There are few skin things worse than waking up to a new constellation of breakouts on your chin (waking up to forehead acne or cheek acne are close both close seconds, tho). And because chin acne is super common, especially among adults, and often lumped in with hormonal acne and stress acne, these types of breakouts are a regular occurrence for most of us.
Which is precisely why I asked dermatologists Howard Sobel, MD, and Kseniya Kobets, MD, how to get rid of stubborn chin acne, including clogged pores, blackheads, and/or whiteheads. Ahead, all the tips and tricks you need to prevent and stop chin acne in its tracks…before it ruins yet another Instagram selfie dump.
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What causes acne on the chin?
Chin acne can be caused by several factors, says Dr. Kobets, including stress, genetics, lifestyle, and hormones. All of these factors can be the cause of excess oil, which when mixed with dead skin cells, leads to clogged pores and chin breakouts.
Regularly touching your chin can also spread bacteria—another common cause of chin acne.“Pressing dirty objects like phones or unwashed pillowcases against the skin can also cause chin acne,” warns Dr. Sobel. So, if you can’t remember the last time you washed your pillowcase or sanitized your phone, now is definitely the time to give ’em a good clean.
Another one of the primary reasons for getting acne on the lower face, including the chin and jawline, is hormonal fluctuations. Hormonal acne can resemble regular acne, but it’s typically cystic, meaning it’s deeper, more painful, doesn’t always come to a head, and can persist for several days to weeks. However, as nurse practitioner Jodi LoGerfo points out, hormonal acne isn’t limited to hormonal variations like those that occur during puberty or the menstrual cycle—acne on the chin can occur in anyone at any age.
Does chin acne mean anything?
Chin acne can potentially mean you’re dealing with some sort of hormone imbalance, according to Dr. Sobel, but that isn’t always the case. Someone who is more predisposed to acne breakouts, such as someone with oilier skin or a family history of acne, may experience acne breakouts on the lower face and chin due to circulating hormones like testosterone, as well as stress hormones like cortisol, says Dr. Kobets. Plus, some people just have overactive oil glands (it’s me, hi) that are more likely to cause breakouts. Which brings us to…
How do you get rid of hormonal chin acne?
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To get rid of hormonal chin acne, you should first of all make an appointment with a dermatologist who can help prescribe you topical and/or oral medications to help mitigate zits. But there are also a handful of things you can do at home before heading to the derm. Here’s a quick rundown:
At-home treatments for chin acne:
First of all, you should have a skincare routine that includes removing makeup and moisturizing every night, as well as protecting your skin with sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher, pls) every morning. This will help not only treat your existing acne, but help prevent new breakouts from forming, says Dr. Sobel.
You’ll also want to incorporate chemical exfoliants, like salicylic acid, which get deep into pores to dissolve excess oil and dead skin cells that can cause clogging and zits. You can find salicylic acid in cleansers, serums, toners, moisturizers, spot treatments, pimple patches—pretty much any and every type of skincare product.
If you have very oily skin, you can also try benzoyl peroxide, which is one of the top dermatologist-recommended ingredients for treating acne over-the-counter because it’s anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, so it can actually kill any acne-causing bacteria lingering on the surface of your skin. If you decide to go the benzoyl peroxide route, just make sure to follow with a rich moisturizer, as the ingredient can be a bit drying (especially in higher doses).
Additionally, topical retinoids can help manage chin acne, Dr. Kobets says. Adapalene (like Differin or La-Roche Posay Effaclar), an over-the-counter retinoid for acne, essentially puts your skin-renewal process into overdrive, turning over your skin cells faster, giving them less of a chance to clog pores. This boost in cell turnover can also help smooth out rough, uneven texture, fade hyperpigmentation, and even reduce fine lines and wrinkles. But retinoids can be intense, so start slow by swiping on a pea-size amount two to three times a week, followed by a moisturizer.
Prescription and in-office treatments for chin acne:
Dr. Kobets says oral antibiotics (like Doxycyline or Seysara, a new acne-specific antibiotic) can be an option to reduce inflammation on your skin, but can’t be used for extended periods of time. Usually, these oral meds are combined with topical gels and creams, like tretinoin, azelaic acid, or clindamycin, all of which help treat and prevent acne.
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“People with vaginas can also take a hormonal blocker such as spironolactone to counteract hormonal effects on your skin,” says Dr. Kobets. Spironolactone blocks your sensitive receptors from your androgens (aka the “male” sex hormones), which helps reduce oil and acne. It’s a once-a-day treatment that’s typically super effective… but only while you’re taking it. Kobets further explains that there’s a relatively new topical cream, clascoterone or Winlevi, which basically acts as a topical version of Spiro. In the most extreme cases (or if you’ve already tried everything else), your doctor might consider isotretinoin, also known as Accutane, an oral retinoid that permanently shrinks oil glands.
You could also try Aviclear or Accure, a laser treatment that shrinks your oil glands, resulting in fewer breakouts. You’ll need to do three treatments spaced one month apart, and it’s pretty expensive (think: about $4,000 for all three sessions). But Cosmo beauty editor Beth Gillette swears Aviclear cleared up her stubborn chin and forehead acne.
Is chin acne stress acne?
Chin acne can definitely be linked to stress, as cortisol is a hormone that can lead to oil overproduction and inflammation in your skin. “These oils, combined with dead skin cells and bacteria, become a breeding ground for breakouts,” says Dr. Sobel. However, chin acne can also cause stress, creating a chicken-and-egg cycle that only deep breaths and a new skincare routine can help you break free from.
Will chin acne go away on its own?
While chin acne can go away on its own, Dr. Kobets says that “untreated cases can cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and acne scarring, so I recommend my patients seek treatment for their chin acne early on.” While your one single breakout will probably go away in a week or so, you’ll probably be looking at another breakout right after it if you don’t work to treat and prevent your zits.
It’s also important to keep in mind that if your breakouts are hormonal, they won’t just go away untreated, says Dr. Sobel. That’s where a visit to a dermatologist comes in. So as a general rule, if you’re dealing with chin acne—or any type of acne for that matter—it’s always best to seek help from a pro so that you don’t waste a ton of money on skincare products that may not work for you.
Meet the experts:
- Howard Sobel, MD, is a board-certified dermatologic surgeon at Sobel Skin in New York, NY, and also the founder of award-winning skincare brand Sobel Skin Rx.
- Kseniya Kobets, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care in Elmsford, NY. She’s passionate about utilizing treatments and procedures to help patients treat acne, rosacea, scarring, and smoothed fine lines and wrinkles.
- Jodi LoGerfo is a nurse practitioner at Orentreich Medical Group in New York, NY where she specifically treats acne, as well as cosmetic dermatology.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Iman Balagam is a beauty contributor at Cosmopolitan with nearly three years of experience writing beauty stories that range from gel nails to mini flat irons. She’s an authority in all skin categories, but is an expert when it comes to chin acne, thanks to years of personally researching and testing different skincare products and facial services for breakouts.
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