Figuring out what’s causing your acne can feel like a scavenger hunt!

Depending on where it’s located, it can offer clues as to what’s causing the problem.

Breakouts happening in the same place might be caused by:

Touching your face, like having your hand on your chin while working
Touching your phone to your face
Certain makeup and skincare products
Picking pimples

chin and jawline acne might be caused by:

Hormone imbalances and even normal female hormone fluctuations
Stress
Gut imbalances
Teething and drooling in babies
Dietary sugar and dairy

Acne on your cheeks might be due to:

Touching your phone to your face
Resting your cheek/face in your hand
Bacteria on your pillowcase
Certain makeup and skincare products
Stress
Gut imbalances
Detoxification problems (your skin is a detoxification organ, and if you’re not digesting or eliminating correctly, the problem can appear on your skin as it attempts to excrete toxins and metabolic waste products).

If you have acne on your forehead, consider:

Hair products, including shampoo and conditioners (ingredients like SLS [sodium lauryl sulfate/sodium laureth sulfate] and coconut oil)
Fungal involvement (the same fungus that causes cradle cap, seborrheic dermatitis, and dandruff)
Gut imbalances
Detoxification problems
Diet
Stress

Acne around your mouth might be due to:

Toothpaste that contains SLS
Teething and drooling in babies
Gut imbalances
Detoxification problems

natural, Topical options may help:

Apple cider vinegar
- It can fight many types of bacteria, including P. acnes, which causes acne.
- It contains lactic acid, which may improve the appearance of acne scars.
- It can help dry up excess oil that causes acne in the first place.
- How to use it:
  - Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar and 3 parts water (use more water for sensitive skin).
  - After cleansing, dab the mixture on the affected area with a cotton ball, let it sit for up to 20 seconds, rinse and pat dry.
  - Apply moisturizer.
  - You can repeat this 1–2 times per day, as needed.
  - *NOTE: applying apple cider vinegar can cause burns and irritation, so always use it in small amounts and dilute it with water when putting it on the skin.
Honey and Cinnamon Mask
- Honey and cinnamon are rich in antioxidants. They can fight bacteria and reduce inflammation, two triggers for acne.
- How to use it:
  - Mix 2 tablespoons honey and 1 teaspoon cinnamon together into a paste.
  - After cleansing, apply the mix to your skin and leave it on for 10–15 minutes.
  - Rinse and pat dry.
  - Apply moisturizer.
Tea Tree Oil
- It fights bacteria, reduces skin inflammation, and can help reduce acne.
- Because it’s potent, always dilute it before applying it to the skin.
- How to use it:
  - Mix 1 part tea tree oil with 9 parts water.
  - Use a cotton swab to apply the mix to cleaned, affected areas.
  - You can repeat this 1–2 times per day, as needed.
Green Tea
- It’s high in antioxidants, and the flavonoids and tannins in green tea fight bacteria and reduce inflammation.
- The primary antioxidant in green tea (epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)) can reduce oil production, fight inflammation and inhibit the growth of P. acnes.
- How to use it:
  1. Steep green tea in boiling water for 3–4 minutes.
  2. Let it cool.
  3. Use a cotton ball to apply the tea to clean skin, or you can pour it into a spray bottle to spray it on.
  4. Allow it to dry, rinse and pat dry.
  5. Apply moisturizer.
Witch Hazel
- It contains tannins, which have strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Applying it to the skin can fight bacteria, lower inflammation, and may help with healing.
- How to use it:
  - After cleansing, apply with a cotton ball.
  - Apply moisturizer.
  - You can repeat this 1–2 times per day, as needed.
Moisturize With Aloe Vera
- Aloe vera gel can reduce inflammation and help with healing.
- It contains salicylic acid and sulfur, both helpful with acne.
- How to use it:
  1. Apply aloe gel to clean skin as a moisturizer.
  2. Repeat 1–2 times per day, as needed.
  3. Make sure it is pure aloe without added ingredients.
Exfoliate Regularly
- This removes the top layer of dead skin cells and improves acne because these skin cells can clog pores (causing the problem).
- How to make your own exfoliating scrub:
  1. Mix equal parts sugar or salt, and coconut oil.
  2. Gently scrub your skin with the mixture, rinse and pat dry.
  3. Apply moisture.
  4. Exfoliate as often as once daily. Less often for sensitive skin.
Use jojoba oil for cleansing and moisturizing.

Baby acne

In newborns, baby acne can show up right after birth, or it might develop a few weeks later. Often it clears on its own.

In the meantime, strategies that can help are:

Keep the face clean and moisturized.
Breastmilk - soak a cotton ball in breastmilk and dab it on the affected area.
Apple cider vinegar - dilute apple cider vinegar in water and dab it on the affected area with a cotton ball.
Coconut oil - Add to a cotton ball and apply to the affected area.
Witch hazel - Add alcohol-free, diluted witch hazel to a cotton ball and apply to the affected area.
Gently exfoliate.