Almost everyone gets a pimple or two here and there. We blame hormones and hide pimples with concealer. But have you ever thought about why pimples appear on the same spot every time and no cream or cleanser can help to get rid of them? Eastern medicine suggests that problems with the skin is a reflection of inner well-being.
Depending on the place where you usually get pimples, it is possible to determine what health problems you might have. Of course it’s not a diagnosis, but it might be worth paying attention to.
Upper and Lower Forehead
Most forehead pimples and acne on temples may be bacterial and may indicate that we are eating an unhealthy diet, not getting enough sleep, or have poor hygiene. Some pimple face maps show a correlation between the forehead and liver functioning, but because there is no scientific proof to actually connect this part of the T-zone it has not been added to the face map. Our behaviors, specifically how people are prone to touching their T-zone as shown in one study (1), are a more likely cause of this acne.
How can we prevent forehead acne?
- Drink plenty of water to detox our body and keep toxins and waste from building up.
- Reduce our soda, sugar, and high-glycemic carbohydrate intake.
- Take a shower right after a workout.
- Wash hair, hats, bandanas, headbands, and any type of head gear.
Between the Eyebrows
This area can indicate that we are drinking too much alcohol, eating a diet too high in transfat, or that we have a food allergy.
Many people experience acne in this spot of their face due to certain foods they eat. Some doctors will argue that diet has little effect on acne, but there are studies showing there is a correlation between acne and diet.
Some trans fats for example have negative effects which reduce the amounts of essential fats in our body which hurts our overall health showing up on our skin.
An example showing a correlation between the liver and this region of the body is that a side effect of liver problems is shown through a yellowing of the eyes called “jaundice.”
Between the eyes is also part of your T-Zone which is the center of your face including your forehead, nose, and chin; these spots usually tend to be oiler than other parts of the face. As with forehead acne, between our eyebrows is an area that is prone to lifestyle decisions when we do not clean our skin properly or have sweaty hair in our face.
Under and Around the Eyes
Small bumps that look like pimples are common around the eyes including which occur from clogged pores, high levels of fat in the bloodstream, and excess growth of sweat glands.
Lupus patients with diminished kidney function for example are more likely to have these acne like formations called milia under their eyes.
Milia are often mistaken for acne from their similar appearance; they differ in that they have a small white appearance that cannot be popped like a zit can.
If you have dark circles under your eyes this could indicate that you are dehydrated. Ways to avoid dehydration include avoiding diuretics which flush water out of our system, drinking too much water which lowers sodium levels, and being sure to drink enough water in general.
Nose
The nose is possibly associated with issues concerning the heart, specifically high blood pressure. Evidence of this possibly being true is shown in one study that showed a correlation between nose bleeds and heart attacks.
These vitamins help reduce levels of homocysteine which is a type of an amino acid in our blood.
Folate from natural food sources like spinach, broccoli, and cauliflower are also excellent to consume for heart health as well for skin health as these foods help fight acne by eliminating toxins from our body.
The nose can get extremely oily and is prone to breakouts. Many of us also have a habit of touching our nose with our hands which can spread oil and bacteria which can clog our pores.
Ears
Our ears also share a connection to our kidneys which is shown in a type of ringing in the ears named Tinnitus which is caused by weakened kidneys. Long term high blood pressure is a common cause of kidney dysfunction; high blood pressure negatively effects kidney functioning as it weakens the kidney’s filtering mechanism.
The ears can also indicate that we are not drinking enough water. Dehydration can be caused by a diuretic such as prescription and OTC drugs such as coffee, alcohol, and water pills. A lack of hydration has other side effects within the body other than effects on our skin including raised blood pressure, fatigue, high cholesterol, digestive disorders, and allergies.
Cheeks
If you are a smoker you may develop acne as smoking can deprive oxygen to the skin. This is not the case for all smokers, but studies have shown that smoking may cause acne.
The cheeks can also be affected by acne rosacea which is caused by dilated blood vessels in the skin giving a red and flushed appearance. Smoking, spicy foods, and extreme weather can make rosacea worse. Rosacea can also be characterized by tiny dots that look like pimples on the cheeks that won’t go away. Unfortunately rosacea does not go away, but there are natural and prescription ways to suppress it.
Our cheeks are also affected by acne as this is the spot where make-up, oily creams, and cosmetics are applied. Many cases of cheek acne are caused by not removing make-up or not changing our pillowcases which harbor germs and bacteria which are a few ways how to get rid of acne on cheeks.
Sides of Chin
Acne on the side of the chin indicate a hormonal imbalance in our body.
These hormonal changes can be caused by puberty, menstrual cycles, menopause, and sometimes PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). Drugs that cause hormonal imbalance include hormonally involved drugs such as birth control for women and testosterone injections for men.
Hormone fluctuations can also be caused by diet (specifically sugar and high-glycemic carbohydrate intake) as well as a lack of sleep and stress. This leads to an increase in oil (sebum) production from our skin which can lead to these infections of the hair follicle below our skin.
If you want to know how to get rid of chin acne, some easy ways to start are by decreasing your carbohydrate and sugar intake, practicing good hygiene, and getting plenty of sleep.
Bottom of Chin
Pimples on the jawline and bottom of our chin can indicate that we are experiencing issues with our digestive system like constant gas, bloating, and irregular bowel movements (sounds gross but it happens.
To reduce these symptoms for chin acne treatment it is helpful to take a fiber supplement after meals either in capsule or powder form to improve digestion. Fiber can also aid in weight loss as it helps stabilize our blood sugar levels as well as keeping us full after our meals so we do not over-eat.