Hormonal acne happens when changes in your body hormones make your skin produce too much oil, clogging pores and causing pimples. It often shows up as deep, painful bumps on the lower face like the chin, jawline, and cheeks, especially in adults around menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause, or conditions like PCOS.
You can spot hormonal acne by its location on the lower face and timing, such as breakouts 7 to 10 days before your period starts. These pimples feel tender under the skin, unlike surface blackheads or whiteheads from regular acne. Women get it more often due to shifting hormones, but men can too from testosterone changes. Androgens, which are male hormones everyone has, ramp up oil from sebaceous glands, and too many skin cells can trap oil and bacteria, sparking inflammation.
Several things trigger it. During the menstrual cycle, rising progesterone boosts oil before periods. Pregnancy or postpartum shifts cause surges and drops in hormones. Menopause lowers estrogen, letting androgens take over. PCOS raises androgen levels, often with irregular periods, weight gain, or extra facial hair. Stress pumps out cortisol, worsening oil and swelling. Some medications or starting stopping birth control can play a role too. Even poor sleep, high sugar or dairy diets, or gut issues might make it worse.
For mild cases, start with gentle over the counter care. Use non comedogenic products that will not clog pores, fragrance free cleansers, and avoid harsh scrubs or over washing. Ingredients like salicylic acid exfoliate, benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria, and oil free moisturizers keep skin balanced. Pimple patches or supplements can help at first.
Prescription options work better for stubborn breakouts. Topical retinoids normalize cell turnover and fight inflammation. Topical or short term oral antibiotics cut bacteria. For women, oral contraceptives balance hormones, and anti androgen drugs like spironolactone block excess androgens to lower oil. Severe cases might need isotretinoin, but it requires doctor monitoring. During menopause, non drying retinoids, topical sulfur, or hormone supplements like phytoestrogens can target dry, sensitive skin.
Lifestyle tweaks support treatment. Manage stress to lower cortisol, eat balanced to avoid sugar spikes, get good sleep, and use simple skincare routines. Regular acne treatments might not fully work, so track patterns like cycle timing.
See a dermatologist if pimples persist, hurt, scar, or do not improve after weeks of home care. They diagnose accurately, rule out PCOS or other issues, and tailor plans to prevent damage. Early help leads to clearer skin faster.
Sources
https://www.medicaldaily.com/hormonal-acne-adults-acne-causes-skin-hormones-explained-474128
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.usdermatologypartners.com/blog/types-of-acne/
https://www.tuftsmedicine.org/about-us/news/acne-over-30
https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/beauty/hormonal-acne
https://www.newriverdermatology.com/blog/how-to-manage-hormonal-acne-during-menopause
https://www.westchestercosmeticdermatology.com/blog/adult-acne-why-it-happens-and-how-to-treat-it/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMpW2srUQPQ
