Ask - Face

take it on the chin

October 16, 2009

Acne breakouts on the chin - are they related to hormones or a digestive tract malfunction?

asks Rebecca via Twitter

This is a really good question because I’ve always thought they were related to hormones. I asked the Head Educator at Dermalogica, Caroline Parker, because of their facemapping system that helps guide you to the right products to use.

She said: ‘With regards to breakouts on the chin it depends on your perspective as to what you think the cause may be. From a western perspective the sebaceous (oil) glands on the chin are very sensitive to hormonal stimulation which is why we see the hormonal activity of puberty for example, cause more oil in this area. In fact the complete pilosebaceous unit (ie sebaceous gland and hair follicle) is sensitive to hormonal stimulus in this area so for some women they may see accelerated hair growth on their chin with hormonal changes in the body.

If you look at a more eastern approach to the body then the chin is related to the balance in the digestive tract. So someone who has digestive problems such as malabsorption or increased permeability of their digestive tract could find they have persistent breakouts in this area’.

I guess what it comes down to is listening to your body - if you’re female then you need to consider where you are in your menstrual cycle - the odd spot just prior to that time is most definitely due to hormonal fluctuations. If the breakouts are occurring frequently, and you notice other digestive problems then it could be something to do with your diet. Write a food diary and note what you eat and how your body responds (generally it’s wheat or gluten and dairy that are the common culprits).

Breakouts on the chin can also be related to physical contact - do you rest your head in your hands? Does your phone rest there when you’re talking on it?

They’re a pain in the butt, well a pain on the chin, and there’s not much you can do about them. If you do have a breakout go back to basics - cleanse the area well with a cleanser that has salicylic acid. Use a concealor that also battles acne - there are two excellent products on the market for this: Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions, $39; and Dermalogica Concealing Spot Treatment, $67.

The Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions comes in four shades - either a green (yes totally a mint green - like Kermit the frog) to combat redness (so you must cover it with foundation). Or three skin tone types - Light, Medium and Dark. Go have a play and figure out which one suits you. They all have Acetyl Glucosamine, Salicylic Acid and 10-Hydroxydecanoic Acid. So it purifies as well as hides.

The Dermalogica Concealing Spot Treatment comes in a dropper bottle so you don’t a) get your grubby mitts all over the bottle contaminating it and b) only get as much as you need. It contains concentrated Sulphur and Salicylic Acid so might irritate sensitive skins - if you do have skin that likes to leap in red spots it’s best to perform a patch test behind the ear.  This is a good product and will quickly soothe the inflammation while covering up redness.

Do you have a question for our experts? Email me at tamsin@jamesst.co.nz