Noticing acne appearing on your hairline or forehead? Chances are, it has a very practical culprit. So it’s unlikely that you need to worry about any health conditions.
Hair care products
Certain hair care products contain more oil than others. And it’s easy for this oil to find its way into your skin, especially if you have a fringe or a hairstyle that means strands regularly touch your face.
Try to find the culprit by reviewing the ingredients for oils and other potentially irritating ingredients. The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends avoiding haircare products that don’t have the following words on the label:
- Won't clog pores
- Oil-free
- Non-comedogenic
- Non-acnegenic
Sweat and bacteria
Thought exercise was good for your health? It is! But it might not be so good for your acne. InSweat, oil, dirt and bacteria can come together to trigger certain types of acne, especially on your hairline and forehead. But there are steps you can take to mitigate the issue.
Be sure to take aclean towel with you to each workout, so that you can quickly wipe away sweat as it appears. Avoid sharing helmets with fellow exercisers (and don’t even get usstarted on sweaty headbands!). And try to wash your face as soon as possible after exercise.A mild cleanser should do the trick, or a simple splash of water if that’s not available to you.
Regular physical pressure
If you’re still finding that you’re experiencing acne on your hairline, look for anything that might be regularly placing pressure on that area of your skin. According to theNHS, regularly wearing items that place pressure on the same area of skin could cause acne to appear.
Headbands are a particularly common culprit, especially if they are considerably tight on your skin. It’s also worth checking for hats, helmets and other headwear that sits along or around your hairline.
Acne on the t-zone
The t-zone is known for being a particularly oily area for many of us. Why? It simply has more oil glands.
Since acne is generally caused by overactive sebaceous glands (too much oil on the skin), the skin’s oil is likely to be the trigger here. Our skin needs a certain amount of sebum to stop our hair follicles and skin from drying out, but when there’s an excess it can become problematic.
It’s likely that you’re experiencing acne on your t-zone because excess oil is mixing with dead skin cells, causing pores to become blocked and spots to form. This isn’t a health concern but it can certainly be frustrating.
To treat t-zone acne, try using Niacinamide, which is clinically proven to regulate sebum production. Another ingredient to look out for? Multi Acids (Alpha Hydroxy Acid and Beta Hydroxy Acid). These will encourage skin cell turnover and dislodge dead skin cells. You can find all these ingredients inour Advanced Anti Breakout Routine set.
Acne on the chin or jawline
Acne on your chin or jawline can be asign of hormonal fluctuations. This hormonal acne is especially common in teenagers, where jawline acne can be a sign of puberty. It’s thought that increases in testosterone during puberty (essential for the development of male sex organs and for muscle and bone strength in girls) can trigger teenage hormonal acne.
In later life, women are more likely to experience acne than men. This is a result of hormonal changes due to periods, pregnancy or polycystic ovary syndrome.
If you’ve noticed acne appearing on your chin or jawline and it definitely isn’t connected to your period or pregnancy, your body could be trying to tell you something about your health. Whilst it’s important not to worry before speaking with a medical professional, thereare medical conditions that cause acne. It’s worth chatting to your doctor just in case it could be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome.
To treat hormonal acne, we recommend iS CLINICAL Active Serum. This is an excellent companion for blemish-prone skin types, leaving you with smoother, clearer and more radiant skin after use!
Acne on the cheeks
"Maskne"
Acne on the cheeks can be a little harder to diagnose. But there’s one big (not so fashionable) trend that we’ve seen popping up since 2020… “Maskne”. This type of acne is called acne mechanica, caused by an item trapping heat and rubbing the skin’s surface. In this case, that item is your mask.
Since we all know that masks help toprotect our health (and the health of others), “Maskne” shouldn’t put you off wearing one. Instead, try to get into the habit of usingMedik8’s Balance Control Pads right after you take your mask off for the day.
These easy to use pads are pre-soaked in maximum strength Salicylic Acid and remove oil and dirt from your pores, minimising your chances of developing acne under your mask. You can even keep them in their portable pot inside your bag, so you can use them on the go too.
