Hair Care and Acne
Do you wash your face regularly, but frequently go without washing your hair? Dirt, oil and bacteria can build up in your hair and end up clogging your facial pores (especially around your forehead) if you don’t take care to wash your hair regularly, and, when possible, keep it out of your face. This is part of the reason many men find it easier to keep their skin clear when they have shorter hair.
For most people, hair tends to naturally become oily over time due to secretion by the oil glands in your hair follicles. While you’re asleep, this oil often seeps down from your hair into your face, pooling up in your pores. This contributes in a big way to the oily skin that many notice around their foreheads when they wake up in the morning. It’s often a good idea to either rinse your hair before bed or wear something to keep it out of your face. Keep in mind the bacteria in your hair can easily build up on your pillowcase, so change it regularly to be safe. If you have longer hair that’s frequently in contact with the skin of your face, this can be a constant pathway for the oil and bacteria that builds up in your hair to make its way onto your face and contribute to acne, so you need to take extra care to keep your hair clean.
As much as oil and bacteria naturally build up in the hair, we often add to the problem with hair styling products such as gels and creams. Many of these product contain chemicals that are actually known to cause acne (almost all hair gels are comedogenic). Do you make sure to wash off hair gels before going to bed? You probably should, as these products tend to seep down along your hairline, irritating your skin and leaving a residue that can contribute to acne. I know it’s not realistic to expect people to go without hair styling products, but remember the skin care risks of using these products and, when possible, use more sparing amounts rather than globbing them on. Cleanse your skin along your hairline after applying hair gel or creams, and always make sure to wash them out of your hair fully later on.
