Jawline Acne: Causes and Cures

Of the several different types of acne, jawline acne is in many ways the most irritating. This is because it frequently appears in adults who thought their "acne days" were behind them. "What causes acne outbreaks along the jawline?", you ask. Sadly, there is no single jawline acne cause. There can be many contributing factors, but one thing is certain - jawline acne causes pain and embarrassment to the person suffering with it.

Jawline acne most frequently occurs in women who are in their twenties and is symptomatic of adult onset acne or cystic acne. In this case, acne develops primarily on the jawline, cheeks, back, buttocks and chest.

This type of acne is different than the "teenage acne" you experienced in high school in that unlike milder forms of acne that occur closer to the surface of the skin, cystic acne affects the deep tissue. In addition, a bacterial infection could be attacking the deep tissue beneath the surface of the skin. If not treated, this can lead to scarring.

One possible cause of jawline acne is your regular hormonal activity. In addition, some studies link dairy products to acne because they contain hormones. If your hormonal activity is the culprit, birth control pills are often an effective acne treatment. If you suspect dairy products are triggering your outbreaks, try avoiding them and see what happens.

Check Your Cosmetics Too

Another common jawline acne cause is moisturizers that are too rich or hair products that contain silicone - both can clog your pores. In this case the solution is obvious - look for oil-free products and hair products that do not contain silicone.

Treating your jawline acne is not as simple as buying the latest acne lotion - the painful red lumps that occur along the jawline, chin, and neck do not respond well to the traditional acne treatments like benzoyl peroxide. In this case a visit to a dermatologist is in order. He can prescribe a course of oral antibiotics that will get the adult acne under control.