Updated date:

Nov 14, 2019

What Your Pimples Mean and How to Get Rid of Them

Author:

Shushanik is always looking for ways to improve her skin and address problem areas. She loves sharing her findings with her readers.

Almost every woman gets a pimple or two before her period. Most of us blame it on the hormones, throw on some concealer, and call it a day. However, some of us get a pimple on the same spot every single time, and no amount of cream or cleanser can get rid of it. There are a couple of different explanations for this, from your hormones to your genetics to your hygiene habits. In this article, we will explore:

What pimples mean according to Eastern Medicine
How your hygiene habits can affect your acne
Steps you can take to get rid of pimples

Face mapping has long been used to explain why acne occurs in certain areas of the face, but it's not scientifically proven.

What Your Pimples Mean According to Chinese Face Mapping

Eastern medicine suggests that skin problems are a reflection of your inner well-being. Looking at what part of your body is prone to pimples is said to help determine what internal health problems you might have. It's not an actual diagnosis, but it might be worth paying attention to.

Pimples on the Forehead and Bridge of the Nose

According to Eastern medicine, pimples on your forehead or above the eyebrow mean that your liver is struggling to cope with its responsibilities. Your diet is most likely dominated by fats, dairy, soft drinks, and red meat, meaning that your body is struggling to get rid of the extra toxins.

To help your body get rid of forehead pimples, start consuming less chocolate, cakes, and sugary drinks. Bake food in the oven rather than frying or boiling it. Start drinking more still water and eating food that helps eliminate toxins from the body, like boiled cabbage and baked apples. If all else fails, you can give up all dairy for a month and see if that helps your forehead clear up.

Pimples Under the Eye

Undereye pimples indicate problems with the kidneys and adrenals. If you constantly get pimples in this area, you are probably very tired, have very little sleep, and are under constant stress. Your diet probably lacks essential nutrients.

Moderating your activity should help clear the under-eye area. Forget about stressful ambitions and hardcore dieting—practice meditation, or watch the surface of the water to relax. Fruits and vegetables with a lot of vitamin C, such as kiwi, sweet peppers, and oranges, will help you stay in a good mood.

Pimples on the Chest, Back, and Cheeks

Pimples on your chest, back, and cheeks could mean that your lungs are overloaded. According to Eastern medicine, the lungs accumulate unbalanced, heavy, and viscous energy that cannot find a way out of your body. You might attract this energy because you smoke, don't get enough fresh air, eat lots of sweets and dairy products, or eat very little fruits and vegetables.

To balance the energy, try to spend more time every day in the fresh air. Include fresh vegetables, oatmeal, and brown rice in your diet.

Pimples on the Nose

According to Chinese medicine, pimples on your nose indicate cardiovascular problems. This could mean that your heart may lack vitamin B and protein, or that you have an inactive lifestyle or are constantly worried. If this is the case, your skin might suffer from a lack of nutrients and poor blood circulation.

To remedy the problem, add more green vegetables and fruits, fish, and whole grains to your diet. Exercise for at least one hour every day.

Pimples on the Lips and Shoulders

Pimples on lip or shoulders could indicate digestive problems. In addition to the pimples, you might have indigestion, intestinal colic, or constipation. These symptoms can occur when you are very sensitive, vulnerable, and too worried about life.

To help your digestive system, put more fiber in your diet, and try to have a cup of green tea after each meal.

Pimples on the Chin and Jaw

Pimples on the chin can indicate both problems with the small intestine and a hormonal imbalance. You might be nervous and sleep very little, or you might drink too much coffee or alcohol. Acne on your chin can sometimes be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome, so be sure to consult a doctor if your acne is very intense or painful.

Pimples on the Neck

Pimples on the neck may indicate problems in the endocrine or digestive system. They can also be caused by colds or infections. Some foods, such as berries, broccoli, salmon, or turkey may help ease symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

Pimples on the Ears

Pimples on the ears often indicate kidney problems. To get rid of them, try lowering the amount of phosphorus food you consume in your diet and maintaining the right amounts of protein and potassium. You might also want to limit your dairy intake.

Sometimes, your hygiene habits can affect where you get breakouts on your face.

How Your Hygiene Can Affect Where You Get Acne Breakouts

Though Eastern medicine is popular across the internet, there are no proven correlations between the acne on areas of your face and certain organs. However, your personal hygiene habits can affect how whether or not you get breakouts in certain areas, from dirty pillowcases to monthly hormone fluctuations.

How to Get Rid of Pimples

If your pimples are caused by poor hygiene, there are several methods you can take to take good care of your skin. However, if your breakouts are causing you pain or severe inflammation, consult a dermatologist for ways to keep your skin pain-free.

Keeping proper skin hygiene to try to get rid of those annoying pimples is pretty simple—there is no need for anything super expensive. Here are some ways to start seeing healthier skin.

Though it doesn't hurt to keep good hygiene habits, your acne is ultimately determined by uncontrollable factors, such as your genes and hormones.

1. Drink Water

Adults should drink at least eight glasses of water a day. This will help keep your skin moisturized and healthy, keeping it from being prone to wrinkling. If your skin is dry, your skin cells could overcompensate by producing too much oil—which might cause acne.

2. Regularly Change Your Bed Sheets and Pillowcase

Dirt and oil from your face, body, and hair can get trapped in your bedsheets. It's important to change your sheets at least once a week to prevent oil from one part of your body from spreading to another. You might have to change them more often if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Everybody has different skin and hygiene habits. It's more hygienic to use your own towel so that you don't get other people's oil and bacteria onto your skin. Also, make sure to wash your towel regularly. These same rules apply to makeup brushes and applicators.

4. Remove All of Your Makeup

A quick swipe with a makeup wipe is not enough to get the makeup off of your skin. Be thorough when removing your makeup, making sure to get into all the nooks and crannies, right up to your hairline and down to your neck. First, use a cleansing oil to break down the product, and follow up with makeup remover or micellar water to get all the product off your skin.

5. Use an Acne-Fighting Cleanser With Benzoyl Peroxide

The best ingredients used in cleansers to treat acne are benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or alpha-hydroxy acid. Benzoyl peroxide is proven to fight bacteria and inflammation, but it might also dry out your skin—make sure to use a light moisturizer afterward.

I use Humane Benzoyl Peroxide 10% Acne Treatment Body & Face Wash. It is the strongest 10% benzoyl peroxide cleanser without a prescription, and it contains no parabens, fragrances, and it is not tested on animals. As an added bonus, it can be used not only as a cleanser but as a body wash as well—it helps keep my skin clear both on my face and body.

6. Use Tea Tree Oil

This natural oil has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and can be used on its own to spot-treat problem areas. You can also mix a few drops into your favorite moisturizer, or purchase a moisturizer that uses it as one of its ingredients.

7. Use a Hot Towel Face Compress

Putting a hot, damp towel on your face for 20 minutes or so while you are relaxing in the bath, for example, can help open up your pores so that you can clean your pores more effectively.

8. Use a Face Mask

There are a number of products from your kitchen that have acne-fighting qualities when applied to the skin—potato, pumpkin, cucumber, or garlic, to name a few. You can make easy DIY acne face masks and use them daily or a few times a week.

Love the Skin You're In!

I hope that this article helped you to understand possible underlying causes of your pimples and ways to remedy the problem. However, please remember that you can do all the acne-fighting treatments possible and still get acne. While good hygiene and drinking water can't hurt, there are so many uncontrollable factors—such as your genes, your hormones, and your stress levels—that can contribute to your acne. Acne does not define you. Learn to love yourself, no matter what you look like!

I use Viva Labs The Finest Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. It is a pure coconut oil without any additives, free of pesticides, bleach, hexane and trans fats. Using such moisturizer after a cleanser with benzoyl peroxide will not only balance out possible dryness caused by the former, but also add to its anti-bacterial acne-fighting features.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Questions & Answers

Question: I'm a teenager and I have many whiteheads on my face. I can't get rid of them even after following a good skin care routine. How can I get rid of them? What should I do?

Answer: Whiteheads are usually removed by dermatologists.

Question: How long would acne last?

Answer: It all depends on the situation and the reason acne appears.

Question: I am a child and I have acne all on my nose and forehead and had started to have acne ever since I started softball. Does softball have any effect on me getting pimples and bumps on my nose?

Answer: No, softball doesn't influence your skin.

Question: I’m a teenager, and I have had acne for three years. I had it when I was younger and it's getting out of control; I have acne marks all over my face. I’ve tried natural ways, creams everything, and nothing seems to work, and I have these pimples on my chin and forehead. What should I try?

Answer: You should see an aesthetician who specializes in acne problems. It's hard to give any advice without seeing the skin and checking on diet lifestyle, etc. There is a Californian professional brand of skincare for acne-prone skin called Face Reality. Find an aesthetician who is certified by them. They give very good training for aestheticians specifically for acne problems.

Question: I'm a teenager, and I have acne on my chin. I've used a cream my doctor prescribed to me, and it works. But even if I forgot to do it one night/day the pimples combine. On my chin that happened, and it's painful. Any suggestions?

Answer: I would suggest you to talk to your doctor who prescribed the cream.

Comments

MirandaTy on May 08, 2020:

Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts. Just want to share my success story. Hope this helps. I’ve been using Retin-A (Tretinoin). Very happy I found * QACNE365 * in google and got retin-a. It is hands down the most effective anti-acne, anti-blackheads, anti-whatever skin flaw you may have. It is the only thing that has actually helped with my acne. People comment on my skin daily.

Grace Temitope on April 19, 2020:

Is it safe to use a hot towel face compress everyday

Denise on April 07, 2020:

I have tried most face masks but they do not work what else can I do?

Idris on January 08, 2020:

An in-depth post

Thanks for sharing your experience

ashlyn rosado on November 07, 2019:

I have pimples on my lower cheek descending near my mouth what can I do to fix it?

Lisaalbe on May 18, 2019:

I had severe acne both on my face and back and after trying countless of dermatologists’ treatment options, I'd still found myself frustrated by my debilitating acne problem. I finally found a program that did a fantastic job of showing me the right way... The holistic way! After less than a month of following this natural remedy ( http://acne1.1cure.info ), most of my acne was gone.

m. on April 10, 2019:

Hi, I am 25 years old and I have pimples just above my mouth.

The only area on my face that I've acne above my mouth. What could be the cause? Can someone help me.

person on November 15, 2018:

I'm a girl , an i have pimples on my forehead,cheeks,an under my nose(above my top lip), an also my chin how do I fix it ?

Hey on October 23, 2018:

There’s about three of these I don’t got I feel like crap from this

A Teenager on June 30, 2018:

I've been getting pimples on my forehead since I was very young... and I've tried so many things. I'll see if this works... I guess.

Stanzin chozang on May 12, 2018:

I have try many thing but can't clean pimples on face

Rean on April 18, 2018:

Hi, im 22 yr old but still have alot of acne. im wondering these white spots of my skin that turn into acne when it itchy ..it tarted when i was 12 yrs old at my back then on my face my chest, my shoulder even in my butt , im so upset about it, im felt so depressed everytime it started to itch and got a lot bumps.

mavs on April 03, 2018:

my skin is so sensitive thats why i have a lot of pimples anywhere of my body because of the foods intake like too much oil frying, olive oil,meat fats, chicken skin, tea, hot spicy, eggs... avoid this foods if you want a clear skin, eat a lot of vegetables, fruits, chicken breast, and take vitamin c and do exercise atleast 1 hour a day... believe me you won't regret! try it in just 4 or 5 days all your pimples is gone!

Molly Crossley on January 02, 2018:

I am having trouble with a red spot on the side of my nose what does this mean

Rana on August 17, 2017:

Thank u so much I was always wondering why do I have pimples on my for head , chin,and nose and asking my self why does my friends don't have pimples just like me now I know the reason, and I will take care of my diet every day

Angie on January 08, 2017:

Thank you! this is very helpful. Will watch my eating habits .

Veleda on June 16, 2014:

I get them in my scalp, what does that indicate?

Someone on April 12, 2014:

Ya I get pimples on my jaws before my periods. This time, I also got them on my chest. It is painful and irritating.

harry attri on May 09, 2013:

many pimple in my face and my skin oily,please give me solution ,medicine or pimple cream any tips forward my email-harryattri21@gmail.com

Nicole S Hanson from Minnesota on April 18, 2013:

Very useful! And I think pretty accurate. I get pimples right under my jaw and they just never go away! Argh.

Shadaan Alam from India on February 19, 2013:

voted up, great hub, this was completely new thing for me to read, loved it, i keep getting pimples on my chin and cheeks and now know the cause too. thanks for sharing

Shushanik (author) from San Francisco Bay Area on February 05, 2013:

Thanks Alecia.

If they appear on the same place again and again, then it's for a reason... :)

Alecia Murphy from Wilmington, North Carolina on February 05, 2013:

I never saw pimples on different parts of the body as being symbolic of another health problem. Great hub!

Shushanik (author) from San Francisco Bay Area on February 04, 2013:

Thanks. I'm glad it's helpful :)

Tyronne on February 04, 2013:

Wow, thanks so much for this article.. I've learnt so much!! Good read and great info!

Rebekah on January 08, 2013:

How can you balance your sexual hormones to get rid of breakouts on your chin?

Katie on December 11, 2012: