Cosmetics enhance the person’s appearance but almost 30% of teenagers and adult men and women can develop acne from cosmetics. This is called acne cosmetica. This means that acne is not always caused by hormonal or skin-deep factors but can also be due to substances found in cosmetic products.

Do acne sufferers wear cosmetics too? Certainly they do and most acne sufferers do not realize that in their desire to hide their acne, they worsen it by using the inappropriate cosmetics to their face. When this happens, the only quick fix is to stop using the product.

The common cosmetic products available can be quite oily and contain synthetic oil that triggers acne. According to the National Institutes of Health, the greasy cosmetics can exacerbate the clogging of skin pores. Lanolin is a common cosmetic ingredient that causes acne. It is a fatty acid that can penetrate deep under the skin and results to comedonal acne. Other comedogenic substances found in make-up are Isopropyl Myristate in cosmetic foundations and D & C dyes.

How worse can acne cosmetica look? Acne from cosmetics appears small, pinkish bumps on the cheeks, chin and forehead which can persist for a week or even months. But it doesn’t mean that people with acne should never use cosmetic products at all. There are cosmetics that are noncomedogenic or nonacnegenic. You just have to choose products with oil-free labels which will not clog your skin pores or worsen any existing acne problem. If you apply heavy foundation to conceal any blemish or cream products for the cheeks and eyes, the Roche Pharmaceuticals warns against using them. Instead, you can opt for powder blush on or eye shadows which are less likely to trigger acne.

Hair sprays and gels can make you look fashionable but they are greasy and can clog skin easily. Those who use hair products will notice that acne grows near the hairlines where hairsprays and gels come in contact with the skin pores. When spraying on hair, keep hair away from the face. The hair has natural oil and after a while, you can feel greasy as the hair spray or gel sets in and clogs your skin.

The Nemours Foundation recommends that acne prone people must carefully read labels when buying any facial or hair products.