There’s nothing worse than acne. Man, woman or child, old or young; acne can be the bane of our existence. And of course it doesn’t help that you always end up breaking out before a big event or at a time when you want your skin to look its best. But what do the random break-outs mean? Is there an identifiable pattern? Turns out there is! Whatever is happening inside your body is reflected on your face through these pesky pimples.

But how do you decode what each pimple means what? Here’s our easy guide that identifies break-outs by regions on your face and then correlates it to what might be causing the acne internally. Not only will you instantly be able to gauge where the problem stems from but our guide will also give you possible remedies to ensure that the flare-up subsides before you even have time to stress over it.

Before we jump in though, just a few basics: water is your best friend. A hydrated body means hydrated, fresh skin that has the ability to deal with daily stress. You are what you eat so if you’re eating unhealthy, it will show on your skin. Vegetables, fruits and natural remedies go a long way; their effects might take longer to show but they are long term and help you cultivate a healthy lifestyle.

Forehead

If you’re breaking out on your forehead (excluding the central area between your eyebrows) it most likely means that your bladder or liver are stressed. Reduce the amount of processed food you’re taking, including cutting out fizzy or sugary drinks. Switch to water and ensure that your body is hydrated enough to eliminate all toxins.

Between Your Brows

The middle of the forehead is generally considered to be relating to your liver. If you break out here regularly it might mean that your diet is rich in fatty foods or might allude to an allergy like lactose intolerance. If you’re consuming alcohol and breaking out in this region, you’re drinking too much! Concentrate on your diet, include anti-oxidants and reduce your intake of processed products.

Cheeks

If you frequently experience acne on your cheeks you might have a weak respiratory system. It could also indicate a slow metabolism that doesn’t quite break down food properly and low nutrient absorption, rendering your skin malnourished from the inside. Another modern day factor could also be dirty cell phones or pillow cases but this is easily rectified; clean your phone with anti-bacterial sanitizers regularly and change your pillow case each week.

Jawline

The area around your jawline is linked to your intestines and for women, to their ovaries as well. You’ll probably notice you break-out in this area more often when menstruating or close to that time. Adding more probiotics to your diet can help combat issues in this zone.

Chin

Your chin is where stress shows the most. If you break out on your chin very frequently then it could indicate hormonal imbalance or the fact that you’re overly anxious. Take some time and unwind, allow yourself to destress because it’s causing your body to act out a physical manifestation of your internal turmoil.