DERMAL DILEMMAS
MANDY MOORE Your plan of attack the next time hormonal acne hits
Most of us have suffered from hormonal breakouts in the past or are still battling them now, but when and how they occur can be confusing. Rather than frantically running to the chemist to find something to treat the source, let’s rewind and understand how you can tell the difference between hormonal acne and a normal pimple. Here are some of the best ways to treat it with the help of a few of the industry’s best.
WHAT IS IT?
Hormonal acne or breakouts are stimulated by hormonal changes and imbalances in the body, explains Sydney skin specialist Jacqueline Brennan. “It’s often caused by an imbalance such as a hormonal disorder, excess oestrogen production or coming on and off the pill.”
It’s not just a teenage thing either. In fact, it’s more common in women aged between 30-40 for a number of factors including underlying hormonal imbalances, pregnancy and more.
Lucy Macdougald, dermal specialist and Biologi’s managing director, explains it commonly affects women still menstruating, due to the normal fluctuations of progesterone and estrogen throughout the 28-day cycle. “These shifts in hormone levels can stimulate the production of sebum and acne-causing bacteria, which can cause skin inflammation,” she says.
WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
The location of your breakout can help you identify if it’s hormonal acne. “The chin and jawline is directly linked to the reproductive organs, so hormonal acne will almost always present itself there,” explains Brennan.
According to Macdougald, “Hormonal acne often reappears in the same spot due to oil production patterns, so if you’re noticing a bump continually reappearing in the same area it could be hormonal”.
These breakouts can be anything from just congestion under the skin to painful cystic acne.
DOES DIET PLAY A ROLE?
While we can’t control our natural hormone levels, Macdougald believes what you eat can have an impact. “Products that contain added hormones like cow’s milk can throw off your balance as they’re known to contain both synthetic and natural hormones and this can alter testosterone levels,” she says.
Dr Jo-Ann See, dermatologist at Central Sydney Dermatology, advises that a healthy, low GI diet with few processed foods is best to help manage this type of skin condition.