Why Does Skin Break Out Before Periods
Many women notice pimples popping up right before their period starts. This happens because of changes in hormones during the menstrual cycle.
In the week leading up to your period, levels of estrogen drop while progesterone and testosterone rise. These shifts tell your skin’s oil glands to make more sebum, the natural oil that keeps skin soft. Too much sebum mixes with dead skin cells and clogs pores, trapping bacteria inside. This leads to inflammation, redness, and those annoying breakouts, often deep and painful ones along the jawline, chin, or lower cheeks.[2][3][4]
Hormonal acne like this is common in women aged 20 to 40, and it tends to cluster in the lower face rather than the forehead or nose. The pimples feel tender because they form deeper under the skin as cysts or nodules. They heal slower than regular zits and can leave marks if not cared for.[2][3]
Stress can make it worse. When you are stressed, your body releases cortisol, a hormone that boosts oil production even more and weakens the skin’s protective barrier. This creates a mix of oily buildup below the surface and dryness on top, making skin prone to more irritation.[1]
Certain foods might play a role too. High sugar items like sodas and sweets, or dairy products, can spike insulin and trigger extra oil. Lack of sleep or harsh face washing strips the skin, causing it to overproduce oil in response.[3]
These breakouts are tied to the luteal phase of your cycle, the time after ovulation and before your period. Not everyone gets them, but if you do, tracking your cycle can help spot the pattern.
Sources
https://www.trummed.com/info-detail/not-just-pms-when-cortisol-quietly-triggers-your-breakouts
https://www.drbatras.com/hormonal-acne-what-causes-it-and-how-to-treat-it
https://www.tuftsmedicine.org/about-us/news/acne-over-30
https://www.henryford.com/Blog/2025/12/Transitional-skincare
