No two people living with acne have the same experience—some see minor breakouts occasionally; others can count on pimples at least once a month (if not more). And some may have deep, cystic acne on a consistent basis. Acne symptoms may also be regional and only appear in specific spots, like the forehead. If you struggle with breakouts above the brows, specifically, treating them is usually made far easier when you know what kinds of acne symptoms you’re dealing with, and why they pop up there. We spoke with two board certified dermatologists about what causes forehead acne, and how to get rid of it for good. Meet the Expert
Types of Forehead AcneBecause acne is the result of clogged pores, acne symptoms can show up anywhere on the face where a pore can be found. "During adolescence, the forehead is often one of the first areas to develop acne," says Kraffert. "It is also often one of the first areas to clear up as adolescence progresses too." Some types of acne, however, tend to appear on the forehead more often than others.
According to Kraffert, certain types of acne aren’t so commonly found so high up on the face. "Inflammatory acne tends to be less severe on the forehead than elsewhere on the face including temples, cheeks, jawline and chin," he explains. "Nodules and cysts are also less frequent and severe on the forehead." Causes and PreventionNo matter where it pops up, acne symptoms all start the same way. “Breakouts are caused by four things: follicular occlusion, bacteria or fungus in the follicle, oil or sebum (or edible product) accumulation in the clogged follicle, and inflammation," explains Patel. "When these four things happen, breakouts happen—anywhere on the skin." Area-specific breakouts, however, may be exacerbated when something near that skin makes frequent contact with it.
What Is Mechanical Acne?Mechanical acne (also known by its technical term, acne mechanica) are acne lesions caused by the heat and friction from an object (like bra straps or a helmet) rubbing up against the skin. The friction irritates the skin and disrupts the surface, which can clog the pores with dead skin cells and lead to inflammation.
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A Dermatologist-Approved Skincare Routine for Adult Acne Article Sources Byrdie takes every opportunity to use high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we keep our content accurate, reliable and trustworthy.
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