Dealing with pimples is a common skin woe, and when breakouts decide to set up shop on your cheeks, it can be particularly frustrating. Cheek acne is a widespread concern, whether you’re facing occasional spots or navigating persistent acne for years.
If you’re constantly asking, “Why Am I Breaking Out On My Cheeks?”, you’re in the right place. Let’s delve into the common culprits behind cheek acne and explore effective strategies to reduce and treat it, tailored to your unique skin.
Decoding Cheek Acne: What’s Really Going On?
Before diving into treatment, understanding the type of acne you’re experiencing on your cheeks is key. It’s important to know that cheek acne isn’t just one entity; it can often be categorized into two main types: acne vulgaris and acne mechanica. Recognizing the distinction is the first step to effective management.
Acne vulgaris, a broad term for common acne, is frequently observed in teenagers and young adults, though it can affect individuals of any age. This type of acne arises from an overproduction of sebum (skin oil), which, combined with dead skin cells, obstructs pores and hair follicles, leading to breakouts [1]. Hormonal fluctuations are frequently a significant trigger for acne vulgaris, especially when it manifests as cheek acne. These hormonal shifts can ramp up oil production, making the cheeks a prime location for pimples.
On the other hand, acne mechanica is triggered by physical friction on the skin and is often preventable [2]. Repeated friction can irritate hair follicles, causing inflammation and eventually acne. Cheeks are especially susceptible to acne mechanica due to daily habits that involve pressure or rubbing on this area, such as sleeping positions, phone use against the face, or even frequent touching of the face with hands.
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Image: Infographic illustrating common causes of cheek acne, including bacteria from phones, dirty pillowcases, and makeup brushes.
Unpacking the Causes: Why Your Cheeks Might Be Breaking Out
Persistent cheek acne can be disheartening. Identifying the root causes is crucial for achieving clearer skin. If you’re constantly battling breakouts on your cheeks, examining your lifestyle and daily habits is a valuable starting point to understand why you are breaking out on your cheeks.
Let’s explore common lifestyle factors that often contribute to cheek acne, along with simple adjustments you can make.
Dirty Bedding: Sheets and Pillowcases
Your bed, while a place of rest, can unfortunately harbor bacteria, dust mites, dirt, and allergens. These unwelcome guests can irritate your skin, leading to inflammation and breakouts. When you sleep, your face is in direct contact with your pillowcase and sheets for hours. If these aren’t clean, they can transfer pore-clogging substances and bacteria onto your skin, contributing to cheek acne.
Simple Fix: Make it a habit to wash your bedding, especially pillowcases and sheets, at least once a week. Consider changing pillowcases even more frequently, like every 2-3 days, if you are prone to breakouts. Regularly replacing your pillows is also beneficial in minimizing allergens and bacteria buildup.
Synthetic Fragrances in Products
Fragrances, while adding a pleasant scent to many products, can be problematic for sensitive skin. Synthetic fragrances often contain a cocktail of chemicals that can irritate the skin, even if they don’t directly cause acne themselves. This irritation can lead to inflammation, making existing acne worse and potentially triggering new breakouts, especially on sensitive areas like the cheeks.
Simple Fix: Opt for fragrance-free skincare, laundry detergents, and other personal care products, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to acne. Look for products labeled “fragrance-free” or “unscented,” and check ingredient lists for hidden fragrances.
Haircare Product Reactions
“Pomade acne” is a recognized phenomenon where hair styling products contribute to acne breakouts, particularly along the forehead, hairline, and cheeks. Many hair products, including gels, waxes, and sprays, contain oils and heavy ingredients that can transfer to your skin throughout the day, especially if you have bangs or hair that frequently touches your face. These ingredients can clog pores and lead to acne breakouts on the cheeks and surrounding areas.
Simple Fix: Choose non-comedogenic haircare products, meaning they are formulated to not clog pores. Alternatively, try to keep your hair away from your face as much as possible, especially while sleeping or during workouts, to minimize product transfer and prevent breakouts.
Hand-to-Face Contact and Face Touching
Throughout the day, our hands come into contact with countless surfaces – phones, keyboards, doorknobs, and more – all of which can harbor bacteria, germs, and dirt. Frequently touching your face, a common unconscious habit, transfers these impurities directly to your skin. This transfer can introduce bacteria into your pores, contributing to clogged pores and the development of pimples, especially on areas like the cheeks that are frequently touched.
Simple Fix: Become more conscious of your hand-to-face contact. Make a conscious effort to reduce face touching throughout the day. Keep hand sanitizer readily available and use it frequently, especially before activities where you might touch your face.
Infrequent Makeup Brush Cleaning
Makeup brushes and sponges are breeding grounds for bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells. Every time you use dirty makeup brushes, you’re essentially applying these impurities directly onto your face. This can lead to clogged pores and acne breakouts, particularly on the cheeks where makeup is often heavily applied.
Simple Fix: Clean your makeup brushes and sponges regularly – ideally once a week. Use a gentle cleanser like baby shampoo or a specialized brush cleaner. Allow brushes to dry completely before using them again to prevent bacterial growth.
Diet and Nutrition
While the direct link between diet and acne is still being researched, emerging evidence suggests that what you eat can influence your skin health. Some studies indicate that a diet rich in fresh, whole foods can promote clearer skin. Conversely, high glycemic index foods and dairy products have been linked to acne in some individuals [3]. While diet isn’t the sole cause of cheek acne, it can be a contributing factor for some.
Simple Fix: Focus on a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Consider reducing your intake of processed foods, sugary drinks, and excessive dairy to see if it positively impacts your skin. Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water is also crucial for overall skin health.
Important Note: Resist the urge to pop or squeeze pimples. While tempting, this can worsen inflammation, spread bacteria, and even lead to scarring. Instead, focus on identifying the underlying causes of your cheek acne and implementing preventative and treatment strategies.
While cheek acne doesn’t automatically indicate poor hygiene, adopting good hygiene practices like regularly washing bedding, cleaning makeup brushes, and minimizing phone use in the bathroom (to prevent bacterial transfer to your phone, which then touches your face) can significantly improve moderate acne.
If lifestyle changes aren’t yielding the desired results, hormonal factors might be at play. In such cases, consulting a dermatologist is the most effective step to get a personalized diagnosis and treatment plan.
Cheek Acne or Rosacea? Knowing the Difference
Red bumps on your cheeks might immediately lead you to think “acne.” However, it’s important to consider other skin conditions, such as rosacea, which can mimic acne. Rosacea and acne can be easily confused due to some overlapping symptoms, but they are distinct conditions requiring different approaches.
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition characterized by facial redness, flushing, visible blood vessels, and sometimes acne-like bumps and pustules. While both conditions can cause bumps, rosacea redness tends to be more widespread, affecting larger areas of the cheeks and face, extending beyond individual pimples.
Another differentiating factor is skin thickening, which can occur with rosacea over time [4]. Furthermore, rosacea is often triggered or exacerbated by factors like sun exposure, heat, alcohol, stress, caffeine, and spicy foods [5]. If your “acne” seems to worsen with these triggers, it might be rosacea.
If you are unsure whether you’re dealing with cheek acne or rosacea, it’s crucial to consult a dermatologist for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.
Recurring Cheek Acne: The Role of Hormones
If you’ve diligently addressed lifestyle factors and still find yourself battling persistent cheek acne, hormonal imbalances could be the underlying cause. Hormonal acne is a common concern, particularly for women, and often manifests in specific areas of the face, including the cheeks, jawline, and chin.
Hormones, specifically androgens, play a significant role in acne development. Androgens, present in both men and women (though in different amounts), stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce sebum. Fluctuations or imbalances in hormone levels can lead to increased sebum production, resulting in oily skin [6]. Oily skin provides an ideal environment for acne-causing bacteria to thrive, leading to breakouts [7].
While some hormonal fluctuations are normal, especially during menstrual cycles, puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, significant imbalances can trigger persistent or recurring acne breakouts. If your cheek acne seems to flare up cyclically or is accompanied by other hormonal symptoms, hormonal factors are likely contributing to your breakouts.
Effective Strategies to Treat Cheek Acne
Understanding the cause of your cheek acne is just the first step. Choosing the right treatment approach is essential for reducing inflammation, clearing clogged pores, and achieving clearer, healthier skin. The best acne treatment for your cheek breakouts will depend on the type and severity of your acne, as well as your skin type.
Key ingredients to look for in acne-fighting skincare products include salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA) that exfoliates inside the pores, helping to unclog them and reduce blackheads and whiteheads. Benzoyl peroxide is an antibacterial agent that helps to kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation.
Topical treatments like pimple patches can also be effective for treating surface-level or newly formed pimples on the cheeks. These patches often contain hydrocolloid dressing and acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid to draw out impurities and speed up healing.
For a comprehensive approach, consider specialized acne treatment kits. Software’s Acne Kit, for example, combines topical and oral treatments to address acne at various stages. This kit includes products like Salicylic Acid Foaming Wash, Ceramide Repair Balm, Acne Supplement, and AHA/BHA Pimple Patches designed to reduce inflammation, exfoliate dead skin cells, balance oil production, manage emerging breakouts, and support skin barrier repair.
When to Seek Professional Help for Cheek Acne
Treating acne takes time and consistency. It’s crucial to be patient and allow several weeks or even months to see noticeable improvements with any new treatment regimen [8]. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see overnight results.
However, if you’ve been using over-the-counter treatments containing ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide for several weeks and aren’t seeing improvement, or if your acne is severe, painful, or scarring, it’s time to consult a dermatologist.
Dermatologists can provide prescription-strength treatments, including stronger topical medications, oral antibiotics, or hormonal therapies, depending on the type and severity of your acne and your individual needs. They can also assess if underlying conditions like rosacea or hormonal imbalances are contributing to your cheek breakouts.
Personalized skincare routines, like Software’s personalized acne treatment, offer another avenue for effective treatment. These services often involve online consultations with dermatology practitioners who can create custom skincare formulas tailored to your specific skin concerns. Software’s treatment, for instance, may include ingredients like retinoids, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid, personalized to address your unique acne and skin goals.
To get started with a personalized approach, you can typically take an online consultation, upload photos of your skin, and share your skin goals with a practitioner. They will then develop a customized skincare formula, compounded by a partner pharmacy and delivered directly to you, offering a convenient and tailored solution for tackling cheek acne.
References:
[1] Zaenglein, A. L., Pathy, A. L., Schlosser, B. J., Alikhan, A., Baldwin, H. E., Berson, D. S., … & Bhushan, R. (2016). Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 74(5), 945-973.
[2] Mills Jr, O. H., & Kligman, A. M. (1975). Acne mechanica. Archives of Dermatology, 111(4), 481-483.
[3] Juhl, C. R., Bergholdt, H. K. M., Miller, M. G., Jemec, G. B. E., Kanters, J. K., & Ellervik, C. (2018). Dairy intake and acne vulgaris: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 7 observational studies. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 78(2), 364-371. e1.
[4] National Rosacea Society. “What is Rosacea?” Rosacea.org, https://www.rosacea.org/patients/what-is-rosacea. Accessed [Insert Date].
[5] Del Rosso, J. Q., Kircik, L., Thiboutot, D., Gallerani, B., & Cutler, N. (2013). Why is rosacea considered a vascular disorder? Part 1: What is known about the pathophysiology of rosacea. Journal of drugs in dermatology: JDD, 12(6), 625-636.
[6] Gollnick, H. P., Cunliffe, W. J., Berson, D., Dreno, B., Finlay, A. Y., Leyden, J. J., … & Shalita, A. R. (2003). Management of acne: a report from a Global Alliance to Improve Outcomes in Acne. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 49(1 Suppl), S1-S37.
[7] Melnik, B. C. (2015). Linking diet to acne metabolomics, inflammation, and comedogenesis: an update. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 8, 1.
[8] American Academy of Dermatology. “Acne: Diagnosis and Treatment.” AAD.org, https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/derm-treat/treat-acne. Accessed [Insert Date].
