Recently I’ve been getting these icky little breakouts near my hairline and even on my shoulders and back. I haven’t had acne on my back since High School, so needless to say I’ve been frantic trying to figure out why the acne is making an appearance after so long.
I kept wondering if it was any skin regimen I’ve been doing, but I haven’t changed that for months and acne takes about six weeks to form… so it couldn’t be that.
Could My Conditioner Be The Culprit?
Well, it turns out that it’s been the conditioner I’ve been using!
Sadly, I haven’t been using natural shampoo and conditioners for two reasons: One, I haven’t found one that doesn’t weigh down my hair, and two, my hair gets very oily quite easily depending on the product. Unfortunately, most natural shampoos and conditioners leave my hair feeling weighed down and full of some sort of residue… not very attractive at all, needless to say.
So which one have I been using? Tresemme Smooth and Silky shampoo and conditioner. And guess what happened when I decided to stop using it to see if it was causing my hairline acne and backne? It started clearing up the next day!
Why Conditioner Can Cause Acne and Backne
Is your back breaking out? the reason may be because most shampoos and conditioners out there contain petroleum byproducts, unnatural waxy ingredients that clog pores and prevent the skin from breathing.
They can also contain acne aggravating ingredients like:
sodium lauryl sulfate
sodium laureth sulfate
sulpha / sulfur
ammonium lauryl sulfate
ammonium laureth sulfate
selenium sulfide
which can cause acne, skin rashes, and other skin irritations especially when these chemicals are not rinsing out of your hair properly.
How to Avoid Acne That’s Caused by Hair Products and How to Get rid of Backne
Simple. Switch to a more natural, preferably organic hair care product that contains ingredients that are pronounceable and natural. Even so-called “natural” hair care products can have questionable ingredients, but at least they’re better than products like Tresemme.
Just by going to your local health foods store like Whole Foods or Trader Joes, you can find plenty of healthier, hypoallergenic alternatives. I’ve tried tons of natural hair care products, and not a single one of them gave me the acne and backne breakouts that Tresemme did.
It just goes to show you that natural is always better!
Lesson Learned
So what hair products do I use now?
I use a lovely natural shampoo and conditioner by Broo.
This shampoo is salon grade but natural! It’s honestly the best natural shampoo I’ve ever used. Broo contains NO Sulfites, parabens, silicones, or added color. It’s PH balanced and doesn’t strip your hair at all! I definitely prefer it over all of the conventional brands out there. And best of all, it doesn’t cause acne!
Since writing this post, I have also been enjoying the brand Shea Moisture. It leaves my hair perfectly moisturized, and I haven’t experienced any breakouts on my back or shoulders while using it. Again, check the ingredients as each formula is different, but overall I’ve been very pleased with the results!
How about No Poo?
If you’re brave, consider trying out no poo haircare. It’s fantastic for the health of your hair because you literally don’t use ANY soap, yet your hair will be beautiful and shiny after the transitional period. Be sure to check it out! Here are 10 tips for going no-poo. I even have a little experiment I did using the no-poo method. You can read about my experience below!
For more hair care articles look below:
DIY Coconut Oil Hair Treatment
Monday Monthly Mission #1- The No-Poo Method
The No-Poo Method and My Experience One Week In
The No-Poo Method- One Month Results
