Face Mapping - is it a Fad?

Do you ever wonder whether those breakouts that somehow always pop on the exact same spot on your face are due to factors other than forgetting to wash your face a couple days ago? Well, according to the concept of face mapping, different flare ups of acne in certain locations all have various causes.

Face mapping is the ability to see the reflection of the body's organs on each part of the face by observing the face's complexion — such as texture, dullness, and colour (and breakouts!). The history of face mapping dates back several thousands of years to the days of ancient Chinese medicine. And, although the concept has evolved over time, the core ideal remains the same: where you're breaking out is a reflection of what's going on in your body.

But, before you start obsessing over the location of your pimples, let some time pass before you consult a map of any kind. First of all, we need to make sure that any dark spots or acne aren't caused by lack of skincare routine or if the symptoms still occur after seven days of daily cleaning or treatment, then we can consider face mapping.

As always, you should keep up with a regular skincare routine but just keep in mind that some of those breakouts can be treated from the inside out.

Here's a breakdown of the different areas of the face and find out what your breakouts may be telling you.

What Each Area of the Face Tells Us

We've already established that having acne sucks big time, but when you are on your clear skin journey, recurring acne feels like a major set back. That is why it is important to use the tools that face mapping can provide to understand what the triggers are and why we need to stay away from them. So, let's take a look at the most common cystic acne breakout spots and what they mean.

Chin and Jawline

Many women, in particular, will deal with recurring cystic acne in this location because it is heavily linked to hormonal changes in the body. Whether it be our monthly friend, your period, or any other hormonally induced situation, like PCOS, endometriosis, or menopause, hormones can seriously affect our skin. 

How does it work? 

When hormones surge (like when our period comes), it can cause an overstimulation of the oil glands, which can lead to clogged pores and breakouts. 

So, even though you cannot control your hormones, you can consult with your physician to examine anything that could affect them, like certain medications.

Another factor to look at is what you eat. Now before you get too nervous, a few simple changes are all you need! Take a look at your diet and see if cutting back on processed foods positively affects your breakouts.

So for those of you that are huge on happy-hour or having those late-night snacks, I suggest dialling it back just a little and opting for healthier alternatives.

What can you do?

• Get your hormones checked for imbalances and speak with a physician about any methods that could help.

• Eat Omega-3s, fresh fruits, and veggies. These can seriously support the health of your skin cells.

Check out my more informative post on skin-gut connection, you'll be fascinated how closely connected the system is.

Cheeks

When acne appears on your cheeks, it can point to multiple underlying issues. But, one of the most predominant is environmental toxins and bacteria from direct contact. 

If you’re like me, your cheek is a resting place for your hand constantly! No matter if it's during work or while dozing, or even just when the boredom starts to kick in, many of us have this habit.

But the hard truth is that many of us don’t sanitize our hands as much as we should. So, that leaves room for bacteria to easily transfer from the things we touch to our faces. And, this can create a skin nightmare. 

Another way that bacteria can transfer is through objects that we might place near our face, like cell phones or even just the pillowcases you sleep on nightly (scary right!). 

What can you do?

• Always wash your hands (seriously, ALWAYS)

• Make sure that you wipe down your phone often to keep it nice and sanitized. 

• Ditch your phone on your next bathroom run to avoid bacteria.

• Wash your pillowcases at least once a week (scent-free detergent is the best option).

• Don't touch your face!!

T-Zone

For this area, there are two main reasons for breakouts:

• Digestive Issues

• Stress

These two have been known to be a leading cause of all breakouts. And, that is why dermatologists recommend flushing out toxins by beefing up your water intake, which can aid big time in the digestion process. So, what does this mean? It's probably time to say goodbye to those sugar-filled drinks for a while! 

As for stress, sleeping at least seven hours a night is so important because this will alleviate some of the undue pressure put on the body by fatigue. Meditation is also a proven form of lowering cortisol levels as well as exercising and being out in nature!

What can you do?

• Drink water and up your intake of water dense fruit and vegetables.

• Start cutting back on sugary and overly processed drinks and foods.

• Make getting the right amount of sleep your priority. 

• Consult with your doctor or nutritionist about the right probiotic for your gut health.

Back, Arms, and Thighs

Ok, ok, ok...so this is not exactly a part of the face, but consider this bonus information. Many of us deal with acne predominantly on our backs, arms, and thighs (inner thigh bumps), but we don't know how to get rid of it. 

This type of acne that plagues the back, arms, and thighs can be because of irritation. Someone who is experiencing body acne should reduce pressure from carrying a backpack or purse, which can cause friction that causes acne. Wear clothes that are clean and not too tight. Shower straight after exercise, evaluate shower gels and soaps, body lotions, laundry detergent, and sunscreen for pore-clogging ingredients.

These are tips that we can all use on the daily!

The Bottomline

Now that was a lot to digest, I know! But, the truth is that face mapping is just another tool to help you consider all of the factors that could be causing your flare ups. From not getting enough sleep to hormonal imbalances, everything matters when you're trying to get clear skin. 

If you've tried all the above but can't seem to get your skin under control or make sense of where it's stemming from? Schedule a facial treatment so we can help you get to the bottom of your skin woos.