Face mapping could help you uncover the root cause of acne, blemishes, and pimples based on where they appear. We share the basics of skin mapping to connect breakouts with potential health or lifestyle causes. Easy pimple face chart included!
Can face mapping reveal the cause of your acne?
Face mapping is the practice of analysing where breakouts are appearing on your face to help identify what is causing them.
Used for centuries in Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, face mapping is based on the idea that your skin - which is your body’s largest organ - reflects your inner health.
Skin mapping splits your face into different zones. Each zone has a corresponding internal health or lifestyle issue which may be the trigger of acne in that area.
For example, breakouts popping up in your forehead zone are linked to sleep disturbance and diet/ digestive issues.
While acne face mapping may help to understand why acne is presenting, acne should be treated depending on skin type as discussed in our Guide to Getting Rid of Acne.
Let’s take a look at the pimple face map zones in more detail plus a handy pimple face chart.
Pimples on Forehead
Cause: Acne spots on the forehead may be linked to diet, stress and irregular sleep.
According to Chinese face mapping, the forehead zone is linked to digestive health. The pimples on your forehead could be telling you to take a closer look at your diet. Certain foods could be causing digestive issues which are triggering acne.
Lack of sleep and high stress levels may also show up as pimple clusters in this zone.
Solution: Keep a healthy sleep cycle to make sure you’re getting enough sleep each night. To sort out any dietary issues, try keeping a daily food diary. This can help to see if breakouts correspond with eating certain foods.
T-Zone and Chin Acne
Cause: T-zone and chin acne is sometimes known as hormonal acne.
Acne along your jaw, chin, and t-zone is understood to be related to hormonal changes. It’s common to break out in these areas during puberty, pregnancy, or your menstrual cycle.
Solution: Steer clear of comedogenic products (those that clog pores) and any harsh cleansers and alcohol-based toners that strip the skin of moisture and oil. This triggers the skin to produce even more oil and in turn, more breakouts.
Pimples on Cheeks
Cause: Pimples on cheeks are often caused by pollution or bacteria.
Have stubborn pimples on your cheeks that won’t go away? These breakouts may be caused by a dirty mobile phone screen or pillowcase. Phone screens accumulate a crazy amount of bacteria if not cleaned regularly. Pressing the phone against your face transfers bacteria directly to your cheeks. It’s the same for your pillowcases too!
Solution: Disinfect your phone regularly with a wipe or spray and change your pillowcases each week.
It’s not just your phone and bedding. Anything that comes in contact with your face should be cleaned regularly to avoid spreading bacteria. It’s also important to cleanse your skin properly before bed to remove all traces of makeup and impurities - including bacteria.
We recommend The Uncomplicated Cleanser. This best seller is the ideal simple, gentle cleaner for all skin types. Apply a pearl-sized amount of the cleanser to damp hands and massage gently into skin with an upward motion.
Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water or remove with esmi's Microfibre Facial Cleansing Mitt. Don’t forget to double cleanse in the evening to remove all traces on makeup, sunscreen, and debris.
If you need support to treat acne, reach out to the esmi Skin Team. We’re here to support you on your journey to healthy, happy skin!
