Are you always getting pesky pimples on your chin? Or do you have clear skin save for those annoying breakouts on your forehead? You’re not just randomly breaking out on areas of your face.
There is a reason why you are getting pimples in that one particular spot and not others. Lindsey Fredell, a lead esthetician at George The Salon Chicago, explains, “Greatskincaree starts from the inside and then out. When your body has issues and toxins to deal with, it purges them, and it has to come out somewhere.
One of the many places your body rids itself of toxins, illness, and stresses in the body is through its largest organ…THE SKIN!” Those zits could likely be the cause of an issue with another spot of your body.
Lindsey elaborates, “The body is a well-oiled machine and has a system in place on how to do so. This has created a small face map that can give you an idea as to what might be going on internally that is showing up externally on your face.” Lindsey points out that not all breakouts indicate internal issues, “Sometimes they can show up due to external factors such as skin and hair products, dirt, dead skin build-up, fragrances, soaps, and detergents.” However, if you’ve been getting persistent pimples that haven’t been going away with topical acne treatments, it’s worth looking internally. We asked Lindsey what could be going on on the inside of your body if you keep experiencing certain breakouts.
Here’s what could be going on if you are experiencing breakouts on certain areas:
Forehead:
Forehead breakouts are linked to your digestive system. Lindsey recommends you “eat less processed or junk food, reduce the amount of fat in your diet, step up water intake and opt for cooling things like cucumbers.”
Between The Eyebrows:
Zits in this specific area are linked to your liver. Sorry cocktail lovers, but Lindsey says you should cut out the alcohol, as well as greasy food and dairy. She explains, “This is the zone where food allergies show up first, so take a look at your ingredients. Besides all this, do 30 minutes of light exercise every day and get adequate sleep so your liver can rest.”
Temples:
Temple spots are linked to your kidneys. If you also notice anything around the eyes area like dark circles, it is likely that you’re dehydrated. Make it a habit to carry a water bottle with you and see if your complexion improves.
Nose:
This area is associated with your heart. Lindsey says, “Check your blood pressure and Vitamin B levels. Decrease the intake of spicy or pungent food, cut down on meat, and get more fresh air. Besides this, look into ways to lower cholesterol, like replacing ‘bad fats’ with ‘good fats’ such as Omegas 3 and 6 found in nuts, avocados, fish, and flaxseed. Since this area is chock-full of dilated pores, check that your makeup is not past its expiry date or is skin-clogging.” Don’t remember when you bought your foundation? Toss it.
By The Ears:
The ear area is another spot that is linked to the kidneys. Lindsey’s advice is to stick with water, “Drink up! And cut down on aerated drinks, coffee and alcohol as these will cause further dehydration.”
Cheeks:
The cheeks are linked to the respiratory system. If you smoke or have allergies, then those two things are likely what is making your skin flare-up. If neither of these is the issue, Lindsey gives this advice: “Don’t let your body overheat, eat more cooling foods, cut down on sugar and get more fresh air.
Also, keep the body more alkaline by avoiding foods that make the body acidic (meat, dairy, alcohol, caffeine, sugar). Add more alkalizing foods like green veggies and wheatgrass juice. Another things that most of us forget about are dirty cell phones and pillowcases. They are two of the top acne culprits, and this area is what they affect the most!” Wipe your phone down, or wear your headset.
Left And Right Side Of The Chin And Jawline:
Here’s another thing you can blame on hormones. Lindsey states, “This is the signature zone for stress and hormonal changes. While both are sometimes unavoidable, you can decrease their effect by getting adequate sleep, drinking enough water, eating leafy veggies, and keeping your skin scrupulously clean. Another interesting point: breakouts in this area indicate when you are ovulating and on which side.”
Middle Of The Chin:
This specific spot is associated with your stomach. “Step up the fiber intake, reduce the toxin overload, and drink herbal teas to help with digestion” are Lindsey’s tips for clearing up chin spots.
Neck:
Pimples on your neck point to an illness. Zits here can be a sign that your body is fighting bacteria to avoid illness. Lindsey has advised, “Give it a break. Take a yoga class, take a nap, and take time to breathe deeply; drink plenty of water and know that everything always works out!” That’s sage advice we should all be following.
We’ve covered what breakouts mean on all areas of the face, but what about your body? Unlike the face, Lindsey explains that “body acne is generally more external than it is internal. This is good news because it means that while body acne can be caused by internal reasons, it can often be controlled and successfully cleared with external methods more easily.
External issues are usually diagnosed from friction, clothes that are too tight, sweat and dirt from not showering regularly or after workouts, detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets, lotions, and body sprays.” If you’ve swapped your bandage dress for something less tight and are still experiencing pimples, these are some possible internal factors that can contribute to acne on the body:
Chest:
Chest zits could be due to poor diet and eating habits. Lindsey notes that eating too much spicy food and drinking ice cold drinks all the time could be making your skin flare-up. Fungal infections or allergies are two other considerations.
Back:
Pimples on your back could also indicate poor eating habits. Lindsey cites too much fried and high-calorie foods as the culprits. Another issue could be that you’re not getting enough sleep.
Buttocks:
Breakouts of your bum can also be attributed to diet, poor digestion, and bloating. Watch your intake of spicy food and cold drinks.
Iskra Banović is our seasoned Editor-in-Chief at Blufashion. She has been steering the website’s content and editorial direction since 2018. With a rich background in fashion design, Iskra’s expertise spans across fashion, interior design, beauty, lifestyle, travel, and culture.