What exactly is hormonal acne?
Ladies, ever wonder why you get those pesky breakouts pop up after weeks of being clear and cocky? Hormonal acne is a challenge for millions of us, getting in the way of date nights, job interviews, and all the other special appearances where pimples aren’t invited.
The good news is by understanding how hormonal acne works, you can get ahead of it by taking certain precautions as part of your skincare routine.
What is hormonal acne?
Hormonal acne is acne that occurs as a result of hormonal changes in the body, like starting a new menstrual cycle, ovulating, being pregnant, and ending a menstrual cycle. The hormonal changes happening can trigger the body to produce more sebum (oil), which can clog the pores and cause acne.
Tips for treating hormonal acne
- Track your cycle. The biggest trick to getting ahead of hormonal breakouts is to know when they are coming. There are lots of free apps to help you track your cycle and pinpoint when pimples may pop up for you during the month. This way you can be especially diligent about your routine when you know breakouts are most likely.
- Avoid acne-causing foods. Keep this in mind especially during the days when hormonal changes are more likely to cause pimples. If you’re eating foods that trigger the body to produce more sebum while hormonal changes are also triggering more sebum, you’re working against your clearest skin.
- Ice inflammation and breakouts. I’m not sure who started the rumor that you should pick your pimples to make them go away, but it’s not true. Instead, ice your breakouts to help reduce their appearance and speed up the healing time.
Hormonal acne is just your body asking you to be more in tune with your internal processes. Remember skipping even one day of your skincare routine can lead to a breakout, so stay committed to your clearest skin.