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Jawline acne, as the name implies, is an acne that appears on the jawline, and it can extend to the chin. Acne is common among teenagers and every individual, but what makes jawline acne different is its location. Since it is located on the jawline, it easy to be missed. This type of acne is also called acne mechanica or irritation acne.
It is more common in women than in men especially during menses due to hormonal imbalance.
What is the Difference Between Jaw Acne and Skin Irritation?
Difference is in their appearance.Skin irritation, especially due to tight clothing or frequent use of a helmet, can often be confused with jaw acne. Irritation can be caused by sweat, or constant friction between the helmet straps and the face. This irritation is also common in teenagers who practice sporting activities in school that involve the use of helmet, such as football. The irritation from a sport or bike helmet is usually due to sweat or bacterial infection.
The difference between jawline acne and helmet irritation is in their appearance. Jawline acne appears as a cluster of reddish papules with a whitish head along the jawline.
What Causes Jaw Acne?
- Hormonal imbalance: is one of the leading causes of jaw acne. Disruption in the hormone levels is the reason why jawline acne is common in teenagers and young adults. These are the group of people where hormonal changes are widespread. Pregnant women also often experience jawline acne , especially in the first month of pregnancy due to the increased hormone fluctuations. Jawline acne can also occur during the few weeks before menstruation due to the effect of progesterone on the narrowing of the skin pores and thickness of the oils secreted by the skin.
Have you ever wondered why you have jawline acne as a teenager or during early pregnancy? This is due to hormonal imbalance which is one of the leading causes of jawline acne. Don’t get nervous or scared, if you start discovering jawline acne while growing. It isa normal part of pubertal changes due to hormonal imbalance.
- Stress: Stress is another major contributing factor to the formation of jaw acne. Through various research, high stressful life has been linked to the development of jaw acne especially in men, This is true, because we live in a generation, where most men live a stressful life, ranging from physical stress to emotional stress, due to the financial obligation placed on men, most men work on two jobs at a time, or spend long hours on work, without having adequate time to rest. The consistent stressful lifestyle can contribute to the formation of jawline acne in men.
Do you want to reduce your acne as a man? Reduce your stress through various techniques such as yoga, meditation, and sleep.
- Diary products: It has been discovered that dairy products are rich in a hormone called testosterone. Many bodybuilders and powerlifters are advised to take dairy products regularly. The increase in testosterone in dairy can lead to the development of jawline acne. However, the effect of dairy products on individuals varies from one individual to another. Dairy products could cause jaw acne in some people and do not affect others. The high-fat dairy product has a higher chance of causing jaw acne that low-fat dairy products.
- Cosmetic products: Some Non- dermatologically approved cosmetic products contains comedogenic ingredients. These ingredients cause the formation of comedones( clogged pores and hair follicles). The solution to this is to read the labels and check cosmetic products for the presence of comedogenic ingredients. The best cosmetic products to use are dermatologically approved non-comedogenic products. Tooth braces and spacers can also cause jawline acne, due to blockage in the drainage of pores, leading to jawline acne.
- Smoking and alcohol: According to research carried out by Italian dermatologists working at the” Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri” in Rome, Excessive smoking, and alcohol intake could disrupt the hormonal balance of the body. This disruption in hormonal balance can lead to the development of jawline acne. Tobacco use and alcohol has been linked to various disease associated with excess fat deposits on the surfaces of different organs
- Sedentary lifestyle: Living a sedentary way of life predisposes an individual to different hazardous health conditions such as acne. Obesity can cause an imbalance in hormonal levels, which is a predisposing factor for developing jawline acne.
- Medications: Some drugs can alter some hormones in the body, leading to jawline acne. These drugs include vitamin b, corticosteroids, antidepressants, and contraceptives. Contraceptives are used to avoid pregnancy, and the drug works by altering the hormonal levels in the body of a woman. This alteration in hormone could predispose her to jawline acne.
- Underlying medical conditions: Individuals with an underlying medical condition could be predisposed to having jawline acne. Such medical conditions include polycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS), which is a medical condition characterized by increased multiple cysts in the ovary, and increased testosterone hormone in women. This increased testosterone predisposes women to have jawline acne.
- Tight collar shirts: Frequent wearing of a tight collar shirt can cause jawline acne because of friction between the collar of the shirt and the jawline. This is another contributing factor to the development of jawline acne in men. In this technology and work-ethic era, most men work in cooperate organizations, where they are required to dress formally in a suit and tie. This consistent dressing lifestyle could predispose an individual to jawline acne.
- Dental products: It was discovered by doctors in the United States of America, that toothpaste and mouthwash containing a compound called sodium laurel sulfate, or sodium dodecyl sulfate, predisposes people to jawline acne. This type of dental product is common in the northern part of America.
Other Causes of Jaw Acne Include:
- Boils: These are painful red lumps that grow out of infected hair follicles. These boils contain pus-filled vesicles which could resemble a jaw acne.
- Cellulitis: This is an infection of the skin that occurs around a cut or scrape. This cellulitis can lead to the formation of acne around the area of cut or scape.
- Contact dermatitis: This is a condition,in which there is the formation of a reaction on the skin due to contact with a substance such as detergents or a piece of fabric. This reaction could cause acne like appearance.
- Folliculitis: As the name implies, this is inflammation of the hair follicle. This inflammation can cause the formation of fluid-filled jawline acne.
- Rosacea: This is a condition that is characterized by redness, the formation of pimples, and acne on the jawline.
These are the major causes of jawline acne. The invention of social media and different awareness programmes is the reason why people are beginning to ask a lot of questions about jawline acne.
One of the most frequently asked questions is:
Is Jawline Acne Cause by Hormonal Imbalance?
Hormonal imbalance is the primary cause of jawline acne. Just like any other medical condition,there are other contributing factors that could lead to the formation of jawline acne.
Is Stress to Blame for Jawline Acne?
Stress is one of the major contributing factors in the formation of jawline acne, especially in men. Stress leads to increase in a stress hormone called cortisol; this cortisol enhances weight gain and fat accumulation which could predispose to jawline acne.
What is the Best Prevention of Jawline Acne?
- Reduction in the quantity diary products consumed: Dairy products such as milk, yogurt, or cheese are a source of fat deposits and are responsible for mimicking oil producing hormones in the skin. The hormones that are mimicked by dairy products are responsible for the stimulation of sebaceous glands to secrete oil which predisposes an individual to jawline acne. Now, the question is, what is the relationship between dairy products and jawline acne? The hormones mimicked by dairy products are fat soluble hormones that can only be excreted by the sebaceous glands present on the jawline. These hormones are excreted in the form of jawline acne.it is advisable to eliminate dairy products from your diet for two weeks, to reduce and determine if the etiology of your jawline acne is dairy products.
- Proper hand hygiene: Acne can be formed as result of the growth of various kinds of bacteria on the pores of the skin. The most common source of this bacteria on your skin is through your hands. We often place our hands on a lot of dirty places throughout the day, ranging from elevators to sitting at our desks, or shared items at work. The bacteria we come in contact with from these dirty areas can be transferred to the skin, leading to acne. It is advisable to touch the jawline less often and wash your hands regularly, especially after touching something dirty. Proper hand hygiene would reduce the chances of transferring acne forming bacteria to the skin.
- Cleaning of cell phone: Mobile telephones are not an etiology of jawline acne, but this mobile device could be source of bacteria to the skin, especially when it is not kept clean. This is dangerous, because we place our phones close to our jawline areas, predisposing us to jawline acne.
- Applying jawline acne specific treatment: It is advisable to use jawline acne specific products to treat acne, and not just generalized acne treatment creams or ointments. While applying acne treatment products on your face, apply only to the places affected to avoid over-dryness of non-affected parts.
- Applying acne serum that won’t dry or blemish the skin: The major goal in the treatment of acne, is to eliminate the acne, without over drying the skin or leaving blemishes or scars behind. It is advisable to use non- drying, non- blemishing acne products. Such agents include substances that contain salicylic acid. This salicylic acid is useful because of its penetrative power into the pores of the skin, and because it contains keratolytic beta hydroxyl acid(BHA). However, BHA clarifying serum is preferable to acne serum containing salicylic acid. It stays longer on the skin and does not rinse off, unlike salicylic acid containing acne serum that rinses off. It is advisable to leave this clarifying serum on your face for three nights.
- Clearing out closed comedones: Closed comedones are clogged pores that have a higher chance of getting re-infected. Previous commedones, which the contents are not entirely purged out, could be reinfected and cause new jawline acne.
- Contacting your gynecologist: It is necessary to contact your gynecologist to rule out any hormonal imbalances, which is one of the leading causes of jawline acne.
- Early premenstrual treatment: If your jawline acne develops during or before your menstrual period, it is advisable to start treating your skin before your period begins. There are various solutions to this problem. Applying solutions such as a rapid response detox masque to the jawline area can help eliminate jawline acne.
- Proper face and helmet hygiene: Wash your face regularly, specifically twice a day with a gentle facial cleanser. Avoid the use of tight helmet straps and clothing, or wash your face after use.
- Resisting the urge to pop a pimple: Popping of a pimple is an avenue for bacteria being introduced into the skin through the fingers.
What is the Best Treatment of Jawline Acne?
Creams, serums, benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide helps to eliminate the bacteria on the surface of the skin and prevent the formation of new ones. Salicylic acid penetrates deep into the skin to remove the comedones and assist in the natural healing of this jawline acne.
Best Natural Remedies for Jawline Acne
Aloe vera, tea tree oil, green tea extracts, azelaic acid, and retinoid creams.
Prevention, they say, is better than cure. Now you have learned how to prevent this jawline acne, if you have this condition already, try the various treatment above or contact the nearest dermatologist near you. Nearest dermatologist near me
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References
Care, A. (2017). Face Mapping: What Your Pimples are Trying to Tell You. [online] Annmarie Skin Care. Available at: https://www.annmariegianni.com/face-mapping/ [Accessed 23 Sep. 2017].
Expert Skin Advice from Renee Rouleau. (2015). Tips To Prevent Chin And Jawline Breakouts. [online] Available at: http://blog.reneerouleau.com/8-tips-prevent-chin-jawline-breakouts/ [Accessed 23 Sep. 2017].
Jones, C. (2017). Why Do I Have Jawline Acne?. [online] LIVESTRONG.COM. Available at: http://www.livestrong.com/article/80968-jawline-acne/ [Accessed 23 Sep. 2017].
The Dermatology Review. (2017). Jawline Acne – The Dermatology Review. [online] Available at: http://www.thedermreview.com/jawline-acne/ [Accessed 23 Sep. 2017].
Watson, S. (2017). Jawline Acne: Causes, Treatment, and More. [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/jawline-acne#overview1 [Accessed 23 Sep. 2017].
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