“Hormonal Acne Unveiled: Understanding Causes, Treatment, and Foods to Steer Clear Of”
Most of us associate hormonal acne with puberty. However, it can haunt you through your adulthood. Adult acne or hormonal acne has nothing to do with age. It is closely related to the hormone levels in your body and can be quite stubborn.
Not all breakouts are caused by hormonal fluctuations. Therefore, if you are struggling with unexplained breakouts, it is important to understand whether they are hormonal or not. This helps determine the correct treatment. Read on to learn all about adult acne and its treatment.
What is hormonal acne?
When your hormone levels fluctuate, you get hormonal acne. Hormonal acne is significantly more common in adults than in teenagers.
Compared to men, this is more common in women because several factors such as the menstrual cycle and menopause affect hormone levels in women. Hormonal problems related to underlying medical conditions (such as polycystic ovary syndrome) can also lead to hormonal acne.
The most common symptoms of acne include:
cysts
nodules
Both cysts and nodules are common in adults. Other, less common symptoms include:
papules
Pustules
Whiteheads
Blackheads
These often occur in teenagers. When we talk about hormonal acne, we usually mean “cystic acne” in adults. While normal acne (like blackheads and whiteheads) is common in teenagers and is caused by hormonal factors, it is not considered “hormonal acne.”
Women can experience hormonal acne during pregnancy and menopause. The changes in hormone levels lead to their onset.
In addition to hormones, there are other factors that can cause hormonal acne.
What are the causes of hormonal acne?
1. Stress
When you are stressed, your body increases the production of androgens (a group of hormones). These hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands and your hair follicles, causing acne. Therefore, it is extremely important to find ways to manage stress.
2. The hair and skin care products you use
The chemicals in these products can clog your skin’s pores, treat your acne, and cause acne. Therefore, before purchasing any hair or skin care products, ensure that they are non-comedogenic and oil-free.
3. Side effects of certain medications
Certain medicines can trigger acne (e.g. lithium or an anticonvulsant). If you think the medicines are causing acne, talk to your doctor immediately. If medications cannot be changed, consult a dermatologist to control your acne.
According to an international patient survey conducted on 2,436 participants without acne and 1,746 participants with acne, taking oral contraceptives, anabolic medications, and antidepressants caused acne. According to the data, 39% of people with acne reported using oral contraceptives, 12% reported using anabolic medications, and 16.7% reported using antidepressants.
4. Underlying diseases
Underlying illnesses (e.g. PCOS) can also trigger acne. Acne can often be eliminated by diagnosing and treating the condition.
You can take medications, zinc supplements, vitamin A supplements, or use natural remedies to improve your condition.
How to treat hormonal acne
1. Birth control pills
Birth control pills aren’t just hormonal contraceptives – they can also help reduce acne breakouts.
A study conducted by the Cochrane Group examined 31 studies involving 12,579 women. The author of the study concluded that all combined contraceptive pills were effective for both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne (1).
Another study found that contraceptives containing drospirenone were less effective in fighting acne than pills containing norgestimate (2).
However, birth control pills should be taken with caution. Always consult your doctor before taking any pills.
2. Retinoids
One of the best topical treatments for reducing hormonal acne are retinoids. If you suffer from mild hormonal acne, you can use topical retinoids to improve your condition. Retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A and are very effective in treating acne. They are mostly available as creams, lotions and gels. However, the strength of the formula required to treat your acne must be determined bybe determined by a doctor. Therefore, avoid self-medication and do not start treatment with retinoids without consulting a doctor.
The most commonly available topical retinoids include adapalene, tretinoin, retinol, and retinaldehyde (3).
3. Androgen receptor blockers or antiandrogen medications
Both men and women have androgens (the male hormone) in their bodies, but an excess of androgens can cause acne. This is because androgens increase your skin’s production of sebum.
Several androgen receptor blockers have been used to control androgen-induced sebum production and acne. These are spironolactone, cyproterone acetate and flutamide (2). These medications help reduce androgen levels. However, it is better not to use androgen receptor blockers in men as they can cause erectile dysfunction and gynecomastia.
4. Benzoyl peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide has been used to treat acne for decades. It is one of the most popular remedies for treating acne due to its antibacterial properties (it can kill P. acnes and S. aureus bacteria). It has moderate comedolytic (preventing comedones) and keratolytic (treating warts and lesions) effects (4).
If you are interested in trying natural acne treatment remedies, I am here for you. These natural remedies may not be as effective as acne medications, but they do not have any side effects. Let’s take a look at them.
1. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil has an anti-inflammatory effect that has a positive effect on improving acne, especially mild to moderate acne. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 60 patients found that 5% topical tea tree oil was 43.64% effective in reducing acne inflammation (after six weeks of treatment) (5).
2. Green tea
Green tea contains polyphenols that, when taken orally or applied topically, help reduce sebum production and treat acne. In a single-blind, randomized trial, researchers used 2% tea lotion to treat acne. 85% of subjects experienced a significant reduction in acne (50% reduction), while 15% did not respond to treatment (6).
Self-care is equally important for improving acne. If you don’t care for your skin properly and neglect it, no medication will help. Here are a few tips you can follow to take care of your skin:
Cleanse your skin twice daily with a gentle cleanser. Don’t overdo it as this can further irritate your skin.
Always clean your face or the affected area with warm water. Never use hot water.
Avoid exfoliating your face as the friction can worsen your inflammation.
No touching, no picking – because that slows down healing.
Avoid wearing makeup on your skin. However, when applying makeup, look for non-comedogenic products. Avoid using too much of the product.
protip_iconDid you know?
Including mulberries, peanuts, and red grapes in your diet can help in effectively treating hormonal acne due to the resveratrol they contain (7).
Your diet is also related to your acne condition. Although diet may not cause hormonal acne, it can certainly make it worse. Dietary fats and carbohydrates can increase sebum production. It was found that people who followed a low glycemic index diet did not suffer from acne (8). Using apple cider vinegar, turmeric, aloe vera, and witch hazel as a spot treatment can also provide relief and treat associated redness.
Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin C serums are some other important products you can use to treat acne. Here is a list of foods you should avoid to prevent your acne from getting worse.