Hormonal Acne: How Your Menstruation Affects Acne and Skin

The monthly period is a normal cycle that women of reproductive age have to go through. Alongside the menstrual bleeding, unfortunate ones also tend to experience nasty stuff like bloating, weight gain, mood swings, and cramps. rnAs if those things are not bad enough, there are also those who suffer from hormonal acne or those breakouts that pop up whenever the monthly period is coming. Menstruation also makes the skin extra oily and the pores tend to look bigger too. This phenomenon is so frustrating, but what is happening is actually normal. The best way to manage these unwanted skin changes is to understand why it manifests around the period. Here are a quick cheat sheet about menstruation and acne:

Hormones

Let’s get straight to the bottom of this. Hormones are to blame for making the skin erratic during the menstruation period. The skin may look okay one day and then it becomes suddenly oily the next. This is basically caused by hormone levels that fluctuate during the menstrual cycle. rnThe three hormones that are to blame for the skin changes before, during, and after a period are estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. First is estrogen. Throughout the 28 days of your cycle, estrogen levels determine the skin’s thickness and moisture content. A low or high production of estrogen can make the skin lose its structural integrity. This means that it can either look or feel normal or it can be brittle and easily broken. With progesterone, it causes the facial pores to close up so sebum accumulates making the face look oily. Because the pores are shut and there’s a thin film of oil in the surface, the skin cannot breathe and tend to swell up. It is at this point that it becomes sensitive to dirt thus the tendency to have breakouts is increased. Testosterone, on the other hand, in increased during ovulation and actually helps make the skin look glowing.

Breaking the Cycle Down

While there are things you can do to influence the production of hormones, you can never tell whether it decides to shoot up or stay low. What you can do to minimize hormonal breakouts is by timing skin care regimen according to the cycle calendar. Basically, you divide the cycle into three: the spotty stage, dry stage, and healthy stage. Let us start with the healthy stage at around day 11 to day 21 of your cycle. If you are not suffering from PMS, you can expect to have healthy and clear skin around these days. If you do have a problem with hormonal imbalances, you can try engaging yourself with relaxing exercises to calm the nerves, lower down stress levels, and keep the hormones happy. It is ideal to apply antioxidant serums and anti- aging masks during this stage because the skin has activated its rejuvenating powers. Day 22 to day 4 of your cycle is the spotty stage. The skin is noticeably problematic as it is greasy and too quick to react with allergens. Exercise is recommended during this time because sweating can help unclog the pores. However, you need to be extra diligent in cleaning your face to eliminate dirt and oil. This is also the perfect time to have clarifying facials as well as ex-foliating scrubs and masks to remove dead skin cells and also to help brighten the skin. Dry stage starts on the 5th up to the 10th day of the cycle. Since the skin is too dry, it becomes flaky and sensitive. To prevent wrinkles from forming and abrading your skin, always keep your skin supple by using moisturizer and drinking lots of fluids. A hydrating face mask and plenty of vitamin c can make the face hydrated and glowing. If the face becomes inflamed due to broken skin, use gentle products that contain green tea and aloevera to repair the cells.

Don’t Be Mad with Period Skin

Hormones may be powerful during specific days on your cycle but you can combat its unflattering effects. Maintain a natural glow all throughout your cycle by understanding how the skin has to go through different stages according to your hormone levels. Eventually, you will become so attuned with the changes that you will never have to do some guesswork on when you should have a facial and when it is not healthy to do so. Lastly, take note that hormonal changes are at its worst when you are stressed about it. Eliminate stress by eating healthy, drinking frequently and keeping yourself fit with regular exercise. Although it is not a guarantee that you will not have those nasty breakouts. It is comforting to know that you will not risk making it look worse because you are armed with knowledge on how to make your skin happy even with a nasty period.