone overload to potentially dirty cellphones.

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“We tailor treatments based on the patient’s sex, age and how the acne presents, ” Kole explained.“I counsel patients on lifestyle changes that can help improve their acne. I definitely choose different therapies if I believe the patient’s acne is hormonally mediated versus if it’s changing a hair product or swapping out pillowcases regularly.”

Breakouts are common, and knowing what causes them may help patients with treatment. But tried and true tips from Kole that all people with acne can adopt are never pop pimples and do not touch your face.

At what point should a person with acne seek the counsel of a dermatologist? The American Academy of Dermatologists suggests that, even if you do not have severe acne, a dermatologist can help customize a treatment plan for a person’s individual acne.

Acne Scarring Treatments

“For some patients, it can be as simple as learning more about their skincare regimen and lifestyle and making small recommended changes, while other patients may benefit from hydrafacials, chemical peels and microneedling to treat both active acne and acne scarring, ” Kole shared. “Our team in the Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic can offer services ranging from medication and laser treatment to new skincare products that may benefit a person’s complexion and skin tone.”

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Face mapping comes from ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. However, there is little scientific evidence to support the theory that health issues with organs in the body relate to where acne breaks out on the face.

What's Causing Your Acne? Take A Look At These Reasons

However, some research does suggest that specific factors can relate to acne on certain areas of the face. We look at the evidence in this article.

Acne develops when the pores in the skin become clogged with dead skin cells and oil. The result is whiteheads and blackheads.

Acne around the hairline and temples, called forehead acne, may be due to the use of certain hair products. When this is the case, it is called pomade acne. This can affect both males and females with any skin type.

What Causes Acne

When oily or waxy hair products spread to the nearby skin of the face, they can block the pores. This can cause acne breakouts.

Certain ingredients in cosmetic products, such as pomades, may cause acne. Using noncomedogenic haircare products may help prevent acne from forming around the hairline.

The sebaceous glands produce sebum, which is an oily substance that moisturizes and protects the skin. Excess sebum production can cause acne.

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Looked at 914 people with acne. The researchers found a link between sebum production and the amount of acne in the T-zone, which covers the forehead and nose.

Breakouts on the cheeks can occur as a result of acne mechanica, which develops due to friction or rubbing of the skin.

For example, this may occur when a person holds a cell phone against their face, when they move against the pillow in their sleep, and when they wear a piece of equipment or clothing that has a chin strap.

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Acne mechanica is not restricted to the cheeks, however. It can occur in different areas of the body depending on the specific occlusive clothing or activity. It is most commonly recognized in athletes.

Scientists have tended to link acne around the jawline to fluctuations in hormones. However, other researchers have challenged and refuted this notion.

There is no evidence to suggest that acne around the jaw and chin will accurately predict if a person has a hormonal disturbance.

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Since many people with acne do not have hormone abnormalities, however, other factors — such as increased sensitivity of oil glands to hormones — may be the cause.

For inflammatory acne, including severe cases, a doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics to fight off bacteria and reduce inflammation. This can be in the form of topical or oral antibiotics.

Isotretinoin, or Accutane, is a drug that treats severe acne. People usually take it over 4–5 months, although treatment durations can vary from person to person.

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However, isotretinoin can have serious side effects. People should discuss these effects with a doctor before starting the treatment, and they should only take the medication under ongoing medical supervision.

A doctor may suggest taking combined oral contraceptives to treat hormonal acne. There are several approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating acne.

, combined oral contraceptives may be just as effective as oral antibiotics. Other progesterone-only contraceptives, such as Nexplanon, may make acne worse.

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Using a combined therapy of an oral contraceptive and spironolactone resulted in 85% of the participants having cleared or improved acne after 6 months.

Gently wash the face once or twice per day, as well as after exercising or sweating, with a mild, nonabrasive cleanser and lukewarm water.

Avoid touching the face frequently, as rubbing the skin often may also cause acne. Also, be sure to sleep with clean sheets and pillowcases.

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Keeping the hair away from the face and washing the hair after using oily or waxy products may help reduce acne around the hairline.

Has found that people living in countries that have a low GI diet, such as Papua New Guinea and Paraguay, have no reports of acne.

Of 43 men with acne found that over the course of 12 weeks, following a low GI diet reduced their acne more than a high carbohydrate diet.

Ask Lumin: What Causes Acne?

. This may be due to the hormones still present in the milk or the glycemic load. This tends to occur with skim milk, in particular.

Scientific studies suggest that acne on certain areas of the face may be due to bacteria, excess oil production, hormonal changes, or external factors such as the use of waxy hair products.

If these treatment methods are not effective, or if people have long lasting or severe acne, people can see their doctor or dermatologist for treatment.

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Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Pimples are a common skin condition caused by clogged or inflamed oil glands or an increased presence of pimple-causing bacteria on your skin. They’re a symptom of acne, and there are many different types, including blackheads, whiteheads, cysts and others. Treatments include home remedies and over-the-counter and prescription pills and gels.

Pimples are small growths on the surface of your skin. They may become inflamed or discolored. Acne typically causes pimples to develop, most commonly on your face, chest, shoulders and upper back.

Pimples typically affect teenagers (adolescents) and young adults undergoing hormonal changes. However, they can affect babies, and many adults continue to have pimples into their 20s, 30s and beyond. Some even develop pimples for the first time as adults.

Reasons For Your Face Breaking Out

Pimples are very common. Some researchers suggest that pimples affect nearly everyone at some time during their lives. They’re most common during adolescence, but adults may have them, too.

Your face (especially your nose, chin and forehead, and sometimes your cheeks or around your lips), neck, back, chest and upper arms are most likely to develop pimples. However, oil glands are all over your body. They release an oily lubricant called sebum that helps keep your skin and hair hydrated and shiny. As a result, though it isn’t common, pimples sometimes appear on your eyelids (styes), butt, ears, scalp, armpits (axilla) and external genitals (penis or labia).

Pimples don’t seriously affect your physical health, but they can affect you psychosocially (how society and social groups affect your mind) and psychologically (your self-perception and behavior). They’re sometimes associated with anxiety, depression, mood disorders and suicidal thoughts.

Ways To Get Rid Of Acne Without Cosmetic Procedures

Sometimes, skin gets irritated by things it comes in contact with and pimples develop. Most people think of acne