How To Treat Hormonal Acne Without Birth Control
Dealing with pimples as an adult is so not fair. For years, the Rx for hormonal acne has been the birth control pill, but what if that’s not for you? Follow this dermatologist-approved treatment plan.
Ever feel like you’re 30 going on 13, thanks to your skin? Dealing with pimples as an adult is so not fair. Acne is a teenage problem after all, right?
Not necessarily: According to research in the Journal of Women’s Health, 26% of women in their 30s battle breakouts. Its very common for a woman to come to my office for an anti-aging procedure, then tear up, admitting that shes still struggling with acne, says Whitney Bowe, MD, a dermatologist in Briarcliff Manor, New York.
While bacteria and inflammation are the two main culprits, acne is also influenced by hormones, Dr. Bowe explains. When a womans androgen receptors are particularly sensitive, these hormones can trigger excess oil production and cause skin cells to become sticky, leading to clogged pores and breakouts.
How can you tell if your acne is hormonal? Clues include breakouts primarily on your lower face and acne flares before or during your period.
For years, the Rx for hormonal acne has been the birth control pill. Those that contain both estrogen and progesterone lower the amount of androgens your body produces, keeping blemishes at bay. But what if you’re perfectly happy with your current type of birth control, or you just dont want to pop the pill?
What Is Hormonal Acne
One definition of hormonal acne is acne caused by genetic and hormonal;factors that cause breakouts well past puberty and the teenage years, or basically after someones early 20s.
The specific hormones that contribute to this type of acne include reproductive hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. While adult acne can affect both women and men, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, its more common among women, in part because its commonly tied to menstrual cycle changes along with menopause and pregnancy.
Acne On Chin And Jaw Or Jawline Meaning And Sides Of The Chin
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If you have;acne on chin and jaw;, it could indicate all things we have mentioned on acne on chin meaning in addition to lymphatic system drainage problems.
When you have a problem with your lymphatic drainage system, the elimination of the toxins from your body is hampered. This could cause acne under chin and jaw i.e. expect to have acne on chin and jaws .
To deal with acne on chin and jaw, ensure you have a good diet , dont eat and jump to your bed immediately, have adequate sleep , keep good hygiene, try taking spearmint tea, get omega 3 fatty acids supplements, check your lip and mouth care products, reduce stress levels, try massaging your body and go for hormonal checkup.
Recommended Reading: Is Estrogen Good For You
Kiehls Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil
The double cleansing method has proven to be incredibly effective in reducing breakouts and excess sebum for those with oily, acne-prone skin types. Beginning with a cleansing balm or oil cleanser like Kiehls Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil, the K-beauty technique involves washing away surface-level, oil-based impurities such as makeup and sebum first. Then, following up with a water-based cleanser to remove pollutants and other impurities from deep within the pores.
Kiehls Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil is also a great cleanser for its antioxidant-rich botanical formula, which is comprised of evening primrose oil and squalane and play an important role in strengthening your skin barrier, restoring hydration and preserving elastin and collagen. This top-rated cleansing oil is enriched with lavender essential oil to provide a calming aromatherapy moment for your mind.
Causes Of Acne On The Chin
Hormonal acne is caused by raised levels of androgens. Androgens are male hormones such as testosterone that increase the production of sebum, your skins natural oil.
Hormonal acne can occur in both genders during puberty and can continue to be an issue for adult women when androgen levels increase in the days leading up to menstruation.
Acne on the chin can also be caused by diet, genetics and poor skin care practices.
For men who shave, chin pimples may in fact be ingrown hairs. An ingrown hair is a hair that grows back into the skin causing a painful red bump resembling a pimple.
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Keep Proper Personal Hygiene
Ensure you always clean your skin well to reduce the buildup of sebum that might clog your skin pores. Sebum buildup tends to trap bacteria and encourage acne breakout on the chin. Furthermore, ensure you frequently exfoliate your skin to get rid of any dead skin whose accumulation can cause acne when working with other factors. Other routine personal hygiene practices you should embrace include:
- Wash your face only twice with an alcohol-free soap. More times only if your face is dirty due to what you might have been doing i.e. Wash your face twice and only twice every day, in the morning and at night.
- Regularly wipe your cellphone with cleansers you use to cleaning your TV screens and computers or go for a hand free option.
- If you have a partner with oily skin, stop sharing pillows and ask them to use oil-free hair products and non-comedogenic skin products to avoid pimple-causing agents from reaching your skin.
- Use soft water since hard water tends to clog pores. To get soft water buy Jonathan Product Beauty Water Shower Purification System;to help filter your water as well as balance its pH.
- Avoid touching your chin with dirty hands since it will spread the oil, dirt and bacteria.
- Try Origins Zero Oil Deep Pore Cleanser
What Is Menopausal Acne
Menopausal acne is when acne appears in women in their 40s and 50s. The cause of menopausal acne is a decrease in estrogen levels or an increase in androgen hormones like testosterone in menopause. Some of the hormonal treatments for menopausal symptoms can also cause hormonal acne. This is especially common in women taking a progestin.
Recommended Reading: What Are Bioidentical Hormones Made From
Are Some People More Prone To Hormonal Acne Than Others
Although acne affects 80 to 90 percent of teens in the Western world, says Dr. Buka, its more likely to occur in young adults and teenagers. But, that doesnt mean that adults, especially women, are off the hook when it specifically relates to hormonal acne. Dr. Zeichner indicates that it is becoming increasingly more common for women to continue to suffer into adulthood. In some cases, women who have never had acne as a teenager develop it for the first time as an adult.
Hormonal acne typically presents in women over the age of 20 with very tender, red, inflammatory papules around the chin and jawline, notes Dr. Haley. The pimples seem to last forever, and if there is any attempt to squeeze or pick, nothing will come out and only scarring will occur. We typically dont see blackheads and whiteheads all over the T-zone, as in normal teenage acne.
Hormonal Acne Breakouts: How Can I Prevent It
Do you find yourself breaking out 1-2 weeks before your period every month?
It is likely to be hormonal acne, a flare-up of blemishes every month due to a fluctuation in hormonal levels in the body. These may present as large, painful, cystic acne around the chin and jawline.
Less commonly, hormonal acne may be due to an underlying medication condition such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome .
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How To Get Rid Of Acne On The Chin And Jawline
Pimples on the chin and around the mouth can be caused by several factors, including hormonal changes related to your monthly cycle , use of the wrong skincare and cosmetic products, as well as dietary choices and habits. The type of acne that can pop up on the chin includes everything from blackheads, whiteheads, small red pimples, and even acne cystsfun!
We know breakouts on the chin can be super frustrating, but understanding your triggers and implementing some simple prevention and treatment methods can help your chin acne under control in as little as a few weeks! Read on to learn more.
How To Prevent Adult Hormonal Breakouts
Of all of the types of blemishes, the ones that are due to hormones and that time of the month are the most challenging to deal with. Often times, they are cystic in nature which are those hard, sore bumps under the skin.;But how do you know if your acne is hormonal and what can really be done to prevent it? Im certainly asked this a lot and while its always hard to know the true cause of any blemish that appears on the face, there are some steps that you can take to help get your skin clearer.
How do hormones affect the skin?
During your teenage years, hormone fluctuations can aggravate the skin and cause blemishes. Estrogen, a natural anti-inflammatory hormone, will keep things calm, but around the time of a young girls menstrual cycle, the drop in estrogen can cause the skin to flare up resulting in monthly breakouts. Testosterone and other androgens increase oil production and the tendency towards clogged pores can be exacerbated. Those with sticky sebum or weak follicular walls will experience regular daily or weekly breakouts , including stubborn cystic acne because the oil gland is located in a hair follicle with a narrow opening. This weak pore lining causes bacteria to leak out into the surrounding areas. Your immune system then perceives this as an infection and fights it by causing inflammation resulting in a red, noticeable blemish.
How do I know if my breakouts are hormone related?
Well, its not always easy to know but
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True Botanicals Clear Nutrient Toner
Offering a natural toner alternative with its black willow bark extract, olive leaf extract and sandalwood hydrosol formula, the True Botanicals Clear Nutrient Toner is packed with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties to promote a healthier skin environment for those with acne. Its also great for reducing cystic acne redness thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant-rich formula, which even helps prevent wrinkles and regulate oil production.
How To Treat Hormonal Acne Naturally
In some cases, plant-based treatment options may be used to clear up mild hormonal acne.
Natural treatments are usually free of the side effects sometimes caused by prescription options. But they may not be as effective. Research on natural options is lacking, and at this time nothing has been proven to produce results. Talk with your doctor about potential risks and to ensure the treatment wont interact with any medications youre taking.
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Causes Of Pimples On Chin
Both adolescents and adults can develop acne on their chin. Teen acne most often appears in the T-zone, which includes the chin as well as the nose and forehead. Adult-onset acne often results from hormone fluctuations and appears along the jawline. Women are significantly more likely than men to develop adult acne.
Causes of pimples on the chin include:
- Oily skin
- Certain medications
- Hair and skincare products
Sports equipment and facial masks can contribute to acne and should be washed regularly. Makeup and coarse fabrics can also worsen your acne.
Why Is Hormonal Acne Important
Hormonal acne does not always respond fully to treatment with acne creams, such as topical retinoids, and antibiotics. In some cases hormonal acne does not even respond well to treatment with Isotretinoin . Hormonal acne is more likely to come back after a course of Roaccutane has successfully cleared it.
Besides being stubborn to treat, hormonal acne causes redness for prolonged periods, scarring and pigmentation.;Some types of hormonal acne cause a large number of comedones to develop especially on the sides of the face temples, cheeks and jaw line.
Enlarged pores on the nose and cheeks are commonly seen with hormonal acne.;Hormonal acne can be really frustrating and cause a reduced quality of life for sufferers.
Hormonal acne can be distinguished from fungal acne on the type of spots and their location. Fungal acne causes smaller spots that are more evenly sized and itchy.
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Birth Control Pills Or Patch
Hormonal birth control including birth control pills and patches raise estrogen levels and reduce the effects of testosterone on women. Lower levels of testosterone reduce sebum levels, directly reducing breakouts and possible acne due to less oil and bacteria growth.
According to WebMD, hormonal birth control increase a protein known as sex-hormone binding globulin in the blood. In turn, SHBG acts like a testosterone sponge soaking up testosterone in your blood. In simple words, lesser testosterone equals lesser sebum which results in less acne.
Be patient when you first start hormonal birth control to control acne. Some women may experience increased breakouts for the first few months. However, this normally goes away as your body adjusts to the change in hormones.
Some birth control pills and patches are specifically useful for controlling acne, including Yaz and Evra Patch. Speak with your doctor before deciding if this is right for you!
Laboratory Tests In Patients With Suspected Hormonal Acne
For patients signs of hyperandrogenism, failure to respond to conventional therapies, and with irregular menses, endocrinal evaluation is required at the early menstrual phase . Other hormonal treatments such as oral contraceptives should be terminated and stopped 1 month before laboratory investigations to avoid false results.
Testosterone : minimal to modest elevations of <200 ng/dL are suggestive of a benign cause of ovarian or adrenal cause while above this level; neoplasia of ovarian or adrenal origin should be suspected.
Androstenedione: secreted equally by ovaries and adrenals and follows a circadian rhythm making early morning samples, the best to analyze.
DHEA: high levels of DHEA >8,000 ng/dL and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate should raise concern of adrenal tumors, while levels of DHEAS indicate benign adrenal hyperplasia.
SHBG: decreased levels of SHBG lead to free unbound testosterone in excess, resulting in more manifested signs.
Prolactin: elevated prolactin could point out to hypothalamic or pituitary causes for further assessment and investigation.
17-Hydroxy progesterone: elevated in congenital adrenal hyperplasia or nonclassic congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to deficiency or absence of 21-hydroxylase.
Luteinizing hormone : follicle-stimulating hormone ratio: a ratio of >2 is indicative of possible PCOS.
Fasting and postprandial insulin: overweight and obese patients should be checked for insulin levels.
Recommended Reading: How To Balance Your Estrogen Levels
Are Levels Of Testosterone And Of Other Androgens Raised In Hormonal Acne
There is conflicting evidence on this though the majority of studies show that elevated androgen levels are are frequent.
A large study from 2013 showed that of 835 women with hormonal acne, 55% had elevated levels of androgens DHEA being the one most frequently elevated. A Turkish study from 2017 of 207 women showed 55% of women with acne had elevations in one androgen. Smaller studies from Brazil and Japan have also showed elevated levels of androgens in adult women with acne.
A Czech study from 2000 of 90 women with acne showed that 81% had an elevated level of at least one androgen. The severity of acne did not vary with the degree of elevation however. However a British study from 1989 showed no elevations in androgens in women with acne.
Our clinical impression is that some women do have elevated androgen levels and hormonal acne may be the only sign of this. Other signs include excessive facial and body hair, irregular periods and hair loss. However, a large number of women have normal levels of androgens and it is believed that these women may just be more sensitive to these androgens. This is the reason they get acne.
The bottom line is routine hormone blood tests may be normal in hormonal acne. Hypersensitivity of the skin means that anti-androgen treatment is still important. Also Testosterone and DHT can be produced in the skin and blood tests would not show if too much of these hormones is being produced in the skin in some people.
Supporting Your Hormone Health Is A Lifestyle
“Your diet is a holistic experience-you have to take the rest of it into consideration,” Vitti says. Are any of the above a surefire fix for hormonal acne? “No,” she states. ” But can they start to give you a sense that if you change more of your diet, you can get more results? Yes.”
The hormone expert recommends tracking your symptoms and successes in a period-tracking app like MyFLO and using her books WomanCode and In The Flo to create a hormone-healthy diet that works for you and your lifestyle. You may also want to visit a professional to have your levels checked, work on lowering your stress levels, and avoid using cosmetics and cleaning products that contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals.
Yes, it’s a lot-but to see meaningful change, you need to “get committed to helping your hormones,” Vitti says. It’s only fair. After all, as your hormonal acne proves, they’re committed to helping you.
Read Also: How Do Hormonal Birth Control Methods Work
Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask
Designed to retexturize and exfoliate the outer layer of your skin, the Tata Harper Resurfacing Mask acts as a reset button for acne-prone skin by removing impurities, dead skin cells and excess oil from deep within the pores. Comprised of astringent-mimicking white willow bark extract, vitamin C-rich beetroot extract and antioxidant-packed pomegranate extract, soothing aloe vera and purifying kaolin clay, this top-rated mask polishes your skin while boosting its radiance, evenness and smoothness.