Acne is treated as a common skin issue that mostly happens to everyone, irrespective of gender. However, hormonal acne is most likely to occur in teenagers when their puberty hits. During this time, the hormones are at a spike, and breakouts are likely to occur. A lot of people believe that such acne will be gone once puberty is over. But such acne can even be experienced in adulthood due to hormonal imbalance. If you are leaving your acne untreated or are not opting for the right acne treatment, then you can face bigger problems. Seeking professional medical help from a dermatologist can work in your favor for your skin. You will get to know more about hormonal acne and what can be done to treat it in this blog. So keep reading.
Understanding more about hormonal acne
Hormonal acne is majorly faced when there is an imbalance of hormones and hormonal fluctuations are happening in an irregular way. It triggers people between 20 and 50 years and affects areas such as the chest, shoulders, neck, etc. The reason behind hormonal acne can be anything, be it sebum production, clogged pores, or anything else. The pores get clogged due to dirt, bacteria, dead skin cells, etc. Further, it can lead to pimples, cysts, etc.
It is essential to know that hormonal acne can lead to deep nodules and cysts, which can appear for a very long time. The spots, along with hormonal acne, can appear on certain parts of the face and sometimes on the entire face. However, hormonal acne breakouts are not root-treated when the reason behind it is pregnancy, menopause, etc. It can even appear after discontinuing birth control, or due to family history, testosterone treatment, PCOS, etc. The other factors that can make hormonal acne really bad are pollution, stress, blemishes, lack of proper diet, etc.
What can be done to self-treat hormonal acne?
It is evident that a common person is always going to try out some self-treatment methods for hormonal acne. Some of the self-treatment methods that can be opted for are:
- Opt for a gentle skincare routine
It is better to clean your face twice a day with the help of a mild cleanser and lukewarm water. Also, opt for oil-free moisturiser, high SPF sunscreen, and try to use skincare products that are non-oily so that your hormonal acne can be controlled.
- Consume a healthy diet.
When you are facing hormonal acne, it is essential not to consume high-glycaemic-index foods. Along with this, it is essential to cut down your dairy consumption and opt for low-inflammatory food options. You can even consume antioxidant-loaded food options.
- Opt for a healthy lifestyle.
Your lifestyle also matters when you have hormonal acne. It is essential that you follow the right lifestyle, which involves stress management, proper hydration, not picking up your pimples, taking regular showers after sweating or workout routines, etc. All these tiny lifestyle changes can allow you to control your acne breakouts.
- Over-the-counter acne treatment
If there is a mild acne breakout, then it can be effective to use over-the-counter acne treatment such as retinoids, salicylic acid, etc. They are effective in unclogging the pores.
- Natural remedies
If you wish to follow natural remedies, then the effective solutions can be using tea tree oil, aloe vera, etc. You can do a patch test or simply try them on your acne to see whether they work or not.
How can dermatologists be beneficial with hormonal acne?
Opting for a hormonal acne treatment plan that is specially curated by a dermatologist can prove to be beneficial, such as:
1. Topical treatment
If you are facing mild to moderate acne, then it can be treated with the help of topical treatment options such as retinoids, antibiotics, etc.
- Retinoids are known to be beneficial in exfoliating the skin and reducing keratinocyte proliferation. They can even help in reducing inflammation. With its help, acne can be cleared and inflammation can be reduced.
- Benzoyl peroxide has various effects such as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, mild-sebostatic, etc.
- Antibiotics can be helpful in killing the bacterial growth that is available on the skin’s surface and leads to clogging of pores.
- Azelaic acid or salicylic acid are highly effective skin treatments. They can help in exfoliating the skin while working on clogged pores.. It is even beneficial in killing bacteria that cause acne and minimizes inflammation.
2. Oral medication
If there is a situation where topical treatment fails to show the positive results, then dermatologists are going to opt for oral antibiotics, hormone supplements, androgen-blocking receptor medication, etc. Also, isotretinoin can be opted for severe acne, which is known to be effective in minimising sebum production, enhancing cell turnover, and minimising skin cell debris.
3. In-person procedures
There are certain factors of hormonal acne, like pain, scarring, etc., which can be handled with in-office or in-person procedures, such as:
- Chemical peeling
In this process, there is the use of the best acid solution, which can help in controlling skin trauma, dead skin cell removal, and minimising sebum production.
- Light or laser therapies
They are highly effective in minimising skin inflammation, sebum production, and even help in killing the bacteria that cause acne. Thus, the overall acne appearance can be improved.
- Comedone extraction
Comedones, which are blackheads or whiteheads, are handled by dermatologists with the help of comedone extraction.
Conclusion
Treating your skin the right way is highly essential. However, due to certain lifestyle methods, sebum production, and hormonal issues, acne can start to appear on the skin. Hormonal acne is highly common nowadays and can be handled with the help of various self-help treatments. However, if they are not being effective, then you can opt for skin treatment with the help of dermatologists. The experienced and knowledgeable dermatologist is going to offer you the right hormonal acne treatment, which will show positive results. Puri Skin Clinic can be beneficial in treating your hormonal acne. We have a team of professionals who are experienced in handling hormonal acne along with other issues. With Puri Skin Clinic, you can experience acne-free skin which is smooth and radiant.