Other Supplements That May Help
Aside from vitamin D and green tea extract, the following supplements may help reduce acne symptoms:
- Fish oil. Some evidence suggests that supplementing with omega-3-rich fish oil may reduce acne severity in some people. However, the results are mixed, with some people experiencing worsened symptoms (
- ).
Summary
Vitamin D, green tea extract, B vitamins, and zinc are just some of the supplements that may benefit people with acne.
Take Oral Acne Medication Or Birth Control
If there are no additional concerns, hormonal acne is relatively easy to treat. We typically start treatment with a birth control pill containing estrogen and progesterone. The FDA has approved several contraceptive medications specifically for acne in women.
Unfortunately, the convenient forms of birth control do not help with hormonal acne. These are only progesterone-based, which can make acne even worse. If a patient is already using one of these devices, well use an alternative treatment rather than ask them to change their birth control method.
Spironolactone is often our first choice for patients not wanting or needing birth control. A low-dosage form of this oral pill is a highly effective method to get rid of hormonal acne.
It blocks the androgen receptors in the skin that are responding to the testosterone by increasing our oil production and making us breakout. Spironolactone essentially blocks the skin from hearing the testosterone say, Hey, make a pimple! Its tolerated well by patients and can be used for long periods of time . Its a highly effective option that often eliminates the need for patients to eventually take Accutane.
Four: Find Good Skin Care
There are a plethora of organic skin care lines to address acne-prone skin, from to Renee Rouleau Anti Bump Solution. Check out Credo Beauty and Cap Beauty for more excellent options. This is an important step because if youre giving up the medicated topicals, you will need something to help with skin turnover, pore decongestion, excess oil, and cysts.
Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Inflamed Acne Fast
Are There Any Side Effects To Treatment
âLike with any new treatment, when you start a new topical acne product, start off slow and follow the instructions on the label or one provided by your doctor ,â says Dr. Hartman. âYou may see some increased dryness or redness on the skin, so make sure to moisturize your skin, and always use sunscreen â especially since some acne medications can make skin extra sensitive to UV light.â
Fundamentally, all acne is hormonal. However, the below six dermatologist-approved products can correct your current routine to prevent it and keep hormonal breakouts at bay.
We only include products that have been independently selected by TZR’s editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.
Add Zinc To Your Diet Or Facial Products
I use Dr. Baileys Zinc bar to wash my face. I use this both morning and night and leave on my face like a mask for 2-3 minutes at a time.
I first heard about Baileys Zinc Bar in a Facebook group. I looked up the bar, expecting it to cost an arm and a leg. I was SHOCKED to see it be a reasonable price! I then started researching Zinc. I found out that Zinc is actually one of the most widely studied forms of acne treatment!
According to Dermatology Research and Practice, zinc can resolve a wide range of skin ailments. The antioxidant impact on inflammation and bacteria-fighting properties are the two primary ways that zinc can reduce the occurrence of acne and breakouts.
Because our bodies do not store the trace mineral zinc, we need to get it from external sources. You can get internal zinc from food or supplements and you can get topical zinc from medicinal cream.
Recommended Reading: How To Clear Acne And Blackheads
Eliminate Sources Of Chronic Stress And Reduce Cortisol Output
Hormone imbalances are strongly connected to stress. Chronic cortisol, a stress hormone produced by the adrenals, can disrupt the entire endocrine system.
Common sources of chronic cortisol output include lack of sleep, over-exercising and undereating, constant anxiety and worry, unresolved trauma or mental and emotional stress, and even chronic inflammation from a poor diet.
For hormones to be in balanceand hormonal acne to go awayyou must prioritize eliminating sources of chronic stress in your life , improving mental and emotional health , and getting at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Get to bed before 11pm to make sure your cortisol rhythms are properly balanced.
How To Treat Hormonal Acne Naturally Top 3 Ingenious Ways
Hi! Im Jessica Gremley, Founder and CEO of Natural Acne Clinic. This blog post is a personal one for me as it took 15 years of education and research to figure out how to clear my own hormonal acne.
I launched NAC out of my passion to share the truth about acne and how hormonal acne can be treated naturally. With each client we serve, my hope is to debunk misleading myths and incorrect information about how hormonal acne can be cleared once and for all because I was able to do it for myself.
When we consume the wrong information, we often think the natural approach will not be as effective as a more harsh treatment like Accutane. Not true!
Harsh topicals, birth control pills, and pharmaceuticals can destroy the body from the inside out and are not the only option. Honestly, these are pretty old-school approaches that dont consider the whole body as we do at NAC.
The American Academy of Dermatology has found the onset of adult acne is becoming increasingly common in women in their 30s, 40s and even 50s. Studies show that up to 50% of women in their 20s and 25% of women in their 40s struggle with acne triggered by hormonal changes in the body.
Pregnancy, diet, stress, and menopause can cause hormonal imbalances triggering acne on the jawline, chin or lower cheek. It can often appear red and inflamed causing some amount of pain.
Also Check: Can Thyroid Issues Cause Acne
Two: Practice The Cycle Syncing Method
The Cycle Syncing Method is the practice of living in a way that gets your hormones working for you rather than against you. It involves tailoring your self-care and hormone-support routines to your unique needs during each phase of your 28-day hormone cycle. It is also what differentiates the Flo Protocol from other hormone support programs, and it is what will ultimately make the biggest difference when it comes to clear skin. The first step in practicing The Cycle Syncing Method is to track your cycle. Once you know whats happening in your body each week of the month, its time to match what you eat, how you move, and even how you plan your schedule and how you interact with others with your hormones.
Look For These Active Ingredients
Products containing benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid have been scientifically proven to help treat acne. They kill bad bacteria associated with acne and accelerate skin cell turnover.
Pro tip: Stick to face wash if you have sensitive skin. Leave-on masks and other products might cause irritation. Wash your face daily for the best results.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Acne Caused By Medication
How To Deal With Hormonal Acne During Pregnancy
Having a baby can be one of lifes great joys. Pregnancy comes with many positives, but unfortunately for some, there can be a few drawbacks as well. This can include hormonal acne, where your skin begins breaking out like it would if you were a teenager.
The good news is that hormonal acne in pregnancy does not happen to everyone. If it does happen to you, there are some pregnancy-safe remedies to zap those zits. Keep reading to see what expert dermatologists recommend if you start to break out during pregnancy.
Start With A Cleanser That Contains Salicylic Acid
“Think of your cleanser not as a true wash, but rather as a short-contact therapy,” Zeichner suggests. For this reason, he typically recommends that patients with cystic acne use cleansers that contain high concentrations of salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid that helps shrink cystic pimples by removing excess oil, sloughing off dead skin cells, and drying them out.
Typically, salicylic acid concentrations range between 0.5 to two percent, and if you’re prone to cystic acne, Zeichner recommends looking for a cleanser that leans toward a higher concentration. A couple of great 1.5- to 2-percent salicylic acid-based cleansers include La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Acne Face Wash and Murad Clarifying Cleanser.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Rid Of Acne Scars In Face
Is Hormonal Acne Caused By Pregnancy
When you are pregnant, hormonal fluctuations can cause acne. Often, acne gets better as your pregnancy progresses. There are several treatments that you should avoid during pregnancy, including topical retinoids, salicylic acid and isotretinoin. Ask your healthcare provider about the safest acne treatment for you to reduce and eliminate breakouts during pregnancy.
Root Cause Of Hormonal Acne #: Pcos
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is an endocrine disorder that occurs in women. Most people assume the tell-tale sign of PCOS is cysts on the ovaries, but there are actually 3 criteria for diagnosis :
- Confirmed androgen excess on labs or androgen excess symptoms
- Ovulatory dysfunction
- Multiple cysts on ovaries
PCOS, like other syndromes such as IBS, isnt a disease, its a collection of related symptoms without a clear cause or cure. Many practitioners now understand that there are likely multiple causes or types of PCOS, including insulin resistance leading to ovarian overproduction of testosterone and stress, overexercising, and undereating leading to adrenal-driven androgen excess.
Theres also a strong link between the gut and PCOS. Women with PCOS have less diversity in their microbiome than women without the condition.
Researchers have found that women who had some symptoms of PCOS but werent at a diagnosable level had less gut diversity than healthy women, but more microbiome diversity than those who met all the criteria for PCOS. This suggests that PCOS is the end result of hormone and gut issues left untreated too long.
You May Like: What Foods Cause Cystic Acne
Take Your Vitamins And Herbs
While hormonal acne is stubborn, there are some easy strategies you can take to balance hormones for acne relief naturally and it starts with vitamins and herbs.
Vitex for Acne
In women, hormonal acne typically manifests along the jawline and chin. If this sounds familiar, taking Vitex for acne may be a successful treatment.
Vitex agnus castus, also known as Chasteberry, is a womans herb thats been traditionally used for hormonal imbalances. Its been used for menstrual symptoms of low progesterone in the luteal phase . These symptoms include depression, crying, mood swings, acne, nervousness and anxiety.
Vitex has also been used as a natural remedy for treating such symptoms of high estrogen levels as pain, tender breasts, bloating and heavy periods.
Current research shows that Vitex can support healthy hormone levels and relieve pre-menstrual symptoms. It can also be an effective natural hormonal acne treatment.
How does Vitex for Acne Work?
The Vitex herbs act upon the pituitary and hypothalamus glands by increasing luteinizing hormone production and mildly inhibiting the release of follicle-stimulating hormone . This results in a shift in the ratio of estrogen to progesterone, with a rise in progesterone. The ability of the Vitex to increase progesterone levels is an indirect effect.
Vitex itself is not a hormone, but rather an herb that helps the body balance natural estrogen and progesterone. By balancing the estrogen, the androgens then come into balance as well.
Processed Foods And Eating Out
Prepackaged foods and meals that you get when eating out contain all the bad things mentioned above: cheap canola or soy oils, sugar, simple carbs, animal fat. All foods that spike insulin, raise blood sugar levels, and imbalance your hormones.
Avoid going out to eat. Preparing your own healthy meals will heal your gut, your skin, and will even save your wallet ).
Don’t Miss: What Is Forehead Acne Caused By
What Hormone Causes Acne In Females
Hormonal factors
A range of factors triggers acne, but the main cause is thought to be a rise in androgen levels. Androgen is a type of hormone, the levels of which rise when adolescence begins. In women, it gets converted into estrogen. Rising androgen levels cause the oil glands under the skin to grow.
Why Hormonal Acne Happens And What To Do About It
Sick of dealing with pesky pimples well past your teenage years? Read this.
You might assume that pimples disappear later in life. However, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, fifty percent of women ages 20 to 40 deal with adult acne.
Fluctuating hormones, bacteria, excess oil, and dead skin cells all contribute to these types of breakouts. They usually occur throughout your chin, T-zone, and jawline.
It can be challenging to keep your skin blemish-free. Luckily, dermatologist-backed solutions do exist, and were here to help. Read on to learn why hormonal acne happens and what to do about it.
Also Check: Why Do I Have Acne On My Shoulders
Aveeno Maximum Strength 1% Hydrocortisone Anti
Instead of spending money on cortisone shots to treat hormonal breakouts, investing in an ointment like Aveeno Maximum Strength 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream will help you decrease the size and redness of your cystic acne without a trip to dermatologist. Designed to soothe, this top-rated, cult-favorite acne remedy uses a blend of 1% hydrocortisone, aloe, vitamin E and the brands triple oat complex to reduce inflammation, soothe irritated skin and restore nourishing moisture.
How To Prevent Hormonal Acne During Pregnancy
Though a surge in hormones during pregnancy can also lead to a “pregnancy glow,” it is also what causes acne. “It is a double-edged sword,” explains Dr. Gohara. “Some women are glowing and some women are more predisposed to acne. Some women have zero acne before and then acne during pregnancy. Some people have acne before then no acne in pregnancy.” In other words, there is no rhyme or reason for acne during pregnancy. “You can’t predict whether it is going to happen to you,” she says. Which means it can be nearly impossible to prevent.
You also can’t predict what type of acne you will have, or where it will occur. “I have seen it occur both on the chin, and everywhere, and also in different forms,” says Dr. Gohara. She has seen pregnant people experiencing everything from whiteheads and blackheads, to deep cystic acne and inflammatory acne. “It is all acne at the end of the day,” says Dr. Gohara.
The good news is that the lifestyle changes many people make naturally when they become pregnant, like eliminating alcohol and highly processed foods and drinking more water, also decrease your likelihood of acne and inflammation during pregnancy, says Dr. Gohara.
Also Check: What Serum Is Good For Acne
How Is It Hormonal
Hormonal acne is triggered by fluctuating hormone levels. Thats why you might get more breakouts if you have a vajayjay.
Females are more susceptible to hormonal acne since we experience fluctuations in female sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone monthly with our menses, says Zenovia Gabriel, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and hormonal skin care expert.
A breakout can be the first sign of hormonal imbalance. The pimples are proof your body is adjusting.
An increase in testosterone stimulates our oil glands to produce excess sebum, which is one major cause of acne, says Zenovia.
Hormonal Acne: The Root Cause And How To Treat It Naturally
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure.
The big red bumps start on your jawline. They spread all around your mouth and on the lower half of your face. Then they start appearing on your forehead, cheeks, and back.
Its embarrassing, its painful, and long after the bumps are gone, the scars stick around.
Hormonal acne is different from the breakouts you had as a teenager or when you dont wash your face before bed. First, treating hormonal acne is really hard to do with conventional topical skincare treatment. Hormonal acne is more complicated than a special cream .
And then, when a blemish finally goes away it doesnt feel like its truly goneit just recedes a bit. You know it will be back .
While most people only deal with acne on their face, hormonal acne often spreads to the shoulders, back, and butt. This makes most people painfully aware of its presence, especially when its summer and youre excited to wear that cute sundress or tank top.
Thats the reality of hormonal acne, and having many clients deal with it personally, I can tell you: it really sucks.
You May Like: How To Clear Up Acne Prone Skin
How Long Does It Take To Get Rid Of Hormonal Acne
People who struggle with acne as they age can feel especially frustrated. It seems very unfair to have wrinkles and breakouts simultaneously. When breakouts persist past adolescence, theres typically a hormonal component we need to address.
Our patients with hormonal acne will end up with clear skin with the appropriate skin treatment no matter their age. With oral birth control pills and spironolactone, we can make the acne go away.
Hormonal acne is treatable, but its not always curable. We cant promise the acne wont come back when you stop taking the medication. Our first goal is always clear skin. Then, we want to keep the patient on the least amount of medication possible to maintain their clear complexion. If youre genetically predisposed to acne, it may return, but we can manage it with medication.
Women experiencing menopause may find they only need treatment for hormonal acne temporarily. After theyve completed menopause, they can often stop using these medications.
