Conditioner only washing= more acne?

**Charentais** · August 9th, 2009, 08:42 AM

Ack!

I can typically keep my facial acne under control with benzoyl peroxide. But since I've started conditioner washing, with a once-weekly sudsy shampoo, my acne has been worse. My hair looks great. My skin? Not so much.

Anyone else notice this?

I'm adding salicylic acid lotions to my routine now.

**Charentais** · August 9th, 2009, 08:57 AM

(oh, and the salicylic acid lotion is for my skin, not my hair!)

**Heidi_234** · August 9th, 2009, 09:00 AM

The only thing I can think of is your hair leaving residue on the pillowcase at night, this might contribute to the acne. Did you tried to switch to another conditioner? Maybe your skin reacts badly to that particular conditioner, not the washing method.

**~~pradabacon~~** · August 9th, 2009, 09:01 AM

Have you changed anything else about your routine? I've noticed a couple more spots than usual since I started CO, but I also started using coconut oil at around the same time, so I don't know which (if either) is responsible. Coconut oil is apparently comedogenic. Check the ingredients in your conditioner, too. Maybe there is something in it that will strike you as being the possible culprit. You might try a different kind.

**Charentais** · August 9th, 2009, 09:06 AM

Thanks!

I'll wash the pillowcase more often, and switch the conditioners around a bit and observe the changes.

**~~pradabacon~~** · August 9th, 2009, 09:10 AM

Good luck! I hate those darn things! I hoped I would quit breaking out once I was in my 30s, but no such luck.

**silencepainter** · August 9th, 2009, 09:12 AM

The one bit of advice I can offer is to make sure you wash your face AFTER you've rinsed your hair. I know I've made the mistake of doing it before, and that was when I had acne problems.

If you're already doing this then I have no clue.

**Cheros** · August 9th, 2009, 10:01 AM

I think these guys have hit the nail on the head. Until/if you find the specific ingredient(s) that are causing it, then washing your face and pillowcases is definitely the way forward.

Maybe the conditioner is building up on your face, and leaving a thin layer of waxy substance behind, i'm sure that would cause some problems.

**GoddesJourney** · August 9th, 2009, 10:08 AM

I know how you feel. I have very oily hair and not washing it every day gives me acne. Usually I only get acne right before menstruating so it's really frustrating to have it at any other time. I switched to sulfate free shampoo a few days ago so I can feel good about washing and avoid the acne thing. I find that my hair is a little less oily (probably because my shampoo is no long drying out my scalp and causing it to overproduce) so my acne is going away. I disagree with the pillowcase thing. If I miss a day of washing, I get acne. If I wash the next two days and not change my pillowcase, it goes away. Oily hair can cause acne. I had a friend in high school who had to keep her hair up all the time because it would give her acne on her back and chest. Poor thing.

**WhitsEnd** · August 9th, 2009, 10:13 AM

I do not know about acne on the face but when I condition the length of my hair I cannot let it go down my back. My skin is pretty oily and if I do not condition with my hair over my shoulder, my back breaks out. I think mine just has to do with the extra oil and clogged pores.