5 Ways to Treat & Prevent Hormonal Acne
What is Hormonal Acne?
Acne is commonly recognized when there are breakouts of multiple pimples or bumps in one area. A huge reason for this is because of your hormones, hence the name “hormonal acne”.But why is this happening? Hormonal acne is common during the ages of 14-19 because the body is adjusting to hormonal changes. Once the hormones regulate, you can expect to have a more regular menstrual cycle and the acne will begin to subside, only popping up on occasion. However, many women continue to deal with hormonal acne due to hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause. But don’t worry, there are many ways to prevent and maintain this stubborn acne!
How Do I Manage Hormonal Acne?
Hormonal acne is something that I, as a 25 year old woman, continue to struggle with every month. These 5 tips I’m about to share with you are my personal go to’s that have saved my skin and hopefully, in turn, will save yours!
1. Wash your face every morning and night.
After a long day/night your skin has seen it all! Try to use a gentle fragrance-free cleanser. Doing this helps get rid of any acne-causing dirt and oil left behind on your skin.
2. Eat a well-balanced diet.
Certain foods can affect the appearance of your skin. Eating too much dairy, for example, can be bad for your skin as it clogs your pores and increases inflammation. Yuck.
Try eating foods high in omega-3s and antioxidants. These types of foods can help reduce inflammation and improve acne! And be sure to ALWAYS drink water!
3. Moisturize.
It’s a common misconception that you don’t need to moisturize if you have oily skin. Many times, if you have acne, your skin may appear oily. This is because you’re using too much acne drying product which deprives your skin of moisture. Doing this can cause your skin to dry out and produce more of those acne-causing oils. Try using a fragrance-free, lightweight gel moisturizer or do a hydrating mask from time to time.
4. Use a spot treatment.
Spot treatments are the BEST when you have that one annoying pimple that just won't go away. My favorite time to use a spot treatment is at night. After you wash your face, apply it directly on the pimple and go to sleep. This will dry out the pimple overnight. You can wash it off in the morning and the pimple will be noticeably smaller. Keep in mind to ALWAYS read the directions on your product, as some spot treatments are not intended for overnight use.
5. Sleep.
Not getting enough sleep can do more harm to your body than just giving you dark circles. Sleep deprivation can trigger stress hormones which cause acne, along with other problems. So make sure you get about 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Your skin will thank you!
Hormonal acne can be a pain, but I hope these 5 tips work for you the way they work for me! And if necessary, don’t feel afraid to visit a dermatologist—they'll be able to provide you with more information and products that you wouldn’t have access to in a store.
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