You know those bumps that arenât QUITE pimples? The ones that live on your forehead and never seem to pop or go away? Turns out, thereâs a more technical term than âforehead bumpsâ for these pesky blemishes â and weâve got the tricks you need to get âem gone.
Subclinical acne â what it is and why you have it.
If your forehead is covered in lots of small colorless or red bumps, you may be dealing with subclinical acne. This type of acne can cause the skinâs surface to look and feel uneven, without ever developing into the typical âpimpleâ â pus-filled and inflamed. Rather, subclinical acne is simply congested, clogged pores.
These little bumps are caused by an excess of sebum â the waxy, oily substance that your sebaceous glands naturally produce. When there is an excess of sebum, dirt, and dead skin cells on the skinâs surface, your pores become clogged, resulting in protruding follicles and a bumpy texture. Subclinical acne can occur in large numbers on the cheeks, nose, chin, or forehead. It is usually most common on the forehead and cheeks, because the oil glands on these two parts of the face are highly active.
Subclinical acne is most often tied to your lifestyle, stress, and/or hormonal changes. So how can you reduce its appearance?
1. Up your cleansing game
Since we know that subclinical acne is caused by clogged pores, the first step in reducing them is to improve your cleansing technique. Often times, even after washing our faces, our skin is still covered in a layer of dirt, oil, makeup, and other impurities!
First off, take a look at the cleanser youâre using. The best type of cleanser to use will be an oil-based cleanser, like our oil to milk cleanser. Oil dissolves oil, making an oil cleanser extremely helpful. If you're not into oil cleansing, try our AHA jelly cleanser, which is great for acne prone skin as it is a uniquely gentle clarifying cleanser with 4% AHAs to help unclog and minimize the appearance of pores for soft, smooth skin.
On top of using an oil-based cleanser, another technique to utilize is double cleansing. This may seem counter-intuitive â especially if youâre used to drying cleansers â but double cleansing with an oil cleanser can make a HUGE difference for your skin. Think of the first round of cleansing as prepping your skin for the deeper cleanse. Gently, but thoroughly, cleansing your skin twice will help to clear and remove dead skin cells. Our AHA jelly cleanser is perfect for your second cleanse, because it gently cleans the skin without stripping it of its own natural oils.
Do a double cleanse only once a day â preferably at night, when your skin really needs it, after a day of makeup, dirt, and pollutants!
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2. Did someone say tone?
We did. Lots of times! Thatâs because we know how essential toning is in finishing the cleansing process. On top of helping to extract any leftover oil or dirt left on your face (which is possible even after double cleansing!), using a toner helps to balance your pH levels and decrease excess oil production. Toning can help your skin really breathe.
Our turmeric illuminating solution is a  leave-on exfoliant that delivers instant radiance. The gentle blend of 2% mandelic, 2% PHA, and 3% glycolic acid reveals smoother, softer, more even-toned skin. Our rosewater toner is gentler, with a pH level of 5.5, but is still great for soothing skin and helping balance sebum.
3. Add in acne fighting ingredientsÂ
 The key factor in treating subclinical acne is to keep your pores clear. Treat clogged pores effectively yet gently with our probiotic acne serum. This serum is powered by 1.5% salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid that works on the skinâs surface to slough off dead skin and within pores to clear congestion. It's paired with microbiome-friendly postbiotics and beta glucan to help hydrate, reduce the appearance of inflammation, and ensure a clear, comfortable complexion without irritation or dryness!
4. Lightly moisturize
Of course it's always important to moisturize. However, while you're working on clearing out subclinical acne, you want to make sure not to overwhelm your skin with anything too heavy. We recommend sticking to a lighter moisturizer, like our watermelon hemp oil, or texture smoothing cream.Â
5. Steer clear of makeup for a few days
While you may have the urge to cover up, the best option for your skin is to leave it as clean as possible. Heavy foundations and makeup can trap excess oil and dirt in your pores. If you feel like you canât go bare-faced, then try to opt for an all-natural, lightweight facial powder that will allow your skin to breathe.
6. Donât pick
As tempting as it is to try and pop these annoying blemishes (trust us, we know), avoid picking at all costs.
This is especially important for subclinical acne, which won't normally break the skin on its own, as the bumps are often just congested pores. Picking at them could lead to the irritation and scarring, and can cause breakouts to worsen.
The best bet is to let your skin naturally regenerate to flush out the congestion.
7. Mask!Â
Using a purifying face mask a few times a week can help you unclog those pores even faster. We love our chlorophyll mask because it helps deeply cleanse and clarify the skin while also supporting healthy circulation and calming angry skin. Â
Another great option is our sea kale clay mask, which soothes, exfoliates, and purifies the skin *without* drying it out.
8. Drink a ton of waterÂ
Drinking enough water is essential for keeping your skin clear. Our cells are nourished and hydrated by water, and dehydration can cause your skin to compensate by overproducing oil. Double certified MD, Dr. Amy Shah, told us recently that she recommends drinking between 10-14 glasses of water a day! For some extra flavor and benefits, try adding lemon or other fruit to your water.
We hope that this post helped clear up the mystery around those pesky forehead bumps â and that it will also help clear up your skin! The key factor in treating subclinical acne is to keep your pores clear â through your routine (give that double cleansing a shot!), lifestyle habits, and diet. If you have any questions at all, email us at info@cocokind.com!
