How To Treat Hormonal Acne Naturally

Are You Struggling With Acne Due To Fluctuations In Your Hormones

If youre reading this page its probably because youve decided that the contraceptive pill, Accutane/Roaccutane and antibiotics arent the long term answer to your hormonal acne problems. Youve realised this because of all the research youve done, reading blog posts, listening to podcasts and watching vlogs. And now you understand that while conventional medical treatments can clear up your hormonal acne they dont actually treat its underlying cause. This means of course, once you stop them your hormonal acne problems return. And often worse than before! This isnt a great choice to be faced with because from what my hormonal acne patients tell me, having hormonal acne makes you feel like sh#! This is because when youve got hormonal acne that just wont go away it takes over your life.

So if you desperately want picture-perfect skin, but you dont want to poison your body with oral medications or chemicals and synthetic hormones then what is the best skin care routine thats natural and healthy too? The good news is, there is help. This article will discuss the best treatment options that have helped different people with a long-term, effective solution without resorting to the dermatologist, prescription medicine or other painful rituals. I’m about to show you a healthy, effective and long term solution to rid inflammation and even the most severe acne problem in minimum time.

Traditional Treatments For Hormonal Acne

Unless your hormonal acne is mild, over-the-counter products usually arent successful.

This is because hormonal acne typically takes the form of cystic bumps. These bumps form deep under the skin, out of reach of most topical medications.

Oral medications can work from the inside out to balance your hormones and clear up the skin. Common options include oral contraceptives and anti-androgen drugs.

Beauty Starts From The Inside

Once I understood the synergy between my health and the condition of my skin, I realized that beauty really starts from the inside and I had to be very careful about what I put into my body.

I adopted a plant based diet that consists of mostly leafy greens, whole grains, lean meats, healthy proteins and little to no processed and junk foods. It took some trial and error of different diets, skin care regimen and fitness regimen. The big lesson that I acquired from the journey and the biggest takeaway I hope to pass on is to focus on the process and not the results. In other words lose the fad diets and focus on creating a lifestyle.

In this day and age of instant gratification, this is a difficult pill to swallow, but it is reality. It is much easier to see long term results if the focus is on developing a healthy regimen versus trying to see results quick. Throughout my experience I focused on learning and understanding. I made sure to listen to my body very closely noting what worked and what did not. Natural remedies unlike drugs usually target the cause of the problem versus masking symptoms, therefore it takes time to see results.

Don’t Miss: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Low Testosterone

How Do You Know That Youre Dealing With Hormonal Acne

The acne you get at puberty can still be termed hormonal. After all, it results from increasing hormone levels, particularly androgens.

However, beyond that any cyclical or irregular skin breakouts are usually tied in hormonal imbalances that can affect the health of your skin and hair too.

Such hormone imbalances can be triggered by changes in our diet, sleep, stress levels and our environment. Here are some signs of hormonal acne:

How To Treat Hormonal Acne Fast

Before resorting to any natural treatment for hormonal acne, it is very important that you pay attention to the proper cleaning of the skin to avoid outbreaks getting worse due to excess of grease or dirt. There are some basic rules that should be taken into account when cleaning an acne prone face, and these are the following:

• Clean your face twice a day: once in the morning and once at night, to remove all accumulated dirt and grease, as well as traces of makeup.
• Use the right products for cleaning: in case of pronounced acne, an anti-acne lotion recommended by the dermatologist should be used. If acne is milder, a specific cleansing gel for oily or acne-free skin can be beneficial. Try find some gels that dont contain oils, are water-based, alcohol-free, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic.
• There are natural soaps that also function against pronounce acne. We recommend using soaps that contain green tea, oatmeal, green clay, coconut, tea tree or aloe vera.
• Always use warm or cold water, avoiding hot water on the face.
• Always remove cleaning lotion or gel with water.
• Dry the skin softly and never rub the skin roughly with a towel.

In addition, if you like to wear makeup, we recommend always cleaning off your makeup properly when you get home and especially before you go to bed.

You May Like: Can Estrace Cause Weight Gain

These 5 Home Remedies Helped Cure My Uncontrollable Hormonal Acne

It begins with the oil-producing sebaceous glands beneath your skin pushing the sebum up the pores to protect the skin by creating an oily barrier. But then dirt and dead skin take advantage of the situation and clog your pores.

Yup, this is the story of the acne. And it gets worse due to a hormonal frenzy in the body which can lead to a drop in the female hormone called estrogen. The lack of this hormone encourages sebum production even more and thus trapping more dirt and giving you more acne.

But in this battle against zits, you are not alone. I happen to be a victim too. But luckily, I havent given up on a clear acne-free skinthanks to a few tried-and-tested home remedies that work like a charm.

Check them out:

1. Apple cider vinegarThe wonder liquid that can aid weight loss when consumed on an empty stomach. It can also get rid of acne, when diluted with water. Heres how you can go about it: mix 3 parts of water with one part of apple cider vinegar and apply it on the affected areas. Leave it on for about 20 seconds and then wash off with water.

The succinic acid in apple cider vinegar has anti-inflammatory properties while the lactic acid has amazing scar-lightening powers. Moreover, it can even soak up the excess oil and dry out the acne. What more do you want?

2. Green tea bagsInstead of throwing away those used green tea bags, rub them gently on your face.

Also, Watch:

Use Green Tea For Adult Hormonal Acne

Wondering how to get rid of hormonal acne with green tea? Well, green tea is a treasure of remedies.

How to use?

• Brew a tea bag of green tea in boiling water
• Brew it for about five minutes
• Strain in a clean glass
• Add honey to enhance the taste
• Consume while it is still warm
• Repeat the same two times a day

Benefits of using green tea

It is abundant in antibacterial compounds which protect the body from being invaded by the bacteria and other harmful microbes and helps in reducing the symptoms of the skin condition. It has anti-inflammatory properties which soothe the affected area of the body when applied topically.

Precaution

If you are allergic to green tea, do not consume it.

You May Like: How Much Does Estradiol Cost

Use Neem Leaves To Get Rid Of Hormonal Acne On Forehead

Neem is an abundant source of antibacterial compounds. It is the ultimate solution to reduce acne that has been used widely even in commercial products.

How to use?

• Grind a few fresh leaves of neem in a blender
• Add water to form a paste
• Apply it on affected areas of your body.
• Let it stay for about twenty minutes
• Wash off with regular water
• Pat dry

Benefits of using Neem leaves

Neem not only kills the bacteria causing hormonal acne but also alleviates the inflammation and redness with its antimicrobial and soothing properties. The use of neem leaves can even cure the hormonal acne on the jawline.

Precaution

The smell of the plant is quite strong, and few people may be allergic to it. Make sure you choose wisely.

Risks And Side Effects

While you can begin by tackling hormonal acne on your own at home, you may want to visit a dermatologist if your condition is reoccurring or worsening. Your doctor/dermatologist can help pinpoint any underlying conditions that might be contributing to our breakouts, such as PCOS, high testosterone or cortisol levels, a thyroid condition, or another hormone issue.

If the treatments above dont seem to be doing enough to reduce your breakouts, speak with your dermatologist about other options such as antiandrogen drugs, which block androgen receptors to decrease the actions and effects of testosterone, or stronger topical prescriptions to fight acne-causing bacteria.

When treating hormonal acne yourself, theres potential to experience some side effects depending on the specific products and treatments you use. Some topical products might cause dry, red, flaky, painful skin at first, so make sure to follow directions, and remember that less may be more when it comes to improving your skins appearance.

If you have sensitive skin, such as eczema, dermatitis or rosacea, some products, such as retinoids and certain cleaners, may be too harsh. Certain products are also not safe when youre pregnant, so get your doctors advice if this applies to you.

Recommended Reading: What Causes Breakthrough Bleeding When On Bioidentical Hormones

How Does Hormonal Acne Affect Women

For women, hormone levels fluctuate throughout their monthly cycle. Estrogen is what some dermatologists call “the happy skin hormone” – it helps the complexion stay young, clear, and firm. Balanced levels of estrogen typically mean glowing skin! However, this pesky hormone peaks during the second week of a woman’s cycle, during ovulation, and dips just before their period begins. During this dip, a progesterone surge happens, which causes many women to experience breakouts. Women in perimenopause or past menopause may also experience hormonal acne symptoms since estrogen tends to diminish with age.

Ayurvedic Therapies To Balance Hormones

Oil massage with essential oils helps to balance the doshas and clear out ama. Useful essential oils include turmeric oil, neem oil, jojoba oil, etc.

Shirodhara involves pouring medicated oil on the forehead. It helps relieve stress and hence reduce stress and cortisol levels. It also balances doshas.

Nasya involves pouring medicated oils like ghee down the nostrils. It is especially useful for relieving Pitta.

Don’t Miss: Does Blue Cross Cover Testosterone Injections

Support Gut Health To Keep Acne Away

Not only is the skin our largest organ, but its also an elimination organ .

However, the skin isnt for heavy duty elimination. That job is for your colon!

Therefore, its important to keep your colon healthy and to make sure that you have at least 1 bowel movement every single day.

The reason why this matters a lot for acne is because if you cant get rid of that waste through the colon, your body can try to expel it through the skin.

And this will only worsen your acne.

So, make sure to eat plenty of gut-friendly foods.

Now, the good news is that the hormone-friendly foods we talked about earlier are also great for your gut

Having said that there are two gut-friendly foods I want to highlight here: bone broth and probiotic foods.

• Broths are a concentrated source of nutrients that heal the gut lining.

• Probiotic foods contain live bacteria that are beneficial for repopulating your gut bacteria.

Adding these two gut-friendly foods into your diet can give your skin a much-needed boost.

Add More Hormone Balancing Foods To Your Acne Diet

The most high impact step that you can take to clear up your skin is to eat more hormone-friendly foods.

There are 5 categories of hormone-balancing foods that I suggest focusing on:

• Cruciferous vegetables: theyre ideal for detoxing excess estrogen and therefore, supporting a healthy ratio of estrogen to progesterone. Remember that even if your body is making more androgens and less estrogen, your estrogen to progesterone ratio can still be off balance. Therefore you can still be in an estrogen dominant state that contributes to acne. Example of foods to eat are cauliflower, bok choy, radishes, broccoli, kale, collard greens and cabbage.

• Plant proteins: plant proteins are more nutrient-dense and more anti-inflammatory than animal proteins. Example of foods to eat are nuts, seeds, beans, quinoa and broccoli.

• Naturally fatty foods: fats are the raw material for all of our sex hormones as well as all the adrenal hormones. Example of foods to eat are avocados, coconuts, nuts, seeds, nut butters and olives.

• Antioxidant-rich fruits: antioxidants help fight off the damaging effects of inflammation at a cellular level. Example of foods to eat are oranges, blueberries, melons, papayas and mangoes.

• Green vegetables: theyre high in chlorophyll which supports detoxification. Example of foods to eat are cucumber, kale, spinach, broccoli, arugula, microgreens, dandelion greens.

Don’t Miss: Does Blue Cross Blue Shield Cover Testosterone Treatment

How Can I Treat Hormonal Acne Naturally

Hormonal acne is exactly what it sounds like – acne caused by hormonal imbalances and changes. Hormonal acne is prevalent in women who go through hormonal fluctuations during menstruation and menopause. The standard treatment of hormonal acne includes prescription birth control pills, oral antibiotics, spironolactone, or Accutane prescribed by dermatologists. People looking for natural treatment of hormonal acne should look for treatment creams with salicylic acid , tea tree oil, and green tea extract combined with oral DIM cruciferous supplements to improve hormonal balance.

Unhealthy Ingredients And Toxins In Food

In this category we have things like:

• Refined sugar
• Pesticides
• Herbicides

As you can see from this list, none of these things are natural or in a whole food form.

So, your body basically treats them like toxins.

Now, when toxins are present in the body they trigger the immune system and create stress.

That stress also triggers your bodys inflammatory response. This simple means that your adrenals release anti-inflammatory hormones like cortisol.

As that internal inflammation builds up, its also reflected externally in the form of acne.

Don’t Miss: Estradiol Patch Price

Adult Acne: How To Get Rid Of Hormonal Acne Naturally

By Jillian Levy, CHHC

• Risks and Side Effects

If youre someone who suffers from hormonal acne, chances are youve tried numerous home remedies for acne but may not be getting the results you hoped for. Thats likely because this type of acne can be complicated to treat, considering it occurs for reasons beyond having clogged pores, which is often the case with other forms of acne.

How can you stop hormonal acne? One of the first steps is working on balancing your hormones, such as by eating a nourishing diet, managing stress and getting enough sleep.

The next layer in your treatment plan is using the right types of cleansers and topical products. That means those that help clean and soothe your irritated skin without worsening symptoms.

The good news? Youre not alone if youve developed adult-onset acne, since this affects most people at one point in their lives or another based on a variety of factors.

Use Tea Tree Essential Oil For Hormonal Acne

Tea tree essential oil is one of the best essential oils for hormonal acne. It is very gentle and can be used on sensitive skin as it has no side effects.

How to use?

• Add tea tree essential oil in a carrier oil like jojoba oil or coconut oil
• Apply the blend of the oils on the affected areas of the body.
• Seal the area with a bandage
• Let it stay for about twenty minutes
• Wash off with regular water
• Repeat the same process five times a day

Benefits of using tea tree essential oil

Tea tree essential oil has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties and works on reducing the itching and pain of the affected area. It helps in the soothing of the skin and aids in preventing infections.

Precaution

Always dilute the essential oil before using it on your skin. Take a patch test at the back of your hand to ensure that it is suitable for your skin. If the blend causes itching or burning sensation, wash off immediately.

Read Also: Blue Cross Blue Shield Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Best Foods And Diet For Hormonal Acne

The type of foods you eat and your diet overall plays an important role in the health of your skin. Thats why you should closely monitor your diet.

Processed foods, refined carbs, extremely spicy and fried foods can make your acne worse by causing spikes in your blood sugar levels and hormone balance. Poor nutrition can also delay healing.

Ayurveda states that one should take in a wholesome diet that includes all six tastes Rasa to maintain Dosha balance. And specifically for skin health and hormonal acne, one needs to consume a Vata Pitta dosha pacifying diet.

Harsh And Toxic Skincare Or Cosmetics

Since acne shows up on the skin, we tend to think that the best way to get rid of it is with skincare products.

And while there is a need for some topical acne treatments, many of them are actually very harsh and damaging.

One thing that is easily damaged by mainstream skincare products is your skins microbiome.

You see, the microbiome on your skin is a community of friendly microbes that protect the skin and keep it healthy .

Very similar to the friendly microbes that live in your gut.

Unfortunately, if you use a lot of popular acne skincare products, you are most likely exposing your skin to ingredients that overclean the skin.

This means that they kill that friendly skin bacteria.

Also, remember that a certain amount of what goes onto the skin is also absorbed into the bloodstream.

So, that means skincare products can expose you to more pro-inflammatory toxins,

All of these factors combined together can make you more susceptible to getting acne and also worsen existing acne.

Don’t Miss: Cost Of Estradiol