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For those who don’t know, acne is a common skin condition that involves inflammation of the skin, causing pimples. The most common cause of this is hormonal changes like puberty, but there are also other known causes depending on which part of your face it occurs.
Let’s look into acne on temples today. What if I tell you there’s a sure way to get rid of that acne on your temples? If you didn’t know, they’re the ones on the side of your forehead which is why they’re also called forehead acne. But to better understand how to get rid of it, we should know what’s causing it in the first place.
What Causes Acne on Temples?
There are a variety of reasons that could cause its appearance. According to healthline, the known causes of breakouts on temples are the following:
- Headwear
- Hair products—especially those containing oil
- Hormonal changes
- Medications like corticosteroids.
- Makeup
- Skincare products
- Sweating
- Genetics
The most common of these are headwear and hair products.
Why Headwear Causes Acne
When you wear a cap, the sweatband part of the cap stays in contact with your forehead and temples. This can cause sweat and oil to get trapped and cause irritation.
Although the cap has a sweatband, the constant rubbing or contact with your skin not only prevents the oil from evaporating but also traps any bacteria or dirt from the air making that area of your face a lot more prone to acne.
It’s not limited to caps though, hats and helmets can also cause this. But helmets are necessary—yes, and the best way to go about this is to make sure that whatever you wear on your head is regularly washed and it shouldn’t be too tight on your head.
Pillowcases, although not headwear, cause acne similarly. If you don’t wash your pillowcase or it’s too rough on your skin, the constant rubbing throughout the night on your pillow will irritate your skin and cause breakouts.
Hair Products Also Cause Acne
Hair products contain a lot of different ingredients and some of these may be the reason for those zits on your temples. According to a 2019 medical news article, these acne-causing ingredients include:
Hair products contain a lot of different ingredients and some of these may be the reason for those zits on your temples. According to medical news article, these acne-causing ingredients include:
- Cyclopentasiloxane
- Dimethicone
- PVP/DMAPA
- Acrylates
- Panthenol
- Silicone
- Quaternium-70
- Oils
- Petrolatum
But why are these bad? The oily and waxy nature of the hair products that contain these can cause the blockage of your pores, trapping bacteria and dirt, and irritation in that area causing acne.
There are a lot of reasons why you might have recurring acne on your temples so here are some tips on how you can minimize the chances of breakouts on your temples.
1. Clean Headwear and Pillowcase Regularly
The first and easiest solution is to clean your pillowcases and anything you wear on your head regularly. These things come into contact with your temples and forehead a lot so keep them as clean as possible to prevent bacteria and irritation.
If your headwear isn’t a good fit on your head, try to look for another alternative like buying a bigger size cap or using a hat instead. If your headwear is too tight, the chances of getting acne from the constant rubbing of the headwear on your temples will definitely skyrocket.
2. Choose Hair Products Carefully
Like I mentioned before, you should choose your hair products carefully. The ingredients listed above should be avoided if possible regardless of brand.
There’s a lot to keep in mind so take note of it. When buying hair products, I always check to make sure I avoid these ingredients so I don’t get breakouts. I instead go for those with simpler formulations or oil-free alternatives.
3. Get a Skincare Routine
Sometimes, you can’t help it, perhaps there was an emergency or you had to wear a tight helmet for your safety. Fret not, the answer to your problems is a proper skincare routine. With the right products, you can get rid of acne and prevent breakouts on your temples.
The standard skincare routine for men usually consists of cleanser, toner, and moisturizer. This will help prevent bacteria or dirt buildup on your face and keeps your skin smooth. On top of that, you can add anti-acne solutions to your routine to get rid of acne as well as prevent them from coming back.
4. Use an Anti-acne Facial Serum
Facial serums are the best of skincare. The reason is because their lightweight nature makes it super easy for your skin to absorb it fully. If you want to know how to use this, check out our other post about facial serums.
Now, if you’re looking for an anti-acne serum to add to your skincare routine. I’d recommend our Anti-acne and repairing serum.
This specific serum helps reduce facial acne commonly caused by excess oil, hair follicle keratinization, and acne bacteria. There’s more, it improves the appearance of acne-damaged skin by reducing redness and repairing damaged cells. It also enhances skin protection, meaning it will reduce the chances of breakouts.
How does it do that? The serum contains powerful natural plant extracts: phellodendron amurense extract, sophora flavescens extract, and dendrobium nobile extract, all of which contain anti-acne properties, helping your skin fight against acne.
Its main ingredients, Salicornia and Edelweiss, are also really good for your skin, and it serves as anti-acne. Salicornia keeps your skin hydrated and healthy while Edelweiss has antibacterial properties that get rid of the acne-causing bacteria on your face. It also repairs the damaged cells, leaving you with smooth skin.
If you want to go into detail and look into what might be the best fitting routine for you, you can refer to our other article. It elaborates on skin types and skincare products fit for each skin type.
Conclusion
Acne on your temples are avoidable as long as you maintain good hygiene and a good skincare routine. Besides natural hormonal changes and genetics, the other causes are easily countered with the right measures.
The key takeaway here is to always make sure that anything that comes in contact with your forehead and temple, including your hair, should be in the best condition. Meaning, your headwear should be clean and your hair shouldn’t contain products that trap excess oil or irritate your skin.
Take note of the ingredients in hair products you should avoid coming into contact with, particularly on your temples. There’s always other alternatives that allow you to style your hair without worrying about getting acne.
Furthermore, you should follow even just a basic anti-acne skincare routine: cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer, in that order. This will clear up your skin and prepares your skin to defend against the many bacteria and dirt you will inevitably encounter as you go about your day.