Here is how to tell if your adult breakouts are typical or hormonal acne, plus a few things you may want to consider.
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If your teenage years are a distant memory but somehow you’re still plagued by acne, you’re not alone.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, hormonal acne happens when “breakouts form during adulthood ranging from blackheads and whiteheads to painful cysts.” This is caused by the overproduction of sebum (oils) formed in the skin’s sebaceous glands which clog pores and lead to acne. This kind of acne can present on your face, shoulders, chest, and back in the form of pimples, blackheads or whiteheads, and cysts.
Though not a signal of how well you take care of your skin and often unavoidable, hormonal acne leads to blemishes and scars which tend to have a significant effect on our self-image, especially for women. In fact, of the 80% of the population who are affected by acne, 70% are women who get hormonal acne – with 20% in their 20s and 50% in their 40s.
And when you start digging into the causes of hormonal acne you can see why women are most affected. From stress to lack of sleep to changing hormone levels caused by periods, pregnancy, menopause, as well as medications, and more.
Like me, one mistake you are probably making is aggressively treating with harsh over-the-counter products with the derm-recommended benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. But that only leads to even more oil production. The thing is, hormonal acne usually does not respond to over-the-counter products.
It took me going to a dermatologist who prescribed antibiotics, a topical treatment, and birth control to help get a handle on my breakouts. However, do note that your individual treatment options will depend greatly on the severity of your acne.
Signs you may have hormonal acne
If you believe you have hormonal acne, your best course of action is to see a healthcare professional. This could be a dermatologist, your primary care, or even your OB-GYN, who would be able to assess if your acne is in fact hormonal.
However, according to skin-care experts, here are a few clues to tell if your acne could be caused by fluctuations in your hormonal levels.
- You are well beyond your teenage years but you get a frequent resurgence of acne in the same area.
- Your acne has a tendency of flaring up at predictable times – before or during the menstrual cycle or ovulation.
- Your acne is more likely to appear beneath the cheekbones, chins, and along the jawline. Probably even some tiny pimples below your lower lip during ovulation.
- Your acne tends to be cystic, big and super red, and even sensitive to touch; you may even feel a sensation of pain or pressure at the acne site even without touch.
Lifestyle habits to aid your hormonal acne journey
While it may not matter how great you are with your skincare or nutritional diet… Hormonal acne is usually a tell-tale sign that your body needs some attention! With that said, here are a few tips to get you on the right path and help limit future breakouts.
- Drink plenty water
- Get plenty of sleep
- Eats lots of veggies, especially cabbage and broccoli
- Be very gentle with your skin and avoid harsh and aggressive treatments
- Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate
Though I still struggle with hormonal acne here are a few products that are currently helping to make my life a lot easier.
I use a facial cleansing brush, especially on those days when I wear makeup. Neutrogena is my go-to face wash but sometimes I switch it up with my Neogen Dermalogy Real Fresh Green Tea Foam. I love, love the Dr. Wellness Peel-Off facial Mask Vitamin C. My toner of choice is the Benton Deep Green Tea Toner, and of course, I keep on hand the St.Ives Blackhead Clearing Green Tea & Bamboo Scrub.
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