SOS for menopausal skin woes

Q:

I thought I left acne behind in my teenage years, but my doctor prescribed hormone replacement therapy (HRT) a few months ago to help with my hot flashes, and now I’m breaking out all along my jawline. I’d like to stick with the HRT, as my hot flashes are so much better, but what can I do about my skin?

A:

Breakouts on the jawline are a telltale sign of acne climacterica, or menopausal acne. The condition often occurs due to an increase in male hormones like androgen, which is responsible for increasing oil production. And while hormone replacement therapy can clear up skin for some women, it has the opposite effect for others, triggering breakouts like you’re experiencing.

The good news is that these skin problems tend to be temporary and will clear up once your hormones settle down. In the meantime, I can recommend a few natural strategies to help tackle the problem.

In a recent study published in the journal Complementary Therapies in Medicine, women who took a

1,500 mg green tea supplement daily had 17 percent less acne than those who took a placebo. The credit goes to EGCG (short for epigallocatechin3-gallate), a polyphenol in green tea that combats acne inflammation. You can get the benefits by supplementing or drinking 12 oz. of green tea daily.

Also smart: Use a cotton swab to dab tea tree oil on blemishes. Australian researchers found the oil is as effective at treating acne as benzoyl peroxide (the active ingredient in many over-the-counter treatments)— without the irritation it can cause.

If these remedies don’t work for you after a few weeks, I suggest making an appointment with a dermatologist, as you may need prescription medication to treat your skin.