Does Differin Gel Help With Hormonal Acne

Consider Short Contact Therapy

Especially if you’ve tried the above tips and none are working for you . Short contact therapy is ideal for anyone with really, truly, extremely sensitive skin, says Dr. Love, since it involves leaving a retinoid on your skin for just a tiny amount of time before rinsing it off.

Ill have a patient apply their prescription retinoid to clean skin, and leave it on for one hour, then wash it off and moisturize their face,” she says. “Over the next several weeks, they can slowly increase the amount of time the retinol is left on the skin, with the goal of working up to overnight use.

Why Does It Work Though

The reason Differin and other retinoids work so well is because skin cells can easily clog pores when they have unusual life cycles. For instance, during the teenage years and early 20s, cell turnover is much higher than in older people. However, the cells live too long sometimes and are not shed in time. This can cause pores to clog and then result in acne.

The opposite problem can also occur, often after your 20s. Skin cells are produced at a more normal rate, but they sometimes die too quickly, also causing pore clogging.

Differin acne treatment acts like a pace car, guiding the skin cells through their live cycles at a steady rate. It causes skin cells to be produced and die at a rate that wont clog pores. This is an excellent mechanism for preventing blackheads and whiteheadsbut retinoids can also help prevent cysts.

The Blemishes Are Cystic

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If you’ve ever dealt with cystic acne, you know how uncomfortable the firm cysts can be. Aside from being painful, Linkner says cysts on the face can also point to hormone imbalance. “Usually, hormonal the acne type is cystic in nature,” she says. While other types of blemishes might come to a head that you can eventually squeeze and expel the bacteria, hormonal acne often doesn’t. “Face oils can make hormonal acne worse and should be strictly avoided,” Linkner adds. “Especially tea tree oils or other essential oils.”

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The Feel: Light And Gel

This product is a lightweight gel that, thankfully, doesn’t leave any sticky or tacky residue after application. Before I applied the gel, I did a little research to ensure I wasn’t using too much or too little. If you’re anything like me, when you’re experiencing a breakout, you want to apply a bit more to ensure the product is working. That isn’t necessary herea pea-sized amount does the trick.

What Is The Best Natural Treatment For Hormonal Acne

Diet can be a factor in hormonal acne. Some foods can act as anti-inflammatories and help with acne. These are vegetables, fish, nuts, and some healthy oils like olive oil and avocado. Coconut oil, avocado, omega-3 fats, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts, and carrots are also beneficial to people with acne in general and, more specifically, hormonal acne. Eliminating specific acne triggers, like cow’s milk, dairy, and sugars, can also help.

The DIM + cruciferous supplement is an excellent addition to hormonal acne treatment. They contain a natural extract of cruciferous vegetables , specially formulated to help balance hormones and reduce acne signs in adult women.

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The Results: No Irritation Or Peeling

After the first night of using this, I monitored my skin to see if there was any peeling or irritation. There was none. My skin felt and looked like itselfand the pesky pimples were still there. I expected this because Diffien isn’t a spot treatment, but instead is a product that’s designed to work over time. After eight days of use, I noticed that my chest felt smoother. I also noticed there were no neck pimples the week before my cycle. I’m enjoying seeing the cumulative effects of using this product each night, and I’m sure as time passes, I’ll reap even more benefits.

Hit Pause On Your Other Actives

That includes any cleansers, serums, or moisturizers that contain AHAs, BHAs, and/or benzoyl peroxide. Too many active ingredients + retinol = a recipe for redness and inflammation. So cut this stuff out a week before starting retinol, says dermatologist Uchenna Okereke, MD. Once your skin starts to adjust, you can add actives back in one at a time, with at least a week in between.

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Peach & Lily Pore Proof Perfecting Clay Mask

A clay mask that delivers powerful purifying results without stripping or overdrying the skin, the Peach & Lily Pore Proof Perfecting Clay Mask performs a deep, exfoliating cleanse of the skin to remove impurities and dead skin cells and refine the look of pores. Created with dry, sensitive skin types in mind as well as oily and acne-prone skin, this top-rated face mask relieves clogged pores, detoxifies the skin, reduces inflammation and soothes irritated skin using a blend of bentonite and kaolin clays, plus wild cherry extract, glycerin, Centella Asiatica extract, licorice root extract and strawberry extracts.

Can I Use Other Acne Treatments With Differin Cream

Yes, in severe acne you can combine Differin with oral antibiotic acne treatments such as Tetralysal , Minocin or Oxytetracycline tablets. These combinations can be used to provide better effects than either treatment on their own, prevent antibiotic resistance, and cure acne particularly persistent cases of acne.

For moderate acne, Differin can be used with topical antibiotic treatments like Dalacin-T or Zineryt.

Differin should not be used with any similar acne creams containing a retinoid or benzoyl peroxide as it may cause excessive drying or irritation to your skin.

Topical treatments like Differin are frequently used in addition to oral treatments like Accutane , but this would need to be started by a dermatologist.

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Stress Often Causes Inflammation

Stress can cause inflammation because our bodies dont always distinguish between literal, physical stressors and emotional stressors. If were very tense about a big test coming up, our body reads the stress as a threat and prepares for an invasion by going into the fight, flight, or freeze mode. One way it protects itself is through the inflammatory response. If the skin is inflamed, there is less of a chance anything dangerous will enter it because the tissue around the pores is slightly swollen. Unfortunately, stress is a common part of daily life, meaning our skin may always be slightly inflamed.

Inflammation leads to acne because it traps oil, bacteria, and dead cells under the surface of the skin. This can clog the pores, causing blackheads and whiteheads, or it can allow the bacteria to generate a minor infection, which leads to pimples and cysts.

What Types Of Acne Does Tretinoin Treat

Tretinoin is known to successfully treat several different types of acne vulgaris and the side effects that often come with it, such as acne scarring, blackheads, and whiteheads.

Many people use tretinoin to treat mild to moderate forms of stubborn acne that just wont go away.

Other types of more severe acne that can be treated by tretinoin include cystic acne and hormonal acne.

As a sort of added bonus, retinoids can also combat the signs of sun damage or photo-aging of the skin which develops during tanning under sunlamps or prolonged sun exposure.

It is very important to note that this is not the same as preventing sun damage or sunburn. Tretinoin can actually increase your skins sensitivity to the sun, so it is extra important to still apply sunscreen.

Additionally, healthcare professionals sometimes prescribe tretinoin to treat other skin problems such as fine lines or wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation .

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What Other Treatments Are Available For My Pimples Besides Topical And Oral Medications

Several cosmetic treatments can be provided by a cosmetic dermatologist to treat acne. These can be used in addition to or instead of topical or oral medications, like Tetralysal 300. These treatments include microdermabrasion and laser treatment. However, you should always let the treatment provider know what medication you are on before engaging in treatment. See our acne page for more info.

How Does Inflammation Happen

The skin can become inflamed for a number of reasons. Stress and irritation can both cause inflammation because they represent a threat to the body. Anything from unconsciously and repeatedly touching the face to using the wrong kind of toothpaste can irritate the skin. It becomes inflamed to prevent the irritant from spreading or penetrating deeper.

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Can I Wear Makeup With Differin

You can wear cosmetics or moisturisers while using this medication, but you should not  apply them at the same time. Wash your skin thoroughly before applying Differin, wait for it to be absorbed into your skin, then use any cosmetics and moisturisers. Make sure that any makeup and moisturisers are non-comedogenic so they don’t block your pores and make your acne worse.

What Else Does Tretinoin Treat

Topical retinoids like tretinoin are also used as an anti-aging treatment, targeting fine lines, dark spots or hyperpigmentation.

In fact, many people only think to use retinoids, like tretinoin and retinol, for their anti-aging properties.

Luckily, tretinoin is effective for a whole host of skin conditions, from acne to anti-aging and beyond.

However, tretinoin is not a good treatment option for certain skin conditions, especially dry skin, psoriasis and eczema.

For these conditions, seek professional advice from a dermatologist, who can prescribe an alternate medication for your symptoms.

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What About Pockmarks And Raised Scars

This process applies to pockmark scars as well. The product can help generate healthy cells to take the place of the scar tissue cells, although you may need to see a doctor or a dermatologist to get rid of those completely.

Unfortunately, Differin is not overly helpful in reducing raised scars. These need to be addressed by a dermatologist as well.

The best part about using the gel for scarring is that its safe for nearly all skin types. Many skin lighteners or acne scar reducers work fine on light skin but are less effective with dark skin. Some products can even make discoloration worse in dark skin , turning it a purplish color. Some retinoids are also guilty of this, but because Differin is a milder retinoid, it can safely reduce scarring on light or dark skin without causing increased hyperpigmentation.

Is Tretinoin An Effective Acne Treatment

In general, retinoids such as tretinoin are the mainstays of acne treatment, and this is because theyre widely effective and popular for that reason.

Although popular, you may be wondering: What does tretinoin do for acne?

According to research from the International Journal of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology, tretinoin is an effective topical acne treatment option, producing reductions in the number of both inflammatory and noninflammatory acne lesions,unclogging pores and even reducing discoloration and acne scars.

For more severe forms of acne, tretinoin may be combined with another treatment, such as birth control or antibiotics.

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Tretinoin For Cystic Acne

Cystic acne is a severe form of acne. While regular acne develops when a hair follicle becomes clogged with a mixture of oil and dead skin, cystic acne forms when a clogged hair follicle becomes infected with bacteria.

When bacteria makes its way inside the follicle, it can cause inflammation. Infected pimples can become red, swollen and filled with pus.

They may become itchy, irritated and can be painful if accidentally bumped or touched.

Worse yet, cystic acne can spread easily. If one infected pimple bursts, the bacteria can easily get stuck under your fingernails or trapped inside other hair follicles, causing a major outbreak elsewhere on your face or body that can affect your skin for months at a time.

Just like regular pimples, cystic acne is most common in teenagers and people in their early- to mid-twenties. However, it can affect people of all ages, and in adults its called adult-onset acne.

Which Retinol Is Best For Acne

Experts agree that prescription-grade retinoid creams and gels are the most effective when it comes to treating acne. But if you don’t want to make a trip to the derm/deal with insuranceOR if your skin is just hella sensitivedon’t stress you’ve still got options. Adapalene is now available over-the-counter, so you can buy it at virtually every drugstore. Or, you can check out Curology, a skincare company that matches you with a medical provider who can virtually prescribe you prescription-strength tretinoin .

Though OTC adapalene works for acne, other drugstore retinoids likeretinol, retinol esters, and retinaldehyde won’t actually be that effective when it comes to treating acne . Though they still have excellent skin benefitslike line-smoothing and spot-brighteningthey arent strong enough to effectively treat acne, says Dr. Marchbein. Which is why you’ll see most drugstore retinoid products advertised as anti-agers instead of acne-fixersthey just aren’t potent enough to have a major impact on breakouts.

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Build A Lil Skincare Sandwich

Pretend your moisturizer is the bread and your retinol is the filling. At night, first apply a thin layer of a gentle moisturizer , wait a minute or two, apply a thin layer of retinol, and then seal it all in with another thin layer of the same moisturizer, says Dr. Love. The bread here creates a buffer that slightly dilutes the retinol, making it more tolerable to your skin during those initial few weeks.

What Are The Causes Of Hormonal Acne Breakouts

Hormonal levels can trigger hormonal acne breakouts during the menstrual cycle, higher amounts of a specific hormone in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome , hormonal changes before and during menopause, and increased androgen levels.

The hormones that influence hormonal acne are estrogen, progesterone, which fluctuates during the menstrual cycle month, testosterone , and cortisol that rises in periods of stress. These hormones can also fluctuate during pregnancy and breastfeeding and cause acne flare-ups.

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Can You Actually Get Rid Of Hormonal Acne

With consistent therapy and other therapies, like injections and laser, hormonal acne can be controlled, MacGregor said.

I think acne, like anything, can wax and wane, Jaber added, noting that oftentimes people will choose to stick to a treatment plan if it seems to be working. However, if people do choose to stop taking certain medications, Jaber noted, their acne may return.

Sometimes it does come back sometimes its doesnt. Its really variable, he said, adding that even if a patient had gone off an oral treatment, he would recommend the continued use of topical treatments.

If youre dealing with what you think is hormonal acne, make sure to speak to a dermatologist who can help you develop an effective treatment plan.

This is a frustrating problem that requires expert guidance, persistence and consistency, MacGregor said.

CORRECTION: This article has been corrected to state that hormonal IUDs, like Mirena and Skyla, as well as the birth control implant Nexplanon contain progestin, not progesterone.

Differin Acne Treatment Gel That’s Formulated To Unclog Pores Soothe Inflammation And Prevent New Acne From Forming It Contains The Active Ingredient Adapalene Created Specifically To Be More Tolerable On The Skin Than Other Retinoid Products

“The Ordinary and Differin Gel. These products are extremely affordable, and have made the biggest difference in my skincare routine. I struggle HORRIBLY with cystic and hormonal acne, especially on my cheek and jaw area. These frequent breakouts left me with bad dark spots and pitted scars. I started with Differin Retinoid Gel to control the breakouts, and then slowly added certain serums from The Ordinary. My favorites are Niacinimide + Zinc to help with breakouts, oil control, and discoloration. The Alpha Arbutin to help with scars, and Hyaluronic Acid to help moisturize my skin and give it a nice soft glow. If you are struggling with acne, its worth trying these products. The difference is unbelievable.” biermanosu17

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“The Ordinary Niacinamide serum! Great price point, doesnt dry out my combo skin and keeps the monsters at bay!!”

Promising review: “This is truly a miracle product As a woman in her forties who has struggled with hormonal acne for 25+ years, large pores and skin texture issues Literally within a couple of days there was a drastic difference. I spent $1400 on laser treatments that didnt work as well as this did in just a few days. I am in love with the company and have since purchased several more products from them directly. I cant believe I spent years not knowing about them and I will be a loyal customer for ever and have been telling everyone about The Ordinary.” Miss Vee

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Clogging Pores With Excess Oil

Like bacteria, oil doesnt inherently cause acne. In fact, our skin needs a thin layer of oil to protect itself from irritants. However, too much oil can cause bad skin because it can easily clog pores.

Excess oil can be produced for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common is hormonal changes. When typical hormone levels fluctuate, as they do during the teenage years , those changes can trigger an increase in oil production. Once hormone levels even out, excess oil typically becomes less of an issue, but it can still cause acne for someone with an oily skin type, or if the skin is irritated.

Most people with acne fall into one of three basic categories of skin types: dry, combination, or oily. Surprisingly, all three of these skin types can be affected by excess oil. Unsurprisingly, oily skin can produce too much oil, which then combines with dead skin cells to clog pores, or combines with bacteria to create pimples.