Face Mapping: What’s Your Acne Telling You?
Siobhan and I just love to self-diagnose. Is it responsible or recommended? Absolutely not. But long before we wrote the book, and got more serious about such things, we’d developed a pretty bad habit of trying to figure out the ins and outs of our beauty and health dilemmas.
Take this website for example: Every time either of us would have a breakout, we’d fire up this Mary’s Herbs site to see what on earth was causing it (our liver? our ovaries?). Chinese medicine says that the face can be used as a diagnostic tool for internal problems. But is it true? Let’s do a little unscientific survey to find out, shall we?
Here’s what we want to know. 1. Where do you break out? 2. Can you associate your breakouts with anything: food, menstrual cycles, partying, etc.?
In our experience cystic acne in the chin area tends to be a product of our menstrual cycles and imbalances in sex and/or thyroid hormones, whereas cheek acne seems more lifestyle related, and breakouts around the mouth appear to be more about digestion. Consider these very loose diagnoses of course. It’s what we have found to be true.
[A note from Siobhan: Example! I've always had clear skin on most of my face, with moderate to bad chin breakouts. Once I got my hormones in check with the help of my endocrinologist, omegas and yoga, my skin cleared up a TON. I still break out sometimes, especially during certain parts of my cycle or if I've been misbehaving, but it's wayyyyy better than it was for almost 10 years—and I don't use any spot treatments other than green tea clay.]
So what about you? Looking forward to your answers.
Very pretty face-mapping drawing via Organic Apoteke
The chart looks pretty spot on for me! No pun intended. I love self diagnosing too, so I find this stuff so interesting.
I’ve been very curious about this for years! Thank you so much for posting about this & actually finding a graphic that spells it all out. I break out more during my period than any other time, with my acne often forming on my forehead & on my chin/jawline.
1. Where do you break out?
Around my mouth, forehead & my hair line- I have always had trouble with my hairline but the middle of the forhead is a new thing (always have trouble with a greasy T-zone), chin – cystic and bacterial/irritation- Also, I started birth control when I was in High School mostly to try and control cystic backne, but last month I stopped taking the birth control (no more artificial hormones messing with my girly parts, thankyouverymuch) annnd… the backne is back… with a vengeance
2. Can you associate your breakouts with anything: food, menstrual cycles, partying, etc.?
I absolutely break out the worst if I do not “wash” my face at least twice a day (baking soda, frag free soap, or at least splash with cool water)- which of course happens most often when I have gone out for drinks and hit the sack w/out cleaning up! I also have a terrible habit of touching my face/resting my chin on my hand. It seems that the smallest irritations will compound with each other and lead to a breakout.
My menstrual cycle also tends to create one or 2 small pimples the week before/of
When looking at the map you posted… I would have to say I am seeing a whole new light shined on this issue…
I have been having troubles with my bowels/intestine/stomach/kidneys/hormones for a few years… which all connect to the places on my face most prone to unexpected breakouts (no irritation that i can remember, not around my period). I have been tested for celiac disease, hypothyroidism, and immune disruptions and have found nothing. I think it’s mostly food intolerances and sensitivities- dairy being the biggest culpurit (backne!). Sounds like it’s time for an elimination diet, to stop eating crappy food, and take daily probiotics… I am working on some serious life changes… yay for a new year!
Thanks ladies!
btw, does anyone have any suggestions for me? especially about the hormones? I’m 22, and have a family history of diabetes, heart, and autoimmunes issues ((probably stemming from undetected food intolerances and bad lifestyle choices including exposure to chemicals and pesticides directly (farming) and indirectly (food))
I’m very interested in knowing more about this subject! I have had horrible acne on my chin for as long as I can remember. It does not matter what time of the month, I consistently am always breaking out on my chin. Over the years I’ve been to a number of dermatologists and tried a variety of prescription and non-prescription medications, ointments, face wash, etc. Nothing seems to work! I’m almost 30 and am so stressed out about this!
I need to know about these green tea clay spot treatments!
My skin is directly affected by my hormones. When I’m about to start my moon, my pores get bigger and swollen, just like… well, every other part of my body it seems.
For the longest time I had acne on my chin. However, lately, everything has cleared up. Here’s what I’m doing differently: emu oil soap (from Laid in Montana). Minimal spot cover-up makeup. Limited moisturizer, a combo of emu oil sensitive skin balm & Acne clear by eDerma – can’t use either every day, just every few days. And keeping my guts cleared out! When I’m constipated, my skin is a disaster.
Also, I’ve found that vitamin B helps me manage my stress when I’m PMSing. And when I have a less stressful cycle, well, my skin is better. Imagine that!
this seems to make so much sense!
I never breakout on my forehead… and my right cheek used to get more of the breakout action than any other area of my face!
I, at times, have a pimple or two by the nose… these “at times” being maybe 3 times a year…
My chin and nose though, have black heads, and when I clear them—bang! here they come again… I try not to do the bentonite clay mask too often, but I always seem to have those areas super clogged! smooth surface though, but black heads are there when you look closely.
i don’t suffer from acne breakouts per se, but fo sho when i drink alcohol my left cheek turns a raging shade of crimson, enough that i have some gin blossoms already and i’m not exactly alcoholic, or elderly. or so i tell myself, anyway.
will definitely be watching my face for more clues (damn you, undereye circles). thanks again for the hot tips, ladies!
I’ve had acne issues since I went through puberty. The only thing that ever cleared it up before was a combo of Retin-A and oral anitbiotics. More recently, I decided I wasn’t so sure it was safe to be on antibiotics for the rest of my life. In recent years, my acne, when not on the antibiotics, has been pretty bad and is all over my face, though my body is affected, too. I do notice that it gets slightly worse right before that time of the month, but it’s also never really clear. I have had chiropractors and holistic physicians tell me I have food intolerances, but I also have an emotional addiction to foods and have never really been able to cut all the dairy and wheat they told me too. Its also hard when those are additives in other foods as well, so I’ve never been able to really test if cutting them out will really help my skin. I also have polycystic ovarian syndrome in my family and mentioned it to my doctor, who didn’t really seem concerned. None of my doctors, GP, dermatologists, gynecologist, have ever really been interested in checking out my hormone levels. They say that, if there was an issue, it would be more obvious. I’m getting rather frustrated at this point. I didn’t think I’d still have these issues with my skin at 30 and it’s really taken a toll on my confidence.
I do see on the face mapping that having acne all over your face indicates heart issues? We did a free health screening through work very recently and my hearts in fine condition, so I’m not really sure what to think of this.
This makes so much sense! I have celiac disease and am in the process of fixing all the damage it has done to my intestines over the years. I’ve always had little bumps on my forehead that just won’t go away, and a big breakout on my chin around that time of the month. Who knew they were so closely related?
@reese – How were you tested for celiac? Your symptoms sound very celiac-esque and I got a false-negative on my blood test for it. A lot of people also have a gluten intolerance without the full-blown celiac disease. Sometimes you just have to try going without gluten for a few weeks to see what happens. Hope the elimination diet helps!
@reese @jamianne More gluten-free girls, yay! I’m also celiac and have thyroid issues—and once I cleared up my diet and got my hormones in check things changed a lot. A note about the elimination diet: It’s a great tool, I think, just be sure that you have completely eliminated all gluten not just wheat flour. If you do it long enough (4-6 weeks) and then reintroduce, your body will tell you what’s up.
Again I’m forced to question the scientific accuracy and legitimacy of your claims, on account of posts like this. I really like the concept behind this blog and am encouraged when you cite well-conducted studies and reputable sources, but including the worst of pseudo-science health fads like this one makes it very difficult to take the rest of your material seriously. There is a lot of harmful material in cosmetics and it’s about time someone called attention to it, but you’re likely to be written off as clueless and misguided when you cling to this kind of quackery.
I have heard about this face mapping your acne thing but never really researched further!
1. I break out mostly on my cheeks, especially my right cheek. Sometimes on my forehead.
2. I’m slowly starting to see a connection between dairy and acne. Last weekend was a dairy filled one and Monday I woke up to find 5 brand new pimples. Five! I also tend to favor my right side when I sleep, so there may be a connection there?
I’m TRYING to cut back on wheat and dairy but it’s SO hard. It seems like every food today has one or both. I need to really make a change and start cooking more homemade food. I’m getting married in less than a month and my skin is just terrible :(
Hey everyone, I am a 40-something (OK 43) and am still fighting acne – and now wrinkles too! Baahh! My acne is on my chin. I have heard that the chin is hormonal, but my ND (Naturopathic Doctor) mentioned that it is liver and gallbladder. So, not sure really. I am presently working at leveling my hormones naturally. I have just finished a natural liver cleanse (supplements) and am also on an adrenal supplement. Evidently when these two organs are taxed, it can/will through your hormones out of wack. I am also taking 5HTP for my moods as when your adrenals are stressed it can show up as depression or just a plain old funk – and I am starting to wonder if the 5HTP might be causing the break outs (how is that for self prognosis?). Did a quick google this a.m., but didn’t find anything. Shall keep you posted if I find anything (maybe go back to ND too).
p.s. was in book store today and stumbled on your book – felt so connected as I follow you almost daily here! :)
That is so sweet @projectlife! Always happy to hear it’s in stores too :)
Interesting. Give it some time and see what happens. I’ve definitely broken out from supplements. If you have regular cystic chin breakouts, though, my own experience would say it’s your sex hormones talking, not your liver. But what do I know.
My breakouts occur monthly, one blemish on my neck, either in the back near my hairline or in the front, near my chin line, but always on the neck. I don’t have to guess that this is hormonal. I had the same thing, only intensified, during the times I was pregnant.
Thanks for the face map. Very interesting.
What about along the jawline?
According to this chart, I must be about to drop dead or something…
thank you for the response! i was tested by a blood test for the celiac- which of course came back negative- i’m constantly trying to talk with my Dr about natural ways to deal with my issues (garlic for infections, elimination diet) and she plays dumb, so- i’m on my own! ….I just have to think that it’s multiple intolerances i am dealing with! my mom and sister (and even more women in my family) all exhibit signs of serious food intolerances- bowel troubles, acne, weight issues, depression, cancer, diabetes, etc etc etc. An elimination diet is on my horizon- no dairy, no gluten (thanks siobhan for making sure i know that gluten is much more than wheat!) … im going to make my own beans, and eat fruit, legumes, rice, and lean protein ONLY for at least 4 weeks to see what happens… it is/will be SO HARD because i, too, have emotional eating issues (i CRAVE! all the time- probably a lack of minerals and vitamins- and moving to the city did not help w/ this!) but i must train myself to repeat the mantra “Going without now will only lead to better and more life later!” wish me luck, send me positive energies, please!
@Disappointed: I’d like to encourage you to reconsider your position. A lot of this “quackery” is traditional medicine that has survived thousands of years, as opposed to Western medicine, which is a few hundred years old at best. While our “science” explains a lot, it certainly doesn’t explain everything. Furthermore, these traditional medicines are still science if one examines the scientific method: hypothesis, test, analysis.
I have a degree in a hard science, and I’m a big proponent of traditional medicines. Just my two cents.
also, i am confused about hormone levels – i am 22 and i feel like ppl will blow me off if i ask for testing, also how is it tested? how do you know what is off, and how do you replace hormones? how do you get natural hormones to balance your hormones? i am very confused by this but i think its an issue since my other chakras are off over the food/chemical intolerances i have….
Michelle, your argument falls into the logical fallacy category of the Appeal to Tradition; just because something has been used for hundreds or thousands of years doesn’t make it valid. I’m happy to consider any number of traditional medicines, as long as there’s evidence (such as exists for acupuncture, albeit not to the extent claimed by TCM practitioners). And most traditional healing practices fail spectacularly when put through any kind of rigorous testing (homeopathy, anyone?).
Anyway, I don’t see any evidence presented here for mapping organ dysfunction to the location of facial acne. Show me some peer-reviewed studies with decent sample sizes, then I’ll consider it. I don’t see anything that even resembles a reputable source on the linked website.
For what it’s worth, I get breakouts around my nose and on my chin, and yet my kidney/liver/hormone levels are are smack in the middle of normal. I have asthma and have never had so much as a blackhead on my right cheek. So either I’m an outlier, or the information in this face map is spurious.
I have pretty clear skin, except for the bridge of my nose, which seems to constantly have extremely angry pimples on it…red, swollen, painful! Would that area be considered my nose or my forehead? And if anyone else gets breakouts here, I would love to hear what you’ve used to treat them…it seems like nothing works for me!
@disappointed
She was arguing that traditional medicine and hard science are not mutally exclusive. Your logical fallacy is a false dichotomy (I too have taken first year philosophy).
Western medicine has yet to explain lots of things, which is why we don’t have a pill that cures acne. You cannot write off Chinese medicine just because it’s old or it contradicts some Western medicine teachings. It is obvious from the prevalance of lifestyle-related diseases (diabetes, heart disease, etc) in North America, at levels far higher than many other parts of the world, that it is worth being self-reflexive when it comes to our health and the truths we embrace unquestioningly.
Many, many women get hormonal acne around their chins near menstruation – this is well known and not quackery. Consider it a hint that a connection exits between what is happening in our bodies and on our faces. I’m not arguing that you can or should read random websites and self-diagnose. That said, the universe, the bodies we call home, are a lot more complicated than science, religion or any other framework has yet to capture. We aren’t smart enough to have figured it all out yet. Keep an open mind.
Jill… do you wear sunglasses/glasses? This could cause irritation and compact bacteria/oils… I would say use baking soda to wash your face and help with the irritation, make sure if you wax there, you are using a natural wax- if you pluck; that you are reducing irritation and sanitizing your tweezers to kill bacteria… and otherwise, try to rinse the area through-out the day with cool water to combat irritation and oil… Also, bentonite clay masks are a god-send! They reduce irritation, oil, blackheads, etc! I use aztec secret- you mix it yourself w/ water or apple cider vinegar and viola- face mask! It’s affordable and wonderful- and apparently has many many other uses. … maybe you just scrunch your nose a lot and it gets irritated! I used to have a lot of trouble w/ that area in early puberty- i would attribute it to the excessive sweat that i let build up all day and into basketball practice, a lack of understanding about proper simple face washing, using crappy foundation to try to cover up the mess, and hormones. But that is just my 2 cents! Good luck
I struggled with acne through my teens. I tried everything my dermatologist recommended: dry ice treatments, retinoids, shots in the zits themselves, benzoyl peroxide… The acne eventually subsided when I went on hormonal birth control to regulate my out of wack periods.
In my mid 20s, the acne came back, even though I was on birth control. Instead of the dermatologist route, I tried a holistic approach that included diet, exercise and acupuncture.
The acne did not subside. I made the decision to go on Accutane. (If you are unfamiliar- it causes numerous side effects including a severly disfigured baby if you become pregnant.) My face and whole body were brutally dry and cracked for the cycle of the Accutane. My acne subsided after 4 months and eventually I was clear skinned. (I still had the occasional zit when PMSing, but it was a marked improvement.)
At the time, I knew Accutane was bad for me but I felt I was at my last option. I tried natural treatments, I tried risky and potentially harmful treatments. I’m not recommending Accutane, but it did work for me at the time.
Five years later, I’m pregnant. My skin is broken out near my lips and left side of my forehead. (I wear bangs to the right.) I know this new acne is due to hormones. I would never consider using Accutane, retinoids, benzoyl peroxide or anything else that might harm my baby. I’m doing all I can that’s safe: tea tree oil, gentle exfoliation, changing pillowcases often, moisturizing with aragan oil. Still, I know my problem is hormonal and there’s not much more I can do but ride it out and hope the acne subsides once I have the babe.
Acne is one of the beauty industry’s biggest moneymakers, with all I’ve tried and all the comments above, it’s no wonder. I wish you all luck in the fight :)
Sara: perhaps try homeopathic treatments, as well as meditation! Have you tried the basics approach?: Baking soda wash, castille soap, clay masks, no make-up? Also, I hope you are looking into natural birth, and congrats on your pregnancy!!! I wonder if probiotics would help? Have you considered food intolerance? Often times pasturized milk can be a culprit, try cutting it out, and/or drink raw cow’s milk/goat’s milk. The fats in raw milk help heal the stomach and your body is able to break them down. This may also make breast feeding go much more smoothly. Check this out :
http://www.bradleybirth.com/
The bradley method is an amazing way to EXPERIENCE pregnancy, birth, and motherhood as a GIFT rather than a medical procedure! It teaches you what is going on in your body, with your baby, and learn to work WITH your body rather than try to control it! It’s amazing :)
I’ve been on the pill and when I stopped 3 years ago, acne DEFINITELY took a revenge. So I went on Accutane for 3 months. Worked for me. But after a year, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and I’m pretty it has been triggered by the Accutane. So now, I not only have a chronic disease but my acne is back. (Mostly on my chin). I’m considering going back on the pill, but really, I don’t know what to do. Tea tree oil and such are not super helpful. Any help?
@Madeleine
And yet, since the advent of Western medicine, infant mortality rates have plummeted, life spans have increased, and we now have the opportunity to suffer from “lifestyle” diseases on account of our long and relatively healthy lives. Not that it explains everything (which is not what I said), but it is responsible for far more advances in overall health and quality of life than any other healing tradition.
I never said that hard science and traditional medicines were mutually exclusive, but I’ll say again that what counts is holding up to scientific scrutiny. Show me good evidence that an alternative treatment works and I’ll happily consider it–again I refer to acupuncture, which has a lot of strong data showing that it diminishes pain.
@Reese: Thanks for your suggestions. I don’t think it is a food intolerance because this just started again with pregnancy. (Unless my pregnancy has given me a new food intolerance.) I will bring a clay mask into the rotation, great idea.
diet diet diet… stress… environment… hormones… daily usage of diff “solutions” -face wash, lotion, hair gel, sunscreen…
Thanks, Reese! I am a sunglasses fanatic (my eyes are very sensitive to light), so that is probably a determining factor here. I will definitely check out your suggestions.
In the interest of the opposite point of view, I had acute pancreatitis a couple of years ago which is about as bad as I ever want things to get for my pancreas, and I don’t recall an unusual outbreak of acne on my nose. I think I would remember, too – I was a bit of a hypochondriac during that time period, and became afraid that everything was a symptom of something worse.
I tend to get acne around my menstrual cycle and often in the exact same places (I mean the EXACT same places – like the same pores every time). Apparently this is pretty common with acne related to the menstrual cycle. My chin often gets hit, but it’s not the only place. I’ll get light acne all over my face.
The only other time I’ll get acne is if I’m out on a hot day for an extended period of time, sweating. In that case I will commonly get acne anywhere that something is touching for an extended period of time – like on my nose where sunglasses have been resting.
I clean the nose-bridge-piece of my glasses often. It has really helped w/ acne there. I also rinse w/ cool water when it feels icky!
Oh boy. I concur with “Disappointed.” This is disappointing. I get period zits on my cheeks, by the way. Whoppers.
Hi girls:
My interest is peaked w/ this green tea clay you speak of.
Is this something you make yourself?
My Asian friend swears by green tea as a cure all for just about every thing. She uses a green tea bag on her blemish (if she has any.)
Chinese medicine is really interesting. I once read somewhere that face as a map shows the internal problems. Eating foods that are high in sugar, fat, and refined carbohydrates can damage the skin health and may cause breakouts.
1. Where do you break out?
Usually I break out on my forehead, but occasionally I get one or two pimples on my nose and chin (never on my cheeks).
2. Can you associate your breakouts with anything: food, menstrual cycles, partying, etc.?
I have bangs, so that may be why I break out easily on my forehead, but I also don’t drink a lot of water. I tend to break out more if I don’t eat a lot of veggies. I also have very oily skin, so that may contribute to my acne :(
Please tell us about this green tea clay!
I just have to say that this particular map is RIGHT on for me. After struggling with acne for my entire teen and adult life, I recently discovered the Wonderbar and have been SO happy with it. I just went almost 3 entire weeks without a single breakout, barely any excess oil on my skin, and an overall great complexion. (this has never happened to me before) THEN came a holiday weekend where I decided to eat lots of heavy and bad food, drink alcohol, and not sleep enough. After 4 days of that I woke up to a forehead full of tiny breakouts (digestive system was totally off) and 2 huge cysts on my left cheek (drinks and more drinks)! Meanwhile my chin, jawline and right cheek are fine.
So yeah, the mapping is dead on for me! Thanks so much for posting this – it’s SO great to have to reference!
Acne may be caused by too much hot (toxic staff??) in stomach and large intesting upto chinese medicine so that this hot goes up to face called acna or in other places call something else. Folloing this therory to treat it, it has a significant outcomes. If you like to try this way or want to know more information, please visit http://www.mycenterfornaturalhealing.com.
lg
I’m eighteen, and I’ve had bad acne for all of my life; constant zits around my mouth, on my chin and forehead, and lots of blackheads on my nose, and my skintype was really frustrating; oily and greasey, yet dry all the time. Wash your face with water as hot as you can stand it for a while, or try steaming it, then slap some of the Lady Soma “Antioxidant Berry Masque”; it’s incredible.
It will dry on your skin; then wash it off. If you have red irritating pimples, you’ll notice a change overnight; and if you use it every night, your skin will rock. The cool thing is, this stuff also shrinks and minimizes the little pocks that zits leave in your face; I used to have them really bad under my eyes, they’re almost nonexistant now.
I breakout on my forehead. Red painful spots every few days but also constant tiny bumps on my forehead. They are pus filled but thats not visible till you squeeze them. They are a bit like blackheads but not black because they are flesh coloured bumps and not blocked black holes. Annoying because it looks like i just have really mottled thick bad skin all the time. It saysits to do with bowels intestines but how do i improve them? Help.
Backne!!!! My back is covered! I am 45 years old…. have had backne since puberty and still do!!!!!! Please help!
I’m going to bet you’re allergic to something you’re using. Could be clothes detergent, fabric softener, shampoo, conditioner, or anything else that would run down your back in the shower, or be applied to your body. This used to happen to me but never ever anymore. I also only wear breathable fabric like cotton, bamboo, silk and wool. But the big change for sure is products. Even if natural, you might be allergic to something in there.
I have to say, this is amazingly accurate. I have horrible acne along my jawline and a particular spot on my forehead. I’m currently in the process of getting treated for a couple gynecological disorders (hence the jawline) and I am seeing a gastroenterologist for an unknown intestinal/colon condition. I’m glad to see how accurately these line up.
So I just turned 18 years old, but i’m not your average child. I’ve already had twins a while back which i gave up for adoption, and up until march 24th i was having a very stressful living situation. But since then i’ve been back to normal, not on birth control, i eat healthy and i’ve been using proactive. Since about 8 months ago i began developing bad chin acne. I started using nutrogena and its dried out my skin. so then i started using proactive which i thought was working but recently my chin acne is crazy and.. ugh.. gross. I only wear make up to school and on the weekends, lol which i guess i every day but i never reapply makeup without taking the first layer off. I also go running. My acne is terrible. I’ve tried.. doing alot. I don’t know what to do! i want clear skin! :( Prom is May 12th and Graduation may 24th.. i cant be looking like i caked on a whole buncha makeup on my chin due to monsters growing.. is it my makeup? its that.. ‘dream matt mousse’ or whatever.. i need help.
Stop eating ALL dairy, grains and sugar and see your face clear up. Basically the Paleo diet, but with beans added if you like. It may be hard to do for some people, but if clear skin is what you want, then try this. It’s been said that our bodies are in a constant state of inflammation, so after about three days eating this way, you will feel way less swollen and puffy (watch will be loose) and your system will be able to focus on clearing the toxins from your body instead of just fighting all of the unhealthy substances that keep is in a constant state of sickness. Uneven skin tone will clear up as well so your face will look smoother and clear, even without makeup. Exercise also helps with that. By the way, Guerlain Parure is the best make-up ever. I hope I can help anyone who has always searched for the perfect make-up, like I always did. Good luck everyone and I hope to hear about any Paleo experiences. It is the only thing that has helped me.