Hormones are in control of many bodily functions. They help you digest the food you eat, have energy for your day, and get quality sleep. But they’re not all created equal. In fact, some hormones have a tendency to contribute to painful and annoying acne.
With that in mind, it’s crucial to understand how your hormones can influence your skin. That knowledge puts you in the best spot to manage it and reduce the frequency of breakouts. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you navigate your skin journey and fight hormonal acne.
1. Start from the Inside Out
Despite acne being on the surface of your skin, its origin is often from deep within. The food you eat, drinks you drink, and medicines you take all play a factor in your skin’s appearance. So, it’s important to know how your skin reacts to different triggers to limit breakouts. Start by looking at your diet.
For many people, greasy or extremely sugary food, dairy, and seed oils can all disrupt the skin’s appearance. So, try and find out which foods lead to more acne for you. If you breakout after a particularly sugary feast, try cutting that out of your diet and see how your skin reacts. Continue testing your food theories until you’ve confidently identified acne triggers. From there, you’ll be able to more easily prevent future breakouts.
If you have your diet in a good spot and are still struggling with your skin, don’t fret. You can always explore acne medications to further reduce breakouts. Luckily, it’s never been more convenient to get the medication you need. If deemed appropriate, you can order an online acne prescription and it’ll be mailed directly to your home. You’ll save time and be well on your way to clearer, more manageable skin from the inside out.
2. Use Topical Reinforcements
Oily skin, pore-clogging ingredients, and a lacking skin care routine can all make your acne worse. So, it’s important to have a lineup of go-to topical treatments that can fight breakouts on the surface of your skin. Luckily, there are many ways you can tailor your routine to fit your skin’s needs.
The importance of having a good cleansing routine can’t be overstated for those with hormonal acne. You’ll want to find a gentle cleanser that removes sweat, oil, and makeup from your skin. Use this every day to ensure you aren’t leaving any product behind that can clog pores and make acne even worse.
To further boost your acne-fighting efforts, find a salicylic acid product you love. Available in many forms like serums, masks, and moisturizers, salicylic acid unclogs pores, which prevents acne. It pairs well with nearly all products and is a great step to use after cleansing. From there, you can layer moisturizer and eye cream for a perfectly well-rounded routine.
3. Get More Movement
It’s no secret that exercising regularly benefits your body. It can improve bone density, help you maintain a healthy weight, and strengthen your heart. But it can also reduce hormonal breakouts.
When your blood sugar surges, it can cause hormonal acne. This increases insulin and triggers the hormones that control oil glands called androgens. The increased oil production can cause stubborn hormonal acne due to clogged pores. However, working out can stop this process because it evens out blood sugar, meaning you don’t deal with surges as often.
So, find ways to up your daily movement. Whether it’s walking a few miles or getting in a quick strength training session, every bit counts. You’ll reap the benefits of better physical health and equip your body with what it needs to fight acne. Win-win.
4. Manage Stress Levels
Most people know that stress is bad for your body. In addition to causing weight gain and high blood pressure, chronic stress can also show up on your skin. You see, when your cortisol levels spike, the sebaceous glands in your skin produce more sebum. This can clog your pores, causing inflammation and trapped bacteria, which creates stubborn acne. So, finding ways to manage stress levels is vital to managing hormonal breakouts.
If you feel stress coming on, give diaphragmatic breathing a try. This practice of deep breathing ensures oxygen gets to every part of your lungs. With that comes a slower heartbeat and more stabilized blood pressure. The result? A physically more relaxed and less stressed state.
In addition to breathing, try adding other stress-reducing activities to your weekly routine. Talking with a loved one, reading or crafting, and being in nature are all proven to boost endorphins. These feel-good hormones are instrumental in managing pain and boosting well-being. They also fight the effects of stress so you can prevent your hormones from working against you and your skin.
Skin You Can Manage
Unfortunately, there isn’t a cure-all for hormonal acne. Sometimes there are unavoidable internal and external factors that trigger breakouts. However, taking steps to actively balance your hormones can reduce the frequency and intensity of your zits. And that is worth investing in.
