What do zits around the mouth mean

Rinse the razor after every stroke, and allow the razor to dry after use to prevent a buildup of bacteria. Cleaning the face before and after shaving can reduce the chance of bacteria getting into the pores. Wash the face twice per day, especially after sweating, and always remove makeup before bed.

Choose a gentle cleanser and moisturize afterward. Clean any makeup brushes frequently to prevent transferring bacteria onto the face, where it could clog the pores. Washing towels and facecloths regularly can also help keep the skin clean. Touching the face is one of the main ways to transfer bacteria onto it.

This can cause acne breakouts. Avoid touching the area around the mouth to reduce this risk. Changing sheets and pillowcases regularly can also help prevent bacteria from coming into contact with the face. For minor acne breakouts around the mouth, keep the face clean using gentle skin care products, and avoid touching it.

Do not squeeze or pick at pimples, as this can damage the skin and introduce bacteria. Squeezing pimples can also increase the risk of acne scarring. Check for improvement after a few weeks. Maintaining a daily skin care routine can help improve skin health in the long term.

If making these changes does not resolve breakouts, OTC remedies may help. Products containing sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic acid can help get rid of minor pimples.

These products work by killing bacteria, breaking down whiteheads and blackheads, or reducing the amount of oil the skin produces.

Learn more about acne treatments here. Someone with persistent acne may need advice from a dermatologist. Prescription medication can help resolve acne if OTC medication and lifestyle changes have not worked. Antibiotics can help stop or slow the growth of bacteria. Retinoids can break down blackheads and whiteheads and may help prevent them from forming. Hormonal changes in the body can also affect the skin.

Taking birth control pills may help some females who experience acne breakouts around their period. Learn more about taking birth control pills for acne here. Minor acne breakouts around the mouth can occur due to bacteria transferring onto the face. To prevent this, try not to touch the face.

It also helps to wipe away any food and drink quickly, wash facecloths regularly, and choose noncomedogenic makeup to reduce pimples.

Teen boys often get acne along the jawline during growth spurts. Girls and women may see their chins erupt as hormones ebb and flow during their menstrual cycles.

Compared to typical T-zone pimples, acne here is likely to be deeper, bigger and more inflamed, she says. Could be genetic, could be a fluke …. Kassouf admits. Still, there are some things to keep in mind when treating blemishes here. You can treat cheeks with the same products you use elsewhere, including salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide and retinoids.

But instead of applying it daily, go for every other day on your cheeks. We all have to take our lumps sometimes.

But if you can read the clues in your breakouts, those lumps will hopefully be few and far between. Acne can be annoying for adults and teens alike. Your skin is basically a billboard for what's going on inside your body. And because breakouts actually don't just occur randomly, a pimple can send a pretty clear message about your health and hygiene, according to dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, M.

Sinai Hospital in New York City. Keep this guide on hand to understand what your zits mean — and find out how to avoid them below:.

Hormones like testosterone fluctuate throughout your cycle and make your glands produce more oil, which can ultimately clog your pores and result in pimples. Prevent them: Rev up your treatment the week before your period: If you regularly use a cleanser with an acne-fighting ingredient such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid , apply a leave-on treatment with that same active ingredient, and treat your chin, jawline, neck, and the rest of your face just to be safe.

Zeichner says. If you get super-bad breakouts at the same time every month, you might want to see your dermatologist or primary doc for a prescription treatment like birth control pills or another kind of hormonal therapy, which can level out your hormones to prevent the surges that lead to breakouts.

Zeichner says your fight-or-flight stress response is the most likely trigger for T-zone breakouts. When shit hits the fan, your body releases adrenaline that can increase oil production and increase the likelihood of breakouts. Prevent them: When stress hits or in advance when you're heading into a stressful week at work or school , apply a leave-on acne treatment to these areas or your entire face to be safe. Unless you're going for the greasy look, you probably know better than to apply heavy-duty products like pomades near your hairline.

But when you apply hair products elsewhere, and then touch your hairline to tousle your roots or smooth a flyaway, you risk clogging your pores.