How Women’s Hormones Impact Acne Well Into the Adult Years and What Can Help

Women’s hormones are constantly ebbing and flowing. With monthly cycles that can be interrupted by stress and other environmental factors, women experience many different symptoms related to their hormones. While acne used to be connected to pubescent teens and tweens, nowadays, more women are talking about how their hormones are affecting them well into their later years. Some women experience acne that comes and goes with their cycle, while others have persistent hormonal imbalances that keep acne hanging on for a long time. Let’s look at some of the ways these hormones impact acne, and what can help.

Using Common Birth Control to Help

Many women use birth control anyway to help manage cycles, not just prevent pregnancy. But what they may not realize is that some birth control pills can also help treat their acne. The hormones in these pills can suppress the mechanisms causing bigger acne outbreaks that impact self esteem and are sometimes painful. While working with a local doctor can help women access a prescription, getting birth control online can be a convenient way to stay on top of these medications.

Birth control for hormonal acne helps limit the amount of oil the face produces. Excess oil buildup often clogs pores, so by limiting oil, some acne goes away. It does this by reducing excess androgens that lead to testosterone that inevitably cause some acne. It’s important to recognize that not all acne is hormonal, and not all birth control pills will limit it. This means that getting the right balance is crucial.

It Starts With Puberty

Girls going through puberty experience so many changes. As their body starts to increase the product of certain hormones, their skin may go haywire. It can be something as minor as a pimple here and there or something more serious with major outbreaks and scarring. There are medications that can help tweens and teens reduce their acne, but it’s important to weigh out the risks and benefits.

Using healthy washing techniques, non-comedogenic makeup, and keeping a skin routine simple are some of the ways that teens can reduce their acne outbreaks. In addition, eating healthy foods, and limiting greasy ones can also help.

Pregnancy and Postpartum

Babies have a way of impacting a woman’s hormones as well. The changing hormonal balance during pregnancy and after birth can leave some women feeling like a teenager again. While there is not much that can be done to fix the hormones in this season, some women do experience healthier skin when they regularly wash their face and use a simple lotion that’s not too oily. While sleep is a struggle during this time, prioritizing rest can also reduce some of the stressors that can lead to more acne.

Since most medications are not safe for pregnancy or even during the postpartum season, there are not any prescriptions that can be used. It’s important to note that some of them are specifically contraindicated because they can directly harm the growing baby. Don’t take anything without consulting a gynecologist or OB/GYN first.

Perimenopause and Hormonal Shifts

When the years leading up to menopause hits, it can leave women feeling like a teenager again, and not in a good way. They may experience more severe mood swings, worsening skin health, and irregular periods. Some women also get a recurrence of acne that’s harder to get rid of than it was as a teen.

Some ways to get through this hard season may include supplementing with specific nutrients the body needs, including extra iron, magnesium, and even vitamin C. Getting iron levels back up can help level out moods and reduce mood swings because it helps the body naturally balance out the hormones leading to acne. Women may also experience PMOS and other hormonal conditions that can impact the skin. When those conditions are treated directly, there is sometimes a reduction in hormonal outbreaks.

Healthy Skin and Hormones

Acne isn’t just an age thing. It’s directly impacted by anything from dairy and gluten sensitivities to low iron caused by undiagnosed parasitic infections to fluctuations in your hormone levels. To get healthier skin, it’s best to figure out what factors are most likely influencing it, and work toward creating habits that reduce acne outbreaks. Track your acne flare-ups and what’s coinciding with it. Is it a certain time in your monthly cycle, after you eat certain foods, or when specific stressors arise? You can also get nutrient tested to see if there are specific minerals that you are deficient in. Acne is treatable, so don’t lose hope for your skin.