How to treat and prevent hormonal acne

Hormonal acne describes adult onset female acne related to fluctuations or imbalances in your reproductive hormones.

And, it can be frustrating, especially if you were troubled by acne as a teenager or young adult. Just when you thought it was safe to put away your favourite blemish spot gel, you’re back scouring the internet for solutions.

Is it hormonal acne?

Hormonal acne usually presents as red, inflamed, and painful pimples, blemishes, congestion, and deep cysts.

Hormonal acne can also be identified by its appearance on the lower part of the face, the jawline, the chin, and the neck.

In its mildest form, hormonal acne can appear as annoying breakouts during menstruation. However, inflamed, deep pimples can stick around all month long and can be a distressing skin condition for many of us.

As well as the fluctuations in hormones during your monthly cycle, pregnancy, perimenopause and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can all be linked to the onset of hormonal acne.

What to do? How to treat hormonal acne?

As female adult acne is directly linked to our reproductive hormones, our efforts focus on relieving the symptoms of hormonal acne.

Our goal is to minimise the frequency and intensity of breakouts and inflammation while reducing the risk of scarring and pigmentation.

Specialised Home Care to treat and prevent hormonal acne.

It’s essential to reach out for a skin consultation to choose the best products from the cosmeceutical skincare brands at Select Skin.

Step 1

Cleansing with an appropriate cleanser for your skin type is essential. If applicable, we’ll recommend Environ Clarity+ Sebuwash Gel Cleanser on the affected area to keep congestion and bacterial infection at bay.

Step 2

It’s essential to maintain cell turnover, especially in areas where the skin has become bumpy with congestion. Synergie Skin Reveal sloughs away dead cell build-up to release congestion and prevent future problems.

Step 3

A skin troubled with hormonal acne must be kept well hydrated. A suitable moisturiser will keep the skin hydrated and ensure your lipid barrier protects the skin while promoting better healing and recovery time.

Environ Skin EssentiA AVST Gel or Synergie Skin BrightEnlight are excellent for keeping the skin hydrated without disrupting your skin’s natural lipids.

Step 4

Zinc is healing and highly protective sun protection. Synergie Skin UberZinc is the perfect choice for skin suffering from hormonal acne. You’ll be getting broad-spectrum sun protection while the zinc assists in reducing painful inflammation and lowering the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation associated with hormonal acne scarring.

Step 5

A weekly masque treatment will improve cell turnover and reduce inflammation; we recommend Environ’s Clarity+ Sebu Masque or Cosmedix Clear Deep Cleansing Mask.

Chemical Peels for hormonal adult acne.

Once we’ve determined the cause of your acne, we can then decide on the best chemical peel to soothe inflammation and improve congestion.

Cosmedix Blueberry Smoothie Peel.

The Blueberry Smoothie Peel is a Light peel providing a refreshing granulated exfoliation combined with a gentle acid to invigorate and refresh the skin.

This peel is excellent for skin suffering from bumpy congestion, a rough-textured or has become dull, lifeless skin.

Active blueberry extracts purify and exfoliate the skin to restore a youthful-looking glow. You can expect your skin to look and feel refreshed, clear with improved texture and luminosity.

Synergie Skin Purifying Salicylic Peel.

Synergie Skin Purifying Salicylic Peel treatment is ideal for oily, acne and congested skin.

Treatments are commenced at a low level to ascertain tolerance.

The percentage of salicylic acid is slowly increased in subsequent peel treatments. Your skin will look and feel instantly refreshed, and your pores will be deeply cleansed to improve the appearance of clogging and congestion in the skin.

With a series of Purifying Salicylic Peels, the skin will be less inflamed as acne and blemished skin come under control.

Medical LED Light Therapy.

LED Light Therapy is ideal for reducing inflammation and improving the time it takes your skin to heal. Minimising scarring and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation caused by hormonal acne.

Our MediLUX Medical-Grade Light utilises 1,500 powerful light-emitting diodes. The spectrum ranges from blue to green, yellow, red and near-infrared and is selected depending on your skin’s needs.

For hormonal acne, we select Blue, Red and Near-infrared Light.

Blue Light: 10 minutes under the blue light mode clears congestion and kills acne-causing bacteria.

Red Light: A further 10 minutes to increase blood circulation and lymphatic flow to encourage cellular renewal and promote collagen production.

Near-Infrared Light: Increases white blood cell production to regenerate and repair inflamed skin. Near-infrared Light boosts cellular energy to speed up wound healing.

Hormonal acne can be complex, and we’re here to help you. Please get in touch or book a consultation where we can develop a treatment plan perfect for you.

See you soon,

Mel x