One of the most common areas or “zones” on a person’s face that is more prone to be oily or covered in acne is the “T Zone”.
The T Zone is located in the middle of a person’s face and creates a T which is your forehead, nose and chin.
Why do breakouts occur more in the T Zone?
Breakouts occurring in the T Zone can happen for a number of reasons. Here are a few.
The T Zone is more prone to acne because it is in a spot that people often touch. Many times people do not think to wash their hands before touching their face, so then bacteria gets spread and leads to acne outbreaks. Try to limit how much you touch your face, and if you simply can’t resist from touching it at least make sure that your hands are clean.
Skin is often influenced negatively by stress. This is because fluctuations in hormones and high levels of stress can cause acne to occur and the body’s defense systems to weaken, making it harder for the body to fight off acne causing bacteria and illnesses. Stressful situations have been known to trigger chemical reactions within the body which also increase the chances of acne occurring. Finding ways to reduce stress would be most helpful in preventing acne outbreaks from occurring in the T Zone or other acne zones as well.
Skin combinations found in the T Zone
There are more than one types of skin located in the T Zone. This skin type combination is a recipe for disaster. Oily, dry and normal skin are all located here, and it can be hard to know which kind of products to use in the T Zone to treat acne because what works for one skin type might not work so well on another.
How can Acne in the T Zone be treated and prevented?
Treatment and prevention of the T Zone is not as hard as one might think. It is about patience and persistence. The first important thing to do is to stay educated about what causes or triggers acne. If you notice something that seems to make your acne worsen avoid that activity at all costs. A few other steps you can take to help control acne are as follows.
Keeping your face clean by washing it twice a day with gentle, lukewarm water and keeping clean fingertips is perhaps one of the most important steps a person can take in controlling acne in the T Zone. Luke warm water helps to open up pores and clean out the skin. If you use a soap to wash your face make sure that it is mild or dermatologist recommended for acne or sensitive skin. Make sure that you use soaps that have no-oil based ingredients.
Once you have washed your face with luke warm water it is important to gently tap the skin dry. Make sure not to scrub or rub the skin as this can lead to further irritation and infection and also cause the natural moisture from your skin to be removed.
Get plenty of sleep and eat healthy
Making sure that you get a proper night’s sleep can be beneficial to controlling acne. Psychologists have suggested in recent studies that it is not the number of hours a person sleeps that matter, but the amount of REM sleep a person gets. If you miss sleep your body tries to make up for it afterwards and can send a person into an exhausting downward spiral. This takes a serious toll on a person’s body and mental health, causing stress and hormones level to fluctuate and increasing acne. It has been suggested that by adding an hour every night to your bedtime a person can help their body catch up on sleep and keep things working properly. If your body is working properly it is more likely to work more efficiently in fighting off acne and illnesses.
Engage in activities that reduce tension
Being able to relax is more important to your skin’s health than you might think. This is why it is so important to partake in activities that help reduce tension and stress and help increase feelings of relaxation and comfort. A few activities that you might try are taking a bubble bath, listening to music quietly, aromatherapy, spending time with someone, watching a funny movie, reading a book, etc. Relax, your pores will thank you later!
