04 Aug Could ‘acne mapping’ help you get rid of spots?

In this article, we delve into the world of acne face mapping – a technique which aims to understand breakouts to help you get rid of spots.

What causes spots?

First, you need to understand what causes spots.

Breakouts are caused when oil-producing sebaceous glands within the skin’s pores become overactive. This excess oil causes pores to become clogged and infected resulting in dreaded whiteheads, blackheads, spots and pimples.

Although spots and acne are often thought of as something that only affects teenagers, they are actually a problem for people of all ages to a greater or lesser degree.

What is acne face mapping?

Acne face mapping is a modern take on traditional Chinese face mapping which dates back 3,000 years. The technique aims to use science to establish what spots on your face mean.

In face mapping, the face is divided into zones and, with the help of a lifestyle questionnaire, experts look to find causes for skin issues like acne. The idea is that once you’ve discovered what causes your acne, you can develop a natural remedy for spots by avoiding these triggers.

The zones used to map your face to help you get rid of spots are:

Spots around your hairline

Sometimes called ‘pomade acne’, spots on your forehead and around your hairline may be the result of haircare products blocking your pores. This kind of acne is caused when the oil from styling products seeps onto the face.

Try opting for hair care products that are described as ‘noncomedogenic’. This essentially means non-clogging and signifies that the product is specially formulated to avoid blocking pores.

Spots on your cheeks

Spots on your cheeks are likely the result of bacteria spread via three key culprits: your phone screen; your pillowcases; and your own hands.

Your phone screen: 

It turns out phone screens are pretty filthy. In fact, researchers from the University of Arizona found mobile phone screens carry 10 times more bacteria than most toilet seats!

Regularly disinfect your phone screen to eliminate breakout-causing bacteria. If you spend a lot of time on the phone, it may also be worth buying a set of Bluetooth earphones.

Your pillowcase:

Australian fitness influencer, Kayla Itsines, puts her gorgeous clear skin down to changing her pillowcase every three days. Although this might be a bit extreme, regularly refreshing your pillowcase might help you beat the breakouts.

This is because we know dirt, bacteria and makeup collect on pillowcases. Changing your pillowcase avoids this kind of thing transferring onto your face and blocking your pores.

Your hands: 

The average person touches their own face around 23 times every hour! Unless you’ve just washed your hands, this is likely to spread bacteria picked up from things like door handles and railings to your face.

To avoid spots on your cheeks, get out of the habit of touching your face unnecessarily. If you’re the type of person who has restless hands, try investing in a fidget ring or stress ball to keep your hands busy.

Spots around your mouth and chin

Spots around your mouth, jawline or chin are usually the result of a hormonal imbalance, particularly excess androgens, sometimes known as ‘male hormones’.

For us women, hormone levels tend to surge around menstruation so you may find you have more spots on the lower half of your face before or during your period. Plus, changes to contraception and diet may also play a part.

Spots on your nose and forehead

If lots of spots are appearing in your T-zone area, stress may be to blame. We have a whole article that explains that although stress doesn’t directly cause acne, it can make it worse.

Looking for a natural remedy for stress and mild anxiety? Medical Herbalist, Hannah Charman, explains how St John’s Wort can help in this article.

How acne face mapping could help you get rid of spots

Acne face mapping may help you understand your skin better and enable you to take a fresh look at what might be triggering your acne or breakouts and find natural ways to get rid of your spots:

• Breakouts on your forehead – try changing your hair care products.
• Spots on your cheeks – get the wipes and soap out to get rid of bacterial contamination from surfaces like your phone screen, pillowcase and even your hands.
• Acne or spots around your mouth and chin – you may need to speak to a specialist or qualified medical herbalist to see if you can get help to regulate your hormones.
• Problems with your T-zone – try and reduce your stress levels with meditation, or herbal remedies designed to help with anxiety and stress.

Natural Remedies for Spots

HRI Clear Complexion™ and HRI Teen Skin are our targeted natural remedies for spots.

HRI Clear Complexion contains a unique formulation of two natural spot-fighting ingredients to reduce inflammation and help boost skin health: Burdock root and Blue Flag rhizome extract. Two or three easy to swallow tablets a day can have dramatic results.

HRI Teen Skin is a multi-vitamin and probiotic formulated especially for younger skin. The easy to take tablets offer a full multivitamin complex containing 26 nutrients designed to help regulate hormones, boost energy levels and promote clear, confidence-boosting skin.