Acne can be caused by many reasons but break outs around the jaw line can be a sign of underlying trouble for women. Jaw line acne could be a signal that you may have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), also known as the Stein-Leventhal syndrome.

As the name suggests, the condition means the women has many cysts on her ovaries. It’s the hormonal imbalance with raised levels of testosterone that causes the jaw acne which can form along, under or around the jaw line.

The symptoms of PCOS are difficult to pinpoint: they are different for different women. Some women might experience rapid weight gain, while some suffer from excess facial and body hair (hirsutism), while some might suffer from a combination of both, as well as other symptoms like irregular periods.

The best way to test for PCOS is making an appointment for an ultrasound exam where the can check internally to see if your jaw acne and other symptoms, if any, are due to cysts on the ovaries.

PCOS is not a life threatening condition but if left untreated the problem could get worse and can lead to infertility. Many women have cysts on their ovaries which cause no trouble but it’s always best to get checked out if you suspect your jaw acne could have underlying causes.

Treatment of PCOS is usually through hormone treatments such as contraceptive pills or anti-male hormone medication. The particular treatment options suitable for your symptoms will be discussed at your appointment so you know what’s available to you.

Jaw acne is formed just like any other type of acne and can affect both teens and adults.  It can lower your self confidence because it’s on a prominent part of your face that is really noticeable.

There are several things you could be doing that increase your chances of acne around the jaw line, here are just a few …

If you have a hairstyle that sits against your jaw it will can rub against your face and cause breakouts.  Impurities from your hair and the natural oils that protect it can cause your pores to become blocked.

So if your prone to jaw acne and you have long hair you could make a point to tie it back from your face to see if it helps.

A few of my friends thought that they weren’t washing their hair enough and that it was too dirty which caused infections along the jaw line.  However, just like if you clean your face too much the oil glands compensate and produce excess oil which means there will be more oil to pass to your skin which will make the problem worse.

Another thing you might do as habit is resting your hand on your chin.  This means that any impurities on your hand can rub off onto your jaw which can cause aggravation and acne break outs.  The best idea is to try and break this habit and every time you notice yourself doing it quickly stop.

When you exercise it may be a good idea to wear a sweat band or a wristband to wipe the sweat from your forehead.  I noticed that break outs were more frequent when exercising and letting the sweat run down to my jaw.

These are just a few of things you can start changing to improve your jaw acne.  Stay alert to any other things you could be doing that could be making your problem worse.