Certain blemish-busting ingredients “tend to be drying, and the most common mistake people make is overusing them, either too often or too much,” says Dr. Shah. “When they are overused, they can overly dry or irritate the skin, leading to more breakouts.”
If you've recently introduced new skincare products only to experience an increase in blemishes, don't panic. While a breakout can be a sign a product is unsuitable, in many cases a fresh crop of blackheads or bumps may indicate your skin is purging – and that smoother, clearer skin could be waiting around the corner.
The dermatologists whom author Markham Heid spoke with suggest that some of the most common and popular acne medications, like benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, might in fact be affecting the skin microbiome in such a way that acne bacteria is then encouraged to flourish.
It typically happens when using exfoliants or retinoids,” said Paul Yamauchi, MD, PhD, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon in Santa Monica, CA. “The accelerated cell turnover triggered by these products can bring underlying congestion to the surface, resulting in a transient increase in breakouts.”
Cleansing your face too aggressively.
Over-washing your face and using acne treatments that are too harsh will cause your skin to become irritated, dry, and more prone to breakouts. Gentle cleansing is key.
In most cases, yes. Skin purging is a normal reaction to an acne treatment that contains exfoliating ingredients such as salicylic acid. Ingredients such as this clear both the surface of the dermis and deeper inside the pore, so some form of skin purging is to be expected.
Stress acne typically presents as an array of small, red or pink pimples that can be scattered across various areas of the face. These facial acne pimples often take the form of whiteheads or blackheads and can progress into pustules, which are red, pus-filled bumps, or papules, which are small, raised bumps.
Acne is a common issue for many people, especially for teenagers and young adults in their 20s. Some have mild symptoms, while others can have very severe issues. Acne effects around 90% of adolescents with the prime age across all genders being the teenage years of 14-19 years old.
If you're using an acne treatment, you'll likely need to keep using it, or your acne may come back. Acne treatment helps reduce bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells to keep your pores clear. The prescription isotretinoin is the exception to this rule.
Some makeup, along with many skin and hair care products, contain oil or other ingredients that can cause acne breakouts. If you continue to use them, you may continue to see blemishes.
Ice doesn't necessarily help clear up acne or pimples — particularly if you're suffering from cystic and nodular acne — but it can help inflammation. This works because acne is an inflammatory condition meaning that it causes flare-ups that contribute to swelling and redness.
Fortunately, hormonal acne can be easy to identify. Breakouts on the chin and jawline are directly linked to the reproductive organs of the body, so hormonal acne will almost always present itself there. Recurrent breakouts are also highly likely to be hormonal.
Understanding Chin Acne
Chin acne typically arises when pores around the chin become blocked with excess oil, dead skin cells, or daily grime. This blockage creates an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, leading to inflammation and the formation of pimples or cysts in the chin area.
Wearing makeup does not cause acne, but if the products are old or left unsealed, bacteria could develop which might cause your skin to react (inflammatory acne). Similarly, if brushes or your hands are not clean when you apply your makeup, you could be further spreading the bacteria across your skin.
As old cells die and shed on the skin's surface, newer cells from deeper in the skin come to the surface. This theory argues that increased turnover may speed up the development and healing of acne that was already forming under the skin when a person began treatment. This causes what appears to be a breakout.
High-dose vitamins B6 and B12 have also been linked to rosacea fulminans, a condition that looks like acne. Rosacea is marked by large red bumps and pustules that typically appear on the nose, chin, and/or cheeks.
If you have an hour to tackle your pimple
Icing the bump can help reduce inflammation and prevent it from getting any bigger. “Use an antibiotic cream or some tea tree oil on top of the acne, use an acne patch (the small round stickers to cover acne) and then conceal it with makeup.
Products with salicylic acid (such as CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser and Acne Control Gel) can be helpful for improving the appearance of blackheads and visible pores. When used together as part of a daily regimen, our Acne Control products can help clear acne and help prevent new acne breakouts.
If you don't naturally have acne-prone skin, these pimples will spontaneously disappear after a few weeks or months. As with the duration of your nicotine withdrawal, the time it takes for this symptom to appear varies depending on your consumption, years of smoking, and your age.