Here's What's Really Causing The Acne On Your Chin

It's safe to say that all of us have had a personal battle with acne. And whether it was a couple of pimples on your forehead for a few months when you were 14 or cystic acne throughout college, unfortunately, acne isn't just for adolescents. As we now know, it's something that may continue to haunt us well into our 30s. And that's exactly why it's important to always determine the cause of your acne if you're suffering from it, and learn how to manage it. 

One of the most common (and most annoying) areas to get acne as you get older is your chin. "Women tend to break out on the lower third of the face, especially the jawline and chin, but the neck may also be involved," Dr. Joshua Zeichner, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York told Teen Vogue. "This pattern, which I affectionately refer to as the 'beard of acne,' is a hormonally responsive area. Hormones stimulate oil production, which promote acne-causing bacteria to grow and encourage pores to become clogged."

Referred to by Dr. Anjali Mahto, a consultant dermatologist and author of The Skincare Bible, as the "U-zone," you can expect the acne on your chin and jaw to be more prominent around the time your period is due. "This is because the first half of your cycle is estrogen-heavy, and then the second half, from day 14 to day 28, is progesterone-heavy," she told Women's Health. But there are a few other factors causing the acne on your chin in addition to hormones. 

Lifestyle factors like stress and lack of sleep can also prompt chin acne. "Stress causes your body to make hormones like cortisol, which prompts glands in your skin to make more oil," Debra Jaliman, M.D., an NYC-based dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, explained to InStyle. "Excess oil can lead to breakouts." California-based dermatologist Caren Campbell, M.D., adds that even your diet could be the culprit.

If the acne on your chin and jawline area is causing you stress, it's best to speak to your doctor or dermatologist who will be able to help you identify the cause and can help you develop a treatment plan.