Have you noticed small white-like bumps around your hairline, your forehead or the back of your neck? These are most likely caused by your hair products.
These small bumps can be so small that many times we can feel them, but we cannot see them. However, this is nothing to freak out about. In fact, this is so common that it has a scientific name: acne cosmetica.
The truth of the matter is that: what touches hair, touches skin.
What ingredients cause breakouts, and why?
Hair products often contain oils that touch your skin and clog your pores. These oils and chemicals come in contact with your face, chest, and back as you wash them off your hair. This is particularly risky for users with acne-prone skin. Other ingredients such as petroleum, silicone, cocoa butter, sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, mineral oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, and lanolin, if left of the skin, can also trigger acne. The takeaway is that even ingredients that are amazingly healthy for your hair, such as coconut oil, are not so much for your skin.
How can I know if my hair care products are causing my breakouts? If they are, should I stop using them?
The simplest way to know if your hair care products are causing your breakouts is to keep an eye on where the breakout is taking place. If it is mostly taking place around the hairline and forehead, this is most likely due to the products touching your skin during treatment and wash-off.
You do not necessarily need to throw your hair care routine out of the window because of this, especially if you are using products with beneficial ingredients for your hair. To reduce and prevent further breakout, make sure to completely wash the products off of your hair. Afterward, wash your face to ensure there are no residues. The final and most crucial tip to prevent breakouts is to not use the same towel you dried yourself with to dry your face. Chemicals and substances can very well remain in your hair and scalp and you would be robbing these onto your skin.
Bottom Line:
Your skin and hair are made up differently, so what may be good for your hair may not be for your skin. Continue choosing products that are good for your hair but make sure they are not coming in contact with your skin. If they do, immediately wash off and keep separate hair and face towels.
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Edited by Zoë Skvarka