My forehead has a habit of breaking out at the worst possible times—whiteheads one week, blackheads the next, and the occasional deep, painful pimple just to keep things interesting. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Forehead acne is actually one of the most common places to flare up. Between higher oil production, hormones, stress, and everything that touches the hairline, it’s prime territory for clogged pores.
To better understand forehead acne—and how to treat it effectively—I turned to the experts. After speaking with three board-certified dermatologists, Kunal Malik, MD, Alexandra Bowles, MD, and Hadley King, MD, along with NYC-based aesthetician Madalaina Conti, I got answers on what causes forehead acne, the different types you might be dealing with, and the best ways to treat and prevent it.
Ahead, everything you need to know to get your forehead breakouts under control.
What causes acne on the forehead?
Like acne anywhere else, forehead breakouts are caused when pores become clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, leading to inflammation. Genetics and hormones play a major role here, says Dr. Malik, since hormonal fluctuations can signal oil glands to go into overdrive. Some people also have more sensitive hormone receptors, which means breakouts can happen even without a clear trigger like puberty or a menstrual cycle. Plus, the location matters: " The forehead is part of the T-zone, which naturally produces more oil, making it more prone to breakouts," says Dr. Bowles.
There are other internal factors that can put your oil production into overdrive. "If these breakouts are something new, changes in sleep, stress, and even diet could lead to inflammation, which could potentially increase oil production, resulting in a breakout," says Conti."Forehead acne is commonly thought to be a reflection of stomach and digestive imbalances," she adds.
Another sneaky cause for forehead acne includes rich, greasy hair products. " I also see that hair products can be a contributing factor in forehead breakouts," says Conti. "The natural oils from the scalp, sweat, and many hair products can tend to clog the pores, so proper management is helpful in clearing the area." That's why it's super important to consistently wash your pillowcases, cleanse your face up to your hairline, and check your hair products to see if they're highly comedogenic. “Sweat, hats, helmets, and headbands can trap oil and bacteria against the skin,” says Dr. Bowles, creating the environment for forehead acne to thrive.
While genetics and hormones are often the source of forehead acne, stressors (both day-to-day stress and biological stressors like systemic illnesses), your eating habits, environment, sleep habits, and hair products can all potentially also lead to these dreaded pimples.
What are the different types of forehead acne?
Not all forehead acne looks or behaves the same, which is why identifying the type matters.
- Comedones: either blackheads or small whiteheads
- Papular acne: small red/purple/brown bumps on your skin’s surface
- Pustular acne: inflamed red/purple/brown bumps with white pus-like centers
- Nodulocystic acne: deep, underground, blind pimples that are painful and inflamed
- Fungal acne: Not true acne, but small, uniform bumps caused by yeast overgrowth.
“Your forehead acne might be a combination of the above,” says Dr. Malik. Comedones typically form when sweat and keratin build up in pores, while papules and pustules are more often linked to bacterial overgrowth and inflammation.
And a common culprit on the forehead is also fungal acne, which isn't technically acne, but "an underlying skin condition that can mimic acne and require different treatment," according to Dr. Bowles. These look more like small bumps and don't have comedones. "Fungal breakouts look and feel more rash-like," explains Conti.
How do I get rid of the little bumps on my forehead?
To get rid of the little bumps on your forehead, or any type of acne on your forehead, you have two options: over-the-counter treatments and in-office prescriptions and procedures. Look for products with actives like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and adapalene (a type of retinoid for acne), depending on the type of acne you have. "Non-comedogenic formulas can make a big difference," adds Dr. Bowles. And if your little bumps are fungal acne, she says "an anti-fungal wash can be very effective."
Focusing on prevention is just as important as treatment. "Keep micellar water on hand post-workout to remove sweat, cleanse your face after washing your hair to avoid residue, and make sure you’re thoroughly cleansing along the hairline," suggests Conti.
At-home treatments for forehead acne
Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide works especially well for pustular and papular acne by killing the acne-causing bacteria on your skin, helping to prevent zits as well as further inflammation. Try washing once a day with a benzoyl peroxide cleanser, or dabbing on a spot treatment when you get a zit. "I recommend using a spot treatment or mask with Benzoyl Peroxide at night," says Conti. "If you’re sensitive, mix a bit into your cleanser instead of masking to acclimate to the active."
And because the ingredient can be drying, make sure to layer on a non-comedogenic moisturizer after and avoid other strong chemical exfoliants or retinoids on the same night.
Salicylic acid
Salicylic acid, on the other hand, is great for blackheads and whiteheads because it's oil-soluble, allowing it to go deep in your pores. Essentially, "it helps dissolve the bonds that hold dead skin cells on your skin's surface that get trapped in your pores," explains Dr. King. It's also tolerated well for sensitive skin types at a 2 percent concentration, and can even be combined with benzoyl peroxide, topical retinoids, or AHAs.
Mandelic and azelaic acid
Mandelic and azelaic acids offer a gentler way to exfoliate and reduce inflammation, making them great options for sensitive or acne-prone skin to use in the morning. Azelaic acid helps calm redness and fade post-acne marks, while mandelic acid supports more even cell turnover without excess irritation.
Retinoids
“Topical retinoids are also excellent for combating acne and preventing clogged pores," says Dr. King. Retinoids (including adapalene, the gold standard for over-the-counter acne treatment) help speed up cell turnover, which in turn makes your skin cells shed faster and clog your pores less. The cell turnover process also helps slowly fade hyperpigmentation, notes Dr. King.
The downside to retinol and retinoids is that they can still be quite drying and irritating, so you need to start off using them low and slow. Try smoothing a pea-size dot over your entire face (no spot-treating here) once a week, then twice a week for two weeks, then three times a week indefinitely. And if you're feeling tight or splotchy, make sure to layer on a soothing moisturizer after using it.
In-office treatments for forehead acne
If at-home options aren’t cutting it, a dermatologist can help tailor a treatment plan. Depending on your acne type and severity, options may include topical or oral antibiotics, spironolactone, hormonal birth control, prescription retinoids, or procedures like AviClear, which targets oil glands to reduce sebum production, says Dr. Malik. And severe and constant cases of acne may call for Accutane.
Is forehead acne stress acne?
"Forehead acne can be caused by stress, but not all cases of forehead acne are stress-related," says Dr. Malik. When you experience stress or anxiety, your cortisol hormones spike. This is totally normal, but continued high cortisol levels caused by chronic stress release something called "substance P," or SP, a neurotransmitter found in your skin's nerve endings that can signal to your oil glands to start overproducing sebum. This combination of excess oil and increased inflammation leads to clogged pores and breakouts, says Dr. King. But keep in mind that stress acne can show up anywhere, not just your forehead, just as the acne on your forehead can be related to a variety of causes (see above).
How long do forehead pimples last?
It really depends on the type of acne, as well as the types of products you're using to help clear your skin, says Dr. King. “Smaller clogged pores might only persist for a few days, whereas inflammatory pimples could take a couple of weeks to improve," she says. If you wish to expedite the resolution process, make an appointment with a dermatologist to develop a treatment plan (and consider incorporating one of the active ingredients above in the meantime).
Final thoughts:
Forehead acne is frustrating, but also extremely common. Whether your breakouts are tied to hormones, constant stress, hair products, or a mix of everything, a consistent routine and targeted ingredients can go a long way. And if you’ve tried it all with little success, a dermatologist can help you pinpoint the cause and find a treatment plan that actually works. So, if you’ve already tried salicylic acid and topical retinols, it may be time to make an appointment with your dermatologist to help find a treatment plan that actually works for you, because everyone's skin is different!
Meet the experts:
- Kunal Malik, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Spring Street Dermatology in New York.
- Hadley King, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University.
- Alexandra Bowles, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist at MONA Dermatology.
- Madalaina Conti is a NYC-based esthetician who focuses on holistic skincare and remedies, specializing in treating acneic skin.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan who covers all things skincare. She writes about everything from the buzziest facial treatments to treating hormonal acne. She's a skincare aficionado and is very serious when it comes to the products she puts on her face and keeping her skin clear.
Iman Balagam is a beauty contributor at Cosmopolitan with nearly three years of experience writing beauty stories that range from laser hair removal services to mini flat irons.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
Iman Balagam is a freelance writer who has been in the beauty industry for nearly five years. She has written for and contributed to top women’s magazines and digital brands such as Harper's BAZAAR, Allure, Byrdie, Elle and more. She will try *nearly* anything and spends a lot of time looking for new ways to store her beauty products in a small New York apartment.
