How to Know If You Have Hormonal Acne (& What To Do About It)

Many people suspect they may be dealing with hormonal acne…but exactly how are you supposed to know for sure? Consider this your guide on identifying hormonal breakouts and remedying them from the inside out. 

Hormonal Acne Symptoms

One of the tell-tale signs of hormonal acne is a breakout that forms around the chin, mouth, and jawline. Sometimes, it also spreads down the neck. Most often, these lesions are deeper, painful breakouts that resemble cystic acne. 

Sounds familiar? Then you’re probably dealing with hormonal acne. 

How Do You Know Acne is Hormonal?

That said, the term hormonal acne is often used to refer to two different types of acne: cyclical breakouts around a woman’s period and breakouts triggered by a documented hormonal imbalance. Knowing which type of hormonal acne you’re dealing with will better prepare you to get to the root cause and eradicate breakouts for good. 

Period Breakouts

Even if they don’t have a documented hormonal imbalance, many women deal with breakouts around their period. For some they come with the onset of the period, and others they come 1-2 weeks before the period, like clockwork each month.

Hormones naturally fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle, but why do some women break out around their period, and others don’t? It may be due to how effectively each woman is able to break down and eliminate excess hormones. Our liver is responsible for breaking down excess hormones, and packaging them up to be eliminated through the stool. 

For those with a well-functioning liver and digestive system (meaning, pooping daily and completely), their body seamlessly breaks down excess hormones and eliminates them through the stool. This typically results in skin that is clear all month long.

On the other hand, if the liver is overburdened or digestion is sluggish (think constipation - or going less than daily), these hormones can get reabsorbed back into the bloodstream, contributing to imbalance and breakouts. 

We also have to consider how inflammation (believed to be the main underlying cause of acne) comes into play. During the menstrual phase, the body releases pro-inflammatory cytokines, like Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF alpha) in order to shed the uterine lining. For someone with healthy inflammation levels, this minor boost in inflammation may go by unnoticed. But for someone who is already dealing with chronic inflammation from diet or lifestyle choices, this extra dose of inflammation may push your body over the edge, leading to breakouts. In fact, in a systematic review that looked at 47 acne patients treated with drugs used to inhibit TNF alpha, nearly 94% of them experienced partial improvement or acne clearance. 

Hormonal Breakouts

On the other hand, hormonal breakouts are triggered by a documented hormonal imbalance – particularly imbalances with androgens, such as hyperandrogenism or PCOS.

Excess testosterone and other androgens increase the likelihood of breakouts as they stimulate oil production. Your doctor can confirm your androgen levels with a blood test.

While it’s easy to blame our hormones when we have a hormonal imbalance, it’s important to remember that hormones are messengers. They react to our environment. So if we want to look at hormone imbalances from a holistic perspective, we need to look at our diet and lifestyle habits first, and assess whether any of our habits are contributing to this imbalance. 

While there are many different factors that can lead to higher levels of androgens in the body, diet (including both the foods we eat and don’t eat), gut health, and stress are common ones that can be addressed with habit changes.

Natural Remedies for Hormonal Acne

The key to clearing hormonal acne (whether it be due to your period or a hormonal imbalance) is to get to the root cause. Assess what aspects of your diet and lifestyle may be contributing to the issue, then implement some habit changes. 

Clean Up Your Diet

If you think diet doesn’t affect your hormones, think again. Measuring and maintaining healthy blood glucose levels has been all over social media lately because maintaining healthy blood glucose levels is key to maintaining good health. But the reason it’s so important is because of glucose’s impact on your hormones, including insulin and androgens. 

When our blood sugar is on a roller coaster of ups and downs all day, so is our insulin, which can lead to insulin resistance. But get this: insulin resistance can lead to increased androgen production. In other words, a diet full of refined carbohydrates and sugar (what Nutritionists call a high glycemic load diet) can be driving reproductive hormone imbalance and acne. 

In fact, multiple studies have found insulin resistance in the majority of acne patients. 

The solution? A low glycemic load diet that aids in balancing hormones (specifically reducing excess androgens) and keeping your skin clear. Research has confirmed that this type of diet can help reduce excess oil and acne for clearer skin. 

Improve Gut Health and Digestion

The balance of our hormones is closely connected to our gut. Studies have confirmed that diets lacking in fiber may lead to higher androgen levels, while higher fiber diets can reduce androgen levels. This is likely because of how fiber (and a lack thereof) affects digestion. 

Regularity is key for hormone balance, as our body gets rid of excess hormones through our stool. When constipated, those hormones can be absorbed back into the bloodstream, affecting our hormonal balance.   

With that in mind, it’s important to add plenty of fiber-packed foods to your diet, as fiber supports healthy digestion and promotes regularity. Load your plate with fruits and vegetables (especially brussels sprouts, artichoke, broccoli, raspberries, and apples), beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds. 

Additionally, you can further support your gut health with a daily probiotic supplement like Glow Biome, which is formulated specifically for acne-prone skin. Probiotics improve regularity, which in turn can support hormone balance. And they can even help prevent bloating from adding in all those fiber-rich veggies! 

Lower Stress Levels

Stress can be a major issue for anyone battling hormonal acne. It can have a negative effect on our gut health, and can also disrupt the balance of our hormones. Chronic stress can also lead to persistent inflammation in the body. As we know, all of these factors can contribute to hormonal breakouts. 

For the sake of your skin and your peace of mind, find practices to help you manage stress on a regular basis. Need some inspiration? Here are a few stress-busters to consider adding to your routine: 

• Go on a daily walk
• Attend yoga, barre, or other fitness classes
• Meditate
• Journal
• Chat with a trusted loved one
• Read a book
• Paint, draw, or try a similar creative hobby