
Glasses are an incredible tool, allowing you to see clearly while expressing your personal style. However, glasses can also come with setbacks — namely, acne. With plastic or metal frames against your face all day, you may get annoying blemishes on the bridge of your nose, between your eyebrows, or near your ears.
If you find your skin constantly breaking out in any of these places, keep reading to find out how to identify the problem, learn why it happens, and explore prevention strategies to help you maintain clear, smooth skin.
Why Do Glasses Cause Acne?
The type of blemishes typically caused by glasses is known as acne mechanica, which occurs due to pressure and friction on the skin. Because the glasses push down on your skin and prevent skin cells from shedding, the dead skin cells clog your pores and lead to acne.
The friction from constantly adjusting your glasses can also contribute to acne formation, as can dirty, oily, or bacteria-covered frames. People with especially oily skin or who wear makeup are particularly susceptible to skin blemishes.
Related Issues
While eyeglasses often cause acne, it’s not the only skin condition associated with wearing glasses. While uncommon, some glasses-wearers experience acanthoma fissuratum, a condition characterized by benign lesions and areas of thickening where the glasses frames press on the skin — typically behind the ears or on the nose bridge.
If your blemishes seem out of the ordinary, it’s best to consult with a dermatologist, as the issue could be something besides run-of-the-mill acne.
Preventing Glasses-Related Acne
While glasses-related acne can be annoying, embarrassing, and even painful, there are steps you can take to get breakouts under control and prevent new blemishes from emerging. With a little extra care, you can maintain clear skin, even with eyeglasses.

Get Your Glasses Adjusted
If your glasses don’t fit quite right, they’re more likely to cause acne. Constantly pushing your glasses up your nose causes friction, and points that put excessive pressure on your skin are a recipe for acne mechanica.
The best way to fix these fit issues is by getting your glasses adjusted by a professional. You may be tempted to try to adjust them yourself; however, this is not a great idea. Improper techniques can damage your glasses, causing them to fit worse than before. Leave adjustments to the experts.
Clean Your Glasses
As you wear your glasses, they collect dirt, oils, and bacteria — all things you want to avoid if your goal is to prevent acne. Make sure you keep your glasses clean to avoid clogged pores.
While soft, microfiber cloths are great for removing smudges from the lenses, a quick wipe every once in a while isn’t enough. Follow these steps to thoroughly clean your glasses without damaging them:
- Wash your hands with soap and water to remove dirt, oil, and lotion that could transfer to the glasses.
- Rinse the glasses gently with lukewarm — not hot — water. Hot water can warp some types of frames.
- Use a small drop of dish soap and your fingers to carefully wash all surfaces, including the earpieces and nose pads. Don’t use household cleaners, as they can damage lens coatings.
- Thoroughly rinse the glasses to remove all traces of soap.
- Dry the glasses with a lint-free cloth.
In between washings, you can use a basic alcohol wipe to clean the parts of the frames that touch your face. This should be done every night after wearing your glasses.

Use Over-the-Counter Acne Products
In addition to taking care of your glasses, it’s important to take care of your skin. If you wear makeup, make sure you use a makeup remover before cleansing your face at night. After removing your makeup, use an over-the-counter face wash specially formulated for acne-prone skin. Look for cleansers with salicylic acid, which helps control oil production. A benzoyl peroxide spot treatment can also help minimize blemishes.
For product suggestions tailored to your specific skin type and unique needs, talk to a dermatologist.
Take Breaks
If possible, take periodic breaks from wearing your glasses to relieve the pressure on your skin. Even a few minutes here and there can make a big difference.
Glasses for Everyone at Wolcott Optical
We have the perfect eyeglasses for you at Wolcott Optical. Whatever frames you pick, we’ll ensure they fit your face perfectly, helping minimize skin conditions like acne. Plus, with a wide selection of designer styles, you can face the world with confidence along with achieving clear vision.