Skincare Routine to Help Stop Monthly Period Breakouts
Hormonal breakouts around your monthly cycle are no fun. You're going along your merry way with near-flawless skin you've worked hard to achieve when every month before your menstrual cycle, bam! Several pesky, sometimes painful pimples rare their ugly heads. You look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself, why is being a woman so hard sometimes?
What Causes Hormonal Period Breakouts?
The biggest culprit is testosterone, an androgen hormone that can stimulate sebum production and clog your hair follicles. Hormonal acne occurs when your body produces more androgens than it needs. Most of the time, this boost in androgen production coincides with a woman's menstrual cycle and appears on the lower part of the face (chin and jaw.) According to this article, even a slight increase in androgens can cause an increase in oil production. So basically, anybody can get it around their menstrual cycle. ANYBODY!
Can Food Cause Breakouts?
According to this report, two types of foods have conclusively been proven to cause breakouts, dairy, and foods with a high glycemic load.
The study showed that higher levels of milk consumption led to a higher risk of acne. It says that milk's fat content is not acne's cause, but suggested that milk hormones affect the sebaceous glands. Increase oil production can, in turn, clog pores and cause bacteria that result in breakouts. If I wasn't already living a dairy-free life, I would stop consumption right now! Can you say #AlmondMilk?
The report further states that foods with a high glycemic load have also been shown to mess with the sebaceous glands, causing them to produce more sebum. The foods in question include baked potatoes, white rice, refined sugars, to name a few. These are the foods I generally crave around my time of the month. So, if you are like me, you're getting it from both sides!
What Can You do Reduce the Chances of Hormonal Period Breakouts?
When I first started getting hormonal breakouts around my menstrual cycle, I was reactive (which is normal.) I would apply the Mario Badescu Drying Lotion and the Origins 10 Minute Out of Trouble Mask to the affected area and hope for the best. It usually took 4-5 days for the pimple to disappear, sometimes leaving a spot behind. As I became more in tune with how my monthly face invaders operated, I started treating the area where I usually break out 7-10 days before my cycle started.
The second one is easy. Avoid dairy and foods high in refined carbs. *insert eye roll emoji*
Cleansers For Hormonal Period Breakouts
I start with a cleanser that contains Salicylic Acid, and I'll sometimes leave it on my face for a bit just to give the oil busting ingredient time to work. I still wear makeup during this time because I know my makeup has nothing to do with my breakouts. If I wear makeup, I remove it with this Paula's Choice Makeup remover before using the cleanser.
Urban Skin Rx Clear Skin Cleansing Bar contains blemish-fighting salicylic Acid and Sulfur, skin-refining ingredients like Azelaic Acid and skin-brightening arbutin and Kojic Acid. It can be used as a cleanser and as a mask. ($14.99)
Tula Keep It Clear Acne Foam Cleanser — All Tula products contain probiotics that claim to smooth skin and balance skin flora. This cleanser also contains Salicylic Acid, Licorice & Azelaic Acid, Tea Tree Oil & Ginger. It's sold separately and as a part Acne Clearing Set. ($34.00)
Treatment for Hormonal Period Breakouts
If you have been following me for more than 15 minutes, you know how much I love Paula's Choice BHA Liquid. I'm far from the only one, though; it is their number one selling product worldwide. This daily treatment contains 2% Salicylic Acid. It works deep inside your pores to get rid of all the extra sebum the androgens (and your diet) cause you to produce during this time. Salicylic Acid is a leading over the counter treatment for acne. Paula's Choice BHA Liquid can be used on all skin types and sensitive skin up to twice per day. ($29.50)
Besides the daily cleanse with a Salicylic Acid-base cleanser and the BHA liquid, I also have masks and spot treatments that join the fight.
Sunday Riley Saturn Mask - This mask contains 10% sulfur, 4% niacinamide, Zinc, Bentonite clay, tea tree oil, manuka honey, and more. Sulfur is the star of this mask with it's proven effectiveness as an antifungal, antibacterial, and keratolytic agent. (Keratolytic agents like Sulfur and Salicylic Acid cause exfoliation of the rough areas of skin.) ($20)
The Ordinary's Salicylic Acid 2% Masque is the latest mask addition to my pre-period skincare arsenal. It's made to help improve skin texture, smoothness, and clarity. In addition to the 2% Salicylic Acid, it contains charcoal and kaolin clay to help draw impurities from the skin. It is applied to clean dry skin and should be left on for approximately 10 minutes. I use it once in the weeks before the pre-period skincare routine" and twice per week in those 10 days before my cycle begins. ($12.00)
Versed Game Over Acne Drying Cream — This pimple cream also contains 10% and bentonite clay. It also has kaolin clay to help absorb excess oil and exfoliate to keep pores clear. This can be used overnight as a spot treatment or as a mask. ($16.99)
Origins 10-Minute Out of Trouble Mask — This was one of the first products to join the fight against my hormonal breakouts, and I'm never without it. The pore-clearing, skin exfoliating sulfur also contains Zinc Oxide and camphor to help keep oil and bay and keep skin calm. ($27.00)
Paula's Choice Extra Strength Daily Skin Clearing Treatment with 5% Benzoyl Peroxide - benzoyl peroxide is another leading ingredient for acne treatment. It helps to control oil production. However, it can be drying and irritating. Paula's Choice treatment combines Benzoyl peroxide with skin soothing and calming ingredients to balance its effects. It's a lightweight lotion that can be used twice daily, even under makeup. ($18.00)
Moisturizers for Hormonal Period Breakouts
An overproduction of oil is at the root of your breakouts, so you might be thinking you can skip your moisturizer — you would be mistaken. Sometimes your sebaceous glands produce more oil because you're dehydration. In short, you could look oily because your skin lacks moisture. Don't you just love science?!
If you are using an acne treatment mask 2-4 times per week and doing spot treatments, your skin needs good, clean hydration. In addition to drinking copious amounts of water, try these serums, moisturizers, and sheet masks to balance your skin's moisture levels.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Hydrating Serum — This water-based serum features peptides, ceramides, collagen, colloidal oatmeal, Hyaluronic Acid, and more. Use twice per day for long-lasting hydration without irritation. ($38.00)
Lapcos Aloe Sheet Masks — There's no better way to boost moisture than with a Lapcos sheet mask. I buy in a 5 pack now because that's how often I use them. Use after any of your sulfur or Salicylic Acid based masks. ($14.00)
Neutrogena Hydroboost Gel Cream — The gel-cream was one of the best things to happen for oily skin, and Neutrogena got it right. The Hydroboost Gel Cream delivers moisture without feeling heavy or sticky. This is marketed for extra dry skin but I love it on my oily skin, especially after I (acne) mask my life. ($24.99)
Don't forget the sunscreen! Any of these from Paula's Choice will work great.
When dealing with hormonal breakouts around your monthly cycle, the key is to be proactive and consistent. To be honest, that's advice for life.
