Many women notice their skin breaking out more right before or during their period. This happens because of natural hormone shifts in the menstrual cycle that ramp up oil production and clog pores.
Your body goes through a monthly cycle of hormones like estrogen and progesterone. About 7 to 10 days before your period starts, progesterone levels rise. This hormone tells your skin’s oil glands to make more sebum, the oily stuff that keeps skin moist. Too much sebum mixes with dead skin cells and blocks pores, creating the perfect spot for acne bacteria to grow. Those blocked pores turn into pimples, often deep and painful ones along the jawline, chin, or lower cheeks.[1][2][5]
Androgens, which are hormones present in both men and women, also play a big role. These include testosterone. When androgen levels spike during the cycle, they boost oil production even more and cause inflammation. This is why breakouts feel tender and take longer to heal compared to regular pimples.[1][2][4]
The worst flares often hit in the late luteal phase, right before your period, and into the early follicular phase, the first few days of bleeding. Stress, poor sleep, or a diet high in sugar and dairy can make things worse by messing with hormones further.[2][6]
Hormonal acne like this is common in teens, women in their 20s to 40s, and even during pregnancy or perimenopause. If it keeps happening in the same spots around your cycle, it is a sign your hormones are the main trigger.[1][3][4]
Sources
https://drankitmehra.com/blogs/hormonal-acne-causes-treatment-dermatologist-guide
https://www.drbatras.com/hormonal-acne-what-causes-it-and-how-to-treat-it
https://www.allarahealth.com/blog/signs-of-hormone-imbalance-in-women
https://www.tuftsmedicine.org/about-us/news/acne-over-30
https://www.westchestercosmeticdermatology.com/blog/adult-acne-why-it-happens-and-how-to-treat-it/
https://thedermdigest.com/study-this-is-why-acne-clinical-trials-must-consider-menstrual-cycle-phases/
