The Symptoms and Signs of Jawline Acne

Jawline acne is common among adult women and is an early sign of adult acne. It’s usually caused by androgens, a type of hormone that cause the oil glands in the face to obstruct the hair follicles and leading to acne. 59% of the populating is afflicted at some time or other with jawline acne. It’s essentially the same as other types of acne but is almost completely preventable by changes in habits, hygiene and makeup..

The first sign of jawline acne may be a “whitehead”, the common name for a comedone. Whiteheads are are caused when the dead skin plugging the hair follicle is stuck in the opening of the follicle. The opening is nearly closed when you see a whitehead and may be open in event of a blackhead. Acne isn’t far behind the appearance of a comedone. Contrary to old common beliefs, blackheads are not caused by dirt but the black appearance is caused by the follicle’s plug making its way to the surface of the skin.

Blackheads can cause the follicle to break open and the area to become infected and swell. The infection causes a pimple, which is the outward sign of an inflammation deep within the skin. The most severe jawline acne cases include nodules and cysts which can be very painful as well as unsightly. Papules, which are red and inflamed but with no head, and Pustules (“zits”) are the most common symptoms of jawline acne.

Women with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) are more likely to develop jawline acne due to higher than normal androgen levels. Folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicle, is often initially mistaken for jawline acne and can be quite a serious dermatological condition if left untreated. Severe cases of Folliculitis can even result in permanent scarring. For these and many other reasons, it may be advisable to consult a physician or dermatologist when jawline acne occurs.

Like nearly all physical ailments and conditions, jawline acne has been the target of myths and misconceptions. One of the most common old wives’ tales is that if you have jawline acne only on the right side of your face during pregnancy, you’ll give birth to a boy!