Hormonal Acne Treatment

Most of us go through that awkward teenage acne stage. Even if you’re one of the lucky ones to just suffer a few pimples here and there, it’s generally a fact of life. Your mum tells you, you’ll grow out of it, and no one REALLY remembers how many zits you had in high school.  But what happens if you don’t grow out of it, and what can you do about it?

Skincare experts believe that hormonal acne occurs because fluctuations of hormones, generally linked to your menstrual cycle, cause increased oil production in the pore. The hormones that generally cause this type of acne are estrogen and progesterone, which both vary throughout your monthly cycle. The stress hormone, cortisol, can also affect levels of these hormones. Here are some telltale signs you’re dealing with hormonal acne:

It’s happening predominantly around your chin and jawline

If it looks and sounds like a beard of acne, it’s probably hormonal. Many of our oil glands lie around our chin area, and as the oil production increases, this becomes prime real estate for hormonal acne to break out.

It seems to recur once a month 

Hormonal acne often rears its head in a cyclic pattern, related to your hormone fluctuations. If it seems to happen in the same place at around the same time each month, it’s likely to be hormonal acne.

You’re stressed AF 

If you’re going through a period of acute stress, your cortisol can affect your other hormones, causing breakouts. Meaning: great, another thing to stress about.

It’s not your usual type of pimple 

If you’ve got blackheads and whiteheads, you’re probably not dealing with hormonal acne. Hormonal acne usually manifests as deeper, painful bumps under the skin surface. Usual extraction methods need not apply.

If you are suffering from hormonal acne, there are a few treatment options to consider:

Be consistent with your skin care routine

Prevention is the best treatment, as blemishes start to form up to two to three weeks before they actually appear on the skin.  It’s recommended to cleanse your face properly and remove all makeup before bed. Consider steaming your face two – three times a week, and using a chemical peel at home. Use a serum with retinol in it, and look for anti-acne creams that contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. To hydrate your skin, pick an oil-free moisturiser.

Anti-androgen hormone therapy

The contraceptive pill that contains both estrogen and progestin can be used to help women control their acne, along with other drugs such as the Spironolactone pill, which blocks androgen receptors.

Natural therapies

To manage stress-related breakouts, taking a regular Vitamin B supplement can help reduce the effects of stress. If you’re taking an Oral Contraceptive Pill, naturopaths recommend products that contain Primrose Oil and Zinc for all round support.