You might think that hormonal acne is something we can leave behind in puberty, but around 1 in 4 adults in the UK are living with serious skin issues connected to their hormone health. Here we’ll break down everything you need to know about breakouts and share some tips on how to care for your skin throughout your cycle. 

 

Key takeaways

 

• Hormonal acne can be triggered by puberty, pregnancy, menopause or simply hormonal fluctuations throughout our menstrual cycle. 
• Other factors including stress, sleep, and the seasons can contribute to hormonal acne 
• You can get medical treatment for your skin issues but you can also help to manage them naturally through diet and lifestyle 
• Our MyCycle supplement can also help - it contains evening primrose oil which is known for reducing skin inflammation!  

 

What is hormonal acne?

Hormonal acne is exactly what it says on the tin - it’s acne triggered by our hormones. Whilst this is most commonly associated with our teenage years thanks to puberty, it can persist throughout adulthood. Anyone (including men) can fall victim to hormonal acne but it is something that - annoyingly - seems to affect women more. For some people, these skin issues can be heavily linked to their menstrual cycle but for others, it might be connected to pregnancy, postpartum or menopause - times when we experience intense hormonal changes. 

Hormonal skin breakouts are usually found on the lower part of your face, like your jawline and cheeks. However, it can make an appearance in other areas of the face and body, including the back and chest. 

 

Your skin and your cycle

 

So why do we experience skin breakouts at certain times of our cycle? Acne is fairly common in the second half of our cycle - our luteal phase. In fact studies have shown that around 63% of people notice more acne lesions (spots) in the late luteal phase aka just before our period shows up. 

This is probably because at this time of our cycle progesterone is our dominant sex hormone. Progesterone is linked to the levels of sebum (oil) our skin produces, so when our progesterone levels are high, our skin can get oily and our pores can become blocked, making breakouts more likely. This is not helped by the fact that skin-loving oestrogen - which gives us a glow earlier in our cycle - is at its lowest during this time. 

It’s easy to assume that cycle-linked breakouts are solely connected to PMS but some people also experience acne around ovulation, which is thought to be down to higher levels of testosterone. 

The best way to understand whether or not your acne is connected to hormones is to look for patterns. Keep a symptom tracker and start to notice when breakouts are happening. If you are having serious skin issues regularly it could be a sign of a hormonal imbalance or conditions like PCOS - and you should definitely chat to your doctor.  

 

 

Other factors to consider

 

Stress 

Stress plays havoc with our hormones in numerous ways - and this can manifest in skin breakouts. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline exacerbate the inflammation that causes acne which is why you may notice more spots when you're dealing with a stressful time. Stress and burnout are also linked to a lack of sleep and research indicates there is a strong link between poor sleep quality and skin health issues.   

 

The weather

Our skin can also be affected by the changing seasons, For example, in winter we might notice breakouts around our mouth and neck - scarves might be great for keeping us cosy but they are a breeding ground for bacteria and breakouts. We also might experience dryer skin due to a lack of sunlight and more exposure to central heating. In the summer, the sun can help dry up our spots, but sweaty days can lead to an increase in sweat and sebum - which is a recipe for blocked pores! 

How to manage hormonal acne

 

Skincare

It might sound obvious, but a good skincare regime is the most important thing when it comes to tackling hormonal acne. Everyone’s skin is different, so products that work for your favourite influencer might not necessarily work for you. It’s all about finding the right routine for your skin type - but as a baseline, you want to make sure you are cleansing your skin each night, removing all make-up - and then ensuring your skin is well hydrated with a good quality moisturiser.  

 

Nutrition

It’s not just what you put on your body that can impact your skin - what you put in it matters too. Anti-inflammatory foods  - like dark leafy greens, berries and olive oil can help reduce the inflammation that fuels acne. You can also help your skin by avoiding ultra-processed foods and sugary snacks which are known for exacerbating skin issues. You can read more about nutrition for your cycle  

 

Medical Treatments

If you are really struggling with your skin, your doctor can prescribe medication to help. For some people that might involve hormonal contraception which addresses balances or suspends the menstrual cycle altogether. For others, it could be a topical treatment like topical retinoids or they could even put you on a course of antibiotics. Medical acne treatments can be very harsh on our skin and bodies, so be sure to talk to your doctor about all possible side effects before embarking on a treatment plan.  

 

Natural Treatments

If you want something more gentle to support your skin health, you can look to natural remedies. Tea tree oil is a brilliant natural topical treatment which can reduce inflammation and help to dry out spots. Aloe vera is also great for calming the skin and reducing puffiness. Evening Primrose Oil is also an amazing natural antiinflammatory that people have turned to for skin support for centuries - which is why we included it in our MyCycle supplement! 

MyCycle has been carefully created to help tackle some of the most common symptoms of PMS - from low mood and sore boobs to skin breakouts and fatigue.