Argh, those nasty breakouts. You scrub and you wash and you tone and you moisturize, and still they show up just when you least need them.
Look carefully at where you’re breaking out. There is a theory called “face mapping” that suggests the location of your acne could present clues about what’s causing it. Traditional Chinese medicine, for example, maintains that a weakness or toxicity in a certain organ or gland in the body can result in acne showing up in certain areas of the skin. You can use this theory to do some detective work on your breakouts.
UPPER FOREHEAD (Zone 1): You could be experiencing poor digestive health and/or your body may be having trouble breaking down food which can lead to a build-up of toxins.
Associated with the: Bladder and Digestive System
The Fix: Load up on antioxidant rich foods like berries, nuts and green tea.
LOWER FOREHEAD (Zone 2): Breakouts in this area can be triggered by irregular sleep, stress, bad blood circulation or depression.
Associated with the: Bladder and Digestive System
The Fix: According to mayoclinic.org, adults require 7-8 hours of sleep per day. However, the National Sleep Foundation says there is no “magic number” of hours. The number of hours of sleep you need varies across populations and the individual. Bottom line — get more sleep!
BETWEEN EYEBROWS (Zone 3): Pimples in this area can be a directly linked to consuming too much alcohol or a diet that’s high in fat. This area can also indicate a food allergy.
Associated with the: Liver
The Fix: Cut down on the partying! Eat more fruit and leafy greens.
UNDER EYES (Zone 4): Dark circles in these areas is a sign of dehydration.
Associated with the: Kidneys
The Fix: Drink more water. Track if you are drinking 8-12 glasses per day. It will do wonders for your skin!
NOSE (Zone 5): This area can tell you if you are experiencing too many fluctuations in blood pressure and stress.
Associated with the: Heart
The Fix: Manage your blood pressure by keeping an eye on it. Purchase a blood pressure monitor
RIGHT AND LEFT CHEEKS (Zone 6): Do you have lung allergies or smoke cigarettes? Those who smoke tend to have acne breakouts on the cheeks. Also, you may see broken capillaries in this area. Acne in the lower parts of your cheeks may suggest dental issues like Gingivitis.
Associated with the: Lungs/Respiratory System
The Fix: Take control of your lungs and quit smoking!
SIDES OF CHIN (Zone 7): Hormonal changes and stress can leave this spot imbalanced. Breakouts occur on either side of your chin right around the time of your menstrual cycle. Interesting Fact (from laurenconrad.com) Breakouts in this area happen on one side or another depending on which ovary is ovulating that month.
Associated with the: Reproductive organ or kidneys
BOTTOM OF CHIN (Zone 8): This is a sign of digestive issues.
Associated with the: Stomach
The Fix: Try adding more fiber to your diet or detoxing.
EARS (Zone 9): You could be experiencing dehydration which could be caused from too much salt and caffeine. If you drink too much soda, coffee or alcohol, this area can get affected.
Associated with the: Kidneys
The Fix: Drink more water — limit your salt intake.
By Elizabeth Narins, Cosmopolitan
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