|
Help! I've Got Hormonal Acne!!! What do I do!?!?!?! |
I was really
inspired to do this blog post because I recently had a bout of hormonal acne
myself. It’s been so long since acne was an issue for me I’d forgotten just how
annoying and emotional a problem it can be. Growing up, I had acne like every
other pre-teen and teen going through hormonal changes but by the time I was
driving my skin had cleared up and I had only the occasional breakout-usually
around “that time of the month.” My skin type is combo/oily with most of the
oily concentrated on the “T” zone and chin area so I still have the occasional
breakout but I wouldn't say that I suffer from chronic acne. Hormonal acne plagued me around the time my
period would come to visit until a few years ago when, for medical reasons, my
doctor decided to suppress those times of the month. This month, however, I
missed a few days of my medicine which does this and I experience a lovely
outbreak of hormonal acne. In this post
I want to talk about what acne is, what treatments (products) can be used to
heal acne, and also some practical steps we can take in our day to day lives to
help prevent acne outbreaks. Here we go.
So what
exactly is acne? Acne breakouts (blemishes) happen when a pore gets clogged
which results in oil accumulated under the skin. That is the simplest
explanation I can give. For a more detailed description check out
this link. . Most people will deal with acne in their teen or preteen years when they go
through puberty. Some people will deal with acne chronically throughout most of
their lives. Sixty-three percent of acne prone women will experience what is
referred to as hormonal acne around “that time of the month.” (reference on
hormonal acne below)
Well, now
that we know what acne is, what can we do about? There are medical treatments,
both prescription and “over the counter”, to help treat breakouts as well as
prevent them. Most of these come in the form of systems which work together as a
team to help heal your complexion as well as prevent future breakouts. The main
ingredient in most acne treatments is either salicylic acid or benzyl peroxide.
Some people, for whatever reason, respond best to one or the other while others
can use either or a combination of the two and have great results.
Click here for benefits of Salicylic Acid vs Benzyl Peroxide
Listed below
I’ll have some drugstore and high end acne system options as well as the
websites explaining each one specifically so you can better choose which system
may be best for you. If you find you need a little extra help or the over the
counter treatments don’t seem to help your skin issues, I recommend you see a
dermatologist in your area. These are doctors specially trained to treat any
and all skin conditions or disease.
Beyond
medical and over the counter treatments, there are several practical steps you
can take to help prevent or reduce your acne breakouts. Here are some of my
favorites and ones I’ve found to be helpful myself.
1. Wash Your Face
Your skin is not only oily and possibly laden with acne
bacteria, it is also catching all the dirt, dust, and pollution you encounter
at any given moment during the day. If you’ve ever worn glasses think about how
many times per day you have to clean your glasses. Well all of that is on your
face too! Dust falls everywhere and it is not selective as to where it lands.
Be sure you wash your face with a cleanser specially formulated for your
specific skin type at least twice per day.
2. Oil-Absorbing Sheets
These little guys are a lifesaver to anyone with oily skin.
I never leave home without them. I even keep a package of them on my makeup
table. They are simply little sheets of thin paper you press on your oily skin
throughout the day and they will soak all that oil up without removing your
makeup. These are great for guys too. Guys probably will feel a little more
comfortable with an oil-blotting sheet than any type of mattifying powder. They
are available pretty much anywhere and cost as little as a few dollars. Most
skin care and makeup brands carry some type of them as well.
3. Wash Your Pillowcase
This one is so practical and makes so much sense
but most people never really think of it. Pillow cases are most often made of
cotton and cotton soaks up moisture. Your cotton pillow case not only soaks up
the moisture in your face, it soaks up the bacteria and everything else too.
Once you lay your clean face on your pillow each night, all the bacteria,
sweat, and skin cells soaked up on your pillow case on the previous nights are
just redeposited back onto your face. To help keep this contamination at bay,
wash or change your pillow case at least once per week. I know of some girls
who change it every night. While you may not want to go to such lengths, its
important to keep in mind that the oilier and more acne prone your skin, the
more often you will want to take this simple but extremely beneficial step.
4. Exercise
This seems like it might be an oxymoron. I mean, if
you exercise, aren’t you sweating and getting your face dirty? Well, yes, but
please note suggestion #1 above. Exercise helps your skin by increasing the
blood flow to your skin and thereby nourishing your skin’s cells.
Click here for more info on Exercise & Acne.
On top of that, people who exercise tend to add
more healthy habits to their lives, such as healthy eating , which brings me to
#5.
5. Eat healthy and limit sugar, dairy, and greasy
foods
The more healthily you eat the more healthy you
will be all over, including your skin. Foods high in sugar, dairy, and grease
(oil) will increase your chances of acne breakouts. Add more vegetables,
especially cabbage type greens (broccoli, etc) to your diet and watch your face
reap the benefits just as much as your waistline!
6. Drink more water
This goes along with the suggestion above but I
thought it could also stand alone in that drinking water not only rehydrated
and replenishes you, it also helps to flush out your system and cleanse you of
acne-causing toxins. Drinking water instead of soda and sugary juices is a
great way to help clear your complexion as well as put you on the road to a
healthier you. If you have trouble with the “taste” of water (or
lack thereof) try green tea or adding a flavoring to your water. Infusing your
water with fruit is another great way to enhance the flavor of water and it can
add extra antioxidants too.
7. Keep your hands off your face
This one is so hard for me! I’m like the thinking
man. I’ve always got my hands on my face in thought or while I’m looking at the
computer. The oil, dirt, and various and sundry other grossness on your hands
needs to stay off your face. Think about it, we anti-bacterialize, sanitize,
wash, and air or disposable towel dry our hands to reduce germ exposure and our
hands are so much tougher than our face. What on earth are we putting on our
face each time we touch it!?! Yuck. Keep your hands off your face.
8. Limit Sun Exposure
This is a good idea for several reasons. One is the
risk of skin cancer. Another is to prevent acne flair ups. Sun exposure can
cause your skin to dry out and if you are oil or acne prone this will cause
your skin to try and make up for the lost moisture by producing extra oil.
Think of it this way, if you get poked in the eye, what happens? Your eye trys
to protect itself by watering excessively.
This is also what happens when oily and acne prone skin is overly dry.
On top of that, most acne medications are not suitable for sun exposure and may
increase your skin of burning. Make sure you use an SPF sunscreen specifically
for the face when in the sun.
9. Be mindful of your hair products.
Many times the fragrances and other ingredients
found in shampoos and conditioners as well as hairsprays and other styling
products do not mix well with problematic skin. Be sure to rinse your shampoos and
conditioners out completely before you get out of the shower and be mindful of
how you apply your hairsprays. Using all-natural hair products can reduce this
risk.
10. Exfoliate
Get the dead skin off. You don’t have to overdo it or
irritate your skin further but exfoliating your face can keep those dead skin
cells from settling in and clogging your pores. Once or twice a week with a
gentle scrub is all it takes. Of course, if you seem to have issues with scrubs
or masks, be sure to seek the advice of your dermatologist who may have some
more suitable options for your specific skin type.
Well, there
you go! I hope this well helpful for you and you understand what acne is and
how to treat and prevent it better. If you have any questions, feel free to
post them below. Feel free to leave any more suggestions in the comments below
as well. I will have product links and information below. Let me know if there
is a skin care subject you would like more information on and I’ll be happy to
help any way I can.
Have a great
day, Gorgeous!
Neutrogenia (They
do have complete systems available. This is a link to their acne information
& product center.)
Click Here for Link
FTC Disclaimer: This video is not sponsored. None of the
above links are sponsored or affiliate links. However, I do receive retail
profit when someone purchases from MY personal Mary Kay website. As always, if
you already are being serviced by a Mary Kay consultant, PLEASE, buy from her. See the information below if you would like a
Mary Kay Consultant in your local area. I am in the Triangle area of North
Carolina.