Yes, It’s Possible to Get Rid of Hormonal Acne. Here’s How

HUM posted "Yes, It’s Possible to Get Rid of Hormonal Acne. Here’s How
In the article Visha Skincare founder, Dr. Purvisha Patel says to help treat hormonal acne, she recommends more than just topical treatments. It's also important to stay rested and hydrated,  avoid dairy, and instead consume more of the foods that help reduce inflammation in the body.

Wondering how to get rid of hormonal acne? Experts break down what causes those pesky breakouts—and share exactly how to treat them.

Perhaps you *always* break out while you’re on your period. Maybe you dealt with intense acne during puberty, pregnancy, or after getting off hormonal birth control. Or maybe you notice that after you eat certain foods (like that box of leftover Halloween candy) your face is filled with pimples. What you’re experiencing is completely normal and extremely common: It’s called hormonal acne. While hormones control bodily functions like sleep, mood, energy levels, digestion, and more, they also impact your skin. When your hormone levels are out of whack, it can trigger increased oil production and lead to brand-new breakouts.

If you’ve already identified hormonal acne as the cause of your acne, you’re halfway there.

The good news? There are ways to keep your hormonal acne under control. We spoke to leading skin experts to learn about what causes these breakouts and the best treatments for hormonal acne.

Read on to learn how to get rid of hormonal acne—once and for all.

WHAT IS HORMONAL ACNE?

True to its name, hormonal acne is acne caused by hormone levels. “Hormonal acne describes acne breakouts that are associated with fluctuations or over-production of androgenic hormones,” explains Jaimie DeRosa, MD, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and founder and lead facial plastic surgeon of DeRosa Center Plastic Surgery & Med Spa in Boston and Palm Beach. Androgenic hormones are a group of sex hormones. While all genders make androgenic hormones, males make most of them (testosterone is an androgenic hormone).

WHAT DOES HORMONAL ACNE LOOK LIKE?

Hormonal acne varies from person to person, but the location can be a telling sign. “Hormonal acne usually flares up around your jaw and chin due to increased oil production,” says Purvisha Patel, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Tennessee. “Hormonal acne can look like anything from a whitehead, blackhead, papule, pustule, cyst, or nodule.”

“In women, hormonal acne typically presents with inflammatory lesions as well as comedones and deep nodules,” Dr. DeRosa says. “Late-onset acne (adult acne) typically has fewer lesions and is usually found in the U-zone (the bottom third of the face around the jawline and chin).”

WHAT CAUSES HORMONAL ACNE?

So, what exactly causes hormonal acne? Hormonal acne results from an increase in sebum or oil production in response to increased androgen hormones, such as testosterone. “The oil then interacts with bacteria and dead skin cells, resulting in a clogged pore,” Lian Mack, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York explains.

“The increase in oil production may be due to a number of factors, including underlying skin conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), fluctuating hormone levels, a familial predisposition, or side effects of medications like steroids,” Dr. Mack says.

While not a direct cause, “Hormonally-driven acne may be worsened by diet, more specifically carbohydrates, refined sugars, and dairy,” explains Dr. Mack.

HOW TO GET RID OF HORMONAL ACNE



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