5 Tips on caring for Hormonal Acne

What is hormonal acne?

Acne can be quite confusing, whether you are experiencing it as an adolescent or adult. Although it’s more common in teenagers, it can happen to anyone at any age. Many things can contribute to acne, diet, heredity factors, overproduction of oil, bacteria, stress, medication, and hormonal imbalances.

So what is acne exactly? Acne can be defined as a skin disorder in which hair follicles become plugged up with dead skin cells and oils. This skin clogging situation can result in pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, cysts or nodules.

This common skin concern is most commonly located on the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders. Acne can come and go. It can also leave behind scars and cause emotional distress.

Yet so many people can’t seem to find a treatment that actually works! Most turn to prescription drugs or chemical treatments which dry the skin out and invariably cause the skin to get worse over time.

How can we treat Hormonal Acne

Step 1 Cleansers and Scrubs

Keep your skin clean! I always say that clean skin is beautiful skin. With hormonal acne there is an increase in oil production and this attracts dirt, grime and pollution and if you add make up on top of this then you will end up with clogged and congested skin. It is vital to cleanse the skin twice at night and I usually recommend a lightly foaming cleanser.

Scrubs and polishes are essential to your skin care routine and I recommend using them 2-3 times a week. The exception here is if the skin is very infected then only use a scrub once a week and opt more for enzyme peeling masks.

Step 2 Vitamin A & Salicylic Acid

Vitamin A helps to speed up healing, prevent breakouts and support the skin's immune system and it promotes natural moisturising - which means it helps to hydrate the skin effectively, giving it a radiant glow. It assists in promoting and maintaining a healthy dermis and epidermis; the top two layers of your skin.

Salicylic Acid is a great ingredient to use for hormonal acne as the acid’s ability to cause skin cells to slough off, facilitating new skin cell growth, unclogging pores and removing overgrown skin cells. It also clears the infection and keeps the skin from becoming clogged and congested.

Step 3 Essential Oils

Tea Tree

Using tea tree oil for acne is one of the top things you can do to improve this skin problem naturally, as it is antibacterial and it heals infections. Research even shows that tea tree oil can be just as effective as benzoyl peroxide for the treatment of acne, but with less irritating side effects.

In 2017 a study was conducted by the The Australasian College of Dermatologists, researchers evaluated the combination of tea tree oil gel versus a face wash without the tea tree oil. Subjects applied tea tree oil twice a day for three months and assessed at different points along the way. The study concluded that tea tree oil can significantly improve mild to moderate acne.

And as mentioned earlier, tea tree essential oil has even been shown to work as well as conventional acne treatments, but with a reduced likelihood of unwanted side effects.

Juniper

Juniper has a natural antibacterial and antimicrobial ability, making it one of the most popular natural remedies for fighting skin irritations and infections. It serves as a home remedy for acne and supports beautiful skin. It also has detoxifying and stress-reducing properties that protect the body against toxins that lead to acne.

A 2005 study published in Pharmaceutical Development and Technology states that juniper berry oil has antibacterial activity that serves as an anti-acne topical solution. The antimicrobial activity of juniper berry oil was studied as it made contact with acne vulgare. When used with neat application or after dilution with carrier oils, juniper berry essential oil showed promising anti-acne activity; the modifications did not decrease the antibacterial activity of the oil.

Lavender

Lavender oil has profound benefits on your skin because of its antimicrobial and antioxidant characteristics. It soothes and nourishes the skin — treating acne, healing dry skin, and reducing the appearance of dark spots and scars caused by acne. Other benefits include its ability to reduce stress and anxiety that are associated with acne breakouts in adults and its therapeutic properties that improve your quality of sleep, thereby promoting healthy and radiant skin.

Step 4 Pimple Recipe

This pimple recipe is very effective at heling the skin and fighting infection on the skin. I have given you two options however the second option is a bit more effective and works well on dealing with the stress caused by having acne.

Aloe vera gel has long been known as a powerful, soothing ingredient for skin health. It contains vitamins A, C, E and B12. These vitamins are age-defying, helping to prevent wrinkling of the skin and fight inflammation that helps slow the growth of aging cells. Additionally, it contains antioxidant properties that can rid your skin of damaging free radicals

Ingredients

Tea Tree 12 drops

Aloe Vera Gel 2 Tablespoons

OR

Tea Tree 4 drops

Juniper 4 drops

Lavender 4 drops

Aloe Vera Gel 2 Tablespoons

Method

· Place all ingredients into a small bowl.

· Mix together well and store in an airtight container.

· Apply to the skin morning and night

Step 5 Supplements

Moringa

Moringa is a unique plant because almost all parts and can be used as a source for nutrition and other medicinal properties. It also helps balance hormones naturally. Studies have revealed that moringa powder is loaded with phytochemicals, protein, calcium, beta-carotene, vitamin C and potassium. According to Kuli Kuli, an organization that harvests moringa plants in Africa, gram for gram, the plant contains:

· two times the amount of protein of yogurt

· four times the amount of vitamin A as carrots

· three times the amount of potassium as bananas

· four times the amount of calcium as cow’s’ milk

· seven times the amount of vitamin C as oranges

Evening Primrose Oil

Is evening primrose oil acne clearing? Even though there aren’t a lot of studies to prove evening primrose’s benefits for acne, dermatologists are known to recommend it as part of an anti-acne regimen and first-hand accounts by acne sufferers also celebrate its skin-clearing benefits when used externally and/or internally.

Hormonal acne can be troublesome for many people, especially teenagers who are dealing with fluctuating hormones during puberty. A hormonal imbalance can lead to acne in teens and adults alike, and many people don’t realise that acne can be treated naturally.

In order to treat hormonal acne, you need to tackle the root of the problem — the hormonal imbalance. No topical treatment does that for you; it only treats the already existing pimples or scars. Getting a proper balance of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids from healthy sources (like evening primrose oil) may help to overcome and prevent acne. These fatty acids also play a role in cell structure, improving nerve function and promoting skin elasticity. To take advantage of this evening primrose oil health benefit for hormonal acne, you can take an evening primrose oil capsule daily.

Probiotics

Many avenues of research have examined probiotics benefits for skin. The integrity of gut bacteria is also connected to the development of acne. Since acne sufferers often have elevated inflammatory response as well, keeping inflammation at bay with the regular use of probiotics can provide much-needed relief and result in beautiful, clear skin.

Indeed, research suggests that having a balanced gut environment has benefits for both healthy and diseased human skin.