Have you noticed tiny red bumps on your forehead? Do they ooze whitish pus at times? Acne might be the underlying reason.
Acne more commonly develops on your forehead region. That’s because your forehead is usually more oilier than the rest of your face. However, you can treat it with easy home remedies that have zero side effects.
Let’s take a closer look at what causes acne on the forehead and how you can prevent it.

Highlights:
What Does Forehead Acne Mean?
Forehead acne is a condition that involves inflammation of your forehead skin due to clogged follicles and oil glands. This happens when the oil glands in your forehead secrete sebum in unwanted amounts. The excess sebum traps dead skin cells and bacteria [1] in the follicles and oil glands present on your forehead.
“Blackheads and papules are the most common types of acne that develop on your forehead. A few other types of acne such as pustules and cysts may show up occasionally,” says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.
What Does Forehead Acne Look Like?
Acne on the forehead develops as tiny red bumps that might turn red, inflamed, or pus-filled in some cases. The most common types of forehead acne are papules, blackheads, etc.
What Causes Acne On Your Forehead?
In Ayurveda, it is believed that your body is governed by three vital energies: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshas. Your body functions normally only when these tridoshas are in a balanced state. Otherwise, it leads to different abnormalities in your body, including various skin conditions.
According to Ayurveda, your forehead region is the seat of Vata dosha. It is also linked to your nervous system [2] and digestive system. Thus, it is an imbalanced Vata dosha in your nervous and digestive systems which triggers acne on your forehead.
With an imbalance in Vata dosha, your forehead skin becomes extremely dry. To manage the hydration crisis on your forehead, the Pitta and Kapha doshas (which control fluids in your body) tend to aggravate. This elevated Pitta and Kapha doshas cause hormonal imbalance in your body, which eventually leads to excessive production of sebum in the oil glands and follicles.
These sebum-filled oil glands and follicles attract different types of pollutants, dead skin cells, and bacteria which turn them out into acne on your forehead.
“If there is excess Vata dosha, the acne tends to be dry and without pus. If your forehead acne is red, inflamed and sore, then it indicates highly aggravated Pitta dosha. Also, if your acne is pus-filled, then it is mostly due to a spike in Kapha dosha,” says Dr. Zeel.
Common factors that cause an imbalance in Vata dosha:
- Wrongful diet
- High stress levels
- Anxiety, fear or worry
- Ongoing constipation
- Improper blood circulation to your skin, thus, lack of nutrient supply, etc.
How To Get Rid Of Forehead Acne Naturally?
To treat acne on your forehead, you need to identify which doshas are in an imbalanced state in your body. Based on that, you can choose herbal formulations that can be used topically or internally. These formulations work to pacify your aggravated doshas, thus helping you bring harmony to your tridoshas.
1. Topical Ayurvedic Herbal Applications
A. Vacha (Acorus Calamus)
It balances Vata and Kapha doshas. Prepare a fine paste by mixing vacha powder and rosewater. Add turmeric powder to it. Apply it as a detox mask for your forehead acne.
B. Manjistha (Rubia Cordifolia)
It balances Kapha and Pitta doshas. Prepare a mask by adding a spoon of honey and turmeric powder to a spoon of manjistha powder. Apply it on your forehead and rinse it off after 30 min.
C. Giloy (Tinospora Cordifolia)
It balances all three doshas. Mix ¼ spoon of giloy juice, ⅛ spoon of turmeric powder, and ⅛ spoon of neem powder to prepare a paste. Apply it on your forehead and rinse it off after 30-45 minutes. Repeat this thrice a week for best results.
D. Cinnamon (Cinnamomum Verum)
It balances Vata and Kapha doshas. Add a spoon of honey to 2 spoons of cinnamon powder. Apply it on your forehead acne and rinse it off after half an hour. Also, you can include cinnamon in your diet regularly as it can lower the insulin levels in your blood [3], thus, controlling the oil production in your forehead.
E. Neem (Azadirachta Indica)
It balances Kapha and Pitta doshas. Put 10-12 neem leaves, 2-3 spoons of aloe vera gel in the grinder and prepare a smooth paste. Now, add 5-8 drops of neem oil to the paste and apply it as a facemask to resolve your acne problems.
F. Shalmali (Bombax Malabaricum)
It balances Kapha and Vata doshas. Collect 10-12 thorns of shalmali tree. Grind them to make a smooth paste. Apply it on your forehead acne and wash it off after 30 minutes.
G. Lodhra (Symplocos Racemosa)
It balances Kapha and Pitta doshas. Mix lodhra, vacha, and dhaniya (coriander) powders in equal proportions and add water to it to prepare a smooth paste. Apply it on your forehead acne and rinse it off after 30 minutes.
H. Sariva (Hemidesmus Indicus)
It balances all three doshas. Make a fine paste by adding water to sariva powder. Apply it to acne spots on your forehead and wash it off after 30 minutes. You can also drink a refreshing herbal tea made of sariva roots regularly.
2. Internal Ayurvedic Herbal Supplements To Correct Doshas
These internal supplements must be taken as per the guidance of your Ayurvedic doctor. Your doctor will prescribe you the dosage based on your elevated doshas and severity of the condition.
- Arogyavardhini vati
- Chandraprabha vati
- Chandanasava
- Gandhak rasayana
- Khadirarishta
- Kamdudha ras
- Kaishore guggulu
- Mahamanjisthadyarishta
- Mahamanjisthadi kadha
- Panchtikta ghrit guggulu
- Rakta shodhak vati
- Sarivadyasava
- Shankh bhasma
- Surakta syrup
- Triphala churna(for improved digestion and bowels)
- Usheerasava
3. Yoga Asanas For Controlling Acne
Yoga asanas work great in increasing circulation of blood to your skin and improving the detoxification process in your body. Besides, nothing can beat regular yoga and meditation practices in keeping your stress and anxiety levels under control. Some of the asanas you can practice daily are:
- Simhasana (lion pose)
- Shashankasana (rabbit pose)
- Setu bandhasana (bridge pose)
- Parivrtta trikonasana (revolved triangle pose)
- Gupta padmasana (hidden lotus pose)
- Pranayama (breathing meditation)
4. Home Remedies For Forehead Acne
A. Black Pepper
Add a few drops of water to a spoon of black pepper powder to form a paste. Apply it to acne spots on your forehead and leave it dry. Later, wash it off thoroughly with normal water.
Vedix Tip: If applying black pepper directly causes any burning sensation on your forehead, you can add a few drops of rose water or a little amount of yogurt into the mixture before applying.
B. Turmeric, Almond Powder & Gram Flour
Mix a spoon of almond powder and gram flour each. Now, add a pinch of turmeric powder to the mixture. Make it a fine paste by adding an adequate amount of water. Apply it to your forehead by gently massaging with your fingertips. Leave it for 30 minutes before rinsing it off.
C. Lemon
Apply diluted lemon juice directly on your forehead acne and wash it off after 10-15 minutes.
D. Watermelon
Rub a slice of watermelon on your forehead before you sleep and leave it overnight. Wash it off in the morning. Repeat it every day until you feel clear skin on your forehead.
E. Tea Tree Oil
Add a few drops of tea tree oil [4] to a cup of almond oil and massage your forehead for a few minutes. Leave it for half an hour and then wash it off using a mild cleanser.
Foods To Eat And Avoid While Having Forehead Acne
Your diet plays an important role in keeping your doshas at an equilibrium. It naturally has a direct effect on your skin too. Certain foods that have a high glycemic index triggers excessive insulin levels in your body, which causes more oil production in your skin. Thus, you need to stay away from foods such as dairy, breads, cereals, white rice, pasta, noodles, baked foods, sugary beverages, junky snacks, starchy vegetables like potatoes.
Researchers found that eating chocolates [5] can worsen your acne conditions, especially if you have an acne-prone skin type.
Including the following foods in your diet regularly can help you reduce forehead acne:
1. Fatty fish, such as sardines, mackerel, and salmon
2. Lemon juice, mint juice, coriander soup, etc.
3. Soybeans and soy paneer(tofu)
4. Beans, navy beans, lentils, and peas
5. Nuts, such as walnuts and almonds
6. Seeds such as flax seeds, mustard seeds, and pumpkin seeds
7. Wild rice and brown rice
8. Quinoa
9. Yellow and orange fruits (citric fruits), blueberries, apricots, etc.
10. Vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, tomatoes, other dark green, and leafy vegetables, etc.
How To Prevent Forehead Acne?
A. Wash your face with lukewarm water using a neem herbal cleanser every day in the morning, evening as well as at night before you hit the bed. Especially, massage your forehead every day using a gentle scrub. This will clear the excessive sebum deposits.
B.Ensure you do not wear tight-fitting headgears, especially ones which cover your forehead.
C. Do not use heavy hair products that can worsen your forehead acne when your hair touches your face.
D. Avoid using harsh skincare products that may cause over-dryness. The dehydrated skin can trigger the overproduction of sebum as a counteraction.
E. Stay away from skin products with heavy oils that can make your forehead more oily and greasy.
F. Removing makeup is a must before you sleep.
G. Keep your hands clean throughout the day by regularly washing. Also avoid touching your face or forehead with your hands.
H. Do not expose your forehead region to the sun for long periods.
I. Do not stay with sweat on your face for a long time. Always carry a gentle face-wash with you.
How Long Does It Take For Forehead Acne To Go Away?
Acne on the forehead may take 10-15 days to go away. Sometimes, you may end up with acne scars on your forehead which may take a few months to heal.
Important Note:
Do not use any herbal formulations or drugs mentioned in this article without consulting your Ayurvedic doctor.
The Last Word
For a healthy and clear skin free of acne breakouts, it's not only important to have the right skincare regimen but also eat a balanced diet and practice healthy lifestyle routines. Also, indulge yourself in a moderate exercise regimen to enhance proper blood circulation in your skin, which is also quite essential for acne to heal faster.
At Vedix, we provide you with a customized Ayurvedic skin care regimen based on your skin's current needs by evaluating your doshas.
Know Your Dosha NowRecommended Products
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