Like many other skin problems, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for hormonal acne, but when you go to a hospital, chances are you will still leave there with a prescription for hormonal birth control pills. While it is true that this method has helped some people fix their hormonal acne, it doesn’t work for everyone, and it has its side effects.
The good news is that you don’t have to use birth control pills or other pharmaceuticals because you can easily learn how to treat hormonal acne naturally. So, if this is your desire today, keep reading to find the most amazing natural remedies for hormonal acne.
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What is Hormonal Acne?
Hormonal acne is a skin condition common in teenagers and adults, but it can affect people of all ages. This type of acne is caused by fluctuations in hormone levels, which are usually triggered by puberty, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, diet, PCOS, menopause, medication and stress.
Your skin produces sebum, a waxy and oily substance that protects its surface. However, an overproduction of sebum can clog your pores and cause inflammation, which manifests as acne. Some hormones, especially androgens, increase sebum and oil production. So, an imbalance in these hormones or conditions like polycyclic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is characterised by an increase in androgen production, can make you more prone to hormonal acne.
How to Treat Hormonal Acne Naturally
When learning how to treat hormonal acne naturally, there are two categories of remedies to which you must give equal relevance, or else you may not get long-term satisfactory results. First, you need to make some lifestyle modifications to stop getting hormonal acne, and then you need to use some herbs and supplements to treat the hormonal acne you already have.
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1. Lifestyle Changes to Treat Hormonal Acne
- Watch Your Diet:
Studies have shown that what you eat can cause an increase or decrease in certain hormones; for example, if you switch from a diet of saturated fat to one with more polyunsaturated fat and 38% less fat, you can significantly reduce your body’s production of testosterone and androstenedione. This new diet may include leafy vegetables, seeds, algae, nuts, fish, etc.
You can also clear your skin and decrease blood testosterone and certain androgens by consuming lots of fibre and staying off dairy products like cow milk. Safer options for milk include sheep and goat milk.
- Avoid Touching Your Face:
It is common for people to touch their faces many times in a day, not minding the fact that their hands may not be clean; touching your face can transfer contaminants from your hands to your face, and if you also like touching your acne, it may irritate them and make the inflammation worse. So, one way to help your hormonal acne is to avoid touching your face and make sure your hands are clean before applying skincare products.
- Stay Hydrated:
If your skin is dry, it may cause irritation and make acne worse. Therefore, it is important to stay hydrated so that new skin cells can develop properly, especially when the sores from your acne start to heal.
- Reduce Your Stress:
Stress can cause certain hormones like cortisol and androgens to increase; these hormones stimulate oil glands and hair follicles, increasing the risk of acne. So, when learning how to treat hormonal acne, it is vital that you also learn how to manage your stress levels.
- Use Oil-Free Skin Care Products:
Aside from the natural sebum and oil that your skin produces, using oil-based or greasy skincare products can increase the oil on your skin, block your pores and increase your risk of clogged skin and acne. So, when buying skincare and cosmetic products make sure they are labelled oil-free or non-comedogenic.
- Use the Right Cleanser:
Some soaps have high acidity that can irritate the skin and cause acne, so always use mild washes to reduce your risk of acne flare-ups.
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2. Use of Herbs and Supplements to Treat Hormonal Acne
- Green Tea:
Antioxidants help the body break down certain waste products and chemicals that can cause problems for healthy cells, and green tea has been found to contain high concentrations of catechins, a group of polyphenol antioxidants. When you have too much sebum and oils without enough antioxidants, it will lead to acne, hence the need for green tea. This tea also contains some compounds that can reduce inflammation, skin sebum production and P. acnes, so one way to treat hormonal acne is by taking green tea.
This natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial oil can eliminate the bacteria that cause acne; its anti-inflammatory properties can also reduce the redness and swelling of acne. However, it would be best if you didn’t overuse this so you don’t kill the good bacteria on your skin.
- Aloe Vera:
Aloe vera is another excellent anti-inflammatory and antibacterial plant that may help prevent acne breakouts and significantly reduce the appearance of acne on your skin. It contains zinc, amino acids and some sugar molecules, and it is especially beneficial for people looking to moisturise their skin naturally.
- Jojoba Oil:
Jojoba oil is extracted from the seeds of the jojoba scrubs; it is a natural waxy substance that is very effective for repairing damaged skin. It helps speed up wound healing and acne lesions. Also, some of the compounds have been found to reduce inflammation, thereby reducing swelling and redness of acne and other inflamed lesions.
- Honey:
Honey has been used for many years to treat different skin conditions because it is rich in antioxidants and can quickly clear out pores. Using it on your face can significantly help you reduce the occurrence of acne that may result from clogged pores.
- Rosemary:
Rosemary extracts are rich in antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. It can reduce the risk of skin infections from bacteria, reduce inflammation and eliminate acne-causing bacteria.
- Zinc:
Zinc supplement is popularly known as a very effective method of reducing acne and redness due to their anti-inflammatory properties. It is best when the supplement is applied directly on the skin because when ingested, it can lose its efficacy during digestion.
- Echinacea:
This is also known as purple coneflower, and it contains compounds that destroy bacteria and viruses like p.acnes. Echinacea is also believed to boost the immune system, fight off infections and prevent inflammation. So, it is potent in treating acne naturally.
- Vitex:
Vitex for acne, also known as chasteberry, is very beneficial for women looking to treat acne naturally. It has been used to treat hormonal imbalances for ages, and it is particularly effective for regulating menstrual symptoms that come with low progesterone or high oestrogen. Studies have shown that Vitex can promote healthy hormone levels and treat hormonal acne.
- Coconut Oil:
Coconut oil also contains a rich amount of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory compounds, which may help eliminate acne-causing bacteria and reduce acne inflammation. Coconut oil has a soothing and moisturising effect and can also help speed up the healing of open sores.
- Omega 3 fatty acids:
Like other hormonal acne treatments discussed above, omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA are excellent treatments for hormonal acne. They can balance the hormones that cause acne, such as androgens and testosterone, and soothe the body’s inflammatory response to bacteria and sebum buildup. So, eating foods and taking supplements rich in omega-3 fatty acids is another effective way to treat acne.
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Hormonal acne is very common, but unfortunately, many people never consider hormones when treating their acne, which makes them spend a lot without getting results. So, if you have followed this guide to this point, you are one step ahead to getting smooth and beautiful skin.
Learning how to treat hormonal acne will be one of the best things you have ever done, so go ahead and choose the option that best suits your needs in this guide.
