Acne on the cheeks causes and treatment (English)

Age is not the main cause of acne. There is not only teenage, but adult acne on the cheeks. The human body is a complex system: a disorder in one function can cause a simultaneous disorder in several systems. Thus, dysfunction of the body can lead to unpleasant consequences, such as acne on the cheeks. You can't know what causes pimples on your cheeks without an accurate diagnosis. This is why it is important to consult a specialist if your acne does not disappear on its own within a week.

Causes of acne on the cheeks

Oily skin. Even though oily skin is less prone to early wrinkles, it has a distinct disadvantage: it tends to clog pores. The sebaceous glands actively produce a lot of sebum, and this causes enlarged pores. This leads to the accumulation of dirt and dust in the skin tissue. The hair follicle becomes hot and this causes pimples to appear on the cheeks.
Lung problems can lead to acne. Acne on the left cheek indicates problems of the left lung, and acne on the right cheek reflects diseases of the right lung.
Gastrointestinal problems. Disorders of the body's cleansing function (problems with defecation, dyspepsia, dysbacteriosis) are one of the causes of cheek acne.
Hormonal deficiency. The skin on the cheeks is thinner, so the risk of inflammation in this area is quite high.
Malnutrition. Cravings for sweets (especially on an empty stomach), coffee (especially with cigarettes), chips, crackers, buns and junk food can cause metabolic disorders and lead to pimples on the cheek.
Improper skin care. Regular use of large amounts of cosmetics clogs pores. Low-quality cosmetics can cause allergies and acne on the cheek. In addition, frequent washing and ignoring the basic rules of facial skin care are the cause of acne.
Use of medications. If you are taking medication and have pimples on your cheek, this may indicate that your body is reacting to the active ingredient in some drug. The most common cause of acne on the cheeks is medications containing antibiotics or hormones.
Allergies. Acne on the cheek can be caused by the food you eat. In order to determine which product causes an allergic reaction, you need to exclude certain foods from your nutritional diet alternately and observe the body's reaction.
Touching your face with dirty hands, for example, while sitting at your desk. Pay attention to your habits and avoid touching your face with dirty hands, as this can lead to various serious consequences.

How to get rid of acne on cheeks?

It's best to remind impatient people that there are no miracle cures to clear acne from your cheeks. This process requires patience and conscientious implementation of all treatment rules. If you want to squeeze out a red pimple on your cheek, then it is better not to do this. The skin on the cheeks is very sensitive. In most cases, the damaged area heals slowly and you risk leaving an ugly scar. The consequences can be even worse, since squeezing a large pimple on your cheek can introduce germs into the wound. Thus, there are several ways to get rid of pimples on your cheeks without damaging your skin.

Iodine. This helps avoid squeezing a deep pimple on your cheek. If a pimple on your cheek is painful, dip a cotton swab in iodine and apply it to the affected area. Once the iodine dries, you can disguise it with foundation or powder. This type of treatment takes about a week, but no signs of acne will remain after it. This method can be used by people without an individual reaction to iodine.
Aloe leaves can be useful if you want to remove pus from pimples. For this procedure, you will need a germicidal patch with small holes. Cut an aloe leaf, then you need to cut off a piece and apply it to the pimple on your cheek. Then apply the patch. Do this compress before bed for three days.
Steam bath is a useful daily treatment to remove acne on the cheeks. Take a handful of dry herbs such as chamomile, nettle, add hot water and boil for five minutes. Cover your head with a towel and bend over the container of liquid. The steam bath lasts for ten minutes. As a result, the pores are open and cleansed. Oil plugs will appear on the top of the skin tissue. Remove them with a clean bandage soaked in hydrogen peroxide. You should not squeeze pimples.
If whiteheads appear on the cheeks, you need to wipe the skin with half of fresh tomatoes. You can also make a mask from small tomato pieces.

Don't put off dealing with acne because it will spread all over your face. If you notice a pimple on your cheek, you can use home remedies or medications. If you squeeze pimples, you risk leaving scars. If you have already squeezed out pimples, the best way to get rid of acne on your cheeks is to use special medications and ointments. But before using some lotions and ointments, you should consult a dermatologist. However, it is better to prevent acne from occurring than to treat it. There are several ways to prevent cheek acne:

Establish strict control over your nutrient intake. Limit yourself from smoked and salty delicacies, sweets and fatty foods; you should stop drinking carbonated drinks. Replace these foods with plant foods and foods that are rich in fiber. Drink plenty of clean water.
Start your morning with fresh air and exercise.
Do not overdo take medications and vitamins. Everything is good in moderation.
Choose cosmetic products that do not cause allergic reactions and avoid using those that irritate the skin. Cosmetologists recommend using cosmetics made from natural raw materials. This is one of the best ways to prevent acne.
Avoid alcohol and smoking.
Try washing your skin with tar soap, but if your skin is quite dry, apply the soap only to the pimples.

Various defects occur on the skin quite often. Causes of acne on cheeks can vary from poor nutrition to serious skin diseases. To determine exactly what causes acne, you should consult a doctor - a specialist will help you accurately determine the cause and choose the most effective treatment method.

Pimples on the cheeks in women

In women, acne is associated with changes in hormonal levels, as well as deterioration of the immune system. Cyclic fluctuations in female hormonal levels create conditions for constant changes in the skin. If any deviations from the norm occur in these fluctuations, the woman experiences various disorders, and acne is far from the most severe among them, but the most noticeable. Especially often, an excess of male hormones in women manifests itself in this way.

Impaired immunity, including local (on the skin), is also associated with the influence of sex hormones - among women immunity is lower, especially in the second phase of the menstrual cycle. For this reason, if a woman does not carefully monitor her health and take care of her skin, acne occurs.

Pimples on cheeks before menstruation

This is one of the types of acne characteristic of women. Acne before menstruation occurs if a woman’s immunity at this moment decreases, which happens with an excess of second-phase hormones or a lack of estrogen. Pimples appear 3-4 days before menstruation, being one of the most reliable signs of impending menstruation.

Some women, accustomed to regular rashes on the face before menstruation, become very worried when they do not notice acne in due time.

The absence of the usual acne rashes can be the first sign of pregnancy for some.

Pimples on the cheeks in men

In men, acne may also appear due to hormonal imbalances, and rashes can indicate either an excess or a lack of sex hormones in the patient. In the same way, an excess of adrenal hormones can manifest itself - Itsenko-Cushing syndrome, which is characterized by redistribution of adipose tissue, changes in complexion, increased sweating and fatigue.

There is also a more common reason for the appearance of defects on the skin of representatives of the stronger sex - insufficient facial care. Many men do not know how to do this or consider cleansing and moisturizing procedures to be an exclusively female prerogative - and do not want to “become effeminate.” This behavior contributes to the appearance of inflammatory foci on the face - and you must agree, acne on the face is not the best sign of masculinity.

Acne on the cheeks of a teenager

This is a very common problem that almost all teenagers face, regardless of gender. The onset of puberty, hormonal changes in the body and changes in immunity have clearly visible external manifestations. Teenage acne can last from several months to 2-3 years. Longer course of acne in a teenager suggests that its causes are more serious than ordinary changes in hormonal levels.

If juvenile acne does not respond to conventional home remedies, you should consult a dermatologist, and possibly an endocrinologist. Only a specialist will find out the true cause of acne on a teenager’s cheeks and prescribe adequate treatment.

Pimple on the cheek of a baby

Small white bumps (miles) are normal in newborns. Their appearance is due to the fact that the newborn’s sebaceous glands do not yet perform their function well enough, so their ducts are often clogged. Also, the amount of acne is influenced by the characteristics of maternal hormones - the baby is born with a high level of maternal hormones in the blood. During the first few days, this level will stabilize, but some unpleasant reactions are possible.

When you see small white heads on a baby's tender cheeks, don't panic. Compliance with basic hygiene standards will help to avoid complications, and pimples will go away on their own - no need to specially squeeze them out, lubricate them with brilliant green or iodine. Tell your pediatrician about the problem - he will help you choose the best treatment.

Diagnosis of the causes of rashes on the cheeks

In order to determine the causes of the rash, a lengthy diagnostic procedure is sometimes required. The patient must undergo a general and biochemical blood test, and, if necessary, blood for hormones. The functions of the gastrointestinal tract and the patient’s dietary habits are also examined in detail.

Food causes of rashes

Unhealthy eating habits are one of the common causes of acne. Facial skin defects appear when food supplies excess amounts of animal fats and insufficient amounts of vitamins A and E. Rashes can also be one of the manifestations of product intolerance (mild forms of allergies). Dealing with “food” rashes is quite easy - you need to adjust your diet so that all the necessary substances enter the body.

Intestinal diseases are the most common cause of rashes in the cheek area

Unlike the previous group, these reasons are more serious and difficult to eliminate. In diseases of the small intestine, which are collectively called malabsorption syndrome, the absorption of nutrients is impaired. This leads to the patient's body lacking important products, despite the fact that they are supplied in sufficient quantities with food.

Colon diseases are accompanied by abundant formation of gases and toxins and their absorption into the blood. This leads to chronic intoxication. Both lead to a deterioration in appearance, in particular to various rashes in the cheek area.

Small red pimples on cheeks

This type of defect most often occurs due to hormonal imbalances, but can also occur in other pathologies - nervous and allergic diseases. The appearance of small red rashes should alert the patient, and if they do not go away on their own within a week, much less new pimples appear, you should consult a doctor.

Treatment of such pathology at home It is quite easy to do - the provoking factor should be identified and eliminated, sometimes you can do this yourself. Usually the trigger for acne is something new - a cosmetic product, a food product. Eliminate it and you can enjoy smooth skin again.

Large subcutaneous internal pimple on the cheek

Internal acne is a type of comedones that occur when the ducts of the sebaceous glands are deeply blocked. In this case, the sebaceous plug is located deep under the skin; a small elevation is visible on the surface, which is not painful when touched, but looks ugly.

The formation of large subcutaneous pimples is associated with disruption of the sebaceous glands, deficiency of essential vitamins, and too thick epidermis. A positive feature is that such comedones rarely become inflamed; if you do not touch them, they go away on their own.

White pimples on cheeks

White pimples are the initial stage of acne. These are formations on the epidermis of a relatively small size, not painful, not itchy. They are mainly an aesthetic problem, especially if there are many of them. They occur mainly due to poor nutrition. With good skin care, they pass quickly; no serious pathologies arise at this stage.

Purulent pimple on the cheek

This is a more serious variant of the disease. It is formed when a bacterial infection joins the blockage of the sebaceous ducts. Active inflammation causes pain, redness of the skin, itching and other symptoms. In addition to an aesthetic defect, such pimples pose a threat to patients with weakened immune systems - they are a constant source of infection.

Such itchy pimples can occur due to hormonal imbalances, skin diseases, and in pregnant women. Another problem is that such purulent pimples often leave pronounced marks in the form of depressions on the skin, red spots, which are then difficult to get rid of.

Why don't pimples on my cheeks go away?

The simplest explanation for why this happens is that the causes of acne have not been eliminated. Until the diagnosis is carried out properly, rashes can appear regularly, recover after each course of treatment and recur. There is only one way to combat this phenomenon - careful diagnosis and elimination of the causes of acne.

The reason for acne that does not go away for a long time on the chin, cheeks and forehead may be:

Chronic diseases of the digestive tract;
Chronic hormonal pathologies, taking hormonal medications;
Diabetes.

Improper facial care also contributes to relapses.

How to get rid of acne on the cheeks: treatment

The approach to treatment must be comprehensive - only in this case is it possible to completely eliminate skin pathologies, cleanse and restore it. Since a combination of several factors most often plays a role, one-sided treatment can only give a temporary effect.

Medications for acne on the cheeks

Drugs for the treatment of acne are quite varied. The most frequently prescribed groups of drugs:

Intestinal sorbents (activated carbon, smecta);
Enzyme preparations - both of these groups improve the digestion and absorption of nutrients;
Vitamin complexes containing retinol and tocopherol;
Antibiotics – reduce the activity of bacteria on the skin, prescribed for severe cases;
Antihistamines (anti-allergy) medications to reduce itching.

The selection of the right medicine is carried out by the doctor, this is done individually, often the specialist has to go by trial and error.

Masks for acne on cheeks

Skin care plays an important role in the treatment of acne. Often, an imbalance and the appearance of rashes occur precisely because the face is not sufficiently hydrated, but at the same time it is exposed to a huge number of unfavorable factors.

The advantages of masks are that they give a fairly quick and strong effect. But using them requires time. The following masks are effective in fighting acne:

Cleansing – eliminate excess sebum, remove “plugs” from clogged sebaceous ducts;
Moisturizing – maintain normal skin moisture, which reduces the activity of the sebaceous glands;
Nutritious - necessary for the same purpose;
Anti-inflammatory – reduce the activity of the inflammatory process;
Antiseptic – suppress the activity of pathogenic microorganisms.

Masks should be applied to the skin and washed off after a certain time with water without soap. Then a moisturizing or nourishing cream is applied to the face.

Folk remedies for acne on the cheeks

Traditional medicine offers many options for combating acne. In particular, washing with infusions of chamomile, calendula, sage and yarrow can reduce the activity of the inflammatory process and pathogens. Such means are often used in children and teenagers, hoping for their safety. It is important to make sure that the patient is not allergic to the medicinal plant.

Many popular folk recipes are based on the use of alcohol and alcohol tinctures. This is the wrong method of treatment - there is a risk of drying out the skin, causing even greater activity of the sebaceous glands. In this case, recipes that involve the use of oils - sea buckthorn or sunflower - are much more useful. You can add essential oils of eucalyptus, calendula or marigold to them, but in small quantities. To avoid causing chemical burns. Essential oils have the ability to photosensitize* the skin, so they must be applied at least an hour before going outside.

Tips for caring for skin with acne on the cheeks

A few simple care rules that will help reduce the number of acne:

You need to wash your face twice a day – morning and evening – using special anti-acne products;
After washing, the skin should be treated with an antiseptic - chlorhexidine or miramistin;
You can and should use moisturizing and nourishing creams and masks;
Do not use local antiseptics based on alcohol and hydrogen peroxide;
Be sure to use cleansing scrubs daily.

These measures are effective in the complex treatment of pathology, since they do not eliminate the cause.

If your skin is acne-prone: Preventing acne on your cheeks

Prevent acne on the cheeks, especially in a man, it is not always possible - chronic diseases, unhealthy habits and the environment do not allow achieving a lasting effect. However, a few important tips:

Chronic diseases should be identified and treated in a timely manner and the doctor’s recommendations should be followed;
Add more foods containing vitamins A and E and vegetable oils to your diet;
Avoid smoking and alcohol;
If possible, spend time in the fresh air often;
Wash your face twice a day using cleansers (foams and gels, preferably for problem skin);
Do not use soap, including liquid soap, for washing;
In winter, moisturizing and nourishing creams are a must;
Deep cleansing scrubs should be used every week.

All these measures will help maintain a beautiful appearance.

Acne (acne) in adolescents is considered normal and after the formation of hormonal levels, they disappear. However, in some patients, and more often in women, acne may appear at a later age. Doctors see the main reasons for this in high levels of male hormones or their excessive activity, as well as in a certain type of work of the sebaceous glands. And if in adolescents acne vulgaris appears mainly in the area of the nose, chin and forehead, then at a later age acne is localized on the cheeks. The rash may disappear on its own or be permanent.

Types of rashes

Pimples on the cheeks can represent various elements:

comedones;
papules (cavitated tubercle);
pustules (abscess);
cysts;
nodes.

These can be single elements or multiple rashes merging with each other. Most often, acne appears on the cheeks and chin in the form of comedones and papulopustular rash. Less common is the severe form of cystic nodular acne.

Hormones as one of the causes of acne on the cheeks

The skin is a target organ for many hormones. Therefore, when acne appears on the cheeks of women, their cause is primarily associated with a pathological hormonal state caused by a number of diseases.

Acne appears when 4 factors are triggered:

sebaceous glands secrete excessive amounts of sebum;
the cells lining the ducts of the hair follicle begin to actively grow and die;
bacteria penetrate;
inflammation begins.

Estrogens are hormones that suppress sebum secretion. Androgens, especially testosterone and dehydrotestosterone, have a strong effect and stimulate the function of the sebaceous glands.

The female reproductive and endocrine glands are the main sources of androgens (male hormones) in a girl’s body. A small proportion is also formed in adipose tissue and liver. Hormones increase the activity of the sebaceous glands, accelerate the exfoliation of epithelial cells and thereby contribute to the formation of non-inflammatory elements. When bacteria enters this area, an inflammatory process begins.

There are many reasons why androgen levels increase:

in girls at the end of puberty (considered a physiological norm);
polycystic ovary syndrome;
congenital disorder of the adrenal cortex;
tumor changes in the ovaries and adrenal glands;
diabetes;
pathologies of the thyroid gland;
increase in body weight due to adipose tissue.

When pimples appear on the cheeks of girls, the reasons are associated with an increase in the amount of male hormones, then they are accompanied by other symptoms:

menstrual irregularities;
hair loss on the head;
weight gain;
Excessive male pattern facial hair growth.

In addition to diseases that cause an increase in androgen levels, when acne appears on the cheeks, the causes may be associated with even minor changes in the endocrine balance. Thus, acne on the cheeks may appear before menstruation, be a consequence of taking contraceptives or stopping their use and the use of anabolic steroids.

In half of the cases, the causes are associated with a hereditary predisposition to acne. It is noted that if the older generation in the family had this dermatological disease, in 70-80% of cases it will be inherited.

Cosmetical tools

The use of comedogenic cosmetics is another reason why acne on the cheeks can get worse and not go away for a long time. Long-term use of fatty creams, which contain, for example, isopropyl myristate, is a common cause of cosmetic acne in the form of comedones. When purchasing skincare products, you should opt for products labeled “non-comedogenic” or “non-acnegenic”

Moderate sun exposure has a disinfecting effect on the skin and dries out purulent rashes. However, excessive abuse of ultraviolet radiation (on the beach, in the solarium) has the opposite effect. The top layer of skin dries out, which acts as a signal to the sebaceous glands, and they begin to intensively produce secretions. Therefore, prolonged sun exposure provokes an exacerbation of existing acne and the appearance of new ones.

Stressful situations

It has been noted that women exposed to stress are more likely to suffer from acne. Stress is a trigger. Through nerve endings, it influences the production of neuropeptides, which in turn stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce more sebum. People suffering from acne have a greater number of nerve endings and more nerve fibers.

Nutrition and habits

Foods high in carbohydrates can increase the concentration of insulin in the blood. Insulin, in turn, increases androgen levels. The result of this connection is an increase in sebum production and acne.

If you already have rashes, excessive consumption of seafood, as well as foods high in iodine and bromine, can aggravate the situation.

Diet for acne is considered one of the links in complex therapy. You should include foods rich in fiber, Omega-3 acid, and vitamins A, C, and E into your diet.

One of the factors contributing to the appearance of acne is the habit of smoking. Nicotine reduces vitamin E concentrations and increases sebum production.

Acne as a sign of internal diseases

Eastern medicine still uses a technique according to which if there are problems with some internal organ, this is reflected in the condition of the skin in a certain area. So if acne appears on the right cheek, then the person has problems with the right lung, if acne appears on the left cheek, then it means the person has problems with the left. If the area of rashes is limited to the upper part of the cheeks, on the cheekbones, you should check the stomach. Of course, this technique is not a basis for making a diagnosis, but it can serve as a reason for conducting an examination of internal organs.

Principles of treatment

Before getting rid of acne on the cheeks, you should find out the causes of its appearance. To do this, you may need to undergo a hormonal profile study, take an insulin test, a dexamethasone test (for adrenal hormones), and a glucose tolerance test (for diabetes). Take a blood test to examine your liver and kidneys. In some cases, scraping is necessary to rule out demodicosis and folliculitis. Undergo a gynecological examination.

Hormone therapy

Acne associated with hormonal disorders should be treated under the supervision of a gynecologist and dermatovenerologist. Treatment begins with restoring hormonal levels and eliminating the causes that provoked its failure. At the same time, the dermatologist evaluates skin problems and prescribes local remedies.

If the area affected by acne is extensive, Spironolactone can be taken. It is a diuretic that can suppress androgens and thus help reduce the secretion of the sebaceous glands. The same drug is prescribed as a therapeutic agent for premenstrual syndrome.

The drug of choice is combined oral contraceptives, the effect of which is achieved in 70-100% of cases. These are such products as Diane 35, Yarina, Novinet, Janine, Regulon. Contraceptives are prescribed mainly between the ages of 20 and 40 to women for whom treatment with local drugs has not produced results. This treatment is also indicated for pustular elements concentrated in the lower part of the face, on the cheeks and on the neck.

At the same time, a noticeable improvement in skin condition is observed in women only after 3-4 months of taking contraceptives. In severe cases, therapy can reach 9 months or even a year. There are also side effects from this treatment. They can manifest as nausea and engorgement of the mammary glands. Such side effects in most cases disappear on their own within 1-2 months after the start of treatment. The most serious negative effect is a change in the condition of the blood, it becomes more viscous. For this reason, oral contraceptives are not prescribed to women with varicose veins, hypertension, and heavy smokers after the age of 35.

When acne appears during menopause, it is accompanied by symptoms of menopause such as insomnia, mood swings, sweating, and manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia. In this case, therapy is prescribed, the purpose of which is to stimulate the hormonal function of the ovaries. Drugs such as Climodien, Klimen, Angelique compensate for the lack of estrogen in the body and have a positive effect on the condition of the skin.

The place of antibiotics in acne treatment

Treatment of acne in women is rarely carried out with antibacterial drugs. Only with multiple inflammatory elements is it possible to prescribe them. One of the antibiotics used in therapy is Unidox Solutab. Other antibiotics (tetracycline, erythromycin, clindomycin, minocycline) are prescribed in long courses of up to 6 months. However, such prolonged treatment often leads to dysbiosis of the skin and intestines. Therefore, antibiotics are used in extreme cases when other drugs do not have a therapeutic effect.

Local remedies

Preference in acne treatment is given to local remedies:

If most of the rashes are comedones, it is recommended to use Skinoren gel, Differin (cream, gel).
For pustular elements, Baziron AS and Dalatsin are more effective.
Ichthyol ointment is used to quickly resolve ulcers.

The girls' need for cosmetic care and their reluctance to get redness and irritation during treatment are taken into account. A special need for soothing cosmetic products can be seen during treatment with Baziron and Differin. Since drugs often cause dermatitis, medicinal cosmetics are a mandatory addition to therapy:

Apezak emulsion helps with irritation.
Gifak plus gel is recommended for cleansing.
To resolve large formations, patches are produced - special plasters.
For a large number of comedones, it is recommended to use aloe juice and citric acid-based gels. They soften plugs and help cleanse pores.

Local retinoids (Tretinoin, Retinol) are prescribed. Retinoids remain one of the most effective groups of medications against comedones. The active substances of retinoids relieve inflammation, reduce the level of secretion of the sebaceous glands, prevent clogging of follicles, and have an antioxidant effect. For women, taking retinoids is also an opportunity to reduce the depth of age wrinkles and their number.

Home care: recommendations and rules

The skin of women suffering from acne is dehydrated and more sensitive. This is due to the use of alcohol-containing products during the treatment of acne in youth and to the natural processes of age-related skin aging. Therefore, daily care for problem skin is an integral part of comprehensive treatment. It is not only aimed at treating acne, but also at eliminating dehydration, skin aging, pigmentation, and rosacea.

At home, it is important to follow simple rules:

Wash with gentle cleansers with a neutral or slightly acidic pH. Products with sulfur and salicylic acid (2%) are effective.
Try not to use scrubs and astringents during acne treatment. These products can irritate the skin and worsen the course of the disease.
Use lotions with salicylic and glycolic acids. They remove excess fat from the skin and prevent the development of hyperkeratosis.
Use a light moisturizer to prevent dry skin.
Use water-based sunscreens and sprays.

Very often, when acne occurs on the cheeks of women, the cause lies in a malfunction of the endocrine system. Therefore, acne treatment should be carried out by several doctors: a dermatologist, gynecologist, endocrinologist and cosmetologist. Acne is a chronic disease and only an integrated approach to treatment will significantly increase the period of remission. The use of cosmetics makes it possible to reduce treatment time and drug doses, and also provides the necessary care for skin that has undergone age-related changes.

Acne on the cheeks causes and treatment (English)

Acne on the cheeks causes and treatment