You Can Tell What's Causing Your Acne By Where You Break Out Use our pimple GPS to locate the reason behind your zits—and more importantly, the fix. Shutterstock

We're not going to name names, but in a recent poll, 56 percent of Women's Health readers admitted they always seem to have a zit or two. If you ask us, that's one or two zits too many. When you're prone to acne (and studies show so many of us are), anything can set it off and make it even gnarlier: your diet, your workout, and—we wish we were joking about this—even your city. So no matter how on-point your skin-care routine may be, you can't be truly free of breakouts until you get a handle on those sly culprits. We uncovered five of the most surprising triggers, mapping out precisely where they lurk on your face and how to remedy them fast. So if you've got zits, your confessions are safe with us. The only thing getting outed here are pimples.

If you have: Cystic acne on the chin and jawline
Possible cause #1: Stress
Let us explain: The S word stimulates androgen hormones, which then mess with the oil glands, causing hormonal acne on your chin. And we're not helping ourselves: "Stressed people are tense and often can't leave pimples alone," says NYC dermatologist and psychiatrist Amy Wechsler, M.D.
How to nix 'em: To relieve stress, Wechsler uses this technique: "Breathe in slowly through the nose and out the mouth. Focusing on the breath lowers anxiety and heart rate." 

Possible cause #2: Diet (especially if you also have red itchy bumps all over)
Let us explain: Sugar and refined carbs are partners in crime, and they aim straight for your chin. If you've got red, itchy bumps all over, the culinary culprit is likely yeast. It's a condition called acne rosacea that may be related to a reaction of yeast in the hair follicles, says Dennis Gross, M.D., a NYC dermatologist.
How to nix 'em: Food triggers can be hard to isolate, so dermatologists suggest you cut out one suspected food you regularly eat (such as yogurt, pasta, protein shakes with whey, or white bread) at a time to see if there's any relief within one to three weeks.

RELATED: 4 Bizarre Places You Always Get Zits—and How to Prevent Them

If you have: A mix of red zits and whiteheads along your T-zone
Possible cause #1: Pollution
Let us explain: Particle matter—teensy-tiny soot and liquid particles suspended in air—penetrates the complexion, plugging pores and triggering red zits. But wait, there's more: Noxious gases called ground-level ozone cause a chemical reaction with your skin's natural oils, changing their consistency from a liquid to a wax, which, in turn, ushers in whiteheads.
How to nix 'em: Find out the pollution level of your zip code on StateOfTheAir.org, a site run by the American Lung Association that rates cities with letter grades. If yours scored below a B, cleanse like you mean it—particle matter is microscopic, so fingers alone won't cut it. "A cleansing brush removes more soot and debris," says Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., a dermatologist in Washington, D.C. Try Pulsaderm Buddy, ($69, pulsaderm.com) with a 2 percent salicylic acid wash, like Garnier Clean+ Shine Control Cleansing Gel ($8, at drugstores). 

Possible cause #2: Climate
Let us explain: Hot, muggy climes (summers on the East Coast, and all year round in the South) spur the production of oil, which is a breeding ground for P. acnes bacteria. But dry-climate dwellers (if you live in the Southwest, or spend winters in the Northeast) aren't in the clear. That air sucks out moisture, causing dry cells to flake and gunk up the pore walls, "so you'll see little whiteheads," says aesthetician Renee Rouleau. 
How to nix 'em: If humidity is your trigger, use an oil-free moisturizer, says Gross—don't give bacteria more slickness to munch on. Dry climate? Get a humidifier.

RELATED: 4 Reasons You're Still Struggling with Acne

If you have: Any kind of acne on the forehead and around the hairline
Possible cause: Workouts
Let us explain: One sneaky foe that leads to a case of the pimps, says NYC dermatologist Jeremy Fenton, M.D., is wiping your forehead with your hands or a towel. "A dirty one can transfer bacteria to your face, but the friction of using even a clean towel can cause inflammation," he says. The result? Tiny bumps that can morph into cystic and pustular acne. Lovely.
How to nix 'em: "Change out of your gym clothes and shower immediately after a workout," says Fenton. That means washing your face (21 percent of you admit to being too beat post-exercise to do that—eek!). Exfoliating regularly with alpha and beta hydroxy acids keeps pores clear; try Neutrogena Pore Refining Exfoliating Cleanser ($8, at drugstores). Working out with makeup on? Shouldn't be a problem if you're wearing the noncomedogenic kind, says Fenton. 

RELATED: 5 Essential Steps to Treating Adult Acne

For an even more in-depth explanation about your acne, plus more ways to get rid of it, pick up the May 2015 issue of Women's Health, on newsstands now.