How to Fight Hormonal Acne in Women

Both men and women can suffer from acne through out their teens and often in to adulthood. However, women may be a little worse off where acne breakouts are concerned due largely to both the amount and type of hormones produced in women's bodies. Often, these hormones become imbalanced, or over produce, causing more acne to form then would typically be seen.

Some women notice a marked increase in acne breakouts that coincide with their natural cycles. Often, several days before and during their menstrual cycle many women report either an increase in acne in general or an increase in the cystic type of acne. This is due in part to the increase in hormone production that was brought on by their cycles. Women make a certain level of hormones such as Estrogen daily, during their cycles these levels are often doubled. Unfortunately, acne related to hormone production can be the hardest acne cause to effectively treat. More often then not the standard treatment options used by women during typical times do little good in fighting the acne breakouts.

The good news is, there are two easy ways to effectively treat hormone related acne, either in home or with the assistance of a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon. The first step in treating your acne is to determine if you do actually suffer from hormone related breakouts. The simplest way to do this is to track your monthly cycle and make a note of the times you notice more acne break outs then usual, as well as the time you face is clear of acne. By noting the certain times your acne is worse or more frequent you will best know when to treat the acne.

Once you know when your acne will be at its worst, you can take increased measures to treat it at home, either by simply paying extra attention to your normal skin care regimen or by adding a few additional steps to fight off the extra increase in acne production. Some women have success just by adding an oil reducing clay based facial mask to their skin care routine three to four times a week during their heavy hormonal acne periods. However, the best thing you can do during hormonal times is to pay close attention to your skincare routing. Do not skip steps or go to sleep with your make up on, as any added stress to your skin can throw your whole system out of alignment.

If you do not see a noticeable improvement in your hormonal related acne after one to three months of extended home care treatment, you may want to set up a consultation with a dermatologist. Dermatologists can treat the cause, being your hormones, both topically and orally. They can prescribe an oral medication such as hormonal suppressors or even birth control to help reduce the frequency of break outs. They may also offer a topical cream that can be applied during your cycle to control the acne that does appear.

Whatever the cause of your acne, no one should have to suffer with bad skin. By narrowing down the root of your acne problems, you will be better prepared to fight them. Once you know what causes your acne you can start a simple at home treatment today to stop future break outs.