In addition, experts also say that women may have acne on their eyebrows due to hormonal deficiencies, especially when they are having their period or when pregnant. Or it could just be due to a change in environment. If you visit or live in an area where humidity is high, the skin will secrete more oil, which leads to more acne. Below we will explore internal and external causes of acne on the eyebrows and then explore possible solutions for you to try.
Causes of Acne on Eyebrows:
External Causes of Eyebrow Acne
There are many causes of acne that are from external conditions. This means it has something to do with what is going on outside your body. Some of these factors you can easily prevent and change, but others are not within your control. One or all of these factors could apply to you, so knowing these factors can help you adapt your lifestyle to solve your acne problems.
The Eyebrow Itself
The eyebrow, like the eyelash, is the “guard” for your eye. It prevents dirt (like dandruff and dust) and liquids (like sweat) from getting into the eyes. The structure of your skin under your eyebrow hair is similar to that of the scalp. In the fall and winter, the skin can easily get dry, while in the spring and summer, the skin can easily become oily. On top of this, most people do not pay any special attention to cleaning their eyebrows, so oil and dirt can build up, clog pores, and cause acne.
Makeup Residue Clogging Pores
Right now, eyebrows are a craze. People spend an exorbitant amount of money and time trimming, shaping, and applying makeup. Despite this extra care in making sure they look good, people often become careless when removing makeup from this area, leaving residue behind. Over time, this makeup build-up will seep into the pores and cause acne to appear.
Eating Habits
Eating habits are a huge factor in contributing to acne. Eating an excess of fried foods, dairy, sugary foods, and more can cause acne to breakout. These foods can cause there to be more fat and oil production in the body, the oil can get into the pores, irritate the skin, and cause acne in all sorts of areas, including the eyebrows.
External Air Environment
There is pollution in the air no matter where you go, especially in urban environments, and it is getting worse and worse. This means there are lots of impurities and dust particles in the air that can even contain toxins. Breathing this air every day affects all organs in the body, including the skin. If you are in an area with bad air quality, acne can appear more frequently.
Internal Causes of Eyebrow Acne
Just like there are many causes for acne outside the body, there are many causes for acne internally. Most of these factors you can control with your lifestyle or choices you are making. Sometimes these factors work in tandem with the external factors, but other times they are stand-alone. No matter what, it is important to know and watch for these factors if you wish to prevent or get rid of acne in your eyebrows.
Large Amounts of Unhealthy Stress
When under a lot of stress, the hormones in the body are off-balance, which can lead to a number of negative consequences, including acne. Long-term stress can even lead to various endocrine (skin) disorders, which come with acne.
Clinical Factors
One clinical explanation for acne is poor liver function. When the liver is not working at optimal capacity, the toxins in the body can accumulate. These toxins can build up in a number of places, including the skin cells, leading to acne in the eyebrows and various other places. Another clinical reason is keratosis. Keratosis causes an inability to excrete sebum leading to acne.
Sleep Quality
A lack of sleep or staying up late can be harmful to the skin. Without proper rest, the skin will weaken, and acne could begin to form in your eyebrows.
Excessive Androgen Secretion
During male puberty or a female’s period, the body could go through a time of excessive androgen secretion. Lots of androgen secretion is one of the biggest causes of acne on the eyebrows.
Ways to Fight Against Eyebrow Acne
Eating Habits
Eating a light diet with less fat, high sugar, spicy, or fried foods can help lessen acne. Avoiding drinks such as alcohol and coffee can also lessen the appearance of acne. In addition, eating more fruits and vegetables, along with drinking more water, can lead to healthier skin and less acne.
Use Beneficial Cosmetic Products
You should avoid using oily or powdered cosmetic products where ever possible. If acne is particularly bad, it can be best not to wear heavy makeup at all. No matter what kind of makeup you use, before you go to bed, you should be sure to remove all of it thoroughly, and any dirt/grease build-up from the day. At night you should also avoid applying any kind of heavy cream so the skin can be relaxed and have time to breathe.
Exercise More

Exercising is a great way to open your pores and increase blood circulation, which promotes the discharge of waste. After you are done exercising, be sure to wash your skin quickly. Sweat can build up and block pores, so you want to wash it off as soon as possible.
Avoid Touching Your Face
Touching your face can cause increased amounts of grease and oil to collect on your face. You should also avoid touching the acne itself with your hands as the bacteria from your hands can get in the pores and cause infection.
Take a Zinc Supplement
Zinc can defend against bacterial infection as well as accelerate the dissipation of inflammation so that acne can be cured. You can take a zinc supplement or just eat foods that are high in zinc, such as lean meats, fish, and egg yolks.
Apply Sunscreen
Applying sunscreen regularly, even when it is cloudy out, can protect the skin from damage from UV rays. If you do not like the feeling of sunscreen, you can try other methods of protection such as wearing hats and using umbrellas. You may also want to stay indoors during hours of high UV radiation (such as around noon.)