Ways To Clear Hormonal Acne

Causes Of Hormonal Acne

There are two main indicators: Your breakouts happen along the lower third of your face, and they get worse before your period when there is an excess build-up of testosterone, according to Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology and assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

Besides Aunt Flow, there are a few other hormonal acne causes. Pregnancy and the fluctuating hormones that come along with it, for one. Also, the decline in reproductive hormones can cause hormonal acne due to your body adjusting to fluctuating levels. Polycystic ovary syndrome is another culprit. It can occur in women at a reproductive age and causes a fluctuation in hormones that can increase the length of your menstrual cycle, cause obesity, and result in breakouts.

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.

How Do You Get Rid Of A Pimple

Nonprescription medications can get rid of milder cases of pimples. Some medications include:

• Azelaic acid: This is a natural acid found in various grains such as barley, wheat and rye. It kills microorganisms on your skin and reduces swelling.
• Benzoyl peroxide: This is available as an over-the-counter product . Lower concentrations and wash formulations are less irritating to your skin. Irritation is a common side effect.
• Retinoids : Retinoids, such as Retin-A®, Tazorac® and Differin® help prevent clogged pores. You may notice a change in skin color or peeling. Using retinoids every other day or using them at the same time as a moisturizer can reduce these side effects.
• Salicylic acid: This is available over-the-counter for pimples as a cleanser or lotion. It helps dissolve dead skin cells to prevent your hair follicles from clogging.

If your pimples dont go away with nonprescription medications, your healthcare provider may recommend prescription medications, including antibiotics and oral hormone replacement.

Other therapies may include:

Talk to your healthcare provider before trying these they may be irritating and make acne worse.

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Omega : Seeds And Nuts

While too much omega 6 can irritate your gut, omega 3 fatty acid has anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, you should increase the foods with omega 3 fatty acids and reduce the omega 6 intake. While omega 6 fatty acids are healthy on a balanced diet, they do have an inflammatory effect when consumed too much.

Omega 6 is highly concentrated in oils. So cutting out oils while increasing your healthy fat intake with whole foods like nuts, seeds, and leafy greens wil re-balance your omega-3 : omega-6 ratio.

I would stay away from getting your omega-3 from fish. You would have to eat wild caught salmon 2-3 times per week, but 1 serving of fish per week increases the risk of type 2 diabetes by increasing blood sugar levels by 5%. Also fish is very contaminated with toxins and you can watch this video for more info.

This hormonal acne diet plan has a great omega 6 to 3 ratio so you dont need supplements, but if you would rather take them, stay away from fish oil and take algae capsules instead.

How Do I Know If My Acne Is Hormonal Get To The Root

Its quite common for skin to take a dive as a result of the postpartum crashing hormones. This can lead to dry, easily irritated, and acne-prone skin. I learned a lot from Dr. Geddes-Bruce, who shared that especially during breastfeeding the hormone your body produces to stimulate milk leads to a state of lowered estrogen, which usually gives us that rosy glow during pregnancy.

In general, there are a variety of things that can cause hormonal breakouts. Sometimes, the liver is needing more support to clear excess hormones or it can be caused by excess androgens .

You can tell your breakouts are hormonal if they are deep, cystic, and affect areas where androgens exert their effectsthe lower cheeks, jawline, chin, and neck. Dr. Geddes-Bruces top tips for hormonal acne include always cleansing your face before bed, keeping a consistent, tailored skincare regimen, and avoiding picking. If youre still having trouble with hormonal breakouts, you can also consider a trial of avoiding dairy and high glycemic foods.

Image by Michelle Nash

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Acne Treatments To Avoid Whilst Pregnant

Accutane and other acne drugs top the Avoid list. If you are pregnant and taking skin meds, speak to your dermatologist. Some drugs commonly used to treat acne, like Accutane and Retin-A should never be used while youre pregnant. Your doctor may also tell you to stop taking tetracycline and similar antibiotics.

AVOID Certain OTC Acne Products

Salicylic acid is found in many acne products and should be avoided during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. The FDA rates it for pregnancy as a Category C, which technically means risk to the fetus cannot be ruled out, especially in concentrations higher than 2%

Topical Vitamin A and vitamin A derivatives like retinol, retinyl acetate and retinyl palmitate should also be banned from your pregnancy kit. While vitamin A is important for fetal development, too much Vitamin A for acne can cause birth defects and liver toxicity.

Get the Vitamin A you and your baby need by eating carrots, spinach, apricots and other foods rich in this essential vitamin. You can also supplement healthy amount of Vitamin A, typically found in a PreNatal, with an acne-safe PreNatal vitamin such as the Clove Hill PreNatal with added Folate. Unlike other brands, this is free of Biotin and B12 which are acne triggering supplements.

Switch your sunscreen. There are two ingredients found in most sunscreens that pregnant women should steer clear of.

Tips To Clear Hormonal Acne From The Inside Out

Note from Dr. Zenovia: Always remember, our skin is a visible indicator of internal body functions. Acne is best treated with a comprehensive approach which includes a healthy diet and lifestyle, in-office skin treatments, prescription or over the counter topical products, and medication. It is therefore important to consult a board-certified dermatologist if youre interested in clearing your skin.

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Other Supplements That May Help

Aside from vitamin D and green tea extract, the following supplements may help reduce acne symptoms:

• Fish oil. Some evidence suggests that supplementing with omega-3-rich fish oil may reduce acne severity in some people. However, the results are mixed, with some people experiencing worsened symptoms (

Summary

Vitamin D, green tea extract, B vitamins, and zinc are just some of the supplements that may benefit people with acne.

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.

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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.

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.

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Are Hormones Causing My Acne

Caused by a bacteria that lives on our skin, acne comes to life at any age when our hormones cue our body to produce excess oil, essentially throwing fuel on the fire. Our skins oils are a wonderful environment for acne bacteria to thrive in, unfortunately, says Dr. Robert Anolik, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the NYU School of Medicine. Add dead skin cells, dirt, stress, irritation from everything from diet to skin products, and a breakout is going to result unless you work to prevent it.

Youre a typical hormonal-acne patient if, well past puberty, youre breaking out around your period, usually in the jawline area, says Anolik. A consistent routine is keyas is enduring a waiting period of two to three months for said routine to work, he continues: Even powerful prescription treatments can take a few months to really clear things up, and thats our biggest challenge. People who get frustrated and dont stick to their treatments get stuck in a cycle of trying and quitting too early, and feeling like nothing works.

Is Menopausal Acne A Form Of Hormonal Acne

Many women begin to experience menopause in their 40s and 50s. This causes a natural decline in your reproductive hormones, resulting in an end to menstruation.

Some women experience acne during menopause. This is likely due to a drop in estrogen levels or an increase in androgen hormones like testosterone.

You may still experience menopausal acne even if youre using hormone replacement therapies to ease your menopause symptoms. This is because some HRTs use an influx of the hormone progestin to replace the estrogen and progesterone your body loses. Introducing this hormone to your system can cause your skin to break out.

In most cases, prescription medication can clear up menopausal acne. Some women may find success using natural treatment methods. Talk to your doctor about which options may be right for you.

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Discover How You Can Get Clear Of Your Acne Schedule A Free 15 Minute Clear Skin Discovery Session

This is all important because research has shown there are androgen receptors in the base of the oil gland and also in the cells that line the pores! If there are high levels of testosterone floating in the body, they are highly capable of binding to these receptors.

To put it simply, when these hormones attach to the oil glands in the skin, they trigger the gland to produce more oil as well as feed the bacteria. Then, an inflamed acne lesion is well on its way to the surface of your skin.

The key takeaway is that by lowering androgen and testosterone levels in the body, the skin will not produce as much acne or not produce ANY at all.

So how does Estrogen play into all this?

Estrogen and testosterone frequently act like a teeter totter. As one goes up the other goes down.

Hormonal acne is an elevated androgen/testosterone and low estrogen issue. It is not an elevated estrogen problem. Therefore, taking herbal supplements that block estrogen, such as DIM, will make your acne worse and increase testosterone causing cystic breakouts. I do not recommend DIM for hormonal acne for these reasons.

So it makes sense that if you lower androgen levels, the skin will not produce as much oiland your acne will improve!

Take A Look At Your Food

I knowthis is nobodys favorite topic. But if your meals currently consist of pizza and cookies and shredded cheddar cheese straight from the bag, all washed down with multiple glasses of wine, you should know youre not exactly helping your hormonal acne situation. The sugar found in sweets can actually spike acne-causing hormones, Dr. Zeichner has said. Think: a spike in insulin, which can cause a hormonal cascade that leads to inflammation and breakouts.

Same thing goes for dairy: Dairy has been shown to have an effect on testosterone levels, according to studies, which can trigger excess oil production that leads to hormonal acne. If you wanna see if your favorite foods are making hormonal acne worse, cut out all dairy and significantly reduce your alcohol, sugar, and refined carbohydrate intake for two full weeks to see if your skin seems at all calmer.

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Should You Squeeze Papules

When acne papules cause a lot of pressure under your skin, you may want to squeeze them. However, it would be best if you didnt squeeze your papules. There isnt any pus to remove, and squeezing can several problems:

• You may open your skin and introduce bacteria into the opening. Bacteria can cause an infection.
• You may irritate your skin. Your skin is sensitive, and your nails are stronger than your skin. When you use your nails to apply a lot of pressure to your skin to try to pop a papule, you can cause inflammation.
• You may scar your skin. You can seriously damage your skin and cause permanent scarring if you apply too much pressure.

Try To Reduce Your Stress Levels

In addition to sticking to a hormonal acne-friendly diet and skincare routine, Dr. Zeichner recommends finding stress-reducing outlets, such as yoga or meditation. You should also make sure you’re getting the proper amount of sleep you need every night. Beyond that, if you’re looking for other ways to treat your acne naturally, ingredients like tea tree oil may help, though this may be a better choice if you’re only dealing with mild to moderate breakouts, rather than cystic breakouts.

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Whats The Difference Between A Cold Sore And A Pimple

Cold sores are tiny blisters that appear on your lips and around your mouth. Herpes simplex virus type 1 causes cold sores, and the virus is highly contagious. You can spread cold sores very easily through saliva or close contact with another person who has a cold sore outbreak often through kissing or sharing utensils, straws, towels or lip balm.

Pimples dont form on your lips or inside your mouth. You cant spread pimples through saliva or close contact with another person who has pimples.

How Well Does Hormonal Therapy Work And Is It Safe

The pill: Many studies have looked at how well oral contraceptive pills fight acne. The pill has been found effective at treating blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and acne nodules and cysts.

In fact, the pill has proven so effective that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved some oral contraceptives for treating acne.

The pill is generally considered safe for women. Some women, however, should not take it. Your dermatologist can tell you whether the pill may be a safe and effective treatment option for you.

Spironolactone: Doctors prescribe this medication to treat high blood pressure. Its also prescribed for people who are retaining too much fluid.

Dermatologists have been prescribing it for many years to treat acne and excess hair growth in women. When other acne treatments dont work, it can effectively treat deep-seated, tender acne on the lower face, jawline, or neck.

Spironolactone is not prescribed to treat acne in men due to side effects. Men have developed breasts while taking this medication to treat acne.

Spironolactone is generally considered safe for healthy women.

Taking both spironolactone and the pill can increase effectiveness. This combination has another advantage. Its essential to use birth control while taking spironolactone. If you get pregnant while taking spironolactone, your baby can have serious birth defects.

A word of caution

If you can get pregnant, youll need to use birth control while taking spironolactone.

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