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You may be able to find out how to stop breakouts by doing some detective work and face mapping.
Argh, those nasty breakouts. You scrub and you wash and you tone and you moisturize, and still they show up just when you least need them, like right before a big interview, presentation, or meeting with your new in-laws.
You know how to grin and bear it. You probably know how to cover it up. You may even know how to control your hormonal acne. If you want to say goodbye to your acne for good, however, the next time it shows up, you may want to perk your ears a bit. After all, we’ve heard that if you listen, your breakouts will tell you what you need to know to stop them from coming back.
What Does the Location of Your Acne Mean?
Look carefully at where you’re breaking out. There is a theory called “face mapping” that suggests the location of your acne could present clues about what’s causing it. Traditional Chinese medicine, for example, maintains that a weakness or toxicity in a certain organ or gland in the body can result in acne showing up in certain areas of the skin. You can use this theory to do some detective work on your breakouts.
What Causes Pimples on Your Forehead?
Pimples here are usually linked to the digestive system, and may indicate that you’re 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 using bitter herbs or digestive enzymes like bromelain and papaya before each meal to help break down foods, and make sure you’re 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.
What Causes Acne Between Your Eyebrows?
Did you have to break down and get fast food yesterday? Greasy, fatty foods may be connected to acne here.
How to Prevent Acne Between Eyebrows?
Stick with healthy choices as much as you can! Another possible cause—too much alcohol. If you find pimples here after a night out where you consumed a few drinks, that may be your issue.
Build Your Perfect Skin Care Regimen
Take QuizWhy 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 diet—cut back for a few days and see if that helps.
How Do You Get Pimples on Your Chin?
Did these show up around that time of the month? Chin pimples often come around because of changes in your hormones. In the days before your period, try to pay extra attention to your skin care.
How to Prevent Pimples on Chin?
Consider eating foods that help regulate our natural hormonal cycles. Also be sure you’re not resting your chin in your hands when bored or tired, as this can transfer oils from your fingers onto your chin, which can cause pimples.
When Did Your Breakouts Show Up?
Tracking just when your breakouts show up can also help you determine what may be causing them. Here are some tips to help:
If It’s the First Thing in the Morning
If you’re finding pimples in the morning that weren’t there the night before, there could be a couple things at work. First, you may have forgotten to wash your face before bed (always a must!). Second, you may have eaten something for dinner or dessert that didn’t digest well, causing changes in your skin. Eating too close to bedtime may also encourage the formation of pimples.
But What If It Happens in the Afternoon?
This may be caused by hormones, if you’re getting close to your menstrual cylce, or it could be that your makeup or moisturizer is to blame. If you start out with a fresh face and then by afternoon see pimples and blackheads showing up, check the ingredients in your makeup and moisturizing products. Things like mineral oil, propylene glycol, dimethicone, and others can actually create a barrier on skin that traps bacteria underneath, increasing your chances of a breakout.
How About the Late Evening One?
Did you wash your face after work? Before your exercise routine? Before cooking? Remember that all day, your skin is subjected to pollution and contaminants in the air. Makeup, as well, can sit on your skin all day long. The second you walk in the door, wash your face and put on a fresh moisturizer.
What Kind of Acne Do You Have?
Look more closely at your breakouts. Do you have just one or two inflamed pimples, or a cluster of blackheads? This information can give you more clues as to what may be going on:
What Are Blackhead Pimples and Clogged Pores?
These are those tiny black spots that like to dot your skin like pencil pricks. Your skin may be dry in the area of the breakout. This may indicate a congested liver, in which case you may want to try a short detox-diet to flush out your system. Drink extra water, and try the liver-cleansing foods listed on Renegade Health.
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 skin—doesn’t 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 (from things like yogurt and kefir).
What Causes Frequent Acne Breakouts?
This usually comes with whiteheads and blackheads, though they are usually small. The key here is “frequent”—this type of breakout comes around a lot. If this is your acne, look at your products, as it’s likely to be related to some ingredients that your skin doesn’t like.
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’re looking for more resources on various skin care issues or concerns.
Do you know what causes your breakouts? How to prevent them? Our moisturizing products might be the answer for your problem. Please share any other tips you may have with us in the comment section below.
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!
• Face Mapping: An Introduction
• Face Mapping: the Digestive System and Your Forehead
• Face Mapping: the Liver and Between the Brows
• Face Mapping: the Respiratory System and Your Cheeks
• Face Mapping: Heart, Blood Pressure and Your Nose
A
My face looks like the one above
My acne is getting worse. Feel like I’m losing my mind – absolutely nothing works. No matter what products I use, there is never any difference. I’ve tried dozens and dozens of different cleansers, moisturizers and BP products. Can anyone please recommend a product I’ve not tried? Something new?
Look for what you can clean up food wise to clean your gut bacteria. There are many helpful supplements as well, like lysine. I’ve been there, trust me.
Going plant-based has definitely helped me. I ignored this nutritional path for many years and now that I’ve removed all meat products from my diet, I’ve seen a significant improvement. Just something to research and think about….
Good luck with your journey.
My acne is getting worse. Feel like I’m losing my mind – absolutely nothing works. No matter what products I use, there is never any difference. I’ve tried dozens and dozens of different cleansers, moisturizers and BP products. Can anyone please recommend a product I’ve not tried? Something new?
Cinnamon powder with organic honey. Mix and apply for an daily for 10 days.
I struggled with acne as a teenager. It was mostly around my chin area and upper lip (aka linked to hormones). Long story short I ended up finding out after a Europe trip that it was connected to me drinking milk. I guess it was the hormones from the cow… I completely stopped drinking milk and my skin completely cleared up. Just one glass of milk will cause a nasty pimple to pop up on my face.
After that experience I believe that where your acne pops up tells you everything. I’m having a tiny breakout right now on my nose and forehead, I’m guessing its from stress according to this map.
How do you suggest transitioning from harsher products to more gentle with less often exfoliation without a bad breakout? I’m good for a couple weeks using all Ann Marie Gianni products but then usually have to add the others back in at some point because of this. But would love to be free of those.
Great post. I used to be checking constantly this weblog and I am impressed!
Extremely helpful info specially the closing phase 🙂 I care
for such info much. I was looking for this certain information for a long time.
Thank you and good luck.
Very good post. I’m dealing with a few of these issues as well..
Thank you so much for this article. I’ve never suffered acne as an adult until this week! Even as a beautician it was confusing me as to why now. Then I realized it was all hormonal after reading your article as I’ve just stopped taking my thyroid medication and the fact I’m close to pms….. talk about a double whammy lol…… I’m now following you on ig
This is a great explanation of skin issues and skin care. Thanks for the great information. I’ve found this really helpful.
Quite helpful blog…..
My siblings and I had lots of acne as teenagers with some continuing into adulthood. When my sister and I started breaking out on our scalp we got tested for allergies. We found out we were allergic to the casein in dairy. I stopped all dairy for a couple of years and now I can eat yogurt and occasionally Irish butter without breaking out. If I eat too much yogurt, though, I break out on my cheeks, chin, neck, back and scalp. Hope this helps someone.
So I’m looking for some help with my acne. Pretty much I’ve been vegetarian all my life and I’ve gone nearly vegan for my acne a couple of months ago. I’ve just gone gluten free however I still have pimples and white and blackheads. Regarding my skincare routine I’ve started using an actual soup that’s designed for acne followed by moisturizer although I haven’t seen a difference. Also I’m 14 and first started getting pimples when I was 10 or 11. Can some please give me some advice or tips.
Hi ! I would like to say that eating a lot of soy protein can make acne worse .. I’m having problems with my skin now , because I started to eat a lot of tofu, soy noodles,soy milk etc …
Please assist if you can I am 55 years old and all of a sudden started breaking out in my face. Mostly on my chin and also on my four head above my eyebrows. Normally I have great skin my skin is usually pretty smooth I’ve never had issues with at me even as a teenager. I ate a pretty good diet I don’t eat sweets I don’t eat red meat so I’m not sure what’s wrong can you help
Hi Amari!
I am sorry to hear that you are experiencing these breakouts all of a sudden. For clogged pores, we recommend taking a holistic approach. It’s important to consider your environment, genes, hormones, stress, emotional wellness, hydration, and nutrition. Skincare products can only do so much!
Start by examining what’s happening inside. Fresh leafy greens, quality probiotics, and fermented veggies are helpful for some people. Do some research about your best diet and exercise choices and value your self-care. Sugars, excess fats (even good fats), and dairy can all attribute to clogged pores. These (or an existing condition) can also create an imbalance between your hormones, gut flora, and digestive system. Perhaps you could get holistic care from a naturopathic doctor (ND) as well. A great book we love is *Skin Cleanse* by Adina Grigore. The author very clearly describes how skin works and how to approach your unique solutions.
Our Purify Line of products can be very helpful in assisting the purification & unclogging of pores, you can view those products here: https://shop.annmariegianni.com/collections/oily
Hope this helps!
xo- Michon
ASC Customer Happiness Team
In the last weeks I started to eat soya protein a lot and now I have cystic acne (2-3 spots) . My skin have been great looking since 2-3 years since I stopped drinking cow milk and reduce alcohol a lot . I think that soya protein can also be a cause to some acne problems. I have read some studies about it and I will reduce the veggie burgers and the soy pastas for a while, to see if it goes back to normal. (sorry my English is poor)
OMG this explains it all then and it’s so true! I usually break out between my eyebrows. When this happens I’m not eating enough vitamin rich foods. I’ll keep in mind to lay off the hot cheetos! lol
Hi,
I was wondering what could cause clogged pores on the cheek area? How can I reduce them?
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I am 17,i have got alot of pimples and acne all over my cheek area and also some on my forehead. I have tried almost everything but they won’t go.
Well I am breaking out in all the areas. I have to do everything now
I am doing everything wrong
The article contains plenty of information about face mapping. Such articles are a great source of enhancing knowledge and readers can easily get treatment of the problem as they are looking for.
I have fine skin with a little pimples here and there, but then all of a sudden I got all these pimples around my chin and jawline and sideburns….. it really makes me sad looking at myself. I tried staying away from chips and I don’t drink soda, I started using Apple cider vinegar, it’s working but it’s taking forever and I need a remedie now.. what can I do??? Please help 🙁
I have very nice skin at 52 years old and am thankful, however there are a few things I’d like to fix: a small broken blood vessel now resides on the right outer part of my nose ( how do you get rid of this?), A medium sized age/sun spot on the left side of my face near the top of my cheekbone, lastly, I have three very small brown spots on the bag under the eye. I’d really like to know how to get rid of these small nuances.
Fondly,
Danielle B.
You’ll need PRP treatment and Laser Resurfacing to fix those. They can’t be fixed with any creams.
I’ve lots of big pimples in my neck. Can u advise my something 🙁
Thank you for this. I was wondering if my new home environment was the cause of my recent surge of breakouts that only seem to be playing tag as some disappear and more appear. Gonna try investing in an air purifier and hopefully that will help.
I’m 29 and I never had any facial issues before. Even if I have pimples, it is usually 1 or 2 and it disappears few days later. Now it is almost all over my face especially on my forehead, nose and cheeks. It is so itchy and cause redness. Sometimes my back of my neck would have 1 pimple and itchy on my scalp.
What is happening? and how do I remove it?
This post is great, explanatory, interesting and super helpful. Bookmarked it already. Welldone!
Laitanbee Blog
Hi Marie,
I am 46 and 8 months ago I started using natural hair care products to improve my hair condition. I opened up a rabbit hole…I also started making all my own organic oil infusions for my skin. My skin detoxed itself to the point where I even had to stop using my makeup. Even my gel eyeliner started burning my eyes. I now use only a mineral powder and mineral eye shadow. I clean my skin with hibiscus and non alcohol witch hazel. Now I am starting to get spots around my jaw line. They are small little bumps not even full pimples. They appear during the day and itch. I dont menstruate anymore. Do you think this could be another symptom of detox to the mineral powder? I am using Physicians Choice, best one could get at the time as I am based in South Africa. Thank you in advance.
Hi Larga,
Congratulations on your decision to work with products made with all natural ingredients.
We would suggest talking to a holistic practitioner about what your menstruation and what could be going on.
wow there are a lot of things that I dont understand about my skin! good thing my Solvaderm is doing amazing job of keeping the unknown at bay. Even acnes has a meaning now. the wonders of our medical science is outstanding!
hey!
im 15 years old and i have fairly clear skin, i wash my face daily and dry to maintain a healthy diet. but i get hormonal breakouts sometimes. oneday my skin will look great and the next i have 4 pimples. it drives me crazy because im ocd when it comes to acne. if i have clear skin i get mad when i get a pimple and i start to stress it which causes more. if there is any tips you have for me, to get rid of pimples that’d be great! thank you so much:))
Hi Madison!
It sounds like your clogged pores are coming around your cycle. Here’s an article for you to check out, hopefully it’ll give you a bit of insight into what is going on!
https://www.annmariegianni.com/causes-of-acne-hormonal-acne/
For these reactions that are coming from internal issues, we always suggest seeking a holistic practitioner to offer more guidance about what you can do 🙂
I would like to know how I can decrease the size of my pores.Especially around my mouth
Hi Deborah,
It’s not possible to decrease pore size, but you can certainly tone and tighten them! Depending on what you’re experiencing with your skin, a Serum could be really helpful for you along with a Facial oil like the Herbal Facial Oil for Oily skin and the Rosemary Toning Mist!
Very helpful, re forehead , cystic acne seems to fit., early a.m.
Thank you.
Hi,
I’m 23 years old guy and I have tried various skin care, but my skin keep on developing dark and white pimples, and I always feel some pain in my liver and when I drink the pain go away. What should I do?
I have cystic acne that does not seem to correlate with anything. I cannot find a pattern. My skin is so oily that it genuinely feels like wax. I have to wash it two or three times at once to cut the grease. soap and face wash wont even lather the first washing. I am a slave to showering at night (no simple face washing before bed) because if I don’t then it gets even worse. But then when I wake up in the morning the front of my hair is already greasy like oil was poured in it and my face feels like wax and it makes my day miserable feeling so dirty so early already. I honestly need two showers a day because of my face and hair but there is no time for that and it would dry out the rest of me. doctors don’t seem to care or know what to do. I was once very pretty but then I got pitted acne scarring because of this condition. I don’t even socialize because to me I’m so gross to look at and I can always feel theses painful lumps on my face even without touching them.
Hi Sara,
Our customer support staff wrote to you at the email address provided to chat about what you’re experiencing and the best routine for you.
Hi Sarah,
I’m just wondering if you are drinking enough pure water for your body. The best results I get with clients is when I can get them to drink small amounts of water consistently through the day.
The amount suggested is 33ml per kg of weight. (I’m in Australia and we do metric here.)
So if you weigh 60 kg the amount to drink is about 2 litres. No more and no less of pure water. At the rate of 60 to 70 ml every half hour through the day.
Drinking this way helps rehydrate the body and clear toxic overload.
All the best……David
I frequently have bumps on the sides of my cheeks….noticing facial hair…peach fuzz-like . is this hormonal or diet…plus when I use hairspray I notice my forehead gets bumps…help
Hi Kat,
The bumps you’re seeing could from a lot of different things. It sounds like it could be from your hair products, especially if you’re using skin care made with organic ingredients and synthetic hair products like the hairspray. Your skin could be reacting to one of the chemical in it. Try switching out the hairspray – Brigitte Mars has a great book called Beauty by Nature, you should check that out!
I had acne right up until I was 30 years old and then I realized my acne was caused by 2 reasons:
(1) Spicy foods – they caused me to break out. Spicy food creates inflammation in the gut—from an upset stomach and this inflammation can also be seen on the skin with acne.
(2) Using the wrong products. I was using really harsh acne products, but my skin is sensitive! I tried all of them, and the best products for my sensitive skin were Citrus Clear’s Sensitive Wash. Its strong enough to take the old off my face, but doesnt strip it. It also have that Vitamin A Retinol thing, which is great for clearing oil.
Try both of them !
I used to not believe in face mappings of breakouts. But recently, I’ve come to believe in it. I get pimples on my chin once in a while — almost always at the same area.
That time of the month? But I’m a man.
So my question is, more likely it’s due to in/decrease of estrogen/testosterones level. I just don’t know which and which.
Any ideas?
Hello, i have acne on my forehead, beside my nose (both left and right sides), my chin and the one that never goes on my nose. wen ever i use soke products , the others go but my nose still has acne, nd they are really small in size, but never leave. please wat do i do?
Thank you
I have been fighting with my acnes around 5 years. I have found that some European and Asian skin care brands are very friendly then American brands. Don’t know why! I have blackheads, whiteheads, purs, Cystic Acne, sometimes in the morning or evening. I couldn’t find information about jaw line acne. Which I developed recently and very read not so painful though. Before my cycle and after my cycle I also have breakouts.
I found green tea amazing and definitely cut some sugar and coffee.
Help. I have never had any issues with my skin. I am almost 45 years old now and for the last few months I have been dealing with cheek acne and lots of bumps/acne on my chin with redness. Sometimes my cheeks feel so dry. I use oil olay sensitive skin wash and ponds face cream but it’s not helping and it seems to be getting worse. Could it be hormones???? What can I use to clear my skin and stop the redness?
I have also been dealing with scalp issues. Itching and odor if I don’t wash my hair on a daily basis. Could they be related?
Hi Michelle,
What you’re experiencing could most definitely be caused by a change in your hormones. Because it sounds like you’re experiencing this issue in several places (and they’re closely related to your internal mucosal linings) I would suggest chatting with a holistic practitioner.
For skin care, I would suggest working with a line that doesn’t use synthetic ingredients or alcohols. Our Aloe-Herb cleanser, Anti-Aging Serum, and Unscented Facial Oil could be a helpful daily routine for you 🙂
Hi Michelle, I would check the igredients on the products you’re using. As soon As I hit 20, I had skin issues and it lasted for 9 years. I finally realized that my skin care and makeup was the cause. There are very few chemicals that are regulated by the FDA, and it’s amazing that a lot of toxic ingredients are in products that claim to be good for you. Skin Deep is a great website to see the toxicity level of different products. I would switch to products that don’t have harmful chemicals. I started using natural face oils and it has cleared up my face long term. I still get an occasional breakout, but it’s rare.
So I have had acne since I was a teenager and I’ve been on tons of creams, gels, lotions, face washes, and even Accutane. I was doing okay, not perfect, but okay with break outs then all of a sudden I started breaking out everyday for 3 months now. Mostly on my jaw and my cheeks and now on my forehead. I understand I need to drink water but nothing in my routine has changed. I don’t use my phone to talk (haha) and I frequently change my pillowcase. I have very sensitive skin and pretty bad allergies that I get injections to help for years now. I cannot figure out the reason for the sudden increase in breakouts. I need help or suggestions!
Hi Catie,
We’re not sure what could be going on. If you’re getting clogged pores consistently, we would suspect some sort allergy. It could be to food, skin care products, or even the detergent that you use to wash your sheets. I would suggest working with a holisitic practitioner to see if you can identify what may be causing your skin issues so that you can work with them in a way that will help take care of the cause.
i was very lucky when I was young and didn’t have much problems with acne. If I ate a bar of chocolate I always ended up with pimples the next day. I also got some pimples along with my periods but it was only for a few years when I was a teenager.
Now I’m 52 and I’ve been having problems with redness on my face for a few years. I finally asked my family doctor and she told me I have Rosacea. “Rosacea is a common vascular condition that is believed to be caused by inflammation”. I use an antibiotic cream called Metrogel on my face once a day. It has made my redness better but now I get acne instead! I get these cystic pimples that are really sore and stay for weeks. I do eat a lot of Greek yoghurt.
I’ve had dry skin for many years so I wash my face with just water twice a day. I don’t use any make up. I have been using grape seed oil as a moisturizer for my face for a couple of years. It was working fine before.
I need something to put on these evil things! If it wasn’t for my sensitive skin I would have got some acne cleaner at the store but that would be far too. strong.
When my daughter was younger she had problems with acne and what helped her was African black soap (Dudu Osun) and Jojoba oil. She had a friend in school who’s face was covered in acne and we gave him some soap and Jojoba oil. After a few weeks his acne was gone! He looked like a new person. I don’t know what is in the soap but it helped! My daughter still uses it now and then.
Any idea what could help me?
Hi Lena,
Clogged pores are very complicated and can be caused by a lot of different things because it’s a sign that the body is pushing out internal toxins. Here’s some information about clogged pores. This article is actually the conclusion to our 4 part series, but the other links are in the article if you’re interested!
https://www.annmariegianni.com/understanding-the-causes-of-acne-what-weve-learned/
Hi, clearly it sounds like your skin has changed and you can no longer just wash your face with water and put oil on it. While u don’t want to dry out your skin too much, it needs to be properly exfoliated! What I use is a cleanser that is oil free with sallacilic acid. I also use a cream with salasilic acid called LA Roche posy Effeclar Duo! I stopped using it cause my skin was so good and then I got acne again. There r ways to treat acne topically and once u find something u will need to keep doing that routine. If what you’re doing no longer works then change it. Eliminate ice cream and milk!
What can you do about hormonal acne? Do you need to get a blood test to see what is wrong with your hormones? If it happens monthly and nothing is wrong with your cycle, then what is the culprit? Thanks.
Hi Karen,
Here’s an article that might be helpful for you: https://www.annmariegianni.com/causes-of-acne-hormonal-acne/
Hi! I found this article very informative. I just got a cystic pimple on my chin. I have not received my period yet. Do you think that’s what it could mean.
Hi Paige,
It certainly could mean that your body is working with hormones, it could also be a reaction to stress or diet. Watch for patterns with your stress levels, your monthly cycle (when it comes), and your diet to narrow it down a little further 🙂
Hi,
I’m 17 years old and I have dark skin.and I have been suffering from acne for a long time. I have almost all types of acne,mostly cystic and bumps,and they are all over my body. The most annoying parts are in between my eyebrows,forehead,around my mouth,chin,all over my back,nose,even EARS! Basically my face is completely spoilt and miserable…when the pimples die they leave this dark patches all over my face which caused major discoloration on my face. I even stopped wearing makeup and going out because it makes it worse! Right now I’ve giving up but I was wondering if there are natural remedies I could use.
Hi Amal,
I’m sorry to hear that you’re experiencing such skin! Oily skin is very complex and can be caused by many different things including hormones, diet, and stress. Since I’m not seeing your skin and I’m not sure what you’re experiencing, I would suggest reading this article series about clogged pores and trying to find your internal and external triggers: https://www.annmariegianni.com/understanding-the-causes-of-acne-what-weve-learned/
For the uneven skin tone that you’re experiencing, the Citrus Stem Cell Serum can definitely be helpful, but your skin is very young so mostly likely you’ll be able to help that over time if you focus on feeding your skin with products that enhance its health!
I’ve been doing oil washing for a while now, and I came across it while researching a problem similar to what you’re describing. Google it, but basically you’re washing your face with healthy oil(s) and rinsing with a hot, steamy cloth. Simple but very effective.
How about body backache..im having hard time due with it..it comes and goes..i seen a few doctors but after awhile its comes back again
Hi Wendy,
Are you having a backache or clogged pores on your back? If you’re mentioning clogged pores on your body here, I would suggest working with herbs that safely increase liver function like dandelion root, lemon balm, and fo ti. Most of the time when clogged pores are appearing on your body it’s because of an internal toxin that is not able to be broken down by the liver and being pushed out through the skin.
You didn’t mention the neck. I’ve often found that in adults, acne on the neck is almost always cystic and almost always hormone imbalance related.
I would wager that if you had neck acne and managed to reduce it with natural/hormone focused remedies, you’d also limit or stop acne in other places as well.
You should edit the article to discuss what you feel is the source of acne on the neck.
This is a really interesting article. I. Am still wondering whether mine is from being 22 weeks pregnant or because i am just getting over being sick with acute bronchitis and was fighting a fever for a week with barely an energy to shower or clean my face. Now i have acne all over my fave and slightly on my back and chest. Could it just be from clogged pores during that past week or a combo of pregnancy? Anyone else have an opinion? Bo clue what is safe to use while being pregnant
Ever since I started eating mostly paleo, I have not had a single pimple break-out. It’s been four months without! AND I got off birth control in the middle of this. So I beg to differ on the meat bit 🙂
I have broken out in the past month of Blackheads all over including, ears, lips, face, neck, back. & hands!! I never had this before & I am in my 70s, what could cause this?
Hi Carol,
I’m sorry to hear about your clogged pores! This could be caused by several different things, here’s an article about blackheads for you. Hopefully it can offer you some information: https://www.annmariegianni.com/how-to-get-rid-of-blackheads/
I’m 18 and normally used to get the occasional spot now and again but in the past month I have suddenly got really bad acne on my lower cheeks/either side of my mouth. I have looked at face maps and tried using products made with natural ingredients for my face but nothing seems to be working and its making me really self conscious. Is there anything that I could use, cut out or could be the cause of this acne. Please Help
Hi!
Oily Skin is very complicated and can be caused by a lot of different things because it’s a sign that the body is pushing out internal toxins. Here’s some information about clogged pores. This article is actually the conclusion to our 4 part series, but the other links are in the article if you’re interested!
https://www.annmariegianni.com/understanding-the-causes-of-acne-what-weve-learned/
I am 19, and suffered by worst acne last year which continued for 8 months or so. I have tried everything natural treatment and chemical peels, but it didnt help. Breakouts were continous and I was fed up. Later on I realised diet is much related to acne and then I started to examine my diet. Believe me it is a patient job. My fruit intake was almost no. I started taking an apple a day and orange juice or papaya so.etimes daily. Also I started a cup of green tea and ground flax seeds daily and whoa! My forehead cleared. I also cut down red meat and chicken from the diet because they caused breakouts two days after eating. I continued face wash twice a day and sun cream once daily. Now my whole face is cleear and i am so much happy.
Thank you so much for sharing!
Diet and stress are my acne triggers.
Stress and I’m looking for sugary foods and chocolate, resulting in a breakout every time (slow learner haha ).
I read recently that acne is caused by a leaky gut….heal your gut, heal your acne and most other diseases as health begins in the gut! I’ve been suffering with adult acne ever since I was a teenager some 35 years ago and have tried everything. After started taking probiotics mostly apple cider vinegar, I have finally after all these years began healing! I also eat raw kimchi and drink kombucha and supplement at times with probiotics but just the apple cider vinegar seemed to do the trick as well…two tablespoons at night mixed with water and two tablespoons in the morning….sometimes with meals too if eating carbs. Dr Axe says that bone broth is the best healer of a leaky gut so going to try to add some of that too soon. I haven’t cleaned up my diet totally but know staying away from anything that raises your blood sugar levels is important too and I’m sure once I make that change it will be even better!
The teenage acne I had to deal finally subsided by the time I was about 21 or 22, thank. God. Lol During that time though I discovered that a lot of my breakouts happened after I experienced feelings of anger. Sounds weird, I know, but it was true! I’m not an angry person, but those feelings of frustration were the same thing. No doubt hormone related but I can definitely tell to this day if I don’t keep those emotions in check I’ll find evidence the next day. Anyway, maybe my experience will help someone else!
Anger affects the liver (anger can also be an accumulation over time of built up sense of injustice, resentment, etc.) When the liver is stressed it cannot deal with toxins as well as usual – so toxins are expelled through the skin.
Does yoghurt help with acne?
Hello,
I have been having an issue around my nostrils for a couple months now. The skin looks red and raw no matter what I do. I put on makeup to cover during the day, which ends up making it start flaking by the end of the day, so I try to limit the time I spend wearing it. I have tried different things to give it moisture and to calm the skin- Dermalogica’s Active Moist moisturizer, coconut oil, Dermalogica’s UltraCalming line which contains lavender and other calming ingredients, botanical mixers, etc. But nothing seems to do the trick. I am actually an esthetician, so this issue bothers me even more, and I hate not knowing what’s going on with my body. I just remembered this morning about facial reflexology, so I consulted the reflexology facial map. According to it, it may have something to do with my heart or spleen?
If y’all have ANY advice, I am so ready to hear it. I’m sort of at a loss right now. I really want answers and a solution!
I’m 17 and these past years I’ve been having breakouts. It was totally fine before but it suddenly happened and it keeps getting worse. I suspect its hormonal changes. I have dry skin and there are a lot of bumps around an area,leaving my skin red. I’ve been seeking help and have tried different products, including natural ones(I used them for a period of time,I didn’t keep switching products) I’ve tried masks,going for facial sessions and home remedies but those didn’t work. I’ve also went to consult a doctor and was prescribed a couple of products made with natural ingredients as well as skin peeling sessions. There was only slight improvement and I’ve stopped going since then. Now acne only appears between my brows and on my cheeks. What else do you suggest I do?
Hi Wis! You skin sounds like it’s sensitive, so I would recommend “less is more” for you. Perhaps avoiding frequent peels or facials, and opting instead for a simple cleansing and moisturizing routine. If I was going to recommend some of our products, I would say the Citrus Mint Cleanser (https://shop.annmariegianni.com/products/citrus-mint-facial-cleanser-50ml) to gently remove dirt and excess oil without drying out your skin, plus the Anti-Aging Serum (https://shop.annmariegianni.com/products/anti-aging-serum-15ml), which is actually great for people with dry skin because it soothes and gently moisturizes, without clogging the pores.
Clogged pores on the cheeks can come from pollution, smoking, or even something simple like holding a phone to your face often. Make sure you clean your phone off with alcohol and wash your pillow cases often. Also, remember that a skin care routine takes a while to have an effect, so find some good products made with natural ingredients and stick with them for at least a month, unless you have a bad reaction to them.
Thanks for commenting!
I find this article incredibly informative & timely. My teen son has horrific acne on his scalp, shoulders and back.. It became so uncontrollable he was put on a course of Acutane. Diet was NEVER discussed by his dermatologist, even after I asked his opinion on it’s impact on my son’s skin. 1 year later, his acne is back, as if he had never been on the medicine. What do you believe acne in the areas he suffers from indicates?
Hi Mel,
The areas you are describing sound like they may have something to do with his hair products. He might be using a shampoo, conditioner, or hair gel that is causing a skin reaction. Does he play sports? Wearing a helmet/sweaty clothing could be causing oily build up that is clogging his pores.
I hope one of these ideas helps!
I can’t help but chime in. A product called Nature’s Cure changed my life when I was a teen with acne! My mom was able to get it at Walmart for less than $10 for a month’s supply. Not sure how much it costs now. There is a little pill to dissolve in the mouth that tastes a bit sweet, and a cream stuff to rub on the affected area after washing. I got results in 3 days time.
GET OFF DAIRY! It’s unbelievable how bad conventional medicine still is, but I went through this 40 years ago. Cow’s milk, both the fat and the milk protein itself, strongly affect acne in many people. Eliminate dairy entirely and see if it helps.
NO JUNK FOOD! No highly refined flours of any kind (read the ingredients on those “snack chip” things the kids eat). Go to whole grains only and try eliminating wheat entirely. Rice flour products are OK.
Watch out for fast food, fried food, all greasy stuff. NO French fries.
So what’s left to eat? Snack on fresh fruit, Clif bars are pretty good compared to the alternative products. Making fruit smoothies with bananas, almond millk, and vegan protein powders (don’t oveload with soy either) works. Soy tempeh is the only soy product I eat, though sometimes I put a teaspoon of it in my smoothie.
The diet programs by Dr. Mark Hyman and Joel Fuhrman are pretty good, though their latest versions are a bit fatty for me. (I even react to avocado, which is actually good for most people). The best health cookbook ever written, “The Art of Dieting without Dieting” by Kathy Hoshijo is out of print but the copycat redesign (same content but they wrecked the format) is called “Kathy Cooks Naturally” can be bought off the web for a few bucks.
For topical treatment the best deal available is at CVS it’s a knockoff of Proactiv but works just as well for less than half the price. Your MD can also prescribe the topical version of Retin-A which works without the side effects of Accutane but you can’t go out in the sun with it.
Do these things and you’ll improve massively.
–From someone who’s been there.
whoops missed an edit–it’s SOY YOGURT I use in my smoothie. You’ve absolutely got to cook tempeh before you eat it!
I agree that dairy is the biggest food culprit when it comes to acne. I have heard of soy causing acne for some people- it’s not nearly as common though. Trying to eliminate food allergies and chemicals in shampoos and soaps would be a good idea. What about food allergy testing ( maybe from 23 and me).
I’d love to know what cystic acne around the mouth and lips means. It’s the only kind I get!
PS2.
Also google leaky gut.
MV
PS.
I forgot! Warts and moles are usually the result of a nutritional deficiency.
Also I recommend you to google adrenal fatigue if you haven’t read about it.
MV
My breakouts are on the neck and temples and I have a lot of large pores filled with sebum and blackheads. I have eaten all natural foods for many years and already do all the things you suggest trying. I think I have hormonal acne which was previously controlled with ProActiv. I stopped using it 2 months ago and my face is in pretty bad shape now. I have also noticed an increase in facial warts. I love your products, but I’m not seeing any happy results yet.
Almut,
I hope I can help you!
I have experienced disturbing hormonal acne and sebum overproduction (greasy skin) over the last years and therefore read, searched, informed myself, and tried a lot of products and home remedies. I have found my “cure” – a mix of different things, and I hope one, some or all of theese methds will help you too.
1.
Do some testing with food (for me staying away from all products below have changed my life for the better, both outside and inside :)):
Try cutting back as much as you can from sugar one to two weeks. See if it helps.
Try cutting down on milk products (especially milk, butter, cheese). See if it helps.
Try cutting back as much as you can from gluten a few weeks. See if it helps.
(I am sugar addict, so to be able to stay away from it I handle my cravings by eating grated coconut, berries and nuts instead)
2.
Try apple cider vinegar (preferable eco/organic) as a face water twice daily. Apple cider vinegar is quite strong so you should mix it with water. You have to try out for yourself how much apple cider and water to use. Read how I do further down.
Also start adding some apple cider vinegar to your drinking water.
If nothing of the above helps, I would also I do oil pulling with eco/organic sesame oil (google how to do oilpulling for instructions). It is about cleansing the mouth, teeth and toth sockets – which has many health benefits: treating acne, good mouth hygiene, among others.
My apple cider vinegar routine:
In the morning or evening, or both. I dip a cotton pad in a mix of 1/3-1/4 apple cider vinegar and 2/3-3/4 water and then soak my face (not the eye area) with the liquid.
Both morning and evening. After cleansing (and perhaps the above procedure), when my skin has dried, I take a cotton ear swab and dip into pure apple cider vinegar and press the liquid on any break outs in sight.
This procedure helps my skin to look mostly flawless nowadays, except one or to spots once in a while. Those spots that I have, the vinegar heal much faster than before and prevent to further develop.
The vinegar has good antibacterial properties aswell as it is pH balancing, detoxcating and balances the sebum production.
PS. Apple cider vinegar is also exellent for hair problems – sebum (grease), dryness and itchyness. Just pour (3 dl or so) half water, half vinegar onto your scalp the last thing you do after cleansing your hair. I usually leave it in for one minute and then just rinse the hair with a little (cold) water.
3.
If ProActiv has helped you before I am wondering if probiotica perhaps could help you. Innate and Thorne are clean, good brans (also my functional/nutritional doctor (she is really a good one) recommend Great Earth, Lifestyle Organics, Alpha Plus, Holistic, Metagenics, AllVia, Solaray and Nutri-Meds are reliable brands my functional/nutritional doctor recommend as clean and pure) .
4. If nothing of the above helps. I would start looking for a good natural/functional/nutricional doctor (google your area the words above). You might have some imbalances in your body, organ that needs to be helped, vitamin deficiencies, life issues (for example stress that needs to be addressed).
Wishing you all the best!
Marie
Marie
After you do the acv water mixture and swab your face, do you rinse? Or just allow to dry? Also, do you moisturize afterwards? If so, what moisturizer? Thank you!