In my humble opinion, adult hormonal acne is one of the most difficult forms of acne to treat. The reason for this is, well, it’s hormonal. It’s not because of poor hygiene or bad habits. It requires client dedication, compliance, lifestyle changes and sometimes a lot of trial and error.
Adult hormonal acne is more common in women. I know, I know. In addition to cramps and bearing children, we also have to deal with adult hormonal acne. There are some medical professionals that may argue rather or not hormonal imbalances can contribute to acne but I can assure you they can. In fact, my personal adult hormonal acne struggle inspired me to become an Esthetician. I NEVER had problems with acne but my skin started going crazy after being diagnosed with endometriosis at 28 years old. To make it worse, I wasn’t getting regular pimples. I was a victim to those under skin pimples (aka cysts) that never come to a head. You know the ones. They hurt like heck and stay stuck under your skin. Then the little boogers have the nerve to leave a scar. What?! I decided I would handle it myself. I read a lot of books, did some research and treated my skin and realized I wanted to help other people (mainly women).
We normally find hormonal adult acne on the lower part of your face in people way past puberty. Think right under your cheeks and around your jawline. These breakouts can look like blackheads, whiteheads, small pimples that come to head or cysts. The biggest complaint are those painful cysts. Many things like your cycle, PCOS, menopause, inflammation, hormonal imbalances, clogged pores and an over production of P. Acnes (acne-causing bacteria).
I realize what worked for me may not work for everyone so I’m including all the things I have found from research or personal experience that may help. These are the same tips and practices I use on my clients at Lumi Beauty Studio here in Little Rock.
Retinoids/Vitamin A
Your girl is a huge fan of a quality retinoid in your skincare regimen. It’s good for acne, aging and discoloration–it’s really a powerhouse. Retinoids and the derivative, Vitamin A, help your skin remove dead skin cells at a more normal rate so they won’t bind together and clog your pores. I use and retail Vitamin A products by PCA Skin and Circadia.
Evening Primrose Oil and Fish Oil
Evening Primrose Oil supplements bring your body’s fatty acid ratio into balance. It can naturally suppress inflammation as it contains high amounts of the omega-6 fatty acid GLA. Lately when I miss out on taking my EPO supplements, my skin goes CRAZY. I have also found that EPO supplements work better for hormonal acne than a Fish Oil supplement alone. My personal favs are from Target and Natural Grocers. Be sure you speak with your doctor before incorporating any supplements.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
AHAs are plant based acids derived from citrus fruits. Besides removing excess skin cells that can clog pores, they can also diminish the appearance of acne scars. You want to be careful with using too many exfoliants. Dehydrated skin is also prone to breakouts.
Reduce Inflammation
Cut back on sugar, diary, refined carbs and red meat. These items exacerbate inflammation and what is the main culprit of most acne? Say it with me, INFLAMMATION. (Hint, green tea is a great anti-inflammatory).
Drink water, get a good skincare regimen with professional treatments and wear sunscreen
You need to wash your face twice daily and use quality products, but also consult a licensed Esthetician. You don’t want to use these products at once, as you don’t want to dehydrate your skin. You also don’t want to create more discoloration by exposing your sensitive skin to sun damage. There’s a fine balance of gut health, diet, home care and professional treatments when treating adult hormonal acne.
Honorable Mention
Salicylic and glycolic acid are also good ingredients, but clients may overuse them at home so I don’t suggest them outside of my treatment room.
All right my luminous beauties, it’s time for a skincare challenge. If you have adult hormonal acne, try incorporating some things we discussed for 30 days and report back to me. Listen to your skin when using exfoliating products. If your skin peels excessively or becomes overly sensitive, reduce usage. Personally, I can only use my vitamin A serum 2-3 times a week. Let me know if you notice a slight change in your skin and then keep going for another 30 days. Let’s tackle this together!
Until next time…