Acne Keeps Coming Back In Same Spot Best Tips To Stop It

Can you predict the spot of your next pimple as accurately as the date of your next period? If you the answer is yes, there’s probably a reason you keep getting a pimple in the same spot, acne keeps coming back in same spot.

According to Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, there are steps you may take to break the cycle of particularly persistent, irritating pimples.

What you need to know about these difficult-to-treat pimples—and how to permanently get rid of them—is provided here.

Acne Keeps Coming Back In Same Spot Best Tips To Stop It

1. That pimple might actually be a cyst.

Underground pimples that swell up and never come to a head (these suckers are known as cysts) are notorious for showing up in the same exact spot, says Dr. Zeichner. They develop when your pore, which is shaped like a long tube, branches out and causes oil to take a detour from its path to the surface of your skin.

Ugh, Cystic Acne Is The Worst—But You Can Treat It

When this occurs, according to Dr. Zeichner, the oil beneath the skin seems like a “balloon” and expands and contracts based on how much oil you’re creating. If you have several cysts that are close together because they might leave scars, your doctor may suggest a birth control pill, spironolactone, antibiotics, or even Accutane. dermatologist Estee Williams, M.D., of New York City

For the occasional cyst, Dr. Williams recommends a topical treatment. “Cleansers can only do so much,” says says. “Acne usually requires leave-on products.” Look for spot treatments that contain glycolic or salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, like this one from La Roche-Posay.

2. You’re not popping that whitehead the right way.

If you’ve ever squeezed a whitehead until it burst, according to Dr. Zeichner, it’s likely that not all of the obstruction was removed, which could cause the pimple to re-inflame. An additional pimple may develop adjacent to your existing one as a result of irritation or bacterial exposure. Despite the fact that it can seem to be the same zit, Dr. Zeichner says it isn’t.

It’s easier said than done, but the best thing to do to treat a whitehead is nothing at all. Popping can lead to scarring, unless you leave it to a pro. But if you can’t resist the pop, Dr. Zeichner recommends using a salicylic acid treatment to remove excess oil and prevent your pore from becoming blocked again.

3. Your dirty habits might be to blame.

Have the practice of reading emails at your desk or caressing your face when you’re stressed? What if you never cleaned your phone? Acne brought on by heat, friction, and pressure exerted on the skin is known as acne mechanica.

Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Yale New Haven Hospital, suggests wiping your phone once a week or in between lengthy conversations. She also suggests keeping your hands away from your face.

4. Period zits are a real thing.

If you claim that your period and BFFLs coincide with your outbreak, you might be right. According to Dr. Robinson, androgen’s stimulation of the sebaceous glands is to blame. That happens in the same area of our faces where androgens cause our sebaceous glands to become active. Your neck, jaw, chin, and lower cheeks are thus immediately in the path of the bullet.

You can deal with the drastic hormonal changes from the inside out. “Many times we use spironolactone, an androgen blocker, with or without birth control to help ease hormonal acne,” says Dr. Robinson.

If you want to go the OTC route, Dr. Robinson recommends a topical retinol. This version from PCA Skin also contains salicylic acid and bakuchiol (a botanical extract), to help fight your breakouts.