Hi, I wrote a post about my skin a couple or months ago and it's still really getting me down. I went to a spa and a woman said that my skin is not oily or dry, it's just a normal skin type so she supposed that it's just hormones. If this is the case how can I control it? Thank you :)
My first question to you would have to be how many breakouts you are getting and when. If your breakouts are around the time in which your menstrual cycle occurs and are around certain areas of the skin (across the jawline for example and near the chin) then I would most likely say that the explanation for your breakouts is definitely hormonal.
If however your skin breaks out regularly and all over the face, then I would say that it is not hormonal. But for now, let me provide advice to you on hormonal acne.
I had hormonal acne too, and there are a range of different things you can do. Here are a few of my suggestions to you:
1. Watch What You Eat/Drink
Watch what you eat before your menstrual cycle. Around this time, many girls crave salt and sugar related foods, which is definitely not good for the skin. Try and eat a lot of fruit/vegetables and drink green tea around this time. Enriching your body with vitamins is going to cleanse it, and will also make you feel a lot better around the time of your menstrual cycle if you have problematic/painful periods. Eating lots of sugar and salt can making you feel bloated throughout your cycle, and will also lead to a very unhappy bowel (which you don’t want!).
Green tea, or peppermint tea, is great for cleansing the body and also relaxing it. These teas have many antioxidants that also help oxygenate your skin. Make sure you drink lots of water as well. You could also try drinking lemon squeezed into water throughout the day - this is absolutely fantastic and has been my go to for when I’m having a breakout. Lemon water cleanses the liver (which is very important) and also relieves blemishes, whilst removing them!
Around the time of the menstrual cycle, I myself can feel slightly on edge and at times extremely stressed out and frustrated by the smallest things. Stress is also a key cause of breakouts. It’s easy enough for me to just tell you to “stress less”, however let me tell you how!
Meditation is a life saver and can be used throughout your life, anytime. Meditation relaxes and calms you, whilst scientifically proving to make you more happy. Meditation for even 5 minutes can help you. There are heaps of tracks and apps that you can download onto your phone that will take you through a series of breathing exercises - they’re really fantastic.
Remember to also get lots of sleep - this is when the skin repairs itself and needs time to do so!
Depending on how bad your acne is and how much it really bothers you if it is hormonal, you could consider going on medication. I’m not talking about hard core antibiotics or anything, but you could consider going on a type of contraceptive pill.
There are contraceptive pills that are designed for acne and particularly hormonal acne. You can get strong or weaker versions of the pill that are catered for all types of body chemistries. I’m on a pill myself for my acne, and it’s a very weak dose which has worked me wonders. The great thing about it too is that you can go off of it anytime. Of course, you’ll have to see a doctor to be prescribed any sort of pill. However, as I said, depending on how bad the breakouts are and how much they bother you, medication may not be for you!
Make sure that you clean your skin regularly, the right way and with the right products. Cleaning your skin is essential when going through a hormonal period. You may not be using the right products catered for your skin however this is easily fixable, especially if you have normal skin!
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask! Please note however that I cannot reply to comments made on this post.
