Some pimples appear and heal within days but some breakouts seem to occur again and again, leaving you with more scars to deal with. And most of the time, the recurring acne happens to appear along our chin and jawline. They are typically tender to the touch, red in colour, and may often be unresponsive to typical acne treatments.
It is no coincidence that acne and pimples show up on that specific area of the face – the chin and jawline. Hormones are usually the reason behind chin acne, as the lower third of the face is a hormonally responsive area. During certain times on a menstrual cycle, the body experiences hormonal changes including an increase in testosterone levels. This leads to higher levels of sebum production and causes oil glands on the face to be overactive. Pores are more likely to become clogged and bacteria are encouraged to grow, causing more breakouts to occur.
Aside from fluctuations of hormone levels in the body, there are several other reasons that may be contributing to your chin acne.
1. Stress
Stress may not necessarily be the sole reason for chin acne to occur but it can exacerbate your current acne condition. According to scientists, sebum-producing cells have receptors for stress hormones thus when you’re stressed more oil and sebum is produced which end up clogging the pores. Also, your body will increase the amount of stress hormones, like cortisol, in your body. The shift in hormones can, therefore, aggravate your existing acne.
2. Dairy and milk products
There have been many studies that found a link between acne severity and milk products, but this correlation does not provea cause and effect relationship. Nonetheless, milk consumption is knownto increase hormone levels of insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). They can stimulate excess sebum production and worsen your acne.
3. Lack of sleep
Poor sleep quality can be an acne trigger. The time you are sleeping is when your body repairs itself, releases healthy hormones and regulates the hormone levels that leave you feeling refreshed when you wake up. Your acne will also have a chance to heal. When you are sleep deprived, your body may not feel well-rested and restored, which could kick start the surge of cortisol (stress hormone).
4. Overexposure to sun and UV rays
Over exposing yourself to the sun can cause the skin to dry out and the sebaceous glands will go into overdrive to make up for the lack of moisture. This excess in sebum production is key in the formation of blemishes and acne. In addition, warm weathers usually cause you to sweat more and this can create an ideal environment for P.acnes to thrive and spread. The lack of sun protection, along with excessive sun exposure, can also cause pigmentation issues, and people with existing acne scars will face increased hyperpigmentation. This won’t improve your situation, especially if you’re trying to get rid of acne scars.
What can you do about it?
From making dietary changes to using topical acne treatments, cystic acne on the chin and jawline can be a tough battle. If your breakouts are not improving, there are cosmetic options available to treat your skin more effectively.
– AGNES Acne treatment
Hailing from South Korea, AGNES is the latest technology to treat and improve acne breakouts. It works by delivering radiofrequency energy into the skin to destroy problematic sebaceous glands that cause the pores to become repeatedly blocked. When the responsible sebaceous glands are destroyed, acne will slowly subside and be unlikely to recur. The procedure is safe with no risk of skin burns or scarring, due to the use of tiny partially-insulated needles to target the sebaceous glands directly. AGNES is able to provide a more long-lasting solution to treat your cystic acne.
What about acne scars?
Treating your acne does not stop there, because you are still left with the scars it often leaves behind. Hyperpigmentation and skin textural issues are common problems for acne sufferers, and trying to get rid of them can be a challenge. Some procedures such as chemical peels can be effective for mild, superficial scarring, but they may not be effective towards deeper scars.
– Infini Fractional RadioFrequency (FRF) treatment
Microneedling is combined with radiofrequency (RF) energy to stimulate the body’s collagen production response and improve the skin. The heat generated from RF will also cause the collagen fibres to shrink and tighten immediately. Abnormal collagen, or fibrosis, can be targeted and broken by the punching action of the microneedles to help in proper healing. The insulated micro-needles allow penetration from 0.5mm to 3.5mm deep into the skin, which depends on the specific skin concern to be treated. Rolling acne scars and deep ice pick scars can be treated better with Infini to leave you with a smoother complexion.
– Secret RF treatment
For the toughest, deepest scars, Secret RF is another latest acne scar treatment that can apply controlled RF energy up to 3.5mm deep. Semi and non-insulated needles are used to penetrate the skin with less pain and stimulate collagen regeneration. It is also effective against fine lines and wrinkles, double chins, and depressed acne scars to give you a more rejuvenated and youthful look.