Quick answer: Your temples and the area between your eyebrows sit close together, but different things touch them, so it’s better not to judge them by a single reason. For the temples, write down what stays in contact for long stretches, such as the arms of your glasses, a hat brim, the hair at the sides of your face, and hair oil; for the brows and the area between them, write down the ends of your bangs, brow makeup, brow grooming, and hand habits, spot by spot, and change one thing at a time. Where a breakout appears doesn’t settle its cause, and if it looks different from acne, such as a small rash spreading toward the eyes or bumps spreading after brow grooming, have it checked by a dermatologist. If spots become painful and swollen or marks start to leave dents, consider seeing a dermatologist without waiting to finish a log.
This guide is for readers whose breakouts keep coming back at the temples or around the brows and between them, and who are wondering whether it’s all one cause: it helps you decide whether to write down what touches each spot separately or to have it looked at by a dermatologist. It does not cover diagnosis, medicines or procedures, how to remove brow hair, or caring for scars. This is a brand guide run by SKIN9HARI, and the product information is kept in a separate section at the end.
| Item | What’s documented |
|---|---|
| Organization guidance that mentions the temples directly | One source within the range this guide checked: it says that if acne appears only on the forehead and temples, hair oil may be the cause, and it is a guidance page written for darker skin tones (acne guidance for darker skin tones) |
| Organization guidance that covers glasses, brow makeup, or brow grooming directly | Not found in the sources this guide checked. That doesn’t mean there is no link |
| Explanations that pair a spot on the face with an organ such as the liver or gut | Not in the acne overview guidance this guide checked (acne overview) |
| Revive Therapy A.C Cleanser | 0.5% salicylic acid formulated · 150 mL (5.07 fl oz) · $18.90 |
| Revive Therapy N.F Toner | pH 5.5–6.5, mildly acidic · 150 mL (5.07 fl oz) · $29.40 |
Temple acne and pimples between the eyebrows: can you blame them on one cause?
It’s better not to. Within the range this guide checked, only one organization guidance page mentions the temples directly, and even that is a possibility with a condition attached: acne that appears only on the forehead and temples (acne guidance for darker skin tones).
“If acne only appears in these areas [the forehead and temples], your hair oil may be the cause.” — American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), acne guidance for darker skin tones
This guide found no organization guidance in the sources it checked that covers the area between the brows or the brows themselves, or glasses, brow makeup, or brow grooming, directly. That doesn’t mean there is no link; it means there is no basis for calling any of them a cause. Explanations that pair spots on the face with organs such as the liver are also absent from the acne overview guidance this guide checked (acne overview).
So instead of settling on a cause, start from what touches each spot. Many things stay in contact with the temples for long stretches, while the brows and the area between them get more things applied to them and more touching by hand (this guide’s own summary), so lumping them under one reason makes it easy to miss the clues on one side.
Whether the spot where you break out can tell you the cause is covered in Acne by Location: Can Where You Break Out Tell You the Cause?.
Causes of temple acne to consider: what touches each spot?
The table below is not a chart for deciding the cause. It is a map for your log that lists what touches each spot alongside how far the sources go. Don’t count how many apply or give anything a score.
| What touches the skin | Where it mostly touches | When it touches | Organization guidance checked | What to write down | One thing to try changing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasses arms and frames | Temples (arms), above the brows (top edge of the frame) | The whole time you wear them | No source checked by this guide — that doesn’t mean there is no link | How many hours a day you wear them, and which side the arm presses on | Write down the days you wiped the inside of the frame and the arms (this guide’s suggestion) |
| Hat brims, headbands, helmets | Sides of the forehead and temples | While you wear them | Hats and headbands: hair-product guidance that says to wash hats and headbands your hair touches along with other items; it does not say hats themselves are a cause (hair products and acne) / Helmets: guidance on sports equipment and the spots where chin straps and helmets rub (sports equipment and acne) | The days and hours you wore them, and the days you washed them | Wash the hats and headbands your hair touches |
| Hair at the sides of your face and the ends of your bangs | Temples (side hair), between the brows and the brows (bangs) | While your hair is down | There is only guidance that oil from hair products can cause breakouts along the hairline and the upper forehead (hair products and acne). No source checked on friction from hair itself | The days you wore bangs down, and the products in your hair that day | Write down the days you used hair products and the days you didn’t, separately |
| Hair oil, pomade, wax | Forehead and temples | All day on days you use them | Yes — guidance for darker skin tones saying hair oil may be the cause when acne appears only on the forehead and temples (acne guidance for darker skin tones), and guidance on oil from hair products (hair products and acne) | The product name and the days you used it | Take a break from just one product |
| Brow makeup (pencil, gel, tint) | The brows and between them | All day on days you fill them in | No source covering brow makeup directly. For cosmetics in general, there is guidance that reactions can show up late and that you should remove makeup, eye makeup included, before bed (makeup and acne) | The product name, the days you used it, and when you removed it | Remove it before bed, and bring in new products one at a time |
| Brow grooming (razor, tweezers, wax) | Around the brows and between them | The day you groom and the days after | No source that names the brows. General guidance that shaving, tweezing, and waxing can set off an infection of the hair follicles (infected hair follicles guidance) | The days you groomed and the tool you used | Write the date you groomed and any change afterward on the same line |
| Touching or rubbing with your hands | All three spots | Any time | Yes — guidance, not specific to any spot, that touching, picking, and popping can make acne worse (why not to pop pimples) | When you touch your face most (studying, looking at a screen, and so on) | Keep your hands away from your face |
The “one thing to try changing” is not a promise of results; it is one thing chosen so you can compare before and after. If breakouts continue after a change, or if what you see looks different from acne, check the signs for getting care below first.
An illustration of someone taking off their glasses and looking at the spot where the arm rested.
Is eyebrow acne related to brow grooming or brow makeup?
The sources this guide checked include no organization guidance that covers brow grooming or brow makeup directly, but there are two pieces of related guidance. Shaving, tweezing, and waxing can set off an infection in the hair follicles, and a red ring around each bump can be a sign of infection (infected hair follicles guidance). Some cosmetics can cause breakouts, and because the reaction can show up late rather than right away, the cause can be hard to pin down (makeup and acne).
So for the brow area, write down the days you groomed, the tool you used, and the days you changed brow makeup, in a separate column from the temples.
Pimples between the eyebrows: what should you write down first, and what should you change?
1. Split the three spots into separate columns
Don’t put all three spots in one column. In each column, write down what touched the skin, how long it touched, the days you groomed your brows, and the days you changed something. If breakouts keep coming back at only one temple, also write down what touches only that side, such as which side your glasses arm presses on or which way you part your hair (this guide’s suggestion).
2. Change one thing at a time and note the date
If you change several things at once, you can’t tell which one made the difference, so pick just one thing from the map, change it, and note the date. There is guidance that after you stop using a hair product, it can take 4 to 6 weeks for breakouts to clear (hair products and acne), so don’t draw conclusions after a few days. That doesn’t mean waiting it out if spots become painful and swollen.
3. Keep your hands off and don’t squeeze
“Keep your hands away from your face. Touching, picking, and popping can worsen acne.” — American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), guidance on popping pimples
The guidance says that squeezing at home can push the contents deeper into the skin or lead to infection (why not to pop pimples). Within the range this guide checked, there is no source saying the temples are especially risky.
An illustration of splitting the three spots into columns and logging dates.
Which bumps might not be acne?
There is guidance that an acne-like rash around the mouth can be a different skin condition, and that the rash sometimes develops only around the eyes or the nose (other skin conditions that look like acne). If a rash of small pimple-like bumps spreads toward the eyes, seeing a dermatologist comes before keeping a contact log. The same goes for bumps with a red ring that spread after brow grooming (infected hair follicles guidance).
If oily flakes and itching show up on the brows or between them, the sources this guide checked can’t say what that is, so have it checked by a dermatologist. These descriptions are not a way to name what you have yourself; they are reasons to get care.
When should you see a dermatologist instead of waiting to finish a log?
You don’t have to fill in the whole log or wait a set amount of time before getting care. If any of the following apply, consider seeing a dermatologist first.
- Spots are deep, painful, or hard and swollen. The guidance says deep, painful acne needs a dermatologist’s help (acne overview).
- A small rash spreads toward your eyes, or it burns and itches (other skin conditions that look like acne).
- Bumps with a red ring spread after you groom your brows (infected hair follicles guidance).
- Marks start to leave dents. The guidance says any type of acne can leave scars (acne overview).
- Breakouts continue even after you change what touches the skin, or you’re not sure it’s acne. The guidance says to get a diagnosis from a dermatologist for acne that won’t clear (other skin conditions that look like acne).
An illustration of setting a date for a dermatology appointment.
When to get care for large, painful breakouts is covered in Painful Breakouts: When to See a Dermatologist, and When It’s Okay to Wait.
Related guides
FAQ
What causes acne on the temples?
It can’t be pinned to one thing. One guidance page says hair oil may be the cause if acne appears only on the forehead and temples, but that is a possibility with a condition attached (acne guidance for darker skin tones). If you don’t use hair oil, write down what stays in contact with that spot for long stretches, such as your glasses arms, a hat brim, or the hair at the sides of your face, and change one thing at a time.
Can glasses or hats cause acne on the temples?
The sources this guide checked include no organization guidance on glasses and acne, so we count glasses only as something that touches the skin for a long time and is worth writing down. For hats and headbands, there is guidance to wash the ones your hair touches because hair products can get on them (hair products and acne), and the guidance on helmets and chin straps is about spots where sports equipment rubs (sports equipment and acne).
Why do I keep getting pimples between my eyebrows?
This guide found no organization guidance in the sources it checked that covers the area between the brows or the brows themselves directly. As for the idea that it’s your liver, the acne overview guidance this guide checked says nothing pairing spots on the face with organs (acne overview). A good place to start is writing down what touches that spot separately, such as the ends of your bangs, brow makeup, brow grooming, and your hands.
I get pimples around my brows after shaving them. Is the brow razor the problem?
This guide found no source that looks at brow razors on their own. There is guidance that shaving, tweezing, and waxing can set off an infection in the hair follicles, and that it can help to see a dermatologist to confirm whether that is what’s going on (infected hair follicles guidance). Write down the days you groomed and the tool you used, and if bumps spread, consider seeing a dermatologist.
Are pimples between the eyebrows related to makeup or how you wash your face?
There is guidance that some cosmetics can cause breakouts and that the reaction can show up late, so it advises removing makeup, eye makeup included, before bed (makeup and acne). Within the range this guide checked, there is no source that pairs brow makeup or face-washing habits with the area between the brows. If you change brow makeup, change one product at a time and note the date.
Should you pop a pimple on your temple?
The guidance says not to. Squeezing at home can push the contents deeper into the skin or lead to infection (why not to pop pimples). Within the range this guide checked, there is no source saying the temples are more risky than other spots, and this guidance applies anywhere on the face.
Are all the tiny rough bumps on my temples acne?
Not something you can tell from how they look. There is guidance that an acne-like rash can be a different skin condition, and that it sometimes develops only around the eyes (other skin conditions that look like acne). If the bumps itch or burn and spread toward the eyes, have them checked by a dermatologist.
Does touching my face make pimples between my eyebrows worse?
There is guidance that touching, picking, and popping can make acne worse, so keep your hands away from your face (why not to pop pimples). It is general guidance for any spot, not guidance about the area between the brows in particular. Writing down when you touch your face most, such as while studying or looking at a screen, makes it easier to choose when to cut back.
If I only break out between my brows before my period, is it still from contact?
The sources in this guide can’t tell from timing and location alone whether it’s hormonal or from contact. If you write the start date of your period next to your contact log, it will be easier to tell a dermatologist whether breakouts line up with your cycle.
When should you see a dermatologist for acne on the temples or between the eyebrows?
If spots become deep, painful, and swollen, a small rash spreads toward your eyes, bumps with a red ring spread after brow grooming, or marks start to leave dents, consider seeing a dermatologist without waiting to finish a log. The guidance says deep, painful acne needs a dermatologist’s help (acne overview).
In one sentence
Don’t lump temple acne and pimples around and between your brows under one reason; write down what touches each spot separately and change one thing at a time, but have a rash spreading toward your eyes, bumps spreading after grooming, or painful swelling checked by a dermatologist first.
SKIN9HARI products we recommend for this concern
If you want to sort out your cleansing step and the step after it while you log what touches your skin, SKIN9HARI recommends the Revive Therapy A.C Cleanser and the Revive Therapy N.F Toner. There are three reasons.
- They are products for the cleansing step, which washes the spots where hair products and brow makeup sat during the day, and for the step after it, and their directions and check-before-use wording are published on the product detail pages.
- The check-before-use wording for both products says to avoid the eye area and broken skin, which makes it easier to decide how to use them on the brows and the area between them, which sit close to the eyes, and on days you groom your brows.
- Both products are irritation patch-tested, and the Revive Therapy N.F Toner was “assessed as suitable for use on acne-prone skin” in a finished-product clinical study of comedogenic potential (see the note below the table). That study applied patches to the upper back 12 times over 4 weeks, so it is not a result for the temples or the area between the brows.
| Item | Revive Therapy A.C Cleanser | Revive Therapy N.F Toner |
|---|---|---|
| Size and price | 150 mL (5.07 fl oz) / $18.90 | 150 mL (5.07 fl oz) / $29.40 |
| Formula and labeled ingredients | Rinse-off, mildly alkaline foam cleanser · 0.5% salicylic acid formulated (labeled amount) · contains fragrance | pH 5.5–6.5 mildly acidic toner · contains ethanol and fragrance (see the check-before-use wording) |
| Test labeling | Irritation patch-tested (patch test) | Irritation patch-tested (patch test) · finished-product study of comedogenic potential: “assessed as suitable for use on acne-prone skin” (see the note below the table; tested on the upper back) |
| Step in the routine | Cleansing, the first step of skincare | After cleansing, before moisturizing products |
| Directions | Wet your hands and face well with lukewarm water. Dispense a suitable amount and work up a rich lather with your hands or a foaming net. Gently wash your face with the lather, then rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water. | After cleansing, dispense a suitable amount onto your palm or a cotton pad. Spread it gently along the skin’s texture, or press it in lightly with your palms. Then follow with whatever moisturizing products your skin condition needs. |
| Check before use (cautions) | “Do not rub the foaming net directly on your face. Avoid the eye area and broken skin, and if it gets in your eyes, rinse immediately. If any abnormal reaction appears, stop use, and when using it with a prescription medication, follow your clinician and the medication’s instructions first.” | “Contains 3.0% ethanol, fragrance, and 0.02% salicylic acid. Avoid the eye area and broken skin. If red spots, swelling, itching, or any other abnormal reaction appears, stop use and consult a specialist.” |
| Source and date checked | Step in the routine, directions, and check-before-use wording from the product detail page (checked October 1, 2026; check-before-use wording excludes exfoliation-related wording, per Korea’s salicylic acid labeling and advertising standard in force since July 30, 2025) · size, price, and ingredients from published manufacturer information (checked October 30, 2026) · test labeling from the patch test · not compared against the wording on the physical container | Step in the routine, directions, and check-before-use wording from the product detail page (checked October 1, 2026; check-before-use wording excludes exfoliation-related wording, per the same standard) · size, price, and pH from published manufacturer information (checked October 30, 2026) · test labeling from the patch test and the finished-product study · not compared against the wording on the physical container |
Clinical study evaluating comedogenic potential: result “assessed as suitable for use on acne-prone skin” | Testing institution: Elead Co., Ltd. | Report No.: EL-180125057I007 | Study period: February 19 – April 13, 2018 | 12 occlusive patch applications over 4 weeks | Participants: 25 enrolled, 21 completed (mean age 29.24) | Individual results may vary
How to use them for this concern. For your evening wash, gently wash your temples, the area under the hair at the sides of your face, and between your brows with the lather of the Revive Therapy A.C Cleanser, then rinse with lukewarm water. Don’t let the lather reach the eye area, and don’t rub the foaming net directly on your face. After cleansing, spread the Revive Therapy N.F Toner along the skin’s texture, stopping before you reach the eye area when you get to the brows and between them. On days when grooming has broken the skin, avoid that spot and write the day down on your contact map. Keep the week you start either product separate from any week you change something on your map. If ethanol or fragrance has made your skin sting before, or you are using a prescription topical medicine, read the check-before-use wording first. Both products are cosmetics, not drugs.
If any of the signs for getting care above apply to you, seeing a dermatologist comes before products. Results may not be the same for every skin type. Product information is on the Revive Therapy A.C Cleanser product page and the Revive Therapy N.F Toner product page.
Sources
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Acne guidance for darker skin tones. AAD public information.
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Hair products and acne. AAD public information.
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Sports equipment and acne. AAD public information.
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Makeup and acne. AAD public information.
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Why not to pop pimples. AAD public information.
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Infected hair follicles: causes and care. AAD public information.
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Other skin conditions that look like acne. AAD public information.
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Acne overview. AAD public information.
This guide is general skincare information, not medical advice. SKIN9HARI products are cosmetics and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If a skin problem is painful, spreading, or persistent, see a dermatologist.