Many girls experience breakout during their “time of the month.” Why? How are breakouts and periods linked? Is there a way to avoid having breakouts every time you are on your period?
Calypso Cavallo explains everything to feel good and confident during your time of the month.
How are breakouts and period linked?
Acne breakout is a typical period side effect. Many girls who generally do not have much acne experience breakouts before or during their period. Why?
Hormones change responsible for ruining your skin. Women’s bodies produce three hormones—a couple of female hormones, known as progesterone and estrogen, and a male hormone, testosterone. Female hormones are usually much higher than testosterone. While the female hormone levels dramatically differ, the testosterone level stays the same throughout the cycle. The testosterone level is higher than the female hormones before the period starts.
To understand better why breakouts and periods are linked, let’s take a closer look at how hormones interfere with sebum production. First, sebum itself is not responsible for breakouts, but increased sebum production tends to clog pores and increase bacteria’s development. High testosterone level is also known to trigger breakouts. It explains why many girls experience acne breakouts right before their period.
Breakouts and period: how to avoid it?
Hormonal-induced acne is hard to avoid, as it results from the natural menstrual cycles. Some women find relief in hormonal birth control, aka the pill, but this method is not foolproof and may have serious side effects.
The best way to cope with period-induced acne breakouts is to do skincare before and during your period. It ensures the excess sebum does not stay on the face and feeds bacteria. A gentle exfoliation prevents dead skin from clogging pores and causing breakouts.
Washing your face twice a day (morning and evening is a must, whether you are on your period or not. There is no need to spend tons of money on your face wash, but it needs to be gentle to not irritates your skin. Once your face is clean, apply a moisturizer. Lightweight is the way to go for acne-prone skin. Water-based gel with salicylic acid is an excellent choice to exfoliate the skin and avoid pore clogging gently.
Period time is the perfect time to do extra self-care, such as relaxing in a warm bath, snuggling in bed with a fluffy blanket, or using sheet masks. Salicylic acid, tea tree, and the Dead Sea mud are great ingredients to control acne breakouts.
If a breakout occurs, it is crucial not to touch the pimple. Popping or picking will spread the bacteria elsewhere on the face and cause more breakouts. Keep washing your face as usual and not rub the area. Rubbing or using improper products, such as rub alcohol, irritates the skin and leads to more breakouts. Acne-prone skin is to handle gently as irritation triggers sebum production and more breakouts.
However, many girls tend to have a poor diet during their period, which increases the risk of breakouts as the skin is very sensitive to sweet and fatty food. Eating healthy during your period may be challenging, as many girls experience cravings or have poor appetite due to period cramps. Still, limiting the breakouts during this time of the month remains crucial. Research also showed that a balanced diet and proper hydration help with other period syndromes such as cramps, fatigue, and mood swings.
Consult a dermatologist if you suffer from heavy and painful acne. He can prescribe you medication to avoid infection, such as antibiotics, and discuss the possibility of hormonal treatment if you need it.