Over the years, our eyebrows have gone through several makeovers. We’ve seen thin, thick, bushy, shaped, furry, unruly, bleached – name it and, for the sake of maintenance (i.e. fashion), we’ve done it all.
In this process of tweezing, threading, waxing and overloading our poor brow hair with gels, pomades, and waxes, we forget that it requires some TLC, too. We may have also neglected the unexpected breakouts that occur in probably the most unexpected area – your brows. You will find these breakouts either in the form of tiny bumps that outline your eyebrows or acne that sit within the hair or even in between your two eyebrows.
Read on for everything you need to know about eyebrow acne and what you need to do to avoid it.
What’s causing breakouts on your brows?
The primary cause of acne is the same in your brows as it is everywhere else – clogged pores. Also known as folliculitis, it happens all thanks to dirty brushes and tools, thick brow products, and heavy makeup. When excess oil, dirt, bacteria, and makeup gets into your eyebrow follicles, it blocks them and results in acne. Hair removal methods like tweezing, threading or waxing can also lead to breakouts in your eyebrows. To top it off, thicker brow products like gels act as occlusives that aid in clogging pores, causing blackheads and breakouts.
How to prevent pimples after threading and avoid eyebrow breakouts
Following a cleanse, moisturise, treat and protect routine now comes second nature to many. It’s the cardinal rule of skincare. When shaping your eyebrows or going in for threading, cleanse and prep your skin beforehand. Exfoliate the area to remove any dead skin cells and loosen any ingrown hairs. This’ll prevent the pores from trapping any dirt or dead skin, inadvertently resulting in a blackhead or pimple.
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The rules that apply to your skin, apply to your brows as well. Make sure you cleanse your eyebrows of any makeup products before heading to bed. Also, always remember to use clean brushes or tools on your brows –– wash them every week or two to prevent product and bacterial build-up. If you find yourself with a pimple, make sure to wash and disinfect your tools to avoid them from contaminating the area yet again.
Already spot a pimple in your brows? Follow this treatment for acne and breakouts
Once you cleanse your skin with your regular cleanser, use an alcohol-free toner to tone the skin under and around your eyebrows. Look for ingredients that are antibacterial and clarify the skin –– tea tree oil or witch-hazel are perfect for the job. Apply a spot treatment to the affected area –– this can be in the form of benzoyl peroxide gel or a salicylic acid cream.
Other factors to keep in mind:
- Opt for non-comedogenic skincare products and makeup that won’t clog pores.
- If you have frequent eyebrow breakouts, take a break from brow makeup temporarily.
- Always test out your brow products before application.
- Avoid ingredients like silicones and petroleum in your eyebrow products.
- When applying makeup, choose eyebrow pencils over thicker gels and pomades. Gel-based eyebrow products can clog the pores and result in acne, whereas eyebrow pencils are more lightweight in texture.
