If breakouts tend to show up on the same parts of your face, the location may offer clues to acne causes and treatments. This concept is known as acne face mapping.
But how helpful is an acne face map? Learn how it works and what your breakouts might mean.
What Is an Acne Face Map?
Facial acne mapping has roots in traditional Chinese medicine. The idea is that specific areas of the face are linked to specific organs in your body and how well they’re functioning.
For example, the forehead correlates to liver and digestive health, while your chin corresponds to hormones. According to traditional Chinese medicine, an issue with one of these organs can appear as acne in the corresponding facial area.
The current research doesn’t support a link between acne on specific areas of your face and the health of your internal organs, says Helen He, MD, a codirector of the Mount Sinai-Clinique Healthy Skin Dermatology Center in New York City.
Still, the location of your breakouts may provide clues to the underlying reason for your acne, Dr. He says. See a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and targeted treatment plan.
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What Causes Acne?
Acne is a common skin condition that occurs when the hair follicles in your skin become clogged with sebum (an oily substance that protects and moisturizes the skin) and dead skin cells. The blocked follicles can get inflamed and infected with bacteria, leading to blemishes.
Many factors can cause acne, says Tyler Hollmig, MD, the director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at Austin Dell Medical School at the University of Texas. Whether or not you tend to break out — as well as the severity of your breakouts — is due in part to genetics, as well as these common potential triggers:
And sometimes these factors can contribute to where your breakouts show up, too.
What Do Different Breakouts Mean?
Dermatologists consider where blemishes tend to appear when determining acne causes, contributing factors, and treatments, says He. Here’s what the location of your breakouts might mean.
Forehead and Hairline
Acne that appears around the forehead and temples at the hairline may be caused by a facial or hair product, says Dr. Hollmig.
Applying products on or near your hairline can put them in contact with your hair. “Hair clings to the product and holds it against your skin,” Hollmig says. This can clog pores, causing pimples to form. It’s especially common with products that contain oil or if you’re wearing headbands, hats, or helmets.
Identifying the product that’s causing your breakouts (and discontinuing use or switching to a different product) will help clear the area around your hairline, Hollmig says. In addition, wash your hair regularly, use oil-free products, and wash headbands and hats.
T-Zone: Forehead, Nose, and Chin
Acne that shows up on the forehead, nose, and chin (also known as the “T-zone”) may be comedonal acne — or whiteheads and blackheads, says Hollmig. Comedonal acne occurs when pores become clogged with oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells. The T-zone is a hotspot for comedonal acne because these areas have bigger pores and sebaceous glands (organs in the skin that release oil).
Comedonal acne is best targeted by treatments that unclog your pores, such as a topical retinoid, Hollmig says.
Around the Mouth and Nose
Bumps and redness that form around your mouth or corners of your nose are sometimes mistaken for acne, but are usually perioral dermatitis, says Hollmig. Perioral dermatitis is a red rash that develops when you apply a product that irritates your skin, such as toothpaste. In addition, perioral dermatitis often develops when a corticosteroid medicine (a topical treatment for inflammatory skin conditions) sits on your skin for too long.
Treatment options for this acne-like rash include taking oral antibiotics and using gentle, fragrance-free skin products.
Cheeks
If acne tends to show up on your cheeks, consider what touches your face on a daily basis. “I’d ask patients about potentially placing dirty pillowcases, makeup brushes, or cell phones against their skin,” says He. Regularly used items like these can transfer bacteria to your skin, causing acne to develop and spread. (Research links cell phone use to cheek acne.)
Identifying and eliminating the item(s) that trigger cheek acne can help your skin heal naturally, says He.
Sometimes, acne on the cheeks isn’t acne at all — it’s rosacea, a chronic inflammatory skin condition. Rosacea often appears as red acne-like bumps that appear on your cheeks and nose. That’s another reason to ask a dermatologist to diagnose your skin condition.
Jawline
Jawline acne is often caused by hormonal changes, says He. Hormonal changes — such as those that occur during menopause, pregnancy, the menstrual cycle, puberty, and more — can cause the oil glands in your skin to go into overdrive. This causes the glands to pump out more oil that clogs pores and causes acne.
Depending on the type of acne (such as whiteheads, nodules, cysts, or pustules), jawline acne can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription topicals like tretinoin, antibiotics, or benzoyl peroxide or a prescription oral retinoid medication.
Females with jawline acne can also be treated with hormonal birth control or spironolactone. Spironolactone is a diuretic (water pill) traditionally prescribed for high blood pressure (hypertension) but it can also be used to treat hormonal acne in women when other options are ineffective. But spironolactone must be taken with birth control because of the risk of birth defects.
Back
While not part of the face, the back is another hot spot for acne. Like other forms of acne, back acne (“bacne”) appears when your skin gets clogged with dirt, dead skin cells, and sebum. But acne on the back is often a symptom of backpacks or sweaty clothing that traps sweat against the skin, using unclean sheets or towels, or having dirty hair that rubs against the back.
Topical OTC acne treatments can help clear mild and moderate back breakouts. Showering and changing into clean clothes after sweating, and using clean linens can also help treat and prevent back acne.
See a dermatologist if back acne doesn’t improve in six to eight weeks or your blemishes are deep and tender. Your dermatologist may recommend prescription topical or oral acne treatments.
The Takeaway
Acne face mapping refers to the idea that you can tell the cause of your acne by the location of your breakouts. The acne face map has roots in Chinese medicine, but a more modern version can be better used today. While an acne face map can be a starting point to understand your acne, it’s best to get a diagnosis and treatment plan from a board-certified dermatologist.
Amy Spizuoco, DO, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist. Dr. Spizuoco has been practicing medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology, as well as dermatopathology in New York City for 12 years.
She did her undergraduate training at Binghamton University, majoring in Italian and biology. She went to medical school at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. After medical school, she completed her dermatology residency at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine–Alta Dermatology in Arizona. During that time she studied skin cancer surgery and pediatric dermatology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and attended dermatology grand rounds at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. After her residency, Spizuoco completed a dermatopathology fellowship at the Ackerman Academy of Dermatopathology.
She was previously an associate clinical instructor in the department of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. She is on the editorial boards of Practical Dermatology and Dermatology Times.
Jessica Migala is a freelance writer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in health, nutrition, fitness, and beauty. She has written extensively about vision care, diabetes, dermatology, gastrointestinal health, cardiovascular health, cancer, pregnancy, and gynecology. She was previously an assistant editor at Prevention where she wrote monthly science-based beauty news items and feature stories.
She has contributed to more than 40 print and digital publications, including Cosmopolitan, O:The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Women’s Health, Fitness, Family Circle, Health, Prevention, Self, VICE, and more. Migala lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two young boys, rescue beagle, and 15 fish. When not reporting, she likes running, bike rides, and a glass of wine (in moderation, of course).
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