How to Prevent Hairline Pimples

Pimples love to call the face home, but they can pop up anywhere on the body. While you’ll likely find pesky breakouts across your nose, chin, and forehead, they can also appear on the back, chest, and even the hairline. Hairline pimples (or hairline acne) are small bumps that can be red, have a whitehead or blackhead in the center, or even appear as a large cyst. Some people who experience pimples on the hairline have fungal acne. There can be a small cluster of pimples along the hairline and forehead, sometimes extending to the back of the neck. If you want to know how to stop hairline acne once and for all, it’s important to understand why these pimples occur and how to treat them. 

 Why Do I Have Pimples on My Hairline?

If you think you are the only person with pimples along the hairline, forehead, or on the back of your neck, guess again. Hairline pimples can arise for one of these reasons: 

• Hormonal changes. Hormones are often to blame for pimples no matter where on the body they appear. Elevated hormone levels trigger the sebaceous glands, which produce oil, to pump out more than usual. That means more oil is on the skin’s surface and deep within the pores. A breakout will likely ensue when the oil combines with bacteria and dead skin cells.
• Your hair products. Unbeknownst to many, hair products with heavy oils and silicones can block the pores and prevent the skin from breathing. But that’s not the only reason why your hair care products can cause hairline acne. If you don’t thoroughly rinse off shampoo and conditioner, particularly from the hairline, they can leave behind a residue that causes pimples, too.
• Hair accessories and hats. Dirty headbands, hats, and bandanas trap sweat, dirt, oil, and dead skin, which is why they can look orange or brown. Not washing and cleaning hair accessories and hats often can transfer this buildup onto the skin and cause pimples to form.
• Makeup. Applying bronzer, foundation, and concealer high onto the hairline—and not removing it correctly—can also cause hairline pimples, known as acne cosmetica.

How Hairline Pimples Can Make You Feel

Pimples, whether on your hairline or elsewhere, don’t impact your overall health, but they can make you feel less confident. Acne impacts many people’s emotional health and well-being, making some feel depressed or lacking in confidence. 

How to Stop Hairline Acne

Yes, hairline pimples can be annoying and hard to cover, but with the right products and treatments, you can get rid of them for good. For starters, you’ll want to identify the reason for your constant breakouts so that you can help get them under control. Then, after you know the reason for your breakouts, you’ll be able to follow the right plan of attack to keep them from occurring.

To control pimples on your hairline there are simple steps to take to prevent pimples on your hairline, such as:

• Wash your face at least once daily 
• If you wash your face in the shower, do it after you’ve washed your hair. This way, if there is any lingering product residue on the hairline, you’ll rinse it off.
• Stick with skincare and makeup products free of pore-clogging oils and butter. Your best bet is products labeled as non-comedogenic and silicone-free.
• No matter what, don’t pick your pimples or try and pop them, which can cause scarring.
• Wash your pillowcase often. Lying your head on a dirty pillowcase night after night can cause the accumulated dead skin cells, dirt, oil, and bacteria to transfer to the hairline, leading to pimples, too.
• Shampoo your hair often. Going too long between washes can also cause hairline breakouts. Make dry shampoo part of your routine if you need to bring your hair back to life on non-wash days.