Hormonal acne can be frustrating, especially when you eat right, have a skincare routine, and still have acne. I wash my face every day, sometimes multiple times a day. The good news is that you can often manage acne with the right routine, healthy habits, and sometimes medical help.
Hormonal acne happens when there are changes to oil production in the skin. It’s caused by hormones. Excess oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria can clog pores, leading to pimples, blemishes, and deep cysts.
Hormonal fluctuations can happen during pregnancy, menstruation, perimenopause, and menopause, and let’s not forget the teen years!
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Understand what causes hormonal acne
Androgens, including testosterone, stimulate your oil glands. When these hormones affect your skin, you may produce more oil, making clogged pores and inflammation more likely.
Common signs of hormonal acne
- Breakouts around the chin, lower jaw, and cheeks
- Deep, tender pimples that seem to keep coming back in the same places.
- Flare-ups before your period
- Acne that begins in your 40s due to fluctuating hormones
Which hormones get rid of acne
I have been hearing from friends that estrogen is known to help with acne. I know they have special creams, but let’s look at all the info first!
What are hormones
Hormones are chemical messengers throughout your body that tell your body what to do. They are produced by glands in the endocrine system.
- Pituitary gland: Controls other glands and releases growth hormone.
- Thyroid gland: Regulates metabolism and energy levels
- Adrenal Glands: Secrete cortisol and adrenaline to manage stress and blood pressure.
- Pineal gland: Secretes melatonin to regulate sleep-wake cycles.
- Ovaries and Testes: Produce estrogen and progesterone for sexual development and reproduction. For more facts, check here.
How do hormones affect the body?
- Metabolism and energy: Converts food into fuel and controls body weight and body temp control.
- Growth and development: Triggers childhood growth spurts and puberty.
- Homeostasis: Balances salt, water, and blood pressure inside the body.
- Stress response: Kicks off the fight-or-flight response.
How do I know I’m having a hormonal breakout?
You can do a self-analysis first. Am I about to start my period? Have I been eating healthy, or have I been eating sugar and chocolate, which are known to cause acne in some individuals? Or, like my question to myself, is my age a fluctuating hormonal age? I’m 47, so perimenopause, here I come!
How do I clear up my hormonal acne?
I’m thinking I need to drink more water, but I don’t know if that will help. I have seen some progress by drinking more water and less coffee. But my main problem is I keep picking at them, making them 10 x worse.
Does water clear up hormonal acne?
Drinking water does not necessarily clear up acne, but it is good for overall skin health. Check here for more facts on this.
How water affects the skin
- Skin barrier function: Proper hydration helps maintain the skin barrier
- Preventing dehydration effects: Severe dehydration can make the oil glands start producing more oil.
- No direct flushing of hormones: Your kidneys and liver manage waste removal and toxic filtration. Drinking extra water does not wash away hormonal fluctuations. For more facts on this, check here.
Build a skin care routine that targets hormonal acne
You don’t need a complicated routine. Just a few steps with proven ingredients are more effective.
- Morning:
- 1. Wash with a gentle cleanser.
- 2. Consider a benzoyl peroxide wash. Try this one. Or azelaic acid. Depending on your skin type and the type of acne.
- 3. Apply a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer.
- 4. Finish with a broad-spectrum SPF 30 sunscreen for protection
- Evening
- 1. Cleanse gently
- 2. Consider adapalene. An acne treatment that helps unclog pores.
- 3. Apply moisturizer to avoid dryness and irritation.
These ingredients are supported by dermatology guidance, but the best choice depends on your skin type and level of acne.
What are 5 signs of hormonal imbalance
- Persistent fatigue
- Unexplained weight changes
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Mood swings and anxiety
- Skin and hair changes
Oh my goodness. I have all of these symptoms. I’m always tired and don’t want to do anything. I’ve not been able to lose weight in like forever. And my anxiety and mood swings have my hubby running for cover. Not to mention the new one: acne, and not just any acne- deep, uncontrollable acne. So check, check, and check. Now, we just have to wait for the blood tests to come back and tell me what’s what!
Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the natural transition period before menopause. When the body’s hormone levels, specifically estrogen and progesterone, change. It can last up to 10 years. This is a time in a woman’s life when so many changes are happening. One of those changes is in the skin. And it often causes acne. Now, there are lots of treatments such as the one I mentioned above, but have your skin checked if you haven’t already, or it may be trial and error while you try to find out what kind of skin you have. Finding out what works on your skin may take time. I know it will take me a while.
Support your hormones with simple daily habits
- Eat balanced meals: Healthy meals include lots of fruits and veggies, healthy fats, and whole ingredients. Include protein, grains, and fiber.
- Manage stress: Walking, stretching, and writing can all help with stress.
- Get good rest: 6-9 hours of sleep per night for adequate rest.
- Avoid picking your skin: this is a big one. When you pick, they are more noticeable, and they hurt more.
- Track your breakouts: Get a journal or note paper to track your breakouts so you can find out why they are there and what to do about them.
conclusion
Try not to touch your face too much. I am really struggling with this, and because of it, I have a bunch all over my face. The more we touch our face, the more oil we put on our face that should not be there. Acne is not unfamiliar to us, but maybe we can do something about this hormonal acne we have. Hopefully these suggestions can help. Let me know in the comments if you are having hormonal acne and how old you are.
