Many women notice that acne breakouts occur before their menstrual cycle. The menstrual cycle is one of the most common triggers for acne, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Breakouts start to form a few days before a woman begins her cycle and start to heal after the cycle is complete. Fortunately, there are a few treatment options for women who experience hormonal acne.
Step 1
Keep a log of when acne occurs. Hormonal acne in women typically occurs before the menstrual cycle. If outbreaks are limited to these times, your skin may respond well to hormonal acne treatment.
Step 2
Make an appointment with your doctor. Oral contraceptives can improve hormonal acne in women, according to the Mayo Clinic. The most effective contraceptives have a combination of ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate, such as Ortho Tri-Cyclen.
Step 3
Clean skin with a gentle cleanser. Clean your face twice a day with a gentle face wash designed to address acne to compliment the oral contraceptive treatment. Choose products with the active ingredients benzoyl peroxide, sulfur or salicylic acid. Side effects of cleaners may include dryness and skin irritation. After using the treatment for a month, these side effects often disappear.
Step 4
Talk with your doctor about topical creams and other treatment options. If oral contraceptives and over-the-counter medications aren't working, you may need a stronger treatment. Prescription tretinoin or adapalene are topical treatments often effective for treating acne. If you don't respond to these treatments, your doctor may treat your acne with antibiotics.
Step 5
Stay out of the sun. The sun may appear to dry out and reduce hormonal acne. However, according to Medline Plus, the sun makes acne worse. The skin starts producing more oil, which leads to additional breakouts. Avoid excessive sun exposure when possible and use sunscreen to protect your skin. Also, avoid touching the skin, which causes clogged pores.
Tips and Warnings
- Be careful about taking dietary supplements for hormonal acne. These supplements aren't evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, according to the Mayo Clinic. There is no guarantee these supplements are safe and effective.
- Oral contraceptives may have side effectives such as headache, depression and nausea, according to the Mayo Clinic. More serious side effects, such as increased risk for blood clots and heart disease should also be discussed with your doctor.
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