Could Your Hair Care Products Be Causing Your Body Acne?

Unfortunately, all of those ingredients in hair products that promote shiny strands are not the best for skin. "Some hair care products contain oils that can clog pores on skin and lead to whiteheads and other types of acne," says board certified internist Dr. Sunitha Posina. Most hair products deposit a residue that eventually spreads to your face and body.

Continual use of these pore-clogging hair products can potentially cause inflammatory acne lesions. In dermatological terms, this is known as "acne cosmetica" or "pomade acne" because of the follicle plugging reaction to the petroleum-based components of many styling and hair conditioning products reports Coppola.

"Many ingredients in hair care products can clog pores and lead to breakouts. I wish it was as simple as avoid ingredient x, y, z and you are good," says Rubin. "The way ingredients combine can play a big role so testing a finished formula is really important to be sure it won't clog pores."

Posina suggests watching out for oils, silicones, petroleum, sulfates, parabens, mineral oils, lanolin and coconut oil. Coppola warns that sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate can be very irritating and cause breakouts.

Alcohol, commonly found in hair gels and hairsprays, can possibly be problematic. Panthenol, commonly used as a hair strengthener and fortifier, can also lead to breakouts explains Coppola. Posina says that usually heavy oil-based products, thicker creams and pomades tend to trigger breakouts. So look for hair products marked "noncomedogenic" and "oil-free." Certain waxes and polymers can also aggravate breakouts per Rubin. You may also be sensitive to fragrances. If so, try SEEN's Power Bundle, Fragrance Free, $70.

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