What Causes Breakouts During Perimenopause
Perimenopause brings hormonal shifts that often lead to unexpected breakouts, even if you never had acne as a teen. These changes happen as estrogen levels drop and other hormones like testosterone rise, throwing your skin out of balance.
The main trigger is fluctuating hormones. During perimenopause, estrogen declines while androgens like testosterone from the adrenal glands can increase. This excess testosterone gets converted into stronger forms like DHT, which ramps up oil production in your skin and clogs pores, causing acne. Breakouts often show up on the chin due to these androgens, or on the forehead from stress-related estrogen and progesterone swings. You might also see painful cystic acne linked to issues like insulin resistance or thyroid problems.
Estrogen plays a big role in skin health too. It helps maintain the skin’s barrier, oil production, and collagen. As it drops, your skin makes less sebum but becomes more sensitive and inflamed, making it prone to hormonal acne alongside dryness or itchiness. This is why breakouts can feel different from younger years, often deeper and more persistent around the lower face.
Other factors pile on. Stress raises cortisol, worsening acne tied to sleep issues or tension. Poor gut health disrupts bacteria in your intestines, which hormones influence, leading to bloating or irregular bowels that indirectly spark skin flare-ups. Foods you eat can trigger episodic acne that comes and goes, especially with these hormone fluctuations.
Lifestyle matters as well. Years of sun exposure or habits like drinking alcohol add to skin sensitivity during this time. Even products like gels or lotions meant to help can clog pores if they are not right for your changing skin.
Sources
https://www.restartmed.com/menopause-acne/
https://news.umiamihealth.org/en/how-to-care-for-your-skin-during-perimenopause-menopause/
https://www.twentyeighthealth.com/sex-health-guide/perimenopause-itchy-skin-causes-treatment-and-prevention
https://seacra.com/blogs/skin-within/why-your-skin-changes-after-40-and-what-to-do-about-it
https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/beauty/hormonal-acne
