Among the many causes of hormonal acne, one of the more common factors is fluctuations in hormones that occur during menstruation. However, there are also other causes for hormonal acne. Here, you’ll learn about some of them.
Menstrual dryness. While most of us are familiar with the discomforts that come with irregular periods – cramping, painful intercourse, and swelling – very few women are familiar with the discomforts that come with hormonal acne cycles. During ovulation, the levels of several hormones fluctuate within the body. Among those that experience significant variations are progesterone and estrogen. As such, wear sunscreen during these times of increased activity because dryness can lead to serious skin irritation and even acne.
Whiteheads and blackheads. Although we usually associate whiteheads and blackheads with acne vulgaris, which is the most common type, they can also appear during the latter stages of pregnancy. This is because hormonal acne manifests itself most commonly during this time. Because the nose, chin, and cheeks are the areas of the face that are most exposed during the menstrual cycle, hormonal acne is particularly noticeable during this time. While pregnant women should still take care to wear sunscreen and use a variety of acne fighting strategies, there are ways to reduce the severity of whiteheads and blackheads that do appear.
Excessive androgens. As mentioned above, high levels of male hormones (including testosterone) can trigger acne outbreaks. However, another hormone that can cause hormonal acne is androgens, which are the male hormones that cause growth in both men and women. The androgens that cause acne have to be converted into testosterone by the liver; the conversion is not complete, however, so these hormones can still end up in the body, causing acne.
Pimples and whiteheads. Although the hormones responsible for pimples and whiteheads are different than those that trigger acne vulgaris, blackheads and whiteheads still appear during the course of a woman’s menstrual cycle. When these pimples and whiteheads appear, a woman should wash her face very well in order to remove the excess hormones from her body.
It’s important to note that although hormonal acne can leave scars, most of these symptoms will go away on their own within a couple of months. If scarring does occur, it’s best to consult a dermatologist to ensure that the symptoms aren’t caused by something else. However, in many cases, these like symptoms go away without needing any medical intervention.