Do Bangs Make You Break Out More? A Dermatologist Weighs In
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Bangs are a tempting hairstyle (every celebrity, from Bella Hadid to Sandra Oh, has seemed to try out the look this year), but the trend doesn't come without maintenance. For instance, they might have to be styled daily, and using hair products near your forehead sounds like a recipe for breakouts.
To find out just how risky bangs can be for our skin, we reached out to board-certified dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, to see if we should take the plunge and get the hairstyle or skip it for the sake of our complexion.
Check out his advice, ahead.
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Can Bangs Make You Break Out?
According to Dr. Bhanusali, getting bangs does mean you risk getting breakouts on your forehead. "The oils from the hair can clog the surrounding skin and lead to breakouts and irritation," he said. Plus, whatever products you use to style them can also cause acne.
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How Do You Prevent Forehead Acne With Bangs?
If you are already experiencing zits from your bangs, don't worry. Dr. Bhanusali assures that you can battle breakouts with the proper care. "Cleansing consistently is huge," he said. "[Make sure to] cleanse every morning and especially at night." As for skincare ingredients, Dr. Bhanusali recommends sticking to salicylic acid. "I like products with it [because it's] lipophilic, [meaning it] can dissolve oils and fats that accumulate in the pores," he said. His favorite washes for this are Neutrogena Deep Clean Cream Cleanser ($5) and the SLMD Salicylic Acid Cleanser ($25).
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Should You Get Bangs If You're Acne Prone?
Don't let the fear of breakouts stop you from trying a new style. "If it's something [my patients] want to do, they should do it," Dr. Bhanusali said. "The key is to take the necessary precautions like cleansing often and making sure to wash hair regularly to avoid the possibility of any issues."
As long as you take care of your skin, there's no reason not to try out the look for yourself.