Are Your Hair Products Causing Breakouts? Learn What to Do

Dealing with breakouts can be a frustrating experience, especially when you’re not sure why a given flare-up is happening or how to resolve it. Environmental factors, diet, hormones, and skincare products are among the leading causes, and often the solution lies within trial and error and elimination methods. But did you know that your hair products can sometimes be the root of your breakouts? Luckily, there are several ways to improve your situation once you’ve determined this is a possible cause. Ahead, we asked two dermatologists about why hair products can cause breakouts, as well as their top tips on how to prevent and minimize them.

Can Hair Products Really Cause Breakouts?

Breakouts can happen due to a variety of environmental factors, and much like skincare that doesn’t agree with your skin type and sensitivities, hair products can lead to breakouts. “Hair products can cause a type of acne known as ‘pomade acne’ or ‘acne cosmetica’ that usually manifests with whiteheads and tiny flesh-colored bumps on the forehead, hairline, and/or back,” explains board-certified dermatologist Lauren Penzi, MD. “This is usually due to ingredients in the hair products that are comedogenic, a.k.a. [have the ability to] clog pores, like oils, silicones, and waxes.”

Studies support this notion, finding that often, hair care products can leave a residue on the skin, even after washing the products off with a face wash or shampoo. This residue can lead to acne, and the eight-week study further supports that a non-comedogenic hair routine generally led to improvement in mild to moderate truncal and facial acne.

How to Prevent Breakouts from Hair Products