# Why do zits appear on the face more than anywhere else? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 15, 2008, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676 "2008-09-15T07:46:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/1 "2008-09-15T07:46:46Z")
I mean, you’d expect your hands to get more dirty, or the creases in your elbow, or even the sides of your arms. And I’m sure your face doesn’t have the highest pore density on your body. So why are there more zits on your face than anywhere else? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/2 "2008-09-15T16:54:40Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > I mean, you’d expect your hands to get more dirty, or the creases in your elbow, or even the sides of your arms. And I’m sure your face doesn’t have the highest pore density on your body. So why are there more zits on your face than anywhere else? I believe that there the glands that become zits when clogged are more common on the face than elsewhere. Also, zits do occur elsewhere (on the back is fairly common) but they are far less noticeable. ---
**Author:** ![Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/13edae/32.png) [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interconnected_Series_of_Tubes)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/3 "2008-09-15T17:04:50Z")
> [@Tabby\_Cat](#): > > I mean, you’d expect your hands to get more dirty, or the creases in your elbow, or even the sides of your arms. And I’m sure your face doesn’t have the highest pore density on your body. So why are there more zits on your face than anywhere else? A higher density of sebaceous (oil) glands in your face is the main culprit. Regularly touching your face makes this problem even worse, as does having hair sit against the skin. Sebum is produced in the glands as whole cells which subsequently burst to distribute their accursed teenager’s bane into the “pore”, generally bundled with a hair follicle. This leaves cellular debris which can, occasionally, clog up the opening to the surface of the skin. As the gland continues to release sebum, the body’s own immune system mounts an inflammatory response, increasing fluid delivery to the area and causing that prom-ruining pimple. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/4 "2008-09-15T17:05:07Z")
I used to get them on my shoulders/back more than on my face (fortunately, at the age of 31 they finally seem to have realised I’m no longer a teenager and have mostly disappeared :rolleyes: ). I’d guess the reason is simply that there is much more oil secreted on these areas than elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/5 "2008-09-15T17:20:16Z")
How old are you, **Tabby\_Cat**? Zits tend to head south with age, like retirees migrating to Florida. People in their 30’s and up have far more back zits, chest zits and ass pimples than facial ones. You just don’t get to see them in daily life! 😃 (I got to see plenty of them as a massage therapist, though.) Why? I’m not sure. Nor is age a guarantee that facial acne is gone forever - I have a whopper of a juicy zit on my cheek right now (that I’m trying desperately not to pop!). But I have far fewer than when I was younger - 1 every 2 months or so, instead of 6 at once all the time - and the ones I do have resolve in a matter of 3-4 days, not a week or more like it used to take. ---
**Author:** ![Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/13edae/32.png) [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interconnected_Series_of_Tubes)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/6 "2008-09-15T17:37:15Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > How old are you, **Tabby\_Cat**? Zits tend to head south with age, like retirees migrating to Florida. People in their 30’s and up have far more back zits, chest zits and ass pimples than facial ones. > … No snark here, honestly, but; cite? As a creaky 23-year-old, I still get the occasional facial pimple, but haven’t noticed any significant increase in symptoms, ah, _elsewhere_. My ass still gets the tri-annual Festering Chasm of Death, and my chest and back only break out when I exercise intensely and regularly. I suspect this is attributed to increased sweat/sebum production and hormonal changes. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2008, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/7 "2008-09-15T18:45:15Z")
> [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](#): > > No snark here, honestly, but; cite? > > As a creaky 23-year-old, I still get the occasional facial pimple, but haven’t noticed any significant increase in symptoms, ah, _elsewhere_. My ass still gets the tri-annual Festering Chasm of Death, and my chest and back only break out when I exercise intensely and regularly. I suspect this is attributed to increased sweat/sebum production and hormonal changes. My statement was a generalization of those in their 30s and 40s. Post in 8 years and tell me what you think. Perhaps what I said lightheartedly was misleading, though. I’m not so sure that body acne \*increases \*with age, but it doesn’t seem to \*decrease \*as much as facial acne does. As you’ve already noticed at the “creaky” age of 23. As I said, based on several years of work as a massage therapist, (and a previous 6 pulling acupuncture needles in a clinic AND 10 years of going to clothing optional events) where I got to see lots of pimply backs and blemish free faces. Yes, there may be more than a whiff of confirmation bias there, but I’ve yet to talk to massage therapists or older folks who disagree with it as a generalization. Yes, we talk about your pimply backs. Yes, we think it’s kinda gross. No, we’re not going to let it get in the way of a good massage, nor do we judge you for it. It’s way more common than you think. The OP thinks zits happen on the face more than the body because she sees more faces than bodies. Most people aren’t even aware of the small blemishes they have on their own bodies, where on their face they’d be more noticed. That’s \*her \*confirmation bias. ---
**Author:** ![blackcatrun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@blackcatrun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blackcatrun)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/8 "2008-09-16T01:36:32Z")
> [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](#): > > No snark here, honestly, but; cite? > > As a creaky 23-year-old, I still get the occasional facial pimple, but haven’t noticed any significant increase in symptoms, ah, _elsewhere_. My ass still gets the tri-annual Festering Chasm of Death, and my chest and back only break out when I exercise intensely and regularly. I suspect this is attributed to increased sweat/sebum production and hormonal changes. It also a way the bodie gets rid of margerin. Most of the zit faced teens have a blue bonnet in the fridge. The hairs in the face head and back get the most oil for protection from sun and excess heat. The bodie rushes the oils to those pores first. Cut the oils out of the diet to a min… the zits will not appear as much. Oils are produced natural in the bodie. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/9 "2008-09-16T01:40:06Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Why? I’m not sure. Nor is age a guarantee that facial acne is gone forever - I have a whopper of a juicy zit on my cheek right now ( **that I’m trying desperately not to pop**!) Oh, go ahead! You know you want to. The prom isn’t for months yet. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/10 "2008-09-16T02:06:54Z")
> [@blackcatrun](#): > > It also a way the bodie gets rid of margerin. Most of the zit faced teens have a blue bonnet in the fridge. > > The hairs in the face head and back get the most oil for protection from sun and excess heat. The bodie rushes the oils to those pores first. > Cut the oils out of the diet to a min… the zits will not appear as much. Oils are produced natural in the bodie. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/11 "2008-09-16T02:35:24Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I have a whopper of a juicy zit on my cheek right now (that I’m trying desperately not to pop!). We haven’t had a good zit thread in MPSIMS in a long time so why don’t you give it a go once it gets ripe? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/12 "2008-09-16T02:37:51Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > We haven’t had a good zit thread in MPSIMS in a long time so why don’t you give it a go once it gets ripe? Maybe she could just post in the one that was started this evening? I think one zit thread at a time is enough for most of us. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/13 "2008-09-16T02:40:31Z")
So I just noticed and came back to post mea culpa. **Broomstick** has got it covered. [Story here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=483530) ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/14 "2008-09-16T02:50:30Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > How old are you, **Tabby\_Cat**? Zits tend to head south with age, like retirees migrating to Florida. People in their 30’s and up have far more back zits, chest zits and ass pimples than facial ones. I can confirm this. Man, I _hate_ the ass-zits. I have recently reached a new low altitude in pustulent zit-creatures with a brewing abcess on my right shin that the doc thinks is an MSRA infection. I have a thread over in MPSIMS about it, for those of you who are interested in such things. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/15 "2008-09-16T02:51:41Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > We haven’t had a good zit thread in MPSIMS in a long time so why don’t you give it a go once it gets ripe? _\>cough\<_ I appear to be having a sequel to my infamous Zit From Hell, so check it out. On edit: Damn, should probably read the WHOLE thread first, but I’m not at my best tonight. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/16 "2008-09-16T03:06:19Z")
[aside] > [@Broomstick](#): > > I have recently reached a new low altitude in pustulent zit-creatures with a brewing abcess on my right shin that the doc thinks is an MSRA infection. I have a thread over in MPSIMS about it, for those of you who are interested in such things. Man, frakking EVERYONE has MRSA this week! You, **purple\_haze** , and three of my real life friends. Is it a seasonal thing? [/aside] ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/17 "2008-09-16T13:54:40Z")
Reading more about MRSA on Wikipedia led me to the article “Maggot Therapy,” which has shown some promise. But… ewwww! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/18 "2008-09-16T14:03:53Z")
Sitting here with my second go-round cleaning and bandaging a Nasty Erupting Wound I have to say maggots _might_ be less disgusting. If it could get rid of the magma chamber lodged deep in my leg I might even be grateful to the little buggers. ---
**Author:** ![Tabby\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tabby\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabby_Cat)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/19 "2008-09-16T14:18:30Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Sitting here with my second go-round cleaning and bandaging a Nasty Erupting Wound I have to say maggots _might_ be less disgusting. If it could get rid of the magma chamber lodged deep in my leg I might even be grateful to the little buggers. Um.. cite? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2008, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676/20 "2008-09-16T14:48:24Z")
I have had facial acne since my early teens and now am in my . . . well, a lot older. Every dermatologist I have ever seen has asked me if I have acne on my chest and back. When I say no, they will look skeptical and ask to see my chest and back. I willingly let me look, and they always end up shaking their heads in disbelief. I just do not get zits there. It’s just exceedingly resistant. I’m on something called Oracea now; at my appointment next week I expect that to be changed. At the hospital where I work, I just get assigned whateve rookie dermatologist is next up in the rotation. In nine months I’ve seen three doctors. We’ll see if I get a repeat next week or shiny new #4. Doesn’t matter; they all think a Z-pack is going to do the job. Suckers. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-zits-appear-on-the-face-more-than-anywhere-else/463676.md?page=2)