Everything You Need To Know About Hormonal Acne

There are different types of acne, and hormonal acne is one of them. Hormonal acne appears when there is a disruption in the hormonal body balance. Interestingly, about 49% of women struggle with hormonal acne.  Although age plays a role here, chances are women will experience hormonal acne outbreaks during their periods. Either way, the experience is undoubtedly not pleasant, likewise the experience. 

Hormonal acne or “acne” is caused by male hormones, including testosterone and other androgens. Perhaps, you think only men produce testosterone? Women also produce a minimal amount. There are treatments for hormonal acne. These usually involve a mix of safe, effective medications and over-the-counter products, as well as slight readjustments to your lifestyle. These treatments put you in charge of your hormonal acne and ensure the symptoms are less severe. 

This article will discuss hormonal acne in-depth, focusing on its occurrence to the most common symptoms, and how to tackle it.  Read on!

What is Hormonal Acne?

Let’s start by saying all acne out there is hormonal. Acne is a direct result of more hormones, particularly those that stimulate the production of sebum. Sebum is an essential oil that helps in skin lubrication. When sebum is produced in the right amount, the body stays fresh and healthy. Conversely, when the hormone produces more than is required, the unused sebum tends to clog hair follicles. This, in turn, results in acne. 

We all have various sensitivity levels to some hormones. Hence, having an excess amount of these hormones can lead to an acne outbreak in people that are very sensitive to such acne-causing hormones. Alternatively, there could be no reactions if the person is less sensitive to these hormones. 

There are a couple of these acne-causing hormones, but testosterone is the most common. Testosterone is an androgen whose role is to stimulate sebum production, which, in turn, causes your high follicles to clog. 

How Does Hormonal Acne Develop?

The process of acne breakout can be divided into four steps. Each step facilitates the emergence of a noticeable pimple. Let’s take a look at the steps;

Step 1: Hormone Production

It is usual for the body to produce more androgen right before your period. This means the testosterone levels are higher, and subsequently, there is more sebum. An excess amount of sebum causes oilier facial skin.

Step 2: Clogged hair follicle 

The sebum-influenced clogging is such that several hair follicles are painfully joined. This is called “comedones,” which is usually partially blocked (forming a blackhead), or completely blocked (resulting in a whitehead pimple).

Step 3: Bacterial Infection

The clogged hair follicles (comedone) is a thriving space for bacteria.  This leads to a bacterial infection, which ultimately culminates in a painful, irritated pimple. 

Step 4: Inflammation

Once the bacterial infection kicks in, the body immune system becomes active and forces the clogged hair follicle to become red, swollen, and painful.

The timeframe for this four-step process is usually four or five days. Hence, you can expect to see each pimple a few days before its full development.  Furthermore, it only takes four or five days for these pimples to disappear after they first appear clogged and inflamed. So, a hormonal acne outbreak will most likely disappear completely, within a week after the first symptom appears. 

What are the symptoms of Hormonal Acne?

Your hormonal acne outbreak will most likely happen in your face’s T-zone.  The T-zone is that part of your face covering your forehead, nose, and chin. However, hormonal acne pimples can also be found on other parts of the face. 

There is mild hormonal acne, moderate acne outbreak, and the severe hormonal acne.  The mild hormonal acne comes with non-painful whiteheads and blackheads found in outbreaks of about 30 lesions at once.  Mild hormonal acne tends to disappear on its own without treating it. 

Moderate acne results in about 30-125 total acne lesions, where most are large, infected, and inflamed.  When the wounds all become inflamed, red and uncomfortable to touch, such a hormonal outbreak has transitioned to the severe stage. 

Hormonal acne outbreak is capable of causing acne nodules, as well as pus-filled, cystic lesions.  Acne nodules are a group of large, deep-set pimples usually found underneath the skin. The chances of experiencing acne nodules are higher in sufferers of moderate to severe acne, and the best way to combat them is to seek medical treatments. 

How do you treat Hormonal Acne?

The type and extent of treatment for a case of hormonal acne will depend on the severity.  Mild and manageable hormonal acne can be treated with an acne face wash, especially when it is just about the small pimples that appear when your period is close.

More severe cases of hormonal acne will require suitable medical treatment, including antibiotics, isotretinoin, or tretinoin.