Do pimples always appear on the same areas of your face or keep coming back no matter what you do? If different skincare products aren’t working for you, there might actually be underlying causes behind your pesky pimples.
Hormones, poor diet, or the stress you’re constantly under are just some of the factors that contribute to acne breakouts. This means that if you change some of your lifestyle habits on top of maintaining a good skincare regimen, you might just be able to do away with those regular pimples.
To help you get to the root of your acne problems, we break down what pimples on different parts of your face mean, so you’ll know how to deal with them!
Pimples on the forehead
Diet
The pimples on the forehead can be a tell-tale sign that your digestive system is struggling to get rid of excess waste products, which might be saying something about your diet. It’s no wonder that London-based health and well-being expert, John Tsagaris, recommends staying away from junk food and soft drinks that are high in sugar if you’re always suffering from zits on your forehead.
Headwear
If you’re a chronic hat-wearer, the friction of the fabric could be to blame. It may also trap sweat and sebum at your forehead, which provides the perfect breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria.
The same goes for those who sport any kind of bangs hairstyle. Since hair produces oil naturally, the oils can combine with the sebum on your face, clogging your pores and causing acne.
Instead, keep your forehead bare by getting rid of your hats or clipping your fringe to the side. With cleaner skin around your forehead area, you might just be able to bid goodbye to the pimples there.
Haircare products
When haircare products are the cause, the pimples usually appear as whiteheads or small flesh-coloured bumps that are called “papules”. That’s because excessively heavy products like conditioners or treatments can clog the pores around your hairline.
Besides switching your heavy haircare products for ones that are oil-free, non-comedogenic, and non-acnegenic, you should also wash the possible residue off your pillowcases, sheets, or headbands – anything that your conditioned hair might have touched or comes regularly into contact with.
Pimples at the temples
Hydration
Two words: Drink up!
Pimples on the temples may be a marker of dehydration, as not enough drinking enough can cause the oil glands at your temples to go into overdrive – to compensate for the lack of moisture on your skin. The overproduction of oil will then lead to clogged pores and cause pimples.
Haircare products
Look out for other possible signs to determine what could be causing the pimples on your temples – dehydration isn’t the sole factor that leads to acne around the temples. If the pimples cluster around the temples but also along the hairline, then haircare products are a likely cause.
Try to recall if you’ve recently changed any haircare products at the onset of the breakout. If you have, then swap the haircare product for something that’s – again – oil-free.
Pillowcases
Should the pimples at your temples be accompanied by others at your cheeks, then the problem might be a dirty pillowcase. Pillowcases have to be changed regularly – every seven to 10 days – and more frequently if you introduce moisture to your pillow. That means, if you sleep with wet hair or often sweat when you sleep.
If you’re a side-sleeper and haven’t had a fresh pillowcase in some time, then you know what you should do!
Pimples on the nose
We’ve all been there: sporting a big pimple akin to Rudolf’s red nose.
The nose is one of the most common spots to develop acne because pores in this area tend to be larger in size. Unfortunately, this means that they clog more easily and develop into nightmarish, unsightly bumps.
Hormones
For teens, pimples here are most often associated with hormonal surges that happen during puberty.
Hormones can cause the skin to produce too much oils, especially in the T-zone where most oil-producing glands are located. Since the nose is part of the T-zone, it’s an area that’s often affected by hormonal acne.
Cosmetics
For adults, nose pimples could be due to bad cosmetics.
Check the expiry date of your go-to beauty products to make sure you aren’t putting expired ingredients on your skin and irritating it. Irritated skin is more susceptible to bacterial infections, which then leads to recurring pimples that just aren’t welcome.
Pimples on cheeks
Respiratory system
When it comes to pimples that are always appearing on your cheeks, then it could be that your respiratory system is under stress due to factors like poor air quality, lack of exercise, and smoking.
What can you do? If you have allergies, then clean your space regularly and invest in a quality air filter for your home or office. Or, if you’re not getting enough exercise, head out to a park or lush nature reserve in Singapore to get a breath of fresh air.
Phone screen or makeup brushes
Acne to your cheeks may also be prevented by cleaning your phone screens and makeup brushes often.
Used daily, these items can easily accumulate bacteria or other irritants that can prove to be a huge problem for the skin at your cheeks. Time to start sanitising!
Pimples on chin
Hormones
Pimples on your chin could be an indication of hormonal changes. Whether puberty, contraceptives, or because it’s that time of the month, the change to hormone levels in your body tend to cause acne flare-ups at this area of your face.
There are a few solutions to hormonal acne on the chin. One thing you can do is to exfoliate regularly so as to remove dead cells that can clog your pores and trap the excess oils that are already on your skin.
Since it’s often instinctive to rest your chin in your hands as you’re getting work done or waiting for your food to come, you should also remind yourself to keep your hands away from your face. Dirt from your hands can combine with the oils on your face to aggravate acne.
Altogether, you want to keep your face clean to prevent the buildup of acne-causing bacteria.
Overall
It’s important to persist at these lifestyle changes for a substantial amount of time, like at least three weeks, to find out whether they’re working for you. If the pimples on your face start to go away, then you’ll know that these changes are helping.
Besides making a shift to your lifestyle, you can also try acne facials in Singapore that are designed to eliminate acne-causing bacteria, clear clogged pores, and reduce the production of oils on your skin. These facials can work to soothe your inflamed skin – but also to combat future acne too.
Related read: 7 best acne facials in Singapore that will save your skin during your worst breakouts
