Hormonal acne is often experienced in the form of more intense breakouts on the face (especially the chin area), neck, chest and back. It occurs when there are hormone fluctuations, such as puberty or perimenopause which cause increased sebum production. Contrary to popular belief, hormonal acne can occur at any age, and if you've struggled with it, you'll know how stubborn it can be! Some other causes hormonal acne are oral contraceptives and stress which can also affect your skin. It's one of the forms of acne we get asked about most often! Here are some ways you can clear up hormonal acne:
1) Eat a healthy diet
The first step in trying to get hormonal acne under control is eating a healthy diet. The right foods can balance out hormone levels, increase the production of serotonin and keep your skin clear. Certain hormonal acne is exacerbated by eating sugar; for these breakouts, it's important to eat plenty of greens, protein, omega-3 fatty acids and zinc.
2) Drink lots of water
Drinking lots of water is one of the best ways to get hormonal acne under control. Stagnant water can breed bacteria and other microbes, which can aggravate hormonal acne, but drinking lots of water will flush out toxins and keep your hormonal levels in check.
3) Get good sleep
Getting good sleep is also a great way to clear up hormonal acne. Sleep deprivation can cause hormonal changes that lead to breakouts. Studies have found that when people with hormonal breakouts got enough sleep, their skin improved significantly. It's important to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night, and when you do have trouble sleeping it's best to avoid caffeine after noon or alcohol before bedtime as they can disrupt your sleep cycles. We love using an all natural, herbal melatonin spray like Sleep Now to support restorative sleep with no morning grogginess.
4) Take probiotics
Probiotics can be a powerful hormonal acne fighter. These beneficial bacteria can keep hormonal levels in check, balance out your skin's pH and restore hormonal imbalances to clear up hormonal acne. Here at Keeva Organics, our team's favorite probiotic is this one from Newport Natural Health. It's microencapsulated, which means over 10 billion good bacteria arrive in your gut alive and well—delivering 5 times the probiotic power. This microencapsulation technology protects against changes in temperature and more importantly, the powerful acids in your stomach.
5) Try medicinal mushrooms
Medicinal mushrooms have hormonal benefits. It can help balance hormones, it has antioxidants and phytonutrients that fight free radicals; it can also help boost the immune system. Medicinal mushrooms like chaga, cordyceps and reishi are known to improve hormonal acne!
These mushrooms also have powerful immune boosting benefits that fight free radicals in both the body and skin, which will help reduce hormonal breakouts. Cordyceps mushroom extract has been shown to prevent acne by inhibiting testosterone synthesis; studies at the University of Malaya found that cordyceps extract was more effective than hormonal creams at clearing hormonal acne. If you're interested, try this organic blend of reishi, shiitake, maitake, lion’s mane, chaga and cordyceps from Our Botanicals.
6) Use tea tree oil skincare
Tea tree oil is an essential oil made from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia plant. Tea tree oil, also known as melaleuca oil, has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that make it a super effective acne treatment. It can kill bacteria like acne-causing p. acnes which will help reduce whiteheads and blackheads forming, as well as treating existing ones. Don't store tea tree oil near heat or light as it can start to degrade and lose its effectiveness.
Check out the 400+ 5 star reviews on our 3-in-1 kit and say buh-bye to acne today!
Now that you're armed with these six strategies, it's time to get started on clearing up your hormonal breakouts. What's your favorite way of clearing up hormonal acne? Share with us in the comments below!
Bonus Tip: How To Remove Acne Scars Effectively
Once you've got your hormonal acne under control, you'll likely want to smooth out the scars it's left behind. If you're looking for the best acne scar fading treatment, look no further than the Acne Scar Removal Treatment Cream. We welcome you to read some of the hundred of five star reviews!