Acne around your mouth is painful and certainly frustrating, but luckily there are concrete steps you can take to get rid of it for good.
First of all, acne around the mouth and chin may not be acne at all. It is possible that it is dermatitis or a cold sore.
But if it is indeed acne, it may have been triggered by one of the following factors:
- Hormonal changes,
- A genetic predisposition,
- Makeup like foundation, lip balm or lipstick,
- Razors or shaving cream,
- Certain types of toothpaste,
- smoking,
- Equipment that touches your face,
- Or something else.
We'll first help you identify if what you're experiencing is really acne, then we'll address the possible causes so you can then find a concrete solution.
Is it acne or something else?
Those bumps around your mouth may not be acne.
This could potentially be:
-Herpes labialis, which may look like acne, but it is actually a herpes virus that can appear for a variety of reasons. Once you've been infected with the virus, you may get a cold sore from anything that affects your immune system, such as sun exposure, stress, or another illness like a cold.
-Perioral dermatitis. Perioral dermatitis is a rash around the mouth that may look like acne. Dermatologists are seeing more and more perioral dermatitis in recent years as more people use masks or facial coverings.
What causes acne around the mouth?
All acne has the same causes:
- Inflammation
- clogged pores
- Bacteria that cause acne
- Excess dead skin cells
All of these factors combine to create acne anywhere on the body or face.
But the skin in the U-zone, around the mouth, cheeks and chin, has fewer oil glands than in other parts of the face, which can lead to overproduction of sebum (oil) by existing oil glands, d 'where excess sebum and, consequently, acne. Since the skin is dry in this area, it is also susceptible to inflammation.
As the skin in this area is unique, it may have unique triggers.
Possible triggers for acne around the mouth:
- Lip balm or lipstick. Chemicals used to perfume lip balms can cause or make acne worse, especially if you have sensitive skin. The wax in lip balms can also clog pores and cause breakouts.
- Toothpaste, in fact many toothpastes contain a chemical called sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). For many people, the SLS in toothpaste foam irritates the skin and causes acne.
- Smoking. Several studies have been carried out on the relationship between smoking and acne, and so far nothing conclusive has been decided. However, smoking nicotine and cannabis may have properties that could contribute to acne around the mouth. For example, nicotine reduces the flow of oxygen in the body, which can slow the skin's healing process, accelerate the death of skin cells, and increase inflammation. Studies on cannabis are less clear, but some research suggests it may affect hormone levels and lead to increased oil production and clogged pores around the mouth.
Hormones, these are the hormonal changes and imbalances that can lead to acne around the mouth and on the face in general. Hormones can cause excessive sebum production which then clogs pores. You may observe hormonal acne breakouts:
- During puberty
- At certain times of the menstrual cycle
- During testosterone treatment
- During pregnancy
- During menopause
- If you take steroids
- If you suffer from a condition like PCOS
After changing birth control methods, such as hormonal birth control pills, hormonal IUD, implant.
Genetic. Some people are predisposed to having a buildup of oil, dead cells, and acne-causing bacteria around their mouth. Of course, that doesn't mean they can't get rid of their acne with an effective, multi-step skin care regimen.
How to get rid of acne around your mouth?
Acne around the mouth doesn't have to be forever, so follow the steps below to improve your skin.
Identify your acne trigger from the list of triggers above and consider whether you need to make lifestyle changes, such as using shaving cream for sensitive skin or changing your birth control method.
To get rid of acne
Clear Skin - Acne, Eczema
