Acne on Your Chin? Here Are 4 Reasons Why It Happens

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - According to Jenny Liu, a certified dermatologist and an assistant professor at Minnesota University, chin acne could be hard to control since the chin area has more sebaceous glands. The gland is responsible for producing sebum which causes clogged pores and hormone fluctuation.

Acne on the chin and jawline are marked by an irritation, usually present as papules and pustules. "They are not the smaller, non-irritable clogged pores", said Marisa Garshick, a dermatologist at MDCS Dermatology and an assistant professor at Cornell University.

Including hormones fluctuation, here are 4 main reasons why chin acne could happen:

1. Stress

Mental strain may not only cause burnout and anxiety but also affect skin health. The body responds to stress by releasing cortisol, and too much cortisol will increase skin irritation. As quoted from Self, Mara Weinsten Velez, a dermatologist at Rochester Medical Center University stated that it is a response from the immune system towards a threat, which can cause the skin to be more sensitive.

Which means, there is stress-induced acne. "When we are stressed, the sebaceous glands will produce excessive sebum, clogging pores and causing whiteheads or blackheads," added Velez.

2. Hormones fluctuation

Hormone-induced acnes could be found in anyone from any age range. Hormone fluctuation is caused by various factors, including puberty, menstruation cycle, or menopause. The changes in estrogen, androgen, progesterone, or insulin are the main cause of chin acne since it triggers excessive sebum production.

"Sebum is important for skin protection and moisturizer. However, excessive production of sebum may clog your pores," said Velez. This is the reason why an oily face has more risk of acne.

3. PCOS

If your chin acne is too persistent, it can be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which according to Mayo Clinic causes the body to produce an excessive amount of androgen.

A PCOS acne will not only appear as a whitehead on the chin, but as cystic acne covering a third of the lower face. It usually appears adjacent to your menstruation and needs a long time to heal.

4. Wearing masks

Wearing a mask is an everyday routine for a lot of people, especially ones with immune problems. However, it could also cause mask acne.

"Wearing masks could cause acne mechanica, a type of acne induced by frequent friction and physical blockage of the follicles causing clogged pores", said Garschick.

Aside from that, hot weather and sweat inside the masks are perfect humid conditions for bacteria to reproduce.

SELF | MILA NOVITA | NAJLA NUR FAUZIYAH

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