The Secret To Breakouts Unlocked What Your Acne Is Telling You
By Eliza
We all get breakouts from time to time and they are never pretty. I hate finding a pimple or a bunch of them. Itâs enough to ruin the entire day. However, instead of just slapping on some cream and waiting for them to go away, you can get to the root of whatâs causing your breakouts. Sometimes they are telling you something and finding out what it is can help you solve the problem. Hereâs what your breakouts might be saying to you.
Common Acne Locations: What Your Acne Is Telling You & How To Get Rid Of It
Pimples and acne breakouts can occur anywhere on your body, though most occur on the face.
Treating facial breakouts is called acne face mapping, and how you go about it can be determined by where on your face you are breaking out. Other common spots for acne breakouts include the back, chest, neck, and shoulders.
What Is My Acne Telling Me
Medically reviewed by Katelyn Hagerty, FNPWritten by Our Editorial Team
Whether you deal with a breakout at the same time every month or in the same spot of your face, it can feel like those pimples have a message, and they very well could!
The message your acne is trying to get across may not be apparent by its location or the blemish type, but its likely telling you whats causing the breakouts, which can signal the best route to treatment.
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Face Mapping: What Acne Really Says About Your Health
Believe it or not, theres apparently an ancient science behind the acne breakout that appears on your face. According to ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic principles, face mapping correlates the location of your spots to a corresponding internal organ and an underlying health issue.
You may have heard of wine face, where drinking too much wine apparently leads to dark circles under the eyes, or gluten face, which contributes to a puffy, bloated visage. We have been told that chocolate can cause a breakout, or being stressed can wreak havoc on the skin. And in women, spots on the jawline are a hormonal response to our time of the month. But do any of these hearsays or trendy social media posts really mean anything? What is face mapping and does it work?Ancient medical practitioners have used observational diagnoses to narrow down symptoms within the body. But of course, back in those days, the diagnosis of a medical condition was based on examining the body without the use of the advanced technology that we have today.
According to face mapping, acne and facial blemishes develop in specific zones because of internal issues, which may include high blood pressure, dehydration, and digestive wellbeing, or even as a complaint from another organ in the body, such as the angry liver. There is no real scientific evidence to suggest that these principles are accurate. However, thanks to modern research techniques, we can make assessments on why and how acne happens.
Face Mapping: What Your Acne Is Telling You
Okay, lets face it: breakouts blow. Not to mention, we get them at the worst possible times, like during our periods and when were really stressed out. Darn those pesky uncontrollable hormones, right? Well, maybe not. Hormones can absolutely cause breakouts, but they arent the only thingit turns out that some acne can be attributed to underlying internal health problems, which, believe it or not, arent impossible to uncover and alleviate! Face mapping is an alternative medicine practice that looks at where acne appears on your face and points out possible health issues that may be associated with your acne.
Now, dont assume you have a serious health problem just because you get a pimple on your chin now and again. Face mapping isnt an exact science, so be sure to take it with a grain of salt! However, if your acne frequently appears in the same place, or you have chronic acne and no solution, it might help consider what those pimples might be telling you. To get you started, here are eight of the most common places for acne to appear and health problems that are associated with each location:
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Your Cosmetics Are Making Things Worse
You may use make-up to conceal your acne, but your acne might be trying to tell you that the makeup youre using is making things worse.
Cosmetics may trigger acne in 62 percent of cases, according to some research. Non-comedogenic makeup and other cosmetics can help reduce the likelihood of acne breakouts.
What About Occasional Acne
This is the acne that shows up out of the blue. You thought your skin was fine, and then wham, the pimples show up. Most likely, this type of acne is related to stress. Have things been difficult in your life lately? Have you been worried about something? You may need to take some time out.
Check out our resources page if you’relooking for more resources on various skin care issues or concerns.
If you would like to learn more on face mapping and the different parts of the face that are connected to different organs in the body, check out the rest of our Face Mapping series!
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Cystic Acne Could Mean You Have An Intolerance To This Food
If you have ever struggled with cystic acne, you know how painful it can be. According to Medical News Today, this kind of acne is “a severe type of acne in which the pores in the skin become blocked, leading to infection and inflammation.” Ouch.
Medical News Today noted cystic acne is often due to hormonal changes in puberty, but adults can also experience cystic acne. That said, many people who struggle with cystic acne have found that cutting out dairy has helped their acne heal. “The best way to determine if your acne cysts are directly related to your intake of dairy is to completely cut dairy out of your diet for three weeks,” celebrity skincare expert and esthetician Renée Rouleau told Teen Vogue. “If you don’t develop any new cysts, then this might solve your problem.” So, if you struggle with cystic acne and can’t find a solution, your body might be trying to tell you to cut back on dairy products like milk, ice cream, and cheese.
Chin Jawline And Neck Acne
Hormonal acne tends to live in the lower part of the face the chin, jawline, and neck and it tends to be more cystic rather than little blackheads or whiteheads, Dr. Wechsler says. In this case, hormonal doesnt mean teenage. Acne in adult women tends to occur on the lower third of the face, jawline, and neck, and around the mouth, Zeichner says.
What to Do
Develop a skin-care routine. Stress leads to hormonal surges that rev up your oil production, Zeichner says. If youre approaching a deadline or a test at school, you may notice a breakout in the areas of your face that tend to have the highest concentration of oil glands notably your T-zone, including the forehead, nose, and chin. Taking care of yourself and having a skin-care routine can help you regain some control. For most people, that means a gentle cleanser, possibly a toner, and a moisturizer with sunscreen in the morning, Wechsler says.
Try acne medication. When it comes to treating acne, over-the-counter products can help. Look for products that contain ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, which kill acne-causing bacteria, Zeichner says.
Just make sure not to layer too many products at once. Benzoyl peroxide is very drying , so you may want to consider pairing it with a moisturizer. Be mindful: If you keep buying products but youre getting worse, not better, it could be that youre getting irritated by the products, Wechsler says.
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Forehead: Unhealthy Eating & Stress
In face mapping, your forehead is linked to your digestive and nervous systems, making it susceptible to diet- and stress-related breakouts.
Are pimples popping up on your forehead? Unhealthy eating and stress are probable offenders. In face mapping, your forehead is linked to your digestive and nervous systems, making it susceptible to diet- and stress-related breakouts.
Those pesky pimples can be alleviated by eating less sugar and fewer processed foods, drinking plenty of water and getting between seven to nine hours of sleep.
What Causes Pimples On Your Forehead
Pimples here are usually linked to the digestive system, and may indicate that youâre having a hard time breaking down certain foods. It may also indicate liver problems, stress, or an irregular sleep schedule.
How to Prevent Pimples on Forehead?
Try usingbitter herbs or digestive enzymes like bromelain and papaya before each meal to help break down foods, and make sure youâre getting 7-9 hours of sleep each night. If you suspect liver issues, try some dandelion tea or some extra garlic and onions. Drinking hot water with lemon in the morning may also help.
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What Your Acne Is Telling You
25 February, 2022
Acne occurs when the sebaceous glands produce too much oil, clogging pores and trapping sebum and dead skin cells. As a result, pimples and blackheads form which can range in levels of severity. In this article, well look over what your acne is telling you.
Acne is usually related to hormonal changes that occur during puberty, menstruation, and pregnancy. In addition, it can be from stress, using birth control, and other causes. Yet, Chinese medicine suggests that the location of acne on your face can reveal health problems in your body. In other words, you can determine what your acne is telling you. Therefore, to identify any condition you may have, you should first identify the type of acne and its location on your face.
What Your Acne Is Telling You Based On Face Mapping
In Traditional Chinese Medicine , your face reflects your inner health status. Mien Xiang , also known as Chinese face mapping, originated 3000 years ago and used to view the face as a body map with each facial area connecting to different organ systems.
Beside the common possible causes of acne, such as overproduction of oil secretion and poor skincare habits, TCM believes that the imbalances in an organ system can also result in blemishes and acne found on the face. With that, face mapping is then useful in directing the diagnosis and treatment approach to treat the root cause of an acne outbreak.
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Why Do You Get Pimples On Your Cheeks
If you spent time in the city, had to sit in traffic for hours, or otherwise came into contact with polluted air, that may explain pimples showing up here. And unfortunately, the air in our homes can be just as bad, or worse!
How to Avoid Pimples on Cheeks?
Consider adding plants that clean the air to your home. Allergies that affect the respiratory system may also be to blame, or if you pressed your cell phone against your skin while talking, germs may have been transferred to your face.
Always wash skin thoroughly before bed to try to get rid of trace contaminants. Sometimes, acne here can be a symptom of too much sugar in your dietâcut back for a few days and see if that helps.
What Your Acne Is Trying To Tell You About Your Health
Contrary to many people simply attributing acne to clogged pores or hormonal imbalances, acne in certain areas can actually indicate underlying health problems.
This is called face mapping, an alternative-medicine practice of examining the location of acne on the face to determine health issues.
Although mapping like this is not an exact science, finding out how and why acne occurs in certain areas can help tell you a little something about your health.
Dr. Roshini Raj, a certified gastroenterologist and cofounder of skincare line TULA, has mapped out what popular acne zones could be telling us about our health.
There are lots of causes to acne, and many people dont realize that internal factorsfrom how much you sleep to the air you breathecan affect your complexion, says Dr. Raj.
Great skin comes from taking care of both what you put on your skin and how you take care of your body, she adds.
Below is Dr. Roshini Rajs acne mapping, as compiled by Readers Digest:
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Forehead
Breakouts on the forehead are often caused by stress and poor digestive issues. It can also be triggered by topical factors such as hats and hair that sticks to the forehead.
According to Dr. Raj, sleeping at least seven hours a day, drinking plenty of water, eating a balanced diet and minimizing friction on the forehead area by keeping hats and hair off can help reduce acne.
Cheeks
T-zone
On dealing with T-zone acne, Dr. Raj has several tips.
Chin
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Face Mapping To Identify Acne Problems
Ever thought about why do your pimples reoccur in the same place? This has resulted in a wide range of procedures aimed at keeping your skin as clean and healthy as possible. But think twice before slathering pimple cream all over your face as some blemishes can’t be simply eradicated with a killer cleanser or spot treatment. On technique that may help you identify the reason behind recurring acne is face mapping. It comes from the ancient Chinese idea that a person’s skin reflects their overall health. Heres what your acne on different parts of your face trying to tell you.
Zone 5 & : Vitamin Levels
Skin is coarser on the arms so you can get keratosis pilaris in this area. This appears as small spots that give skin a rough, goose-bumpy appearance. Keratosis pilaris is caused by poor circulation and overproduction of dead cells at the hair follicle. Try to treat it with regular exfoliation and moisturizers containing salicylic acid. If the problem persists despite this, it could be a sign of how efficiently your body is receiving and utilising vitamins from your diet.
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You May Be Getting Acne Because You’re Too Stressed
Understandably, stress can cause a lot of health issues, including acne. If you’ve been worried about a huge project at work or a relationship issue, for example, and you’re stressed about it, it could lead to acne. Specifically, stress seems to be a big factor for acne in women. “We do see more acne in adult women than we’ve ever seen before, and there are theories that stress could be an influence,” Dr. Alexa Kimball, a professor of dermatology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, told Time.
In fact, Dr. Adam Friedman, an associate professor of dermatology at George Washington University, told Time that a “stress-related hormone called CRH … can bind to receptors in the skin’s sebaceous glands, and that binding drives up the skin’s oil production which can cause pimples.” So, if you keep breaking out and just can’t understand why, stress might be to blame, so try to relax!
If You Break Out Near The Edges Of Your Face
It might mean: Your beauty products are clogging your pores
Though it could fall into the hormonal acne category, it is likely to be irritations and clogging from hair products, skin care and makeup that contain oils and chemicals that will clog or irritate the pores.
Your dermatologist may recommend:
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Switching you haircare and skin care products.
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Look into the product ingrediants for frangrances and chemicals that may irritate
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Why You Get Acne On The Forehead
If youve ever read a beauty blog or magazine, you know about the T-zone. Dr. Kassouf says the T-shaped area across your forehead and down the nose is a prime locale for classic blackheads and whiteheads. Thats because this area tends to have more oil glands than other parts of the face.
To treat T-zone acne, try:
- Salicylic acid: Available in lots of over-the-counter products, this ingredient helps break up dead skin cells and clear out pores, Dr. Kassouf says.
- Benzoyl peroxide: Another easy-to-find ingredient in OTC acne creams, this also helps clear plugged pores. But it can interact with some other topical acne treatments, so dont mix and match without talking to a doctor.
- Retinoids: Retinoids are effective acne fighters, Dr. Kassouf says. But they tend to work better as long-term maintenance than short-term spot treatments. Topical retinoid creams and lotions are available in prescription and OTC strength.
- Different hair products: Pimples along your hairline might be caused by your mousse or your favorite dry shampoo. Hair products tend to be very waxy and can build up at the hairline and cause flare-ups, Dr. Kassouf says. If you suspect your favorite hair product is to blame, focus it on the ends of your tresses and steer clear of your scalp.
What Are Cystic Pimples Caused By
These pimples like to sit underneath the surface of skin, forming swollen bumps. They can take weeks to heal. Oily or dry skinâdoesnât matter. All skin types can suffer this type of acne. It may be connected to hormonal issues, including PMS, menopause, pre-menopause, childbirth, and breastfeeding. It may also be related to digestive issues. Consider getting more probiotics in your diet .
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Your Acne May Be A Sign You Need To Get Better Sleep
A lack of sleep is another huge cause of acne, as not getting enough rest can have a huge impact on multiple aspects of a person’s health. In fact, according to NHS.uk, “regular poor sleep puts you at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes and it shortens your life expectancy.” Additionally, there have been links between poor sleep and several health problems, including weight gain and a weakened immune system, according to Healthline.
A 2014 study published by the journal Acta Dermato-Venereologica found that there was a link between a lack of sleep and acne. “To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that fatigue upon waking is strongly associated with the presence of acne,” the study reported. Getting regular breakouts might just be your body’s way of telling you to slow down and rest.
