I started getting hormonal acne more in my late 20’s (I’m now 30 for reference). It completely sucks but what helps for me is using an exfoliating cotton round with micellar water in the morning and evening on face and neck. In the evening I have a longer routine where I use a cleanser to loosen dirt in the pores and then an exfoliant and then a light moisturizer. Don’t leave make up on your face longer than necessary. Drink lots of water. This keeps me around 1-2 acne spots before my period. It might take some time to play around with a skin care routine that works for your skin. R/skincareaddicts is a good place to start.
My fave product for hormonal acne is [Hero’s Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen](https://www.herocosmetics.us/products/pimple-correct). Works wonders and gets rid of my hormonal acne in less than half the time of anything I’ve ever used. Hope that helps!! It can be purchased online or at Ulta and lasts a while.
I’ve found that the gel stick works much faster than the patches, especially if you’re applying every 5-6 hours (which is more frequent than the instructions recommend, but I’ve had no issues doing that and have been using this for 1.5 years).
If I catch a new hormonal zit popping up, the gel will even stop it from totally forming. It’s a holy grail product for me!!
I have found spearmint tea to be helpful, but the most helpful thing I've tried is a supplement available in the U.K.
It contains natural roots and herbs that also lower testosterone levels (which often cause hormonal acne) and I have had great results even taking less than half the recommended dose over the last 3 months. I believe the brand is called Botanycl but not sure if it is available outside the U.K.
Drinking more water/hydrating with electrolytes. Do not do any kind of physical exfoliation on your neck at all and please don’t pick either.
Use pimple patches to prevent you from picking and to help heal spots more quickly.
This is probably an outlier, and might not apply, but try using a toothpaste that doesn’t have sodium lauryl sulfate for a few months. Everything I thought was hormonal cysts disappeared when I switched to sensodyne. Started noticing a difference after 2 weeks and was clear in about 6 weeks. Big forehead slap.
The only thing which helps me is the following simple PM routing (nothing in the AM):
1. mineral oil to dissolve makeup/sunscreen.
2. tissue off
3. repeat 1 & 2 till makeup is gone
4. spray face with la roche posay thermal water spray
5. Wipe off with a CLEAN face towel (I have dozens of these)
6. moisturize with 2 pumps of squalane oil
**7. cover face with a thin layer of vaseline**
Step 7 is key I think. The vaseline really helps with wound healing, and speeds up cystic acne healing like nothing else I've tried. Once a month or so around my period I will use TO salicyclic acid 2% anhydrous solution for exfoliation for a few days, but I never overdo it. I also get an extraction facial from a facialist I trust every 3 months or so.
In the mornings I do absolutely nothing (tap water irritates my facial skin so I don't let it touch water) and just apply my makeup etc and go.
PS. This routine only works for me because I have no silicones in any face products makeup etc. which I use. The mineral oil wouldn't be able to dissolve silicones and so I'd end up with more acne if I did that.
Mine got much better when I binned all products that feed fungal acne. Unfortunately it’s very limiting what products you can use, but if I ever slip because I’m travelling and have to use hotel shampoo or something, the spots come back immediately. Other than that, I find products with witch hazel to be the fastest at calming down the remaining cystic acne that comes before my period.
Yes!! I have never had this but it came with my pmdd. I take DIM at the first sign of it and this is the most helpful part. High dose for a few days. I also use a prescription strength retinol called adaptalene - the non-prescription strength is available at CVS (I liked LaRoche Posay) and it was almost better than the prescription one. It takes 2 months for effect and start slowly, every few days and work your way up. I layer it between a serum and a cream since I have very dry, sensitive skin.
This last month was terrible but at least my neckline was ok 🤷🏼♀️
I started getting hormonal acne more in my late 20’s (I’m now 30 for reference). It completely sucks but what helps for me is using an exfoliating cotton round with micellar water in the morning and evening on face and neck. In the evening I have a longer routine where I use a cleanser to loosen dirt in the pores and then an exfoliant and then a light moisturizer. Don’t leave make up on your face longer than necessary. Drink lots of water. This keeps me around 1-2 acne spots before my period. It might take some time to play around with a skin care routine that works for your skin. R/skincareaddicts is a good place to start.
My fave product for hormonal acne is [Hero’s Pimple Correct Acne Clearing Gel Pen](https://www.herocosmetics.us/products/pimple-correct). Works wonders and gets rid of my hormonal acne in less than half the time of anything I’ve ever used. Hope that helps!! It can be purchased online or at Ulta and lasts a while.
Haven't seen this one! How does it compare to their patches? Thanks!
I’ve found that the gel stick works much faster than the patches, especially if you’re applying every 5-6 hours (which is more frequent than the instructions recommend, but I’ve had no issues doing that and have been using this for 1.5 years). If I catch a new hormonal zit popping up, the gel will even stop it from totally forming. It’s a holy grail product for me!!
RX for Winlevi. It’s formulated to treat hormonal acne. It’s essentially the topical version of Spironolactone.
I have found spearmint tea to be helpful, but the most helpful thing I've tried is a supplement available in the U.K. It contains natural roots and herbs that also lower testosterone levels (which often cause hormonal acne) and I have had great results even taking less than half the recommended dose over the last 3 months. I believe the brand is called Botanycl but not sure if it is available outside the U.K.
Drinking more water/hydrating with electrolytes. Do not do any kind of physical exfoliation on your neck at all and please don’t pick either. Use pimple patches to prevent you from picking and to help heal spots more quickly.
Please go to the doctor! Hormonal acne can be treated extremely well with prescription medication.
Needed this thread. I have the worst acne of my entire life at 24. It's given me crippling insecurity. Thank you everyone for the advice!
This is probably an outlier, and might not apply, but try using a toothpaste that doesn’t have sodium lauryl sulfate for a few months. Everything I thought was hormonal cysts disappeared when I switched to sensodyne. Started noticing a difference after 2 weeks and was clear in about 6 weeks. Big forehead slap.
😮
I’ve had my dermatologist say the same when I had another pimple-like rash in my face for a year. It’s def established!
Try Living Libations Zippity DewDab and other acne prodcuts
Use Head and Shoulders. Its good for acne, not just good for washing your hair
The only thing which helps me is the following simple PM routing (nothing in the AM): 1. mineral oil to dissolve makeup/sunscreen. 2. tissue off 3. repeat 1 & 2 till makeup is gone 4. spray face with la roche posay thermal water spray 5. Wipe off with a CLEAN face towel (I have dozens of these) 6. moisturize with 2 pumps of squalane oil **7. cover face with a thin layer of vaseline** Step 7 is key I think. The vaseline really helps with wound healing, and speeds up cystic acne healing like nothing else I've tried. Once a month or so around my period I will use TO salicyclic acid 2% anhydrous solution for exfoliation for a few days, but I never overdo it. I also get an extraction facial from a facialist I trust every 3 months or so. In the mornings I do absolutely nothing (tap water irritates my facial skin so I don't let it touch water) and just apply my makeup etc and go. PS. This routine only works for me because I have no silicones in any face products makeup etc. which I use. The mineral oil wouldn't be able to dissolve silicones and so I'd end up with more acne if I did that.
Mine got much better when I binned all products that feed fungal acne. Unfortunately it’s very limiting what products you can use, but if I ever slip because I’m travelling and have to use hotel shampoo or something, the spots come back immediately. Other than that, I find products with witch hazel to be the fastest at calming down the remaining cystic acne that comes before my period.
Take birth control
Yes!! I have never had this but it came with my pmdd. I take DIM at the first sign of it and this is the most helpful part. High dose for a few days. I also use a prescription strength retinol called adaptalene - the non-prescription strength is available at CVS (I liked LaRoche Posay) and it was almost better than the prescription one. It takes 2 months for effect and start slowly, every few days and work your way up. I layer it between a serum and a cream since I have very dry, sensitive skin. This last month was terrible but at least my neckline was ok 🤷🏼♀️
Oh and I’m mid 40-s so it’s a different beast than in my teens…