Spots on Your Neck? Here’s What it Might Mean

TLDR: In this article we take a look at spots on your neck and what they might mean based on the area they appear as well as what you can do to help them go.

I always thought I’d come out of my teenage years with spot-free skin. Turns out, it doesn’t always work like that.

Spots can be more common in the teenage years because oil glands are activated by hormones during puberty. However, you can still get them as an adult. In fact, one study found that in 454 adults, 85% of the adult acne sufferers were women.

FFS.

Here are a few reasons why you might experience spots on your neck in your 20s and beyond:

Pregnancy
Menstrual cycle
Physical and mental stress
Skin products
Medications
Family history

What are spots?

I was pretty shocked to read that the NHS reports that 95% of people 11-30 are affected by acne to some extent.

There are 6 types of spots caused by acne. These are blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. You can get them anywhere from your face and neck, to your back, chest and even legs.

A sebaceous gland is next to a small hair follicle. This secretes sebum oil which helps to prevent the skin and hair from drying out. When one of these pores becomes clogged or inflamed, it causes spots.

What do spots mean?

There are theories that spots on certain areas of the face and body can give you an indication of health.

We searched the internet to learn more.

[Just a note, we’re not doctors. We’re just women who are suffering from spots on the neck, forehead, chin, and cheeks. We want to share with you what we’ve found. It might help you too.]

Spots on your neck

One website reports that spots on the neck mean that you are run down. Maybe you’re working all day and out all night. Maybe you are rushing about here there and everywhere. Maybe spots on your neck are your bodies way of telling you it is time to slow down.

Take some time off, practise self-care, and remember, drink lots of water! Perhaps you could ask your boss if you can work from home a little more, or let them know that your workload is too much. If you have kids perhaps you need to grab some more help. Take a look at your overall workload and see where you can offload to hopefully ease spots on your neck.

If you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed you may benefit from a daily dose of ashwagandha which may help ease stress and anxiety. How long Ashwagandha takes to work varies for everyone.

Spots on your cheeks

Spots on the cheeks could be down to make-up, allergies, sinus problems, or even phone hygiene. How often do you wipe your mobile down? Maybe it’s time to make it a daily habit!

In Chinese medicine, the diagnosis for spots on the cheeks is pollution or living environment and respiratory stress.

Spots on your chin

Spots on the chin and around the mouth are common places to get spots. How often do you catch yourself touching your face, or leading on your hand? This will transfer bacteria from your hand to your face, creating a breeding ground for spots. This area may also be linked to hormones and stress.

Try drinking lots of water, eating well and go back to the 2020 rule of “don’t touch your face!”

What to do about spots

In my research, I’ve found there seem to be some common themes on how to deal with spots on your neck and face.

Stay hydrated
Rest and de-stress! If you’re feeling stressed try supplementing your diet with ashwaganda which may help with stress.
Eat a balanced diet – though according to the NHS there is actually no evidence to connect diet and spots… but we still feel it is important to eat the rainbow and avoid unhealthy food.
Avoid squeezing!! I know, it’s tempting but it can cause scarring and more irritation
Try to get enough sleep. Do you struggle? Magnesium may help you.
Wash your makeup off every night
Start a strict skincare routine suited to your skin type, you may need to experiment with products to find what works for you. Of course, we are going to say go cruelty free!

If you are really struggling with acne in your post-teenage years, it might be time to see your GP. It could be acne or something else entirely. Always good to get a professional’s opinion!

Also, you may notice your skin may flare during your period. This is normal and we have a whole blog all about how to take care of your skin during your period.

Here are some of the interesting articles you might like to read all about spots on the neck and acne mapping:

Remember we are always here to answer any questions – message us on Instagram @itsourremedy x o

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