Dealing with blemishes can prove to be a dark spot in a person’s life – and lead to a desperate search for both a cause and a cure.
There seems to be no end to the supply of acne products available on store shelves, with expensive acne treatments available in almost every skin care clinic and salon around the world.
But while much of the focus when it comes to pimples tends to be placed solely on skin care, experts now reveal that there could be a whole different culprit responsible for unwanted acne: your hair care.
According to a panel of seasoned beauty professionals, there’s a good chance your shampoo, conditioner, and serums could be contributing to acne without your knowledge.
So FEMAIL spoke to a celebrity hairstylist, clean beauty brand founders and a board-certified dermatologist to find out what to look for and, most importantly, what to avoid.
FEMAIL spoke to a celebrity hairstylist, clean beauty brand founders and a board-certified dermatologist to find out what to look for and, most importantly, what to avoid (stock image)
While many people with sensitive skin are extremely careful when it comes to the skincare ingredients they use, they pay less attention to the pore-clogging ingredients in their hair care.
CLEAR VOICE is a clean beauty brand that focuses specifically on acne and aging – and the brand’s most recent launch is a shampoo brand specifically for those with sensitive skin.
Kayleigh Christina, a holistic nutritionist and co-founder of CLEARSTEM, based in Los Angeles, California, told DailyMail.com: ‘“Having been treating acne for over 10 years, we know that most hair care contributes to acne on the back and hairline.”
“At least 90 percent of hair products contain pore cleansers and products that normally don’t feel terrible in the hair,” Kayleigh warned.
To focus on creating formulas to fill the void, they created luxurious, acne-safe, dermatologist-tested shampoo and conditioner.
Danielle Gronich, a clinical esthetician and acne specialist who owns the San Diego Acne Clinic and co-founded CLEARSTEM with Kayleigh, told FEMAIL: “Shea butter is a common pore cleanser often found in many conditioners and hair care products.”
According to Danielle, a safer bet is kokum seed butter, “a natural, non-comedogenic seed butter that improves hair moisture and prevents dryness after rinsing.”
Danielle said other ingredients that often scare people are isopropyl myristate and coconut oil.
Kayleigh Christina, a holistic nutritionist, and Danielle Gronich, a clinical esthetician and acne specialist, co-founded CLEARSTEM
According to experts, hair care ingredients end up on pillowcases and contaminate sheets and towels, which can cause acne (stock image)
Kayleigh explained: ‘There is very little education about existing hair care products and how often they rely on pore-clogging oils for moisture, leading to clogged pores.
‘These ingredients end up on pillowcases, leave residue on the body and contaminate sheets and towels, ultimately causing acne.
‘Additionally, hair care without these ingredients leaves hair dry, prone to damage and breakage, and simply does not work on hair that is dry, curly or color-treated.’
Board-certified cosmetic dermatologist from New York City Dr. Michele Green told DailyMail.com: ‘Many people can develop acne from their hair care products, usually along the forehead, hairline and the back of the neck.’
She recommended avoiding acne-causing ingredients like silicone, cocoa butter, and oils like coconut, avocado, and flaxseed.
“While these ingredients are great for hair, they are known to clog pores if left on the skin, trapping dirt and impurities and causing acne,” said Dr. Green.
The dermatologist said that people with sensitive skin should also avoid products containing this agent ‘fragrance, sulphates, parabens and alcohol, as these ingredients can be harsh, drying and irritating to the skin.’
According to Dr. Green, it’s equally important to “constantly wash pillowcases, sheets, hats and headbands to ensure that no residue from hair care products ends up on the skin,” which could also lead to breakouts.
Celebrity hairstylist and founder of the boutique salon studios Phoenix Salon Suites Gina Rivera offered expert hair care advice
Famous hairstylists and boutique studios Phoenix Salon Suites founder Gina Rivera said it was best not to use heavy serums daily’due to the added extra oils that may be in the product,” adding, “Too much of anything is not good.”
“It’s important to take a break and cleanse the scalp and hair to remove any build-up from the serums or any product,” said Gina, who suggested a hair detox.
Paul Labrecque, creative director and master stylist at Paul Labrecque Salon and Skincare Spawith locations in New York City and Palm Beach, Florida, told DailyMail.com, “Lipids are the main cause of acne on the scalp because they can clog pores.”
But don’t despair if you use products containing the oily, waxy compound. He clarified that they are beneficial for the ends of your hair, but should not be rubbed into the scalp.
‘Make sure you always rinse well to eliminate scalp acne and prevent its formation,’ Paul advised.
He also tells customers to stay away pomades and mineral oil products used to prevent frizz and should never be applied to the scalp or used on ultra-fine hair.
For people with sensitive skin, Paul hypoallergenic products with no smells that were mbased on moisture and proteins instead of based on fat or lipids.