Say Goodbye to Jawline Acne with these Simple Tips

Acne is, unfortunately, an issue for many people, not just teenagers. One common area for breakouts is the chin and jawline. While it can be tough to get rid of, there are lots of ways you can limit breakouts along the chin and achieve visibly clearer, brighter skin.

What is Jawline Acne?

Jawline acne can be especially frustrating because it often develops as cystic acne. These cysts are painful red bumps beneath the skin, and they can take 1-2 weeks to clear up. Jawline acne along the lower face, chin, and jaw tends to be caused by hormonal changes. There are also many hair follicles along the jawline that make it easy for excess oil and surface debris to get trapped in the pores.

Why Do People Get Jawline Acne?

The chin and jawline area are some of the most common places for acne to appear and it can be very difficult to get rid of. But why do people get jawline acne? These are some of the main reasons:

Changing Hormones

Hormonal changes are one of the main causes of acne, which is why so many teenagers suffer breakouts. However, similar hormonal changes can happen later in life, especially for menstruating, menopausal, or pregnant women. High levels of estrogen increase sebum production, which makes it easier for the pores to clog. High levels of testosterone thicken sebum oil in the skin, further increasing the risk of clogged pores and acne breakouts. Certain medical conditions and medications such as birth control pills or corticosteroids can also affect hormone levels and increase the risk of hormonal acne.

Touching Your Face

Regularly touching your hands to your face can transfer dirt and germs from the environment to the face. These bacteria and dirt particles mix with sebum oil naturally produced in the skin, causing clogged pores. The warmth from your hands also provides the perfect environment for bacteria to form and grow. Any place where you’re transferring bacteria from one place to your face can lead to jawline and chin acne. Even not changing your pillowcase or sheets enough can cause breakouts.

Stress

Stress can be a major factor in jawline acne. When you’re stressed, stress hormones (cortisol) increase blood flow to the face and trigger the sebaceous glands to produce more oil. This can lead to rashes, redness, and breakouts on the jawline and other parts of the body.

Diet

What you eat can also greatly affect whether you have acne and breakouts on your jawline. There is no specific diet that works for acne, but many people find that diets high in refined sugar and dairy can inflame acne and make it worse. Switching to a diet of healthier foods with less dairy and/or sugar could help reduce your number of breakouts.

How to Minimize the Look of Jawline Acne

Luckily, there are several ways you can reduce the acne you’re seeing on your jawline.

Cleanser

Using a gentle cleanser with salicylic acid can remove excess oil, dead skin cells, dirt, and makeup from the skin’s surface. Cleansers are your first line defenders against breakouts, they help to remove skin irritants from the surface of the skin that clog pores. When using a cleanser, it is important to use circular motions, rinse thoroughly, and double cleanse to ensure skin is effectively cleansed.

AHA's

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) exfoliate and help to minimize the look of clogged pores. A few examples of AHAs include glycolic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid. These ingredients are often found in toners and other skin treatments and can be great for addressing jawline breakouts and improving the appearance of skin tone.

Retinoids

How to Reduce Jawline Acne

It’s difficult to prevent jawline acne, but there are many simple lifestyle changes that you can make to limit your risk of a breakout.

Improve Bad Habits

There are lots of bad habits we have that can lead to breakouts along our jawlines. Whether you’re not changing your pillowcases often enough, touching your face too much, or not cleaning your phone after having it near your face, you might be introducing dirt and bacteria to the acne prone skin on your face.

Get Sleep

We know that sleep helps so many important parts of our health and our skin is no different. Getting 7-8 hours of sleep each night can do wonders for your skin. While you sleep, your body has a chance to rest and recover. Additionally, make sure to take your makeup off before bed and thoroughly clean your face so that your pores can breathe overnight.

Nutrition & Diet

Eating a healthy diet with nutritious, vitamin-packed foods can help keep your skin clear and your body healthy. Positive lifestyle changes can help individuals with hormonal jawline acne by balancing the body's hormonal fluctuations. Sugar can often cause the blood sugar to spike which can cause inflammation in the body. That inflammation can show up on the face and the jawline.

Instead, choose foods high in zinc with anti-inflammatory properties and foods with beta carotene (a form of vitamin A). Foods that are rich in zinc include shellfish, chicken, nuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower sides. Foods with beta carotene include carrots, apricots, mangos, and other yellow or orange fruits and vegetables. Leafy greens that are rich in vitamins and minerals and probiotics such as yogurt or kombucha also have great properties for reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the skin.

Our Recommended Products

At Epicuren Discovery, we offer a number of products that can help with facial acne concerns along the jawline:

Acne Products from Epicuren Discovery

A high-quality skincare routine combined with preventative steps is a great step to managing the symptoms of jawline acne. At Epicuren Discovery, we offer a variety of skincare products tailored to specific skin types and skin conditions. Take our Skin Quiz and get started on your acne skincare routine to achieve visibly clearer and healthier looking skin.

Frequently Asked Questions

WHY AM I GETTING ACNE UNDER MY JAWLINE?

There are a number of reasons for acne under the jawline. It can be due to changes in hormones, excess oil production, certain behaviors like not changing your pillowcase often enough, or because of your diet. Acne is a chronic condition, so it is important to recognize your triggers and implement healthier habits, which can be as simple as proper cleansing.

WHAT DO PIMPLES ON THE JAWLINE INDICATE?

Pimples or breakouts along your jawline may mean your hormones are imbalanced, that you’re dealing with a lot of stress and producing excess cortisol, or it could be due to your diet.

IS JAWLINE ACNE ALWAYS HORMONAL?

No, not always. Jawline acne could be due to an increase in stress, certain medications, overactive oil glands, your diet, and many other combined factors.

References

Women’s Health— This is Why You Get Spots on Your Jawline - and How to Deal With the Breakouts

Skincare.com— The Top Causes of Jawline Acne and How to Get Rid of It

Healthline— Jawline Acne: Causes, Treatment, and More