A little common sense

So, you've got a particular place on your face that keeps breaking out. What is that about??? Well, let's go through some questions and maybe we can figure it out.

1. Where is the breakout? Chin? Side of your face? Forehead? Near your mouth?

2. What goes on in that area on a very regular basis? Do you prop a phone there? Do your spray hairspray and it lands there? Do you sleep on that part of your face? Are you using a new cosmetic/moisturizer/cleanser in that area? Does toothpaste get on the area?

If you answered yes to any of the previous questions, here are a few easy steps to (hopefully) help out.

If the breakout is where you prop a phone, STOP IT. If you can't resist propping your phone then for the love of Pete, swab the phone with a little rubbing alcohol every day or so. That will help kill the bacteria that are so lovingly growing there just waiting for contact with your skin.

If the breakout is on your forehead/neck/wherever hairspray hits, consider covering the area with a tissue or a towel to block the spray.

If you sleep on your side (like I do) you are more prone to cheek breakouts. There are a couple of options here. Change your pillowcase a couple of times a week. Also, pull your hair back from your face when you go to bed. If you are laying on dirty hair, it's going to clog up those pores.

If you are currently trying a new product, take a break from it. Or, if you can, mix it with an old product until your skin adjusts. If the problem persists, take the new item back to wherever you bought it and explain that you are having a reaction. Department store brands are great for taking things back and you'd be surprised at the number of drug stores who also have a very liberal cosmetics return policy.

Finally, that old wives tale about putting toothpaste on a zit is just that- an old wives tale. In fact, toothpaste can actually cause blemishes around the mouth. If you are experiencing this, change toothpastes. If the one breaking you out is a whitening one, switch to a non-whitening one. If you aren't currently using a whitening one, try switching to an all natural one like Tom's of Maine. Sometimes, it's the flouride in the toothpaste that makes people break out! Who knew?

Hopefully, one of these easy fixes will help!