How Beards Can Impact Acne & How to Combat It

Tag Archives: Acne

Having a beard may be a good way to disguise acne on the lower part of the face, but did you know it can actually worsen it? That’s right, facial hair can affect acne. Some ways include:

• Food and dirt can get clogged in the hair leading to bacteria forming and causing infections.
• Sweat and oil from the skin can get trapped in the hair and lead to blocked pores.
• Ingrown hairs are common among beard wearers and another reason that pores can become clogged and infected.

Now don’t grab that razor just yet! There are some things you can do to reduce the effects. They are as follows:

• Keep the beard well trimmed to prevent ingrown hairs. Focus on areas where food or dirt may be lingering.
• When trimming, shave lightly in one direction to avoid cutting the skin or stretching it out. This can further aggravate acne.
• Wash the beard thoroughly each day and rinse it well to remove cleansers which can clog pores.
• Test a variety of shaving creams, shavers, and after shave products to determine which is best for your skin in particular.
• Avoid thick shaving creams which can cause pores to become clogged.

Even though having a beard can adversely impact the skin, there are ways to manage and minimize the effects. If you are still having trouble with facial acne though, contact our office.

hormonal breakouts

Throughout adolescence nearly every woman deals with acne breakouts of some kind. And a common misconception is that they will eventually go away later in life. Unfortunately, that is not true, and acne breakouts can occur at any age.

The main reason for them to occur beyond adolescence can be attributed to hormones, and in women in particular, their menstruation cycle. Prior to menstruating, an imbalance in hormone levels can stimulate the sebaceous glands which in turn produces excess oil. This causes the pores in the skin to become clogged, leading to inflamed lesions on the skin. These hormone driven breakouts typically occur on the lower part of the face, around the jaw or chin area.

Although these breakouts are internally influenced, topical treatments are important to ensure that the condition is maintained and does not worsen. SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense is a great option because it helps decongest clogged pores and fight the formation of acne. Not only does it help with that, but it can also improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

For more serious hormonal breakouts, providers may recommend certain contraceptive pills. This is due to the fact they can regulate hormone levels and prevent stimulation of the oil glands in the skin.

Unfortunately, the relationship between hormones and breakouts will always be prevalent, but there are options to keep the condition under control. Contact our office today if you believe you are experiencing hormonal breakouts.