Pimples On The Forehead? Know The Causes, Preventions, & Treatments

Pimples can be a nightmare to deal with, and more so when they pop up right where everyone can see them— the forehead. Call them zits or blemishes, pimples on the forehead are common for those with poor hygiene, an unhealthy diet, and poor skincare and hair care routines.

But the most crucial question is, are these pimples avoidable?

Well, yes! Once you figure out why they show up in the first place, getting rid of them will not be as difficult as you think. Besides, we’ve rounded up all the tips and tricks to help you keep your skin clear and healthy!

So before you get rid of them, let’s know them better below:

What are pimples on the forehead?

Pimples are basically your open pores clogged with excess oil, dirt, and dead skin cells. When the acne-causing bacteria continues to grow, the pores get inflamed to form reddish bumps (with or without pus). They mostly appear near your hairline or the forehead. But some pimples give you a warning before showing up— in the form of acne!

What is forehead acne?

If you are unaware, pimples are inflamed forms of acne. So if forehead acne is left untreated, it may get inflamed and turn into pus-like pimples. If you are still confused about how forehead acne and pimples are related, here are the types of acne for a better understanding.

Type of acne:

Blackheads: With a crater-like appearance, blackheads have dark spots on the openings. These spots are basically dirt, oil, and dead skin cells trapped in your pores.

Whiteheads: Unlike open blackheads, whiteheads are closed with trapped oil, dirt and dead skin cells.

Papules: Tiny red or pink bumps on the skin are called papules. They may aggravate and turn into pus-filled pimples (pustules). These can cause acne scars if you pop or pick on them.

Nodules: If pimples are deep into your skin, they are called nodules.

With that, it should be easy to know if you have acne or pimples on the forehead.

Causes of pimples on the forehead:

Here’s what may be triggering forehead acne or pimples on your forehead:

1. Hormonal imbalance: As the body goes through hormonal changes during puberty and menstruation, it may lead to sudden breakouts or zits.

2. Comedogenic or unsuitable products: Comedogenic products fill in your pores to create a smooth appearance on your skin. However, they can end up clogging your pores too. Also, products that are unsuitable for your skin type can cause irritation and trigger breakouts.

3. Stress: Although the correlation between stress and acne is undefined, many people have noticed breakouts or pimples during stressful times.

4. Head gears: Wearing an unclean hat/cap/scarves or helmet can lead to a skin infection, thus causing breakouts and pimples.

5. Poor hair hygiene: Not following a proper hair care routine can trigger zits. How? The bacteria on your scalp may spread to your hairline and forehead to cause an infection. And this infection can trigger breakouts!

6. Poor or no skincare routine: Lack of a good skincare routine can trap excess oil, dirt and dead skin cells in your pores, thus clogging them and causing breakouts.

7. Genetics: If your parents or siblings had or have chronic pimple problems, there’s a high chance you might get it too.

8. Unhealthy diet and lifestyle: A diet high in sweets and fast food can cause pimple problems too. How? Sweet and starchy food tends to spike your blood sugar levels, which can cause inflammation in your body and increase oil production. And both we know are the root causes of acne! Also, not getting enough sleep can affect your clear, smooth skin.

Other not-so-common factors are:

• Sweating

• Dandruff

• Strong medication

• Fungal infection in hair follicles and more

Who can get forehead pimples?

Forehead pimples are common during or once you hit puberty. Yes, they are more frequent for teenagers, but adults and seniors may face pimple problems too.

What to do if you have pimples on your forehead now?

If you are dealing with them now, please do not squeeze, pop or pick on them. You will only make it worse, as the bacteria would spread to other parts of your skin and cause more zits.

Mostly, pimples go away on their own or with home remedies such as:

1. Tea tree oil:

Mix tea tree oil with your skin care products or carrier oil (almond or coconut oil) and apply it to the affected areas (spot treatment). Since it has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, tea tree oil calms the redness and reduces swelling and inflammation.

2. Green tea:

Green tea will calm inflamed pimples and also reduce excess oil production. It has anti-inflammatory properties to fight acne-causing bacteria and reduce redness. Also, making a green tea toner is pretty simple.

Just boil 3-4 green tea leaves in water. Let it cool. Then apply it to affected areas or your entire face and leave it overnight. Continue for a week or two for the best results.

3. Honey and cinnamon mask:

Mix 2 tbsp honey with 1 tsp cinnamon powder and apply it on your face or affected areas for 15 minutes. Both cinnamon and honey have antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties to fight acne and pimples.

Home remedies are ideal if you get breakouts or zits occasionally. But if you see pimples more often, you might need dermat-backed topical treatments for relief.

Treatments your dermat might suggest for your pimples:

1. Topical treatments:

Your dermat will prepare a new skincare routine with gels and ointments suitable for your skin type. These products mostly have AHA and BHA acids such as glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, and more to reduce acne and pimples.

2. Chemical peel treatment:

For quick results, your dermat may suggest a chemical peel treatment to tackle your acne and pimple problems. The process will unclog your pores, reduce oil production, and exfoliate dead skin to make your skin appear clear and smoother than before.

How is makeO skinnsi making it effortless for you?

makeO skinnsi’s dermats have curated 100% toxin-free, cruelty-free, and vegan products and treatments to tackle your skincare problems. That too at home!

Acne away kit: Our acne away kit has a foaming face wash, pore-perfecting toner, and potent serum to exfoliate, unclog and tighten your pores. Include it in your skincare routine to notice softer, smoother, and fresher skin in just 3 weeks!

Get your acne-away kit here!

Be bright AHA BHA exfoliating peel: This exfoliator will gently scrub away dead skin, unclog your pores, and lighten dark spots to reveal brighter, clear, and fresher skin. Also, it’s suitable for all skin types!

Get your makeO skinnsi exfoliating peel here!

makeO skinnsi peel: Looking for a chemical peel treatment? Our dermats have curated one for you too. makeO skinnsi peel is customized for every skin type and performed by dermat-certified therapists using a solution derived from fruits. That too at home! Yep, no need to step out to get a makeO skinnsi peel.

Know more about makeO skinnsi peel here!

Want some prevention tips to stay away from future pimples?

Here you go:

• Exfoliate your skin twice a week.

• Follow your hair care routine regularly.

• Remove your makeup before going to bed.

• Follow a good and dermat-backed skincare routine.

• Wear loose and clean head gears to avoid skin infection.

• Avoid squeezing, popping, or picking on pimples or acne.

• Do not touch your face or wash your hands before touching your face.

• Use non-comedogenic face wipes (that won’t clog your pores) to clean your face after sweating.

When should you see a dermatologist?

If your pimple problems persist despite you following a proper skincare routine, or if they worsen, you must consult a dermatologist immediately. Also, if you have sensitive skin, you must consult an expert before trying a particular skincare product or over-the-counter medication to avoid skin irritation.

Sometimes all your skin needs is a little attention, care and comfort to glow. And you must maintain good skin and hair care routine to keep those pesky pimples far, far away from your forehead. And if they do show up, you can always find a solution at makeO skinnsi.

About makeO

makeO is the first of its kind at-home oral and skin care services in India, that is focussed on providing technology and science-backed solutions to its customers.

makeO will offer expert-backed oral and skin care solutions such as teeth alignment with makeO toothsi clear aligners, laser hair removal, hydra facial, acne treatment services, anti-ageing treatments, and premium products, including electric toothbrush, teeth whitening kit, aligner cleaning foam, face wash, toner, etc. – all of which are available directly at customers’ doorstep as well as at makeO experience centres and partner clinics.