How to Treat Acne Between Eyebrows? Causes & Treatment

You should be aware of every factor that might be influencing breakouts in order to treat pimples between the brows appropriately.

Your face or body can develop acne anywhere. However, pimples can be frequent between your brows due to the large number of oil glands on your face and forehead. Since pores can be found on every part of the skin, including the skin between the brows, they can quickly become clogged with dead skin cells, bacteria, and excess oil, which can lead to acne.

Even though breakouts between your brows can be inconvenient, you can find the right treatment once you know what’s making them.

Types of Acne Between Eyebrows

Between your brows, acne can appear in a variety of forms, some of which are more common than others.

• Cystic acne: Pus-filled bumps are the hallmark of cystic acne. You may also notice red or white bumps on your skin, though most cystic acne occurs beneath the skin. These are typically uncomfortable and challenging to get rid of.
• Pustules: Pus-filled lesions resembling blisters are known as pustules. They’re often white or yellow on top and red at the base and can be painful. Most likely, a pustule comes to mind when you think of a pimple.
• Papules: Papules are tiny, firm, rounded bumps on your skin. They are typically delicate. Most papules will begin to swell with pus and turn into pustules after a few days.
• Whiteheads: On your skin, whiteheads appear as tiny white bumps. They happen when a clogged pore on the surface is sealed off. Some whiteheads are the tops of pimples that are beneath your skin.
• Blackheads: Pores that are clogged and exposed to air result in blackheads. The bacteria and oil in the pore turn brown when exposed to air, and you notice a tiny, dark bump on your skin.

What Specifically Causes Acne Between the Eyebrows?

There are numerous factors that could cause you to break out between your brows. Some can only cause breakouts in this location while others can happen anywhere on your face or body. Common reasons for breakouts between your eyebrows include:

Clogged Pores

Pores can become clogged with various substances, including:

• Oil from your face, hair, or hands
• Sweat
• Dead skin cells

Although sweat glands and skin pores both exist, hair follicles are primarily responsible for acne.

Oily Skin

One of the most frequent causes of pimples is oily skin. Your skin’s excess oil can clog hair follicles, which leads to pimples when the clogged follicle becomes inflamed or infected. People with oily skin frequently develop acne between and around their brows because the face and forehead contain a large number of oil glands.

Ingrown Hairs

Your eyebrows may develop ingrown hairs if you wax or pluck them. As a result of partial hair removal, the skin is affected. If the hair follicle is blocked, this may result in pimples.

Since tweezing is more likely to result in the hair breaking off and remaining under the skin than other hair removal techniques, it may result in ingrown hairs more frequently than other hair removal methods. It’s possible for the hair to become ingrown as it begins to grow back.

Cosmetics

Certain cosmetics can clog your pores and cause acne. Additionally, since they can harbor bacteria, soiled makeup brushes can result in breakouts. Acne can develop between your brows as a direct result of cosmetics like brow gel.

Eyebrow Waxing

Waxing the eyebrows, like other hair removal methods, can result in ingrown hairs, which can result in acne. Additionally, removing hair with waxing may leave follicle openings for bacteria to enter.

Diet

Although the research is not clear, there is some evidence that certain foods can cause acne. There is some proof that dairy products and foods high in carbohydrates can exacerbate acne, though not enough to recommend specific dietary changes. No proof exists that greasy foods or chocolate can cause acne.

Frequently Touching Your Face

Natural oils from your hands are transferred to your face when you touch it. Your hands have bacteria on them, regardless of how frequently you wash them, and this can clog pores. This bacteria can clog pores on your face and result in pimples if you touch your face.

Hormones

Acne can be brought on by hormonal changes, particularly in females. Hormonal acne is the most common:

• around your period
• during menopause
• during pregnancy
• right after you make changes to your birth control

Solutions for Acne Between the Brows

Do you have acne between your brows and want to get rid of it? Fortunately, there are many over-the-counter and non-prescription topical treatments that can target surface bacteria, get rid of dead skin cells, and avoid clogged pores, so treating them doesn’t have to be a frustrating task.

A good place to start is by using products that contain benzoyl peroxide, which claims to be able to clean the skin of bacteria that cause acne. Similar to that, salicylic acid-containing products have a similar potential for good because they dissolve dead skin cells and stop them from clogging your pores. Another class of topical medications to keep an eye out for is non-prescription retinoids, such as the one in ProactivMD®.

Tweaking your daily skincare habits can also be helpful in getting rid of acne between the brows. Start by washing your face twice daily with a gentle cleanser to keep the skin clear and the pores unclogged of anything that might clog them. Making the switch to non-comedogenic makeup and hair products can be advantageous. Acne concealers and acne toners are other options to get rid of acne between the eyebrows.

No matter how big and obvious they may be, avoid the temptation to pop your zits. Popping a pimple can lead to new breakouts in addition to increasing your risk of developing acne scars.

Preventing Acne Between Your Eyebrows

Some people naturally develop acne. However, there are measures you can take to help prevent acne between your brows.

• In particular, if you wear hats or perspire a lot during the day, wash your face frequently.
• Never touch your face.
• Regularly shampoo your hair if it is oily. If you have breakouts between your brows, you might also think about switching shampoos.
• For skincare and makeup, only use non-comedogenic products.
• If you have bangs, you might want to switch up your hairdo.
• Do not use any kind of harsh scrub or exfoliant, as well as other products that may irritate your skin.
• Prior to waxing or plucking your eyebrows, wash your face with warm water. By doing this, ingrown hairs will be less likely.
• Keep anything you wear close to your browline clean to prevent transferring bacteria to your face, such as hats, headbands, or athletic gear.
• Make sure to completely remove all of your makeup from the day, including any brow gel, when you’re done.

Conclusion: Treat Acne Between Eyebrows

Due to the high density of oil glands in that region, acne between the brows is a common problem. Pimples between the brows develop when pores become blocked with surplus dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells, much like breakouts that develop elsewhere on your face and body.

But it is both treatable and preventable. Keep your hair and face clean and refrain from irritating your skin with face or hair products if you experience acne between your brows.

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