Acne

If you struggle with acne, you’re probably doing everything in your power to treat it, from over-the-counter spot treatments to utilizing natural methods like tea tree oil to using prescription treatments from your dermatologist. One thing that pops up again and again when trying to treat acne is the idea of an acne face map.

People believe that an acne face map can tell them what is causing their acne and what they need to do to treat it. However, this depends on what type of face map you use. It’s always important to remember that everyone is different, so what causes acne for one person may not cause it in another.

As such, if you ever want to know the true cause of your acne, it’s best to consult with a dermatologist, as they will be able to provide you with specific information related to your unique situation.

That said, here is what you need to know about the acne face map and whether or not you should trust it.

What Is The Acne Face Map?

The idea of face mapping stems from China and has been in use for over 3000 years. The idea of it is that your internal organs are connected to different parts of your face. Thus, if you have acne or dryness or redness in one part of your face, you may have a problem with one of your organs.

There isn’t the research needed in order to back this idea. However, some of it holds up to dermatological practices and what is known about acne.

Here is what the acne face map claims about the skin on your face and its connections to your organs.

Forehead. If you have forehead breakouts, this is supposedly connected to your liver and digestive system.
Nose. Acne on the nose, like blackheads, is said to be connected to your heart.
Cheeks. If you have acne on your cheeks, this points to your stomach and respiratory system.
Jawline. This is linked to reproductive or hormonal problems, and is part of this acne face map that holds up to modern research.

There is a lack of controlled studies and adequate research in order to prove that this is accurate or helpful.

In short, this type of acne face map is more of a pseudoscience than anything else.

Do Dermatologists Use The Acne Face Map?

As a way to diagnose issues within your body? Not necessarily. However, acne on certain parts of your face can give indicators to what is causing it. Science-backed acne treatment methods point to certain causes of acne you can treat on your face.

When you see a dermatologist for acne, they will be able to pinpoint the causes of your acne and how you can treat it.

An acne face map that can give you an idea of what causes your acne (but is not foolproof) is as follows:

Forehead. If you have breakouts on your forehead or hairline, this can be because of hair products clogging your pores, oil and grease from your hair, or simply touching your forehead too much.
Nose. Blackheads and whiteheads are most common here, and tend to result from excessive oil production.
Cheeks. Acne here can result from friction, such as from your pillowcase or holding your phone.
Jawline. As mentioned before, this is where the two acne face maps align. Acne on your jawline tends to coincide with hormonal changes, such as period acne.

It’s important to note that everyone is different. This is why the acne face map is not a foolproof method in order to determine the cause of your acne. If you struggle with persistent acne, it’s best to see a dermatologist.

Treating Acne Scars Ogden UT Allen Taintor Dermatology

There are indeed cases where acne is connected to another health issue. For instance, some people may find that their acne is worse when they have dairy and then when they have less of it, their skin improves. If you have acne that just doesn’t go away, you could simply be acne-prone, or this could mean that you have an underlying health issue and acne is just a symptom.

This could be where the idea of the acne face map came from in the first place, even if it isn’t a reliable source for getting to the root cause of your acne.

Do You Need Acne Treatment?

Have you been looking at acne face maps and trying to figure out what is causing your acne only to still struggle with it? Allen Taintor Dermatology is here to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and let us help you on your journey to clear skin.

Even those who normally have clear skin may find themselves faced with hormonal breakouts around the time of the month. Your period is already a trying time – you may be moody, you may be bloated, and cramps can be so painful that some women can’t go to work during their time of month. Adding period acne to the mix can feel like cruel and unusual punishment.

Period acne is fairly common, especially for those who are already acne-prone. But how does it differ from normal acne, and how can you deal with it?

How Is Period Acne Different From Normal Acne?

Normal acne can result from many different sources. Your skincare, what you eat and drink, whether or not you’re someone who touches their face a lot, your hormones… Internal and external factors alike can contribute to pesky pimples.

Period acne, however, usually results from changes in your hormones. Around your time of month, your estrogen levels decrease. This causes testosterone to become your prominent hormone. Testosterone stimulates your sebaceous glands, which can cause your skin to secrete more sebum. Sebum is your skin’s lubricant, but when there’s too much of it, it can end up clogging your pores and causing inflammation – and ergo, breakouts.

In teenagers, period acne tends to appear around their T-zone. In adults, they usually get hormonal acne around their mouth and jawline. The type of acne experienced can vary, from whiteheads to blackheads to painful cysts.

How To Deal With Period Acne

Dealing with hormonal breakouts can be a bit different than dealing with normal acne. If you regularly struggle with menstrual acne, it’s best to consult with your dermatologist. They will be able to provide you with treatment options specific to your skin and your health history.

Given that acne can result from many different sources, ranging from your diet to your stress levels and more, it’s important to understand all possibilities before declaring that your hormones are solely to blame.

That said, there are some helpful things that you can do to deal with period acne.

#1. Keep A Skin Diary

If you struggle with menstrual acne, it can be helpful to keep a diary that tracks your skin changes throughout your cycle. Many people find that their skin looks its best while they are ovulating while their acne flares up a week or so before their period begins.

After a few months, you can notice common patterns. You can adjust your skincare and diet accordingly. Your dermatologist will be able to help you with options specific to you.

#2. Don’t Pop Pimples!

Popping pimples is oh-so-tempting, we know. It can feel very satisfying to get that grossness out. However, what many people don’t know is that popping pimples can actually make your acne worse. This is because it causes the inflammation to spread under your skin and exposes your pores to new bacteria. You especially don’t want to try to pop cystic acne. Not only can this be excruciating, but it can worsen your acne problems.

If you find yourself prone to popping pimples, you may find pimple patches helpful. These help both to treat the pimples themselves, as well as to deter you from picking at them.

#3. Adjust Your Skincare Routine

You may switch to a gentler cleanser and over-the-counter acne products to alleviate active breakouts. Salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, glycolic acid, and tea tree oil can all help to remove dead skin cells and reduce inflammation.

Depending on the severity of your acne, your dermatologist may also prescribe acne treatments for you. For instance, if you have persistent acne that does not respond to over-the-counter treatment methods, your dermatologist may prescribe Accutane, retinoids, anti-androgens, and more.

If your acne is the result of hormonal imbalances, you can talk to your doctor about going on birth control. Birth control regulates your hormones, and many women have found that it has improved their acne.

#4. Limit High Glycemic Index Foods

Your glycemic index is a measure of how food spikes your blood sugar. High glycemic index foods, such as white bread, highly processed foods, and sugary drinks, can lead to increased inflammation – and ergo, worsened acne.

Around your time of the month, many people gravitate towards highly processed foods. In order to try to keep your acne in check, it’s best to limit your consumption of these foods and to steer more towards a healthier diet.

Do You Struggle With Period Acne?

Allen-Taintor Dermatology is here to help! If you don’t know what is causing your acne or it isn’t responding to treatment, we can help you determine the underlying cause and suggest appropriate treatments. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Have you ever heard that phrase: “You are what you eat”? What about: “True beauty comes from within”? The messages seem to be good, promoting healthy eating in order to be healthy and being a genuinely good person rather than performing acts to make you look good. But how relevant is what you eat to your skin? Does your diet truly impact your skin health? If you eat nothing but healthy things, is this an assurance of glass-like skin?

You might be surprised to learn the truth about diet and your skin health. Here’s what you need to know about how much of a role your diet actually plays in the health of your skin.

Can You Actually Eat Your Way To Healthy Skin?

Your diet can impact your skin health, but probably not as much as you would expect it to. People who eat well and still struggle with skin issues are very well aware of this. While some people may notice that their acne flares up when they eat chocolate, others can have all the chocolate they desire and maintain perfect skin.

Dermatologists warn against overestimating the importance of your diet in regards to your skin. It is important to strive towards a healthy diet and drinking enough water for your overall health, and certain foods can trigger skin issues depending on the individual, but treating nutrition as a cure-all for skin problems is a dangerous road to tread down.

Your diet plays a role in your skin health, of course. But it’s just one factor to consider. Your genetics, your environment, your stress levels, your skincare routine, the products you use, and more all play significant roles in whether or not you have skin problems.

One could eat terribly and enjoy perfect skin due to their genetics and environment, while someone else could diligently follow a skincare routine, be careful to eat well and drink enough water, and to monitor their stress, and yet still have skin problems. This can worsen mental health and self-esteem, as one is doing everything society tells them to in order to achieve perfect skin, but still struggles with skin problems.

Certain foods are linked to a higher potential of skin problems. People who have followed diets and noticed better skin as a result could tell you this. It is important to work with a dermatologist and doctor in order to figure out whether or not certain foods are irritating your skin or not. If so, you can certainly eat your way to healthy skin. But to minimize the risk of a dangerously restrictive diet, it’s best to work with professionals in order to do this.

Is There Such A Thing As ‘Good’ And ‘Bad’ Foods For Your Skin?

All it takes is a quick Google search or a venture into the influencer side of social media, and you’ll see people categorizing foods into ‘good’ and ‘bad’. This isn’t just when people talk about how diets can influence their skin, but a widespread, general thing.

This is quite dangerous, especially as the markers on what is ‘good’ and ‘bad’ move around a lot, depending on the diet one follows and their individual body. For instance, if you have nut allergy, you wouldn’t want to go anywhere near nuts. But for other people, nuts are an excellent source of protein and can provide some excellent skin-boosting nutrients.

While one should strive to eat well and to consume heavily processed foods in moderation, there’s no such thing as ‘good’ and ‘bad’ food in and of itself- it’s just food. The key is to have everything in moderation.

One cupcake won’t hurt you, but have a lot, and you’ll likely feel gross and sluggish and may notice acne breakouts. Moderation doesn’t just apply to foods typically thought of as ‘bad’, but also to ones categorized as ‘good’. For instance, you need to drink water in order to stay hydrated – but there is such a thing as having too much water and then needing to go to the hospital to treat potentially life-threatening hyponatremia.

So, in short: yes and no. It depends on the individual. Dairy can trigger acne breakouts in some people, but have no effect on someone else. It’s important to pay attention to your skin and what it’s telling you.

How Do You Figure Out If Your Diet Is Impacting Your Skin Health?

Now, just because the effects of foods can be quite variable does not mean that your diet can’t impact your skin health. Processed foods can increase your insulin levels, which can worsen acne. Cutting out refined carbs can improve acne, though sticking to a low glycemic index diet is safer than keto. Sugar can increase inflammation, which can increase acne. Drinking more water can improve your skin’s hydration levels.

In order to uncover whether or not your diet is playing a role in your skin issues, an elimination diet can help you find any foods that are triggering them. Keeping a food journal and keeping track of your skin can help you trace whether or not that acne cyst resulted from what you ate and whether your dry skin is just because your skin is naturally drier or whether you need more hydration.

When doing this, it’s best to work with medical professionals. Placing too much emphasis on what you eat and obsessing over food can lead to the development of an eating disorder.

If you have any concerns about your skin, it’s best to talk to a dermatologist. They will be able to tell you what you can do to improve your skin problems, as well as issue any necessary prescriptions.

Allen-Taintor Dermatology is here to help you. If you need help with any skin issues and are curious about whether or not your skin problems stem from what you eat or something else, schedule an appointment. We will work to uncover the cause of your skin problems and help you improve your skin health.

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What Is The Acne Face Map?

Do Dermatologists Use The Acne Face Map?

Do You Need Acne Treatment?

How Is Period Acne Different From Normal Acne?