I’d been battling a losing battle with blemishes and acne for the past month and a half. I’d never really had perfect smooth skin but I’d stopped getting breakouts too. I’m getting too old for having a face full of acne! So, I was at quite a loss last month when my whole face inexplicably broke out. Not only was I getting hard painful acne, I was also getting lots and lots of bumps under my skin which were horrid. My forehead, where I don’t get many spots, was a mess as were my cheeks.
I initially thought it was a skin product I was trying out so I stopped using it. Instead of going away, I kept getting one bump after another on my skin and it really bugged me.
That was until I was reading some reviews online and came across a user of Tresemme hair conditioner who loved how soft the conditioner made her hair, but said that it caused her to get body acne. That got me thinking. What if the skin problems I was facing was not to do with skincare but with the Tresemme conditioner I was using? I gave it a rave review previously, but I’d never thought it might affect the skin.
My hair conditioner was finishing, so I decided to stop instead of restocking, just to see if my gut feeling was right. I went instead for Himalaya Herbals Protein Conditioner which I have also reviewed.
Within 3 days of stopping my Tresemme conditioner, I realised I was not getting any new spots. Within a week, and with a little help from my trusty apple cider vinegar toner, my skin is now almost back to the way it was i.e. relatively smooth, with no new blemishes or spots. I’m very happy about that.
However, it got me wondering about why the Tresemme conditioner would cause my skin to break out. I’ve never had a hair product do this to me before. It could be because I wash my hair everyday so I am exposed to the product a lot and something in it did not agree with me.
Either way, I seem to have isolated the hair conditioner as the cause of my traumatic month-long battle with problem skin and I’m working on clearing it up now, with great success.
Have you had a hair product break you out before?
I have been using Andrew Collinge Blonde shampoo and alberto Balsam Strawberries and Cream Conditioner and I have never felt so depressed and terrible in my life. I do suffer from the odd spot but nothing like this. I have had painful bumps under my skin on my cheeks and around my hairline and forehead for the past 2 months now. I really did have a sneaky suspicion that it was my hair causing the problems and now I guess it really is! I just hope to god it clears up soon.
I have been battling with spots on my back and forehead and around my ears for months now. The doctor suggested it was an allergic reaction but nothing has helped. Tresemme conditioner- who wuld have thought it!! I have been using the product for the duration of my spot outbreak. I will stop using it and hope i get an improvement in my skins condition. I was beginning to get upset with the state of my skin. All is not lost I hope!!
Found this web site… http://www.acne-advice.com/articles/get_rid_of_acne.shtml Check it out. It links sodium laurel sulfate and other chemicals to acne which are found in most shampoos, conditioners, body washes and facial cleansers. I have been researching chemicals in cosmetics and bath products steady for the past couple months. Mostly “all” of your brand name products that you find at wal-mart, target, bath and body, etc are TOXIC! The chemicals that are in these products are cheap and that is why the products are cheap. The sodium laurel sulfate strips your skin about 6 layers… that is why you feel so clean afterwards. (It’s what is in your soap at car washes) You get what you pay for. Organic, 100% natural products are expensive becuase they are made with great quality ingredients that are not cancer causing!!! And people wonder why they get cancer. Hello… maybe becuase we live in a world where consumers are groomed to shop for the cheap crappy products. You are dousing yourself in chemical after chemical… slathering it on your skin day in and day out.
I also have another link that sums up the TOP 20 TOXIC CHEMICALS in these products. Most are carcinogens and others are linked to reproductive failure among other things. http://www.natural-skincare-authority.com/cosmetic-chemicals.html PLEASE READ YOUR LABLES!!! YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING ON YOUR SKIN! Burts Bees have some great mostly natural products http://www.burtsbees.com but they aren’t 100% chemical free.
Aubrey Organice http://www.aubrey-organics.com/ on the other hand are 100% all natural products. They do not test on animals and they disclose all the ingredients right on thier web site. All products have several reviews too. I am going to try the Honeysuckle Shampoo and Conditioner for Dry hair and get back to you. I am currently using Aveda for dry hair ($24.00) per bottle. I am breaking out sooo bad that I have a ton of those underground zits. My chest and back are horrible! I have been using it for 2-3 days now. I will discontinue immediately. Ugh!!! Hopefully it will clear up!!!
I’m a long time pantene user, but recently switched to herbal essences because I liked the smell. Lo and behold, the sides of my neck and my back broke out. I think now I’m going to switch to Burt’s Bees – I’ve always liked their products.
A side note about the whole “not tested on animals” thing…It’s actually a bit of a scam. In the United States, it is illegal to sell a cosmetic product that has not been tested on animals. Companies that claim they have not tested on animals usually have commissioned a third-party company to do the testing for them so they can put that nice “not-tested on animals” label on their product.
Im so relieved i found this site! About four months ago a started breaking out really bad. I mean ive always had pimples but never like this, it was like no matter what i did it just wouldnt get better. Acne was spreading all over my jawline and cheeks. Ive NEVER had acne on my cheeks before!! So the other day i started thinking, what did i change five months ago that could have caused this. My mom said not to worry that it was just summer, but i was breaking out like this long before summer started. then it hit me!!! HERBAL ESSENCE!! i had just started using it again five months ago for the first time in five years!! THAT WAS IT! that was the only thing i had changed around the time my face started breaking out. So since im low on shampoo ive given it up and use the suave clarifying shampoo, but i just bought a big tub of herbal essence conditioner and the mousse, so it stinks but im just going to have to waste it, id rather have my skin back to normal than perfect hair. besides, my hair was just as healthy before i used herbal essence.
Wow, i am very surprised, but happily so because i was about to go to bed, having just peered and poked at the state of my skin today and feeling rotten about a new outbreak around my hairline, in front of my ears and blackheads on my chin..when i decided to do a quick search on what organs these parts of the face relate…i’m a trainee herbalist and have my own brand of natural products and well the long and short of it is that i look after myself fairly well and like to get to the bottom of body issues…i couldn’t remember which organs the hairline relates to and was looking to be reminded (i know for instance that the forehead relates to congestion in the digestive system, the cheeks relate to deficiency in the lungs and the jawline relate to imbalances in the menstrual cycle and hormones)….the hairline, i would naturally relate to the lymphatic system (which when the lymph fluid isn’t circulating properly can be a big cause of spots, pimples and dull skin/complexion) so i am face brushing as i write this…anyway, i’ll get to the point: i came across this forum and saw straight away someone linking spots around the hairline to Tresemme and a light went on – ping! – i am staying at a friend’s house currently, away from my usual stash of natural homemade products, and i used her tresemme conditioner yesterday and since then my skin’s been breaking out…and the same thing happened about a week ago when i first arrived and put a bit of the conditioner on the tips of my hair…amazing, i’m really thinking there’s a link because the spots i have are more link bumps under the skin and that mixed with generally the condition of my complexion being uneven, itchy and firey, would tell me that the outbreak is certainly an allergic response/skin irritation, rather than something caused by any internal imbalance…re: sodium lauryl/laureth sulphate (SLE’s), it would be surprising that those things would be causing the irritation on their own as, you’re quite right, they are in virtually all shop-bought products…BUT (and it’s a big but you’ll notice)…the ‘blend’ of other ingredients in these products (like Tresemme) could be causing the SLE’s to chemically react and could be altering the composition of the blend – in the natural product industry it would be called a bad ‘synergy’ – and instance where one or more ingredients, whilst harmless alone, display new problems/dangers when blended…you might ask: but surely these products meet regulations etc etc…yes they do, but that never means anything i’m afraid…take it from me (i have to have all my product formula’s tested at great expense and they don’t contain anywhere near the harmful chemicals in the big brands)….what the regulations do for the big companies/brands is protect them from lawsuits – if a smaller, natural brand had anything like the evidence against them that these big guys have got (thousands of forums like this with people discussing similar negative symptoms) they would be closed down within seconds…
to end: we live in a supply and demand culture: what we demand, they supply so we do indeed ‘vote’ for our lifestyle preference through the products that we buy…so, don’t buy these products…do your own homework, learn about your mind and body, only you can know what works for you – don’t put your faith in mega-brands – they make huge mark-ups simply because the products cost so little to make due to the very low quality, cheap ingredients…you really do get what you pay for – organic and natural products cost a lot more i know, but then why not just have 1 decent shampoo sitting on the shelf in the shower, make it last, rather than 5 cheap bottles which altogether cost you the same anyway and give you spots to boot…
i very much thank-you for coming into my ether tonight and educating me on the Tresemme debate…it’s so good that people put the information out there and talk about their lives and experiences…long may it last…it’s a myth that witches are the ugly ones – they’re the one’s that know, and it shows! x
Wow….much the same as several of you, I have been experiencing acne almost exactly the way you first described it – tons of little white heads on my forehead, concentration around the hair line and jawline and even on my back…pretty, huh? I am 38. Though I have been plagued with the occassional hormonal breakout and a boil her and there, for the most part I would describe my skin prior to this as being fairly acne free. I started to rifel through the changes in products I’ve had lately…mineral makeup, ah no…that’s supposed to make my skin better and actually in the weeks preceeding the last couple months when I first started using it my skin showed noticable improvement. Um, shampoo…nah, no way a new shampoo and conditioner could do this. But wait a secon, I became a Sephora junkie recently and bought Fekkai Advantage Brilliant Glossing shampoo and conditioner with Olive oil to add luster back into my color treated hair. On a hunch I Googled “shampoo causes acne” and here I am. Whoah. Thanks everyone for weighing….tomorrow I am back to good old tried and true Pantene and I may try the Burts Bees Wax line too. Anyone have experience with it to know if it is ok?
Looks like a previous comment by Grace said the Burt’s Bees shampoo helped clear up skin. I would try it. Ever since I started using a Cleansing Conditioner with no damaging ingredients like the sulfates and detergents called WEN, my skin has not broken out ONCE! I imagine that a product like Burt’s Bees will do the same.
I was actually about to ask if anyone uses WEN! Being a hairstylist, I use different shampoo’s and conditioner’s on a regular basis. I have had the breakout problem for about 6 months and have been using WEN for the past month. Unfortunately no change for me. Still broke out and it seems to be worse around my hairline. Besides being broken out, my scalp and face skin hurts. Like really hurts to the touch. That has only started the last couple of weeks. I am thinking I am gonna stop the WEN and maybe try the Burt’s Bee’s.
I tried WEN, I have hair down to my waist and within a week I noticed my ends were splitting bad. I stopped using it immediately. I have moved to a tea tree oil shampoo/conditioner and it works great and has helped clear up the damage to my skin also. I have never tried Burt Bees, I havent had much luck with any of their products so wasnt going to spend the money.
hi guys i am also soooooooooo depressed yet glad that i am not alone. i am 33 years old and after four kids and am not being vain always had flawless skin. i even appeared on covers of south african magazines. have been blessed with good genes and dont even workout but never had been overweight with stretch marks or saggy tits. can u believe my horror when i started getting pimples all along my hairline, scalp, forehead and then my cheeks. it started with small bumps on my hairline then it just got worse, i was horrified. i went to the dermatoligist who after a two second look at my skin said and am not exaggerating……. he said sorry i have bad news for you, you have chronic exzema… i got the shock of my life. he put me on atwo motn surply of purbac… it didnt help. anyway am still suffering with this bloody pimples and will change my shampoo which is pantene and see another dermatoligist, thankyou for this site guys………… if i have new tips will tel you guys
anneline singh
Hello everyone, I just googled “acne caused by hair care products” and found this site. I just turned 41 and have always had nice skin with occasional breakouts, but never anything like I have been experiencing lately. Even as a teenager I never had acne this bad. I have since related it to my shampoo (Pert). I had tiny bumps all over my forehead and zits all over my face. I cannot live without my cover stick right now. I am hoping the scars will go away. Difficult at my age. Someone really needs to find out what the chemical is that is causing this because it is devastating. Hopefully someone will take it seriously and do some testing so more people will not have to suffer. The word needs to get out. That is why I am writing this.
wow i never ever thought hair stuff could make you break out. I get really bad breakouts if i eat cheese, other than that my skin is pretty good. well within 3 weeks i changed my facial clenser, facial lotion, makeup, shampoo,condioner, and styleing products. HA i got the worst breakouts of my whole life. i was so depressed! so i stoped using every thing excetp the hair things, and my skin cleared up in 2 days, untill i let my hair down! when i washed my hair and used all the hair produts BUT left my hair down, all the acne came back! so today i washed my hair and used the old hair produts i used before all the break outs, and im sure it will clear up.
thanks for every one eles story’s!!! good luck to every one!
There is a site: http://www.zerozits.com/Articles/acnedetect.htm#inglist which contains a list of all the different ingredients which may cause or exacerbate acne. They are rated from 1-5 based upon irritability and comedogenicity. You can compare these ingredients to those found in the face and hair products you use. I have also thought of something else – Sodium Chloride is rated as a 5 on that list – many acne cleaners contain sodium chloride as well as most hand sanitizing soaps. Could it be possible that using products like those (or just putting on face lotion with hands that have been washed with antibacterial soaps) could cause irritation/acne? I’m also investigating this TreSemme thing because I have been using that EXACT conditioner…thoughts?
within the last 2 or 3 months i have started having sore bumps in my scalp. I am a middle aged woman and do not have acne problems or oily skin. I noticed also bumps around my shoulder area and lower neck in back ( area that my wet hair touched after shampooing). i normally go to the gym every day and sweat a lot, come home and shower and shampoo and then let my hair air dry. Well, I realized that it was very possible that my new shampoo and conditioner
TRESEMME ANTI BREAKAGE SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER was causing my problem. I stopped using it and started using Head and Shoulders intensive solutions containing 2% zinc. According to my research the zinc is anti bacterial and anti fungal. Within 3 or 4 days the sore bumps in my scalp are healing and those along the back of my neck and shoulders are gone. Hope my situation is of some value to others.
oh me god!!!! i have the exact same problem as you did… right now… T_T and i totally cried almost everyday… i recently (almost like a month and a half) changed my shampoo and conditioner to the newest “Clairol’s herbal essences”. The one that says Colour me shiny. OMG!!! that might just be the problem… i started to get hideous cystic breakouts and bumps in places i never ever had acne before… my chin and cheeks were like… inflammed!! i tried so many acne creams and products… none even seem to work! They just keep coming back.. T_T i’m so sad to even see my face in the mirror as days pass by… i got worried that i will never heal or go back to normal.. but after reading what you experienced.. i think i just experienced what you had.. your post really helped me!
I think i’ll just go back to sunsilk and stay there!
(Going to destroy that Clairol’s herbal essences shampoo bottle right now) :p
Oh my god I have been reading this site with my mouth wide open as I truly thought I was going mad thinking tresame shampoo could cause my break outs! I recently changed to it and since I have been getting huge soar under the slin spots on my forehead (I have a fringe), all down my neck and below my ears…i have never experiecend this before which made me think it must be the shampoo!! Right…trip to the shops to get something different…..i usually use Neal’s Yard shampoo it is a natural remedy shop…you can order online etc and maybe a bit more expensive than tresamme etc but worth it to stop the acne splurges me thinks! Good luck all x
I have been using Herbal Essense Body Envy Volumizing Shampoo and 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner as well as the ‘Breaks Over’ Conditioner for a few weeks now… I started getting horrible breakouts on my jawline and cheeks. I’ve had breakouts in the past that ive attributed to ‘that time of the month’ but nothing ever this bad. i’m getting rid of the bottles in my shower as soon as i get home! I’ve always used Garnier Nutrisse (the bright green bottles) in the past so i think i will go back to that!
I came across this post whilst looking for inspiration for my spots. It can’t be my shampoo and conditioner i thought i’ve been using them for ages. But having tried stopping cleansing products, washing powder and even wearing earrings i decided to give it a go!!!! 3 days later and i have no new spots so will update you how my skin is in a week but feeling hopeful!!!!
So Charles Worthington Results I love you but ur toast!!! Now gone back to LUSH soak and float shampoo bar and vosene conditioner!!!!
I’ve been using tresemme too…BAD breakouts. I’ll definitely being trying something else to test out this theory. I’ll post my results soon. Thanks to all who’ve written!!
As promised,my update. It has been a week and my spots have all gone on one side with just 4 remaining on the other side!!!
All those huge painful boulders in my face are gone!!!!!
I will definitely be checking the labels more carefully in future.
Thank you x
I never used to break out on my forehead, and all of a sudden i just got these clogged pores all over, and no matter how i wash my face they wont go away. Ive been using garnier fructis for a while, but maybe thats causing it?
I stopped using Herbal Essences Shampoo and Conditioner about 2 weeks ago and switched to Garnier Fructis. It helped alot but not entirely so a few days ago I started using an organic line called Organix that I found at my grocery store. It has REALLY helped and I would definitely recommend it. It was the only shampoo I could find that didn’t have sodium lauryl sulfate AND sodium laureth sulfate in it (most have atleast 1 or the other). Actually- BedHead carries a Sulfate-free shampoo but it was like- $17.99 for a bottle and that’s not practical to me! This was at my local grocercy store so I’m sure there is a wider organic selection at any beauty supply store. The bottle of Organix shampoo i bought was around $7.
I use Naked Naturals Citrus 7.99 at Walgreen’s and Jason with Biotin I found at GNC both for 10 BOGO. They are not causing my acne. I finally figured it out 2 weeks ago, when I was thinking in August my acne was almost gone (I was using Naked Naturals) and then it started back up. I am always looking for a bargain, so I switched From Naked Naturals to ION. I would like to find one more S&C for my hair does better when I switch it up. I use all natural skin care and Mineral Makeup Joppa. Which Joppa decreased my acne by half, before I realized it was the S&C. So now I am looking forward to acne free life. 2 days ago I tried bioinfusion OMG I got 7 pimples with 12 hours. I believe it has something to do with my hormones and ingredients that cause my acne. I looked up ingredients that cause acne and bioinfusion didn’t have any of them in there so it something different. I have long hair and Naked Naturals made my hair feel better that Pantene Pro V, ever did.
I am so glad I came across these posts. I am 39 and had been having such bad breakouts for over 6 months. I was about to schedule an appointment with a doctor. Then I put 2 and 2 together and realized that since I had switched to suave I have had this problem. When I stopped using it, my skin cleared up in two days. Then I switched to Pantene, and I started having the same problem. I took a big gamble and had my hair colored (professionally). When I
asked my hairdresser for a shampoo, she gave me a sample of ? but it also is causing my breakouts. I’m using John Frieda brillant brunette and still having problems. But… I am allergic to sulfate in medicines, so I guess it would make sense I would be allergic to it in products. I’m going to search for an organic shampoo.