Can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em. But when your hormones start wreaking havoc on your skin and causing crazy breakouts, it becomes a battle. As per experts like Healthy Remedies, hormonal acne can be tough to deal with. Those painful under-the-skin cysts hurt, and the constant pimples make you feel self-conscious.
While dermatologists often prescribe medications for hormonal acne, the side effects or cost may concern you. Luckily, some natural steps are treating hormonal acne naturally. Let’s check them out.
Step 1 – Adjust Your Diet
You’ve probably heard the saying, “You are what you eat.“ Well, it’s true. Your diet influences your hormone balance and acne breakouts.
Certain foods make hormones fluctuate more, triggering acne. These include:
- Dairy – milk, yogurt, cheese (go easy on the mac n‘ cheese.)
- Sugar – soda, candy, desserts
- Greasy foods – fries, chips, pizza
Instead, focus your diet on acne-fighting foods:
- Leafy greens – spinach, kale (with some olive oil & lemon…yum.)
- Salmon – an excellent source of skin-loving omega-3s
- Flax and chia seeds – pack an anti-inflammatory punch
- Turmeric – helps regulate those wacky hormones
Drinking spearmint or green tea can also reduce androgens that cause hormonal acne. Basically, eat clean to keep your skin clear.
Step 2 – Take Helpful Herbal Supplements
Along with your healthy diet, some herbs and botanicals can reduce acne when taken as supplements. These include:
- Evening primrose oil: Helps balance hormones.
- Bacopa: An Ayurvedic herb that decreases stress hormones.
- Saw palmetto: Blocks excess testosterone production, causing breakouts.
- Guggul: An anti-inflammatory that regulates oil gland function.
Always check with your doctor before starting new supplements, especially if you take other medications. The natural route is the way to go.
Step 3 – Use Gentle Skincare Products
The golden rule for keeping hormonal acne-prone skin clear is to be GENTLE.
Avoid harsh exfoliants, astringents, or scrubs that can irritate skin. These may do more harm than good.
Instead, look for products with soothing ingredients like:
- Aloe vera: Soothes red, inflamed breakouts
- Green tea: Calms irritation and reduces inflammation
- Hyaluronic acid: Provides moisture without clogging pores
- Tea tree oil: Has natural antibacterial benefits
Wash with gentle cleansers and use light oil-free moisturizers. Handle your skin delicately to keep it calm.
Step 4 – De-Stress Your Day
In case you didn’t know, stress messes with your hormones big time. So, finding healthy ways to bust stress is key for hormonal acne warriors.
Make time for relaxation every day with stuff like:
- Yoga: Helps release tension and center your mind.
- Meditation: Calms worried thoughts that spike stress hormones.
- Journaling: Allows you to process emotions rather than bottle them up.
- Laughing: Some good belly laughs reduce cortisol.
Reduce negative self-talk about your skin, too. Stress only makes breakouts worse.
Step 5 – Talk to Your Doc About Spironolactone
If natural options don’t clear up hormonal acne, some doctors may prescribe spironolactone. This diuretic med blocks androgen receptors to reduce breakouts. While it works well for many, potential side effects include dizziness and raised potassium levels. So, medical monitoring is required, which is why natural steps are first. But for stubborn cystic acne, spironolactone can get to the hormonal root of the problem. Discuss options with your derm or doctor.
Conclusion
With patience and some hormone-balancing TLC, you can send those pesky hormonal breakouts packing. Keep trying different natural tactics until you find what works for your unique skin. You’ve got this.
