Why You’re Breaking Out and How to Treat It
Whether it’s a throbbing pimple in the middle of your forehead or a bunch of clogged pores and blackheads on your nose, it’s hard to think of a skin problem more frustrating than acne. But while breakouts on certain areas of your face can be directly attributed to stress or hormonal imbalances — which means their treatment plan is often a a little direct-Acne on your cheeks can be a little harder to spotsince your cheeks come into contact with so many things every day (like phone, makeup, hair, pillowcases, etc.).
But don’t worry: Cheek breakouts are definitely treatable, especially if you find out the exact cause. And to help you, I spoke to dermatologists Rebecca MarkMD; Joshua Draftsman, MD; and Adam LuberMD to walk you through everything you need to know about cheek acne, from what’s causing the acne on your cheeks to how to get rid of facial pimples fast.
What does cheek acne look like?
Unlike your T-zone area, it’s rare for the cheeks to see a lot of blackheads or whiteheads. Instead, “the cheeks are usually prone to inflammatory papules, pustules, nodules and cystic acne” says Dr. Marcus. Basically, the red, angry, and notoriously difficult to eradicate lesions are the ones that most commonly affect the cheeks. Fun.
What causes cheek acne?
Cheek acne is typically caused by oil getting trapped in the pores, which allows acne-causing bacteria to grow to higher-than-normal levels and cause inflammation in the skin, says Dr. Illustrator. This buildup of oil can occur for a number of reasons, from using the wrong skincare products in your routine to fluctuating hormones (yes, hormonal acne on your cheeks is a very real thing) and even daily habits that you might not be familiar with once know they affect your skin.
“Acne on the cheeks can be triggered by touching your face or putting your face in your hands, pressing your dirty phone against your cheek, not changing your pillowcase often enough, or friction from wearing a protective face covering,” Dr. Marcus explains. Even using a dirty makeup brush or waiting to wash your face after a workout can cause cheek acne.
How to get rid of acne on cheeks?
Cheek Acne Treatments At Home:
Fortunately, as frustrating as cheek acne can be, there are many solutions to get rid of it. The most affordable and accessible is to use at-home skin care products with topical ingredients to fight acne. “For angry pimples is your favorite ingredient benzoyl peroxide,” says Dr. Illustrator. “It lowers the level of acne-causing bacteria on the skin and also helps unclog pores.”
Benzoyl peroxide can be found in everything from acne-fighting face washes to acne treatments. It’s available in a variety of concentrations, although most dermatologists recommend starting at 2.5 percent and working your way up to a higher percentage, since benzoyl peroxide can be quite drying on the skin.
4 premium products with benzoyl peroxide:
Salicylic acid is another ingredient that is highly effective in treating cheek acne thanks to its ability to remove dead skin cells and dissolve excess oil in the pores. “A salicylic acid cleanser goes a long way in breaking up sebum and debris in the pores,” says Dr. Marcus who is a big fan of the Clear Genius Clarifying Gel by Bliss. But you’ll also find salicylic acid in a range of leave-on treatments, from acne serums to exfoliating toners, so it’s super easy to incorporate into your existing routine.
Along with benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid, over-the-counter retinols and acne retinoids are great for treating cheek acne. she work at the cellular level too Help boost your cell turnover rate, reduce inflammation and lower oil production—All the essentials to keep pores clear and skin free from pimples. Another great option? Hydrocolloid pimple patch. “They can be helpful for speeding up the healing of an acne lesion and staying away from it to reduce the urge to pick at acne lesions,” says Dr. Marcus.
More acne fighting products to try:
Prescription Cheek Acne Treatments:
For cheek acne that is particularly resistant to treatment Your dermatologist may suggest a prescription drug, either oral or topical. “Topical prescriptions often fall into drug families of topical antibiotics and topical retinoids,” says Dr. luber “They target different causes of acne and can be very powerful when they work synergistically.”
In addition to retinoids like tretinoin, prescription options may include a higher-grade benzoyl peroxide, an anti-inflammatory drug called dapsone gel, or a topical anti-hormonal acne agent called clascoterone. There’s also Twyneo, a newer topical prescription medication that combines benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin to effectively fight cheek acne.
Oral prescription medications are popular for acne that doesn’t respond well to topical treatments. Spironolactone, a diuretic that has been shown to be highly effective in getting rid of hormonal acne, and isotretinoin (aka Accutane) are some of the most popular and, as Dr. Marcus emphasizes “working miracles”.
Your treatment options in practice:
In addition to the many at-home and prescription acne solutions, there are also several in-office treatments available to treat cheek acne. Facials and extractions are obvious starting points, along with Red or blue light therapy, chemical peels and lasers like Clear & Brilliant. Even the right facial treatment can be effective: “HydraFacial helps remove dead cells from the skin’s surface, unclog clogged pores, while delivering treatment serums that can be customized for acne,” explains Dr. Marcus.
But the real excitement comes from Dr. marcus, dr draftsman and dr. Lubers alike AviClear, a new FDA-cleared laser proven to permanently clear acne. “It targets the sebaceous glands and decreases oil production and has shown promise in treating mild to severe acne,” says Dr. Marcus. “Although not yet generally available, this promising new treatment was approved by the FDA in 2022, so hopefully it will become more accessible in the coming months.”
Take away:
Acne is one of the most difficult skin problems to deal with, but that’s especially true when it comes to pimples on the cheeks. Those annoying papules, pustules, cysts and more can be the result of hormonal or genetic factors, but they can also be triggered by lifestyle habits such as: B. Touching your face frequently or not washing your pillowcase adequately. The good news is that there is no shortage of solutions including readily available skin care products, prescription medications and in-office treatments. So the next time you experience a breakout on your cheeks, be sure to try one (or more) of these helpful remedies.
Meet the experts:
- Rebecca MarkMD, is a board-certified dermatologist North Dallas Dermatology Associates in Dallas, TX, and the founder of Maii MD, a medical skin care brand. She treats a wide range of skin conditions with a particular focus on acne, rosacea and cosmetic skin rejuvenation.
- Joshua DraftsmanMD, is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Draftsman dermatology in New York, New York. dr Zeichner is one of the nation’s leading experts on acne and rosacea and his clinical research and work has been published in the leading dermatology journals.
- Adam LuberMD, is a board-certified dermatologist Southwest skin specialists in Phoenix, Arizona. dr Luber treats a variety of skin conditions and has a particular interest in skin manifestations of internal disease and the prevention and treatment of skin cancer.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Gaby Shacknai is a New York City-based journalist with years of experience researching, writing and editing beauty and wellness stories. Gabby is an authority on all skincare categories but an expert when it comes to acne. She works with the industry’s leading dermatologists to evaluate new acne treatments, products and medications.