Acne Breakouts: The Message The Placement Is Giving You

One of the most prevalent skin issues is acne, which affects more than 85% of teenagers.¹This skin problem usually begins at puberty and gradually resolves as the person reaches 20, although some may continue to have them well into their 40s and 50s.¹

Despite its cosmetic and non-threatening nature, the effects can cause a significant emotional and psychological impact on patients, even more so than the physical effects.¹

The changes in skin appearance may change one’s perspective of their body image.¹ In turn, it can lead to emotions, such as shame, fear, anxiety, depression, and embarrassment¹. Subsequently, it may also induce bullying and stigmatisation within peer groups.¹

The reduction in life quality has been estimated to be comparable to those related to diabetes, arthritis, asthma, or epilepsy.¹

Overview

Acne is a condition caused by multiple factors, such as genetics, stress, androgens, and excessive sweating.¹ Usually, acne could be characterised into four grades:

Grade 1: Comedones. These skin bumps can come in two forms: open and closed.²

Open comedones are caused by sebum blockage at the pilosebaceous orifice on the outer layer of the skin. In contrast, closed comedones are caused by keratin and sebum obstructing the pilosebaceous orifice under the epidermis.²

Grade 2: Inflammatory lesions such as small red papules are present.²

Grade 3: Pustules start to appear at this stage.²

Grade 4: Presence of larger, more inflammatory nodules and cysts that can lead to more significant scarring.²

Medical drugs, such as corticosteroids, oral contraceptives, compounds like iodides, bromides, and dioxins, and chemical elements like lithium are known causes of acne eruptions.¹

Moreover, it’s observed that acne is worse among smokers. Nevertheless, contrary to popular myth, factors such as lack of exercise, change of diet, and greasy hair hanging over the face can affect the acne’s severity.¹

Here are some specific reasons acne may worsen:

Consuming food with high carbohydrates, such as dairy products (which can affect your hormones when consumed), junk food, and chocolates, which can cause insulin-like growth factors that may lead to pore blockage²
Using oil-based cosmetics and facial massage²
The leaking of sebum from the bulging pilosebaceous duct before a period occurs. This happens in 70% of females²
Experiencing severe emotions, such as anxiety or anger, may aggravate acne since it can stimulate stress hormones²

Acne can leave various scars after healing, which may be depressed, hypertrophic, or keloidal.² While hypertrophic and keloid scars are similar, the size difference distinguishes them. A keloid scar is bigger than the acne lesion that led to the scar, while a hypertrophic one is the same size.²

Acne location

However, there are a few messages the acne is sending, depending on the area the acne appears. Here are some examples and how to combat them:

Around the hairline

This can also be known as “pomade acne” because pomade is an ingredient that you can find in thick, mineral oil-based hair products.³ Pomade can prevent the natural oil or sebum in our hair follicles from coming out of the pores.³Hence, a pimple can form from the blockage.³

Heavy hair-care products, such as hair conditioners or leave in treatments, are also possible causes of pore blockage around the hairline.⁴Moreover, this acne can also be caused if you wear hats, since the friction from the fabric can also result in breakouts.⁴

If you constantly find pimples along your hairline, the best is to try to use less of the products that have pomade in them or ensure that you wash your face after application. Do also consider using a clarifying shampoo. The best is also to look into market products that are non-comedogenic (non-clogging).⁴

Around the T-zone area (forehead and nose)

Should you get breakouts around the forehead and nose, known as the “T-zone area”, it may be caused by oil and stress.³A study conducted on 160 high school boys in Singapore has revealed that while stress does not affect oil production, it can worsen the acne.³

Another study, published by Acta Dermatol, also states that people who wake up tired are likelier to have acne.³Hence, if you have an upcoming exam, it is advisable to incorporate acne treatments, such as salicylic acid, to help control possible acne breakouts.

Since stress and lack of sleep can worsen acne, try to practice good sleep hygiene if you notice a pattern.³Listening to music or exercising for a short while (e.g one-minute cardio exercises) are also excellent ways to relieve stress.³

Listening to music or exercising (even for one minute) are also natural ways to relieve stress.

Avoid touching your forehead because an average person touches their face hundreds of times daily. This can spread oil and dirt directly into the pores.³If your skin is naturally oily, look into face washes that can help to reduce the grease. Read the labels to ensure that the products also cater to your skin type.

You may also want to lay off the chips and candy to avoid worsening the acne by reducing the amount of fat in your diet.⁴ Try to increase your water intake to remove toxins and bacteria on the skin, lowering the possibility of pore-clogging.⁴

On the cheeks

Unlike breakouts on the T-zone or the chin, acne on the cheeks doesn’t really reveal a lot about the underlying cause, but it can be agreed that some habits can lead to a breakout on your cheeks.

This can be quite telling especially if you have acne on one side of your face, since they can be due to dirty phones, pillowcases, and other habits, such as touching your face.³

It is best to constantly clean your smartphone with a disinfectant wipe to lower the frequency of breakouts. If you use your phone a lot for work, consider a Bluetooth headset or headphones that allows you to talk to the other party with a built-in mic.³Do also change your pillowcases at least once a week.³

While you can treat your cheeks with the same products you use elsewhere, such as salicylic acid, do remember that the skin on your cheeks can get dry and irritated easier than the T-zone area. Hence, don’t go overboard with acne treatments.⁵

Around the jawline

Chin and jawline acne is often caused by hormone fluctuation, since they are sensitive to hormones.⁵ During growth spurts, teenage boys often get acne around the jawline.⁵Girls and women may find their chins getting a breakout more often due to their menstrual cycles (a week before the period³), which causes their hormones to ebb and flow.⁵

Usually, hormone changes may mean that your endocrine system is disrupted.³ It’s usually from excess androgens, which can overstimulate the oil glands and clog pores.³

An unbalance of hormones can also be related to diet. While diet can affect the acne around the T-zone, there is also a thin correlation between diet and hormones.³After all, high-carbohydrate foods or dairy with added hormones can affect your hormone levels.³

The acne at the jawline is usually deeper, bigger, and more inflammed compared to the other areas, such as the T-zone.⁵

While hormonal changes are unavoidable, you can try examine your food intake. Try and see if cutting back on sugars, white bread, processed foods, and dairy can help clear your acne.³ Moreover, you can lessen the effect by getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, eating more vegetables, and keeping your skin clean.⁴

Keeping your skin clear

By identifying where your acne tends to appear, you can have a helpful start in clarifying the cause of your breakouts. Address these issues by making lifestyle changes, practising good skin hygiene and skin care, and trying topical treatments to help clear your acne.

However, please do note that it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Should the above methods still not work for you, it’s advisable to visit a dermatology clinic in Singapore.

In this case, AYD is here to aid you. With in-depth experience and knowledge in both medical dermatology and dermatological surgery, our leading dermatologist, Dr Angeline Yong, is dedicated to caring for those whose confidence has taken a blow from various skin conditions.

As a testament to her renowned skills, Dr Angeline Yong has earned Mohs Micrographic Surgery and dermatological surgery fellowships from Seoul National University Hospital and St John’s Institute of Dermatology in UK.

Moreover, she has won the National Skin Centre Service Champion Award (Gold) and Health Manpower Development Programme (HMDP) award for Mohs Micrographic Surgery, Procedural, and Laser Dermatology.

Therefore, whether you are planning to get a picoway or picosure laser in Singapore or aren’t quite sure which skin treatment is suitable for you, you can be sure that she will be able to come up with a unique skin treatment plan that can clear up your acne without any scarring. Contact us today to start your journey in restoring your healthy and radiant skin!

References

Ayer, J., & Burrows, N. (2006). Acne: More than skin deep. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 82(970), 500–506. https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.2006.045377

Sutaria, A. M., Masood, S., & Schlessinger, J. (2022, May 8). Acne vulgaris. National Library Of Medicine. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459173/

Rabach, M. (2020, June 22). What acne spots on your face mean, according to science. Healthline. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/pimple-acne-face-map

Ferguson, S. (2016, January 5). Here’s exactly what the pimples on every part of your face mean. Teen Vogue. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-pimples-on-your-face-mean

Fenneld. (2021, August 20). What does it mean when acne is on certain areas of your face?. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-does-it-mean-when-acne-is-on-certain-areas-of-your-face/

Use of this website signifies your agreement to The Terms of Use & Privacy Policy

Terms of Use

You are deemed to have entered into an agreement with Angeline Yong Dermatology and to have agreed to be bound by the terms set out below by accessing ayd.com.sg (“the Sites”) or by otherwise accessing any content found on this web site. By accessing or using the Site, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed, without limitation or qualification, to be bound by these Terms & Conditions. The Site is owned and operated by Angeline Yong Dermatology.

Intellectual Property Protection
Use of Angeline Yong Dermatology Content
Changes to the Site
Privacy Policy
No Warranty, Disclaimer of Liability and Indemnity
Force Majeure
Miscellaneous
Governing Law and Jurisdiction

Intellectual Property Protection

The contents and design of the Site and any material e-mailed to you or otherwise supplied to you in conjunction with the Site (such contents, design and materials being collectively referred to as the “Angeline Yong Dermatology Content”, are copyright of Angeline Yong Dermatology. You may not use or reproduce or allow anyone to use or reproduce any trademarks (such as ” Angeline Yong Dermatology” name and logo or other trade names appearing on the Site) for any reason without written permission from Angeline Yong Dermatology. The software, which operates the Site, is proprietary software and you may not use it except as expressly allowed under these Terms. You may not copy, modify, reverse engineer or otherwise interfere with the software.

Use of Angeline Yong Dermatology Content

You may retrieve and display the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content on a computer screen or mobile telephone, print individual pages on paper (but not photocopy them) and store such pages in electronic form for your personal, non-commercial use. You may not save or post any of the Content on blogs, Facebook, and other websites that allows viewing by the general public without written permission from Angeline Yong Dermatology. Except as expressly set out above, you may not reproduce, modify or in any way commercially exploit any of the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content.

Changes to the Site

Angeline Yong Dermatology reserves the right to change, modify, suspend, add or remove portions of the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content available on the Site at any time and to restrict the use and accessibility of the Site in its discretion and without prior notification.

Privacy Policy

The information that you provide about yourself and your company to Angeline Yong Dermatology will only be used in accordance with Angeline Yong Dermatology’s Privacy Policy Statement. We will:

retain your information only for as long as there is a business need
take reasonable steps to ensure that the information is accurate, adequate, relevant and up to date.
update or correct your information held by us whenever necessary
take appropriate measures to prevent and minimize risks of unauthorised access to the information

We may use your personal information, such as your name and contact details, for the following purposes:

to perform the services that you have requested, which may involve contacting you by telephone, mobile phone, fax machine, post or email, including sending you electronic direct mailers.
to allow us to promote our products, events and activities.

No Warranty, Disclaimer of Liability and Indemnity

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the high quality and accuracy of the Site, Angeline Yong Dermatology makes no warranty, express or implied, concerning the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content, the Site, software or products or services available through the Site (the “Site Services”), which are provided “as is”. Angeline Yong Dermatology expressly disclaims all warranties, including but not limited to warranties of fitness for a particular purpose and warranties of merchantability. In no event will Angeline Yong Dermatology, its affiliates or other suppliers be liable for direct, special, incidental, or consequential damages (including, without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information or other pecuniary loss) arising directly or indirectly from the use of (or failure to use) or reliance on the Site Services, even if Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates has been advised of the possibility that such damages may arise.

Angeline Yong Dermatology does not guarantee the accuracy, content, or timeliness of the Site Services or that they or related systems are free from viruses or other contaminating or destructive properties. Angeline Yong Dermatology accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided “as is” with no warranty, express or implied for the information provided within them.

Upon accessing to this Site, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates from any claims and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, related to any breach of these Terms by you or your use of any Site Services.

Force Majeure

Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates will not be liable or deemed to be in default for any delay or failure in performance or interruption of the delivery of the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content resulting directly or indirectly from any cause or circumstance beyond its or their reasonable control, including but not limited to failure of electronic or mechanical equipment or communication lines, telephone or other interconnect problems, computer viruses, unauthorized access, theft, operator errors, severe weather, earthquakes or natural disasters, strikes or other labour problems, wars, or government restrictions.

Miscellaneous

Changes to these Terms. Angeline Yong Dermatology may, in its discretion, change these Terms (including those relating to your use of Site and/or the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content. When Terms are changed, Angeline Yong Dermatology will notify you by email or by publishing details of those changes by including them in these Terms. If you use the Site after Angeline Yong Dermatology has published or notified you of the changes, you are agreeing now to be bound by those changes. If you do not agree to be bound by those changes, you should not use the Site any further after they are published. Access to certain areas of the Angeline Yong Dermatology Content may be subject to additional terms and conditions.

Advertising, Third Party Content and other Web Sites. Parts of the Site may contain advertising or other third-party content. Advertisers and other content providers are responsible for ensuring that material submitted for inclusion on the Site complies with international and national law. Angeline Yong Dermatology is not responsible for any third-party content or error, omission or inaccuracy in any advertising material. The Site may contain links to other web sites. Angeline Yong Dermatology is not responsible for the availability of these web sites or their contents.

Assignment of Agreement. This agreement is personal to you and your rights and obligations under these Terms may not be assigned, sub-licensed or otherwise transferred. This agreement may be assigned to a third party by Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates.

Non-Waiver. No delay or omission on the part of either party in requiring performance by the other party of its obligations will operate as a waiver of any right.

Notices. Notices to Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates must be given in writing by letter.

Severability/Survival/Statute of Limitations. If any provision of these Terms is invalid or unenforceable, such will not render all the Terms unenforceable or invalid but rather the Terms will be read and construed as if the invalid or unenforceable provision(s) are not contained therein. Any cause of action of yours with respect to these Terms must be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction in Singapore, within one year after the cause of action has arisen, or such cause will be barred, invalid, and void.

Whole Agreement. Save as expressly referred to herein, any representation, warranty, term or condition not expressly set out in these Terms shall not apply.

Headings. Headings in these Terms are for convenience only and have no legal meaning or effect.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the Laws of the Republic of Singapore. The parties irrevocably agree that the courts of Singapore shall (subject to the paragraph below) have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute which may arise out of, under, or in connection with these Terms or the legal relationship established by them, and for those purposes irrevocably submit all disputes to the jurisdiction of Singapore courts. For the exclusive benefit of Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates, Angeline Yong Dermatology and its affiliates shall retain the right to bring proceedings as to the substance of the matter in the courts of the country of your residence or, where these Terms are entered into in the course of your trade or profession, the country of your principal place of business.

Media.

Acne Breakouts: The Message The Placement Is Giving You