Skin Health Acne Acne Cosmetica Causes and Treatment By Angela Palmer facebook Angela Palmer is a licensed esthetician specializing in acne treatment. Learn about our editorial process Angela Palmer Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Casey Gallagher, MD on March 21, 2020 Casey Gallagher, MD, is board-certified in dermatology and works as a practicing dermatologist and clinical professor. Learn about our Medical Review Board Casey Gallagher, MD on March 21, 2020 Print Acne cosmetica is a mild but persistent form of acne triggered by the use of cosmetics. It can occur anywhere on the body but is most common on the face, neck, hairline, and scalp. JGI / Jamie Grill / Getty Images Acne cosmetica looks like small bumps across the surface of the skin or scalp. The skin will look and feel rough. Many comedones, and possibly some small papules and pustules, will be present, but there usually is little to no inflammation. Causes This type of acne is caused by the use of comedogenic hair or skin care products. When a cosmetic product accumulates within the follicle, the pore becomes blocked. Excess skin oil builds up, clogging the pore and creating a blemish. Pomades or hair oils, heavy moisturizers, eye creams, and makeup are all common causes of acne cosmetica. Tips for Identifying the Problem Identifying the pore-clogging culprit is important. Are you breaking out on the forehead, hairline, or scalp? Your hair care products may be to blame. Finding small bumps and whiteheads in the eye area or on the upper cheeks? Your eye cream could be too heavy. Bumpiness and breakouts over the entire face and neck area most likely are caused by moisturizer or foundation makeup. Once the source of the breakouts is identified and use is discontinued, acne cosmetica gradually improves. Treatments The first step is to leave your face makeup-less at least a few times a week to allow your skin a break and time to breathe and heal. If you don't feel comfortable going makeup-free all day, cleanse your face as soon as you get home. This will give your skin a few hours every evening to go bare. Makeup alone typically doesn't cause a full-blown case of inflammatory acne, so just keeping your skin bare isn't necessarily going to be enough to clear up your skin. If you're not already using an acne treatment medication, whether an OTC or prescription product, it's time to start. These types of products will help you get blemishes under control as you determine the primary culprit behind your breakout. To help clear existing breakouts more quickly, and to inhibit the formation of new comedones, use a cleanser or treatment pads containing salicylic acid. Regular exfoliation may also help to speed clearing of acne cosmetica. It is generally a good idea to switch makeup brands or products if your acne seems to worsen after wearing makeup for several days in a row. For those with sensitive skin, certain makeup formulations (even those labeled noncomedogenic) can cause acne breakouts If this seems to be the case for you, try another brand. Your skin might tolerate one better than another. When You Can't Completely Eliminate Your Cosmetic Products Sometimes it's not practical to stop using your hair or skin care products. You can still reduce the number of pore blockages produced by following these basic tips: Choose products labeled noncomedogenic.Switch to an oil-free moisturizer.Apply hair pomades and oils at least one inch back from the hairline or only on the ends of the hair.Make sure to thoroughly cleanse all traces of makeup from your face at the end of each day before going to bed. As with any form of acne, see your doctor if you aren't seeing improvement after six to eight weeks of treatment. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with acne can be frustrating. Our free guide provides expert tips to help you take control. Sign up and get yours today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Academy of Dermatology Association. I have acne! Is it okay to wear makeup?. Additional Reading United States. NIAMS. "Questions and Answers About Acne." Bethesda, MD: National Institutes of Health, 2015