They’re talking. Are you listening?
If you pay close attention to where acne appear on your face, you may notice that they often show up in the same places over and over. According to ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic practice called face mapping, the specific locations of acne of the face are linked to with what’s happening on the inside of the body and affecting organs or systems elsewhere in the body. As diagnostic tools and practices were limited then, the location of acne on the face helped healthcare providers diagnose internal health problems.
Although this information is for informational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnostic treatment, it may help you zoom in on possible causes.
If you are experiencing breakouts or abnormal skin changes of the face, here is insight into what the teachings of face mapping suggests about your health:
Digestive system: Traditionally, this area is regarded as closely related to the bladder. If you break out in this area regularly, it might mean that you need to improve your elimination by drinking more water to flush out toxins, eating less processed food, reduce the amount of fat in your diet and eat more whole foods. Pin the bangs up and keep the hair out of your face.
Liver: Middle of the forehead, between the eyebrows may be related to the liver. Congestion in this zone can indicate over consumption of alcohol, rich foods and possibly a food allergy as this is the zone in which food allergies show up first. Cut out alcohol, greasy food and dairy may be an excellent option for you. Incorporate at least 20 min of light exercise each day and get eight hours of sleep so that your liver can rest.
Kidneys: The ears are a highly sensitive area related to the kidneys. Acne on ears, around the eye may point to dehydration. Cut down on caffeine and alcohol. The eyes are truly a window to the body’s health because they’re related to the kidneys. Dark circles are made worse by dehydration and poor elimination.
Heart: Check your blood pressure and Vitamin B intake. Decrease spicy foods, cut down on red meat and get more fresh air. Replace bad fats with good ones such as Omega 3 & 6 found in avocados, nuts and fish.
Pancreas, cardiovascular: A reddened nose can indicate heightened blood pressure or the early stages of rosacea. Include more greens, nuts, and Omega-rich fish in diet. Avoid spicy, pungent foods, too much salt and sugar.
Respiratory system: The cheeks often give an accurate glimpse into any respiratory distress. Smokers or people suffering from allergies generally experience fine, broken capillaries or congestion in this area.
Stomach: Acne in the cheek area can be a sign of high sugar consumption. Research has suggested that eating foods that don’t cause your blood sugar to rise quickly—i.e., a low-glycemic diet—has led to a reduction in acne. Thus, cleaning up your diet and limiting your intake of sweet stuff may help cheek breakouts clear up. Improve digestion by adding more fibre and detoxifying food. Also concentrate on keeping the body more alkaline by limiting foods that make the body more acidic such as dairy, carbohydrates, sugar, alcohol, caffeine, etc.). Increase fibre intake, reduce toxin overload, consume more green, cruciferous vegetables, drink enough water and herbal tea which can help with digestion. Avoid late night snacking. Consider adding a good pre- and probiotic to your diet.
Hormones: It’s safe to blame jaw and chin breakouts and unusual hair growth in this area on hormones. Hormonal imbalances can also be caused by extreme stress. Hormones can over stimulate oil glands and clog pores where the acne bacteria live and grow. Hormone related breakouts might also occur about seven to ten days before a person’s period. Students sometimes rest their faces onto their (sometimes not clean) hands – exacerbating breakouts on the jawline. Get more sleep, drink enough water, eat leafy vegetables and keep your skin clean.
Although this is by no means a complete list, here are several other factors that cause acne:
Changes in hormones: During hormonal changes because of puberty or monthly menstrual cycles, you may notice more acne breakouts than normal.
Hygiene practices: Not washing your hair or face on a regular basis may cause excess sebum to build up on your skin and scalp – resulting in acne.
Use of cosmetics: Some cosmetics that are not non-comedogenic, meaning they contain ingredients that block your pores or simply irritate the skin. Check your makeup – using makeup past it sell by date can also result in acne.
Interactions with certain medications: Acne may occur as a side effect of some medications (just think what havoc birth control medicine can cause).
Irritation to the skin: Sweating, wearing tight clothing, not removing your makeup at the end of the day, not showering immediately after exercise and touching your face are all contributing towards unwanted acne.
Forehead and T-zone (forehead, nose and down to the chin region): This area is generally a bit oilier because it contains more oil glands than the rest of the face. This results in being more prone to blackheads and whiteheads. Wearing dirty workout headbands or hats can also transport bacteria to these areas of your face – so wash your gear frequently.
Your forehead may also break out because of certain hair products, changes in hormones and stress.
Hairline, near the ears, or in the cheek area can also fall into the hormonal acne category. Just like for blemishes around the edges of your face, hair products containing oils and harsh chemicals that can clog or irritate the pores may be the issue causing acne on your forehead and hairline.
Discontinuing the use of acne-causing hair products can help clear the appearance of whiteheads, blackheads and pimples across your forehead.
Cheeks: Bacterial imbalance due to contaminated cell phones & pillowcases are major contributing factors of breakouts in the cheek area. Our cell phones are notorious for carrying germs, and the screen accumulates bacteria, oil and makeup from pressing against our face. Clean your smartphone with a disinfectant wipe regularly to prevent transferring germs to your skin.
Neck: Acne on the neck and lower jawline can be an indication that the body is fighting bacteria to avoid illness, but wearing unwashed scarves during winter has been a known culprit of neck and lower jawline breakouts.
Face mapping can be a helpful starting point for pinpointing the cause of your acne – but it’s by no means an exact science and neither is it fool proof. If you have any additional symptoms which may indicate something more serious beyond breakouts – make an appointment with your healthcare provider without delay.
Please remember that many products, even some over-the-counter options, are not safe for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Having someone to guide you through the process of adding topical acne treatment products is essential.