Breakouts and Oily Hair
A: As frustrating as it may be to hear, there are many things that could be contributing to the fact that you breakout when you wear your hair down around your face. If your hair is oily, you likely have oil-prone skin too. And hair resting on the skin easily transfers those excess oils, dead skin cells, and bacteria directly into your pores.
Possible Causes
The issue may be less about the natural hair oil and more about the styling environment. Having hair draped around your face can trap heat and sweat, creating a warm, humid environment that exacerbates skin oiliness and triggers breakouts. Friction from hair strands constantly rubbing against the skin (known as acne mechanica) can also irritate pores.There is also a strong possibility that the breakouts stem from "pomade acne". This is clogged pores caused by hair styling products, shampoos, conditioners, or leave-in products coming into contact with your skin. While you aren't allergic to your own hair proteins, you can definitely be sensitive to heavy oils, waxes, silicones, and fragrances lingering on your hair strands.
Figuring out the cause will take a bit of observation. If the breakouts occur in exact patterns where your hair touches (like along the jawline, cheeks, or forehead), you are likely looking at a reaction to hair products, residual shampoo, or physical friction. If the breakouts are more randomized, heat, sweat, and trapped skin oils are the more probable culprits.
Suggestions
My first suggestion is to switch to non-comedogenic (won't clog pores), fragrance-free, or very gentle hair products (such as baby shampoo or sulfate-free formulas). Make sure to wash your face after rinsing out your conditioner in the shower to clear away any leftover film. Give any product change 4 to 6 weeks to evaluate results, as skin cell turnover takes roughly a month to show real improvement.The next step is to experiment with hairstyles that keep hair off your face, especially while sleeping or working out, and to change your pillowcases frequently. Also, pay attention to whether having your hair down causes you to touch your face more often throughout the day.
If changing your hair routine doesn't fix things, consider speaking with a dermatologist. He or she can help pinpoint whether you need targeted topical treatments to manage the oil and keep your pores clear, no matter how you style your hair.
This answer is intended for informational purposes only. For medical advice or a diagnosis, contact a doctor.
©Hairfinder.com
See also:
Causes and solutions for oily hair
Pimples near the scalp
Is it safe to get a haircut with scalp zits?