The first thing that comes to mind for most individuals when they think about acne may be pimples that appear on the chin, forehead, or back. On the higher parts of the face, such as along the hairline, breakouts can occasionally occur.
Appropriately referred to as “hairline acne,” these outbreaks can be as difficult to manage, cure, and avoid as those that affect other parts of the face and body, but with the correct care, they can become a thing of the past.
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What Causes Hairline Acne and How to Prevent It
Similar to other types of acne, hairline acne develops when debris and extra sebum clog the pores in the hair follicles.
Hairline acne is frequently caused by debris from hair product buildup, sweat, and dirty fabric rubbing up against the skin, such as from a hat. While debris like dead skin cells or makeup that hasn’t been removed typically leads to the formation of acne on parts of the face, hairline acne is frequently caused by debris from these sources.
Hair products
The most frequent cause of pomade acne, or breakouts at the hairline, is a hair product blocking the pores. Pomade acne is often caused by an oil buildup along the hairline as a reaction to the hair product or by the product itself clogging the pores.
Additionally, many other compounds used in hair care products can cause clogged pores even though sodium laureth sulfate is well known for being a banned component due to its drying properties:
If you are prone to acne or have oily skin, avoid using personal hygiene items like hair products that include edible substances. Haircare products frequently contain oils and butter like marula oil, flaxseed oil, and avocado oil that can clog pores.
Dirty textiles or materials
When sweat or dead skin cells accumulate on the materials we wear around our heads, such as hats, headbands, scarves, or helmets, especially since they rest so close to the skin, they can cause clogged pores. Clogged pores can result from “pushing the hair back too tight,” as well as “friction or occlusion from objects like headbands, caps, or helmets.”
Folliculitis
Bumps and breakouts occasionally appear on the scalp in addition to the hairline, which could indicate a condition called folliculitis.
Folliculitis, an infection or inflammation of the hair follicle, may be the cause of the pimples if they extend to the hairline and the scalp.
It is much simpler to treat your breakouts when you are aware of the precise reason of the symptoms, thus being able to distinguish between pimples and other skin disorders will help your skin heal.
Dirty hair and scalp
The most frequent causes of hairline outbreaks include utilizing treatments that contain edible ingredients or not washing the scalp or hair as frequently as you should.
How should you wash your hairline? Wash your hair and scalp completely. Face washing might easily skip the hairline, but shampooing your hair will do a better job of cleaning it.
In addition, like your pillows and towels, anything that touches your hairline, including headbands or hats, should be washed frequently as well.
Bad diet
As the largest organ in the body, our skin can benefit from the healthy habits we maintain on a regular basis, especially if we suffer from acne.
Get eight hours of sleep each night, consume six glasses of water every day, take a multivitamin and probiotic daily, and limit your intake of foods that cause inflammation, such as sugar and dairy.
These foods have a tendency to aggravate acne, including acne on the hairline.
Treatment
Hairline acne should be treated the same way you would treat any other type of acne: by identifying the root of the problem and taking practical steps to fix it.
Determine the origin of your breakouts.
Everybody’s experience will be different, but figuring out what is causing your hairline acne will help you stop breakouts sooner.
Taking the precautions previously recommended for prevention can be very beneficial if the acne is caused by a hair product or occlusion from hats.
Keep up with your skincare regimen
Engaging in a regular non-comedogenic skincare routine to increase skin cell turnover, reduce clogged pores, and decrease inflammation of existing lesions is key.
Do a hair wash
Of course, this advice is rather obvious, but clearing the scalp of product buildup is essential if you want to get rid of acne along your hairline.
Clarifying shampoos are made specifically for this purpose and come in a variety of pricing ranges and compositions to do the job.
Look for compounds that are antibacterial and antifungal
Pores can be kept clear by avoiding pore-clogging substances like coconut oil, but prevention happens when hair follicles are kept clean in the first place. Ingredients for hairline acne should clean the skin and hair follicles and fight both bacteria and fungus. To treat acne along the hairline, shampoos, and washes should contain sulfur, tea tree oil, and zinc pyrithione.
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