Does Botox Help Acne? Here’s What Happened When I Tried It

For years, summer meant one thing for my skin: relentless breakouts. My oily T-zone, combined with sweat from the NYC humidity and subway commutes, turned my face into a war zone of acne, particularly in my T-zone and jawline. So, for the past four years, I’ve relied on spironolactone—a medication prescribed to treat hormonal acne. It worked well enough, but my skin would still flare up, especially in new places like my chin. Every summer, my skin would become unmanageable, and I'd have to go back on spironolactone just to cope. It was a constant battle, and although I could rein it in (somewhat), the breakouts always found a way back in June.

But then, Dr. Stafford Broumand suggested that “baby Botox,” which I was already interested in o smooth fine lines, might actually help with my summer acne. I was intrigued. Could Botox help manage my acne and free me from the spironolactone cycle? The short answer is that a few weeks after my Botox injections, I was breakout-free. My skin was smoother, and I even had a subtle brow lift. So below, I explain more about the procedure and how it helped with my acne.

Dr. Stafford Broumand of 740 Park Plastic Surgery has received extensive education and training at some of the world’s leading medical institutions—including Yale University, Harvard Medical School, and College des Medicines de Paris, France. He has been named a “New York Metro Area Top Cosmetic Doctor” by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. for over a decade, and he has also been voted a Top Doctor by his peers in The New York Times Magazine. Dr. Broumand maintains active membership in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American College of Surgeons, and the New York State Society of Plastic Surgeons. He is currently a Professor of Plastic Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital and is regularly asked to make appearances in television and print media to provide insight into trending topics and innovative approaches in plastic surgery. 

At 26, I'm admittedly looking for something subtle—smooth out fine lines, but still keep my natural expressions, which is why I opted for "baby Botox." Unlike traditional Botox, which uses higher doses to freeze the muscles completely, baby Botox is all about a lighter touch. According to Dr. Broumand, it involves injecting smaller doses into targeted areas to soften wrinkles without creating that stiff, immovable look people worry about. “You don’t want to be frozen,” Dr. Broumand explained. “With baby Botox, you still have some movement, but it keeps the dermis smooth and acne at bay.”

So, he administered 80 units into my forehead and glabella (the area between my eyebrows). Basically, if traditional Botox is used for a dramatic effect, baby Botox is like a gentle spritz—enough to smooth the skin but subtle enough that I can still raise my eyebrows and make natural expressions.

Botox works by temporarily paralyzing muscles, which not only smooths out wrinkles but also reduces sweat and oil production—two culprits behind acne. When Dr. Broumand mentioned that Botox could help with the breakout I was experiencing at the time, I was surprised (I always assumed it was meant for fine lines specifically). But he explained that by relaxing the muscles around sweat glands, Botox can decrease sebum (oil) production by up to 30 percent, which helps prevent acne flare-ups in oily-prone areas like the forehead and T-zone.

To that end, I learned that Botox has long been used to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), which was another major draw for me—considering sweaty summer months are when my breakouts are at their worst. Dr. Broumand noted, “Botox affects the sweat glands, which will give you a clearer complexion.” This aligned with my experience; less sweating meant fewer clogged pores and less acne.

Types of Acne Botox Can Help With

• Hormonal Acne: By reducing oil production in the skin, Botox helps manage hormonal breakouts, particularly in the T-zone and jawline where fluctuations in hormones often trigger excess oil and pimples.
• Cystic Acne: Botox reduces inflammation by limiting oil secretion, which can help minimize the size and severity of deep, painful cystic breakouts.
• Sweat-Induced Acne: Botox is highly effective in controlling sweat production, especially in hyperhidrosis cases, which can prevent sweat from clogging pores and causing acne in areas prone to excessive sweating.
• Acne Scars: By relaxing the muscles around scar tissue, Botox can smooth out the skin’s appearance, making acne scars less noticeable over time, especially when combined with other treatments.

A few weeks after the injections, I was pleasantly surprised—no breakouts. My T-zone, usually a mess of clogged pores during the summer, remained clear. For the first time in years, my skin was manageable without spironolactone. I no longer had to worry about sweat-induced pimples along my jawline and chin—areas that had been particularly frustrating in the past. Plus, I noticed a significant decrease in sweating through my makeup, which meant less trapped oil and dirt in my pores, ultimately leading to fewer breakouts.

Dr. Broumand confirmed that the Botox’s ability to reduce both oil and sweat production was key in improving my skin. “By targeting the muscles that control sweat and sebum, we’ve been able to control the factors causing your summer breakouts,” he explained. Botox allowed me to ditch my spironolactone routine and instead rely on quick fixes like pimple patches when needed, but without the heavy medication I once had to depend on.

Botox ended up being a two-for-one win: it cleared my skin and helped prevent future wrinkles without freezing my face. The lighter touch makes it a great option for younger patients like me who are more focused on prevention. While traditional Botox often aims to correct existing wrinkles, baby Botox is about maintaining a fresh, youthful look while tackling skin issues like acne (all without locking your face into place). It’s definitely made my summer breakouts a thing of the past and left my skin feeling smoother, and just a little more lifted.