Pet & Animal: How to Stop Getting Acne in the Same Spot

If you seem to get acne in the same place repeatedly, there may be an external factor irritating your skin. To prevent breakouts on your face, you should test out your makeup and hair care products to determine if they are the culprits. To avoid different kinds of body acne, you should wear loose-fitting clothes and always shower off after you exercise. Finally, with a proper cleaning regimen and a good diet, you can manage and prevent breakouts anywhere on your body.

EditSteps

EditCaring for Your Skin

Limit what touches your skin. If you repeatedly get acne on specific parts of your body, think about what touches that area regularly. You may find that your hands or an article of clothing may be touching that area and causing breakouts. To prevent this, avoid touching your face with dirty hands or wearing tight fitting or dirty clothes.
- For example, if you wear a baseball cap and regularly get acne on your forehead, try not wearing the hat and see if the acne clears up.
Clean your skin regularly. To avoid acne, you should wash acne-prone areas only twice a day. Washing your skin removes oil and dead skin that can lead to breakouts. When you are looking for acne creams or gels, look for something with either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as the active ingredient.^[1]
- Avoid over washing your skin, which can dry out and irritate it.
- If you are unsure about what kind of wash to get, talk to your doctor or dermatologist.
Eat healthy. Although the idea that eating certain foods, like chocolate, can lead to acne is a myth, diet does influence the body’s hormone levels, which can cause breakouts. In order to avoid breakouts, try to eat a balanced diet that is high in fruits, non-starchy vegetables, and whole grains. You should also avoid fatty, sugary, or processed foods. Eating a healthy and balanced diet will help regulate your hormones and prevent problematic breakouts.^[2]
Limit stress. Although anxiety does not cause acne, it can make it worse. Stress causes your body to release hormones that can cause breakouts. To limit anxiety’s impact on your acne, try to relax and practice mindfulness. You can also exercise, which helps reduce anxiety.^[3]
Avoid picking or popping your acne. If you do get acne, picking or popping your pimples can lead to infections and scarring. Messing with your blemishes also slows down their ability to heal and go away. If the unsightliness of the acne is bothering you, use a concealer to cover the blemish until it has healed.^[4]
Visit a dermatologist. If you are having a hard time dealing with or managing your acne, you should talk to your doctor or a dermatologist. It is important that your acne is treated in order to prevent any scarring. They may prescribe medications, ointments, or washes designed to help deal with your acne. There are also various therapies, such as chemical peels and steroid injections, for more severe cases of acne.^[5]
- Many prescribed treatments may take as many as weeks to work, so be patient.

EditPreventing Breakouts on Your Face

Try different makeups. Although makeup can be great for hiding acne, it can also cause breakouts. Over applying makeups or using particularly oily products can clog your pores and lead to infections. If you are getting breakouts on certain parts of your face, try a different product and see if it clears up.^[6]
- In general, try to use products that are oil-free or noncomedogenic. You should also look for makeups that contain acne-fighting ingredients.
- Always remove your makeup before you go to bed. If your skin is particularly oily, you may need to use a special makeup remover instead of simply washing your face.
Change your hair products. If you suffer from breakouts on your forehead, scalp, neck, and back, the culprit may be your hair products. Products like gels, pomades, and sprays tend to block pores and irritate your skin. They can also cause allergic reactions that can result in acne. To avoid acne, experiment with different products to find one that does not irritate your skin.^[7]
- In general, look for products with shorter and more natural ingredient lists. In particular, look for products that are fragrance-free and noncomedogenic (non-pore clogging).
- To avoid using too much product, consider washing your hair two or three times a week or rinse it with conditioner daily. You might also want to consider sleeping with your hair up to avoid rolling around in your dirty hair all night.
- If you believe that you are having an allergic reaction to a certain product, quit using it and talk to your doctor or a dermatologist. You may want to be tested so you know what to avoid in the future.
Try not to touch your face. Because your hands come in contact with numerous objects during the day, they can transfer countless bacteria to your face, resulting in breakouts. If you rest your head in your hands, you may get breakouts on your chin or cheeks. To avoid this, wash your hands regularly and try to touch your face as little as possible.^[8]
Wear contacts instead of glasses. If you tend to get breakouts around your nose, your glasses may be the culprit. Your glasses house bacteria that can cause infections. In addition, they rub and put pressure on your skin, which can irritate it and stimulate oil production. If your glasses are causing you acne, consider using a spot treatment or ditching your glasses entirely and wear contacts.^[9]
- Be sure to regularly clean the nose pads of your glasses by washing them with hot soapy water. This remove any bacteria that might cause a breakout.
Limit plucking and facial waxing. Whenever you pull hairs from a follicle, you create an opening that is susceptible to infection. If you have your eyebrows plucked or any facial hair waxed, such as around your mouth and chin, you might see some breakouts. To avoid this, limit how often you pluck or wax any facial hairs.^[10]
- If you do pull any facial hairs, you should apply concealer afterwards to plug the pores and prevent bacteria from entering.
- Shaving can have a similar effect, especially if you use a dull razor that pulls the hairs from the follicle instead of cutting them.
Put down your phone. Because most people take them everywhere (even to the bathroom) and touch them constantly, cellular phones are covered in bacteria. Whenever you talk on your phones, you are rubbing those bacteria all over your face. This can lead to breakouts on your cheeks and chin. To avoid any phone-related breakouts, consider using your phone's speaker function or getting a hands-free Bluetooth headpiece.^[11]

EditAvoiding Body Acne

Wear breathable clothes. If you get acne on your chest, back, or butt, consider wearing clothes that allow your skin to breathe. Tight-fitting clothes can trap moisture and irritate your skin, leading to breakouts. Instead, wear clothes made from natural fibers, such as cotton or silk, which allow airflow and wick away moisture.^[12]
- This is particularly important when it comes to clothes that you sweat in a lot, such as your exercise gear.
- If you get bacne from wearing a backpack, consider using a handbag or satchel instead.
Shower immediately after working out. Once you finish working out, you should always take off your sweaty exercise clothes and take a shower. This allows your skin to breathe and washes away the oil and sweat that can cause breakouts. If your gym does not have a locker room with showers, make sure that you shower right away when you get home.^[13]
- If you cannot shower immediately, consider using travel wipes that contain salicylic acid.
Remove body hair gently. Because it leaves pores and follicles susceptible to bacteria, removing body hair, by either shaving or waxing, can lead to breakouts. Instead, you might want to consider laser hair removal, which is less irritating to the skin. If you do have to shave, make sure that you use a shaving cream designed for sensitive skin.^[14]
- This is particularly important if you get acne around your bikini line.
Do your laundry regularly. Because bacteria can hang out on your clothes and bedding, you should regularly wash all fabrics that come in contact with your skin. Bacteria on pillows can cause your face to break out and unwashed clothes can lead to body acne. Make sure you wash your clothes regularly and your bedding at least every two weeks.^[15]
- If you wear any hats, be sure to wash them regularly to prevent any breakouts on your forehead.