How To Treat Hormonal Acne Naturally & Skincare Products

Hormonal acne is a type of late-onset acne that affects mostly adult women. Unlike teenage acne, hormonal acne can persist for several years, starting around age 25 and beyond. It often flares up during the menstrual cycle and is most noticeable around the jawline. This type of acne can be quite painful, cystic (large nodules), and inflamed.

If left uncontrolled or untreated, hormonal acne can lead to scars that are difficult to treat. It may also cause post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation or dark spots. If you’re dealing with hormonal acne, it’s important to understand that it follows a cyclical pattern, meaning breakouts can appear one day and fade the next. This is why it’s crucial to follow up with your dermatologist rather than attempting DIY treatments.

The reason you should not DIY anything about hormonal acne is that there is an internal component that drives it. It requires medical attention to be properly managed. Also, having hormonal acne doesn’t necessarily mean you have a hormone imbalance; your hormone levels may be normal, but your skin is simply more sensitive to them compared to those who don’t experience hormonal acne.

Before I get started on how to treat hormonal acne naturally and skincare products, it is important to know what hormones are and which hormones cause hormonal acne.

What Are Hormones?

Hormones are basically little chemicals that travel around our bodies, telling different parts of our bodies what to do. There are various types of hormones, including:

• Ghrelin – It tells us we are hungry.
• Oxytocin – Promotes feelings of love, bonding, and connection.
• Somatotropin – A growth hormone that helps the body grow and develop.
• Melatonin – it tells us to sleep and to wake up
• Estrogen and Testosterone – they are basically sex hormones. It is important for us to learn about these hormones because they contribute to hormonal acne.

Signs Of Hormonal Acne

Hormones and acne are connected, and you can often tell if your acne is hormonal by observing certain patterns on your face. Here are three key signs:

1. Your acne is mainly around your lower face, especially the chin and the jawline. We can suspect that your acne is hormonal
2. You get flares and breakouts during your menstrual cycle
3. You have other symptoms linked to hormonal changes, such as unusual cravings, mood swings, or irritability.

6 Primary Hormones That Cause Hormonal Acne

1. Androgen

Androgens are male hormones, although both biological males and females have them. I have them, you have them, everyone has them. When androgen levels are elevated, they stimulate the sebaceous glands (the oil-producing glands under our skin) to produce more sebum. This excess oil increases the chances of clogged pores, leading to more acne.

The essential role of androgens in stimulating sebum production is backed by clinical evidence:

• People with androgen insensitivity, who lack functional androgen receptors, do not produce sebum and never develop acne.
• When testosterone or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is given systemically, it increases the size and activity of sebaceous glands, leading to more acne.

Severe acne, such as cystic acne, along with symptoms like hirsutism, irregular menstrual cycles, and hair loss, is often linked to elevated androgen levels. Additionally, health conditions like adrenal hyperplasia, PCOS, or certain cancers that cause excess androgen production can also lead to acne.

2. Estrogen

Estrogen is known as the female hormone. Estrogen is very interesting because it has an opposing effect on the skin. It actually reduces sebum production, and it has anti-inflammatory properties. This is why some people experience clearer skin during pregnancy

3. Progesterone

Progesterone is another female hormone. This hormone is also interesting because it does not directly impact sebum production like androgen and estrogen, but it can influence the texture of your sebum. It makes your sebum much thicker and waxier, making it more likely to clog pores.

4. Cortisol

Cortisol is also known as a stress hormone. The more cortisol you have, the more it can cause acne by triggering more inflammation in the body and also triggering the sebaceous gland to produce more oil.

5. Insulin

This hormone uses carbohydrates as energy. When you eat bread or rice, your body breaks them down into glucose, raising your blood sugar levels. Insulin then acts like a key, helping glucose enter your cells for energy or storage, keeping your blood sugar balanced.

6. Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)

IGF-1 is a growth hormone that is released in response to glycemic load to help manage food metabolism. It shares a very similar molecular structure to insulin. When IGF-1 is too high, it stimulates the synthesis of androgens from the adrenal gland and inhibits hepatic sex hormone-binding globulin production, increasing free androgens. This, in turn, drives oil production in the skin. See the pathway below👇

Individuals who are obese or consume diets that are high in processed sugary foods have higher levels of IGF-1 that exacerbate hormonal acne.

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7 Reasons Why You Might Have Hormonal Acne

1. Puberty

The first reason is that you might be going through puberty. During puberty, the body begins producing more hormones, especially DHEAS. This hormone, made by the adrenal glands, gets converted into stronger androgens in the skin. These androgens trigger the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, leading to clogged pores and acne.

2. Menstrual Cycle

During the menstrual cycle, hormone levels fluctuate, which can affect oil production in the skin. Progesterone, a hormone that rises before your period, is thought to influence oil gland activity by competing with an enzyme (5α-reductase) that helps produce androgens. Some researchers believe this contributes to increased oil production and premenstrual acne flare-ups, but it hasn’t been fully proven yet.

3. PCOS

PCOS stands for polycystic ovary syndrome. In PCOS, the ovaries produce too many androgens due to an imbalance in an enzyme called 17α-hydroxylase. This excess androgen disrupts normal ovarian function and affects the skin, leading to acne, excessive hair growth (hirsutism), and hair thinning (alopecia).

4. Pregnancy

Pregnancy can either improve or worsen acne due to hormonal changes. Estrogen, a key hormone during pregnancy, may help reduce acne by blocking androgen activity in the oil glands, limiting androgen production, or controlling genes that affect oil production. However, since it’s unclear how estrogen interacts with oil glands, some women still experience acne flare-ups during pregnancy despite high estrogen levels.

5. Menopause

During menopause, estrogen levels drop while androgen levels remain stable or even become more dominant. This imbalance can trigger increased oil production in the skin, leading to clogged pores and hormonal acne.

6. Stress

Stress triggers the release of cortisol, a hormone that increases oil production in the skin, leading to clogged pores and acne. It also activates the body’s stress response system, which can cause inflammation and stimulate the immune system, making acne worse.

7. Medications

Certain medications, like oral contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, and steroids, can affect hormone levels, leading to increased oil production and acne breakouts.

How To Treat Hormonal Acne Naturally

There are different ways to treat hormonal acne, but it’s important to first visit your dermatologist to determine the root cause. Additionally, consult your dermatologist before making any dietary changes. Be sure to read our medical disclaimer.

1. Avoid These Foods

What you eat can impact acne. Foods high in sugar can spike your blood glucose levels, which then increases insulin levels and triggers androgen production. This leads to more oil production and, ultimately, more acne. Remember the hormonal pathway I mentioned earlier. If you still want some sweetness in your diet, consider sugar alternatives like Monk fruit sweetener.

Another group of foods to avoid is simple carbohydrates or high-glycemic foods, such as white rice, white bread, potato chips, rice cakes and so on. These quickly convert into glucose in the bloodstream, potentially worsening acne. Instead, opt for complex carbs like brown rice, whole-grain bread, oatmeal and healthier nutritional snacks.

Dairy, including milk and milk-derived products, may also be problematic. While research hasn’t confirmed this yet, many people have reported clearer skin after cutting out dairy. It’s worth experimenting to see if it makes a difference for you.

2. Incorporate Hormonal Balancing Teas In Your Diet

1. Spearmint tea – Spearmint tea may help with hormonal acne because it has natural anti-androgen properties, meaning it can reduce male hormones like testosterone that trigger oil production in the skin. Less oil means fewer clogged pores and breakouts. Studies also show that spearmint tea helps reduce excessive hair growth in women with PCOS, a condition linked to hormonal acne. By balancing hormone levels, spearmint tea offers a natural way to manage acne without medication.
2. Dandelion root tea – Dandelion root tea supports liver detoxification, helping the body break down and remove excess hormones like estrogen. This prevents hormone imbalances that can lead to high testosterone levels, which contribute to acne. It also promotes the growth of key ovarian cells that support healthy ovulation, helping to balance hormones naturally. By keeping hormones in check, dandelion root tea may help reduce hormonal acne.
3. Licorice root tea – Licorice root tea helps with hormonal acne by reducing inflammation and blocking androgens (male hormones) that trigger oil production. It works by inhibiting certain enzymes in the ovaries and adrenal glands that produce androgens. When combined with medications like spironolactone, licorice root can enhance its anti-androgen effects, further helping to control acne.
4. Turmeric tea – Turmeric tea contains curcumin, which is a compound that has potent anti-inflammatory properties. While this tea is not a hormone balancer, it does help to reduce inflammation in our bodies.

3. Take Hormone Balancing Supplements

These supplements can help balance hormones and improve acne: Vitamin D, Zinc, Omega-3, prebiotics, probiotics, and evening primrose. They also support menstrual cycle regulation.

4. Incorporate Anti-Inflammatory Foods In Your Diet

Foods like that contain vitamin A, like carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes and so on. Omega 3 fatty acid foods like chia seeds, flaxseeds, walnuts, salmon and so on. Don’t forget zinc, you can get zinc supplements as they are good at killing bacteria-causing acne, and please eat antioxidant-rich foods like berries, kale and green tea.

5. Manage Your Stress Level

Don’t forget that high stress levels can lead to acne, so incorporate ways to manage and reduce your stress level.

How To Treat Hormonal Acne With Skincare Products

Forget anything DIY that can irritate your skin. Use products that are well tolerated by your skin. As far as toners and astringents, you can skip all of that because toners are alcohol based, which can dry out your skin.

Look for basic cleansers that are fragrance-free. Cleanners such as:

• Differin Acne Face Wash
• Eucerin Hydrating Cleansing Gel
• La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser

Get non-comedogenic moisturizers, moisturizers that would not clog your pores or cause breakouts. Such as:

• Cerave moisturizing cream
• CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM
• Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Oil-Free Facial Moisturizer
• Differin Face Moisturizer

Sunscreens include:

• Solbar Shield SPF40
• Biore UV Watery Gel SPF 50 +PA++++
• Nivea Sun Protect Super Water Gel
• EltaMD UV Clear

Hormonal acne will definitely not go away with a skincare routine, you definitely need to see your dermatologist for ongoing management.

Dermatologist Prescriptions For Hormonal Acne

Skincare topicals, such as topical antibiotics like clindamycin, benzoyl peroxide, and dapsone, may be prescribed by your dermatologist based on your acne severity, skin type, or skin tone. You may also be started on topical tretinoin or other retinoids.

While topicals are helpful, they are often not enough for hormonal acne. In some cases, long-term medication may be necessary, including oral antibiotics like doxycycline. Other options include oral contraceptives, spironolactone, and, in severe cases, Accutane.

Conclusion

I hope that you learned new information from this blog post. I know this is a lot of information, so feel free to come back to read again and share with your friends and family who may be struggling with hormonal acne.