Adult acne, or hormonal acne, has been a problem for many American men and women. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) estimated that there may be as many as 50 million Americans who have acne. It’s a problem that I even struggle with sometimes.
It takes incessant time to keep control over your adult acne. It takes a good diet and an effective skin care regimen to keep your breakouts to a minimum. How do you keep adult acne at bay? Are there natural remedies for fighting your skin struggles? Let’s learn about the specific hormones that can cause acne in women and how we could effectively treat this condition.
What Hormone Causes Acne in Females
Hormonal acne happens to adults between the ages of 20-50. They not only develop it on their faces, but also on their shoulders, chest, and back. An estimated 50 percent of women ages 20-29 have acne. What hormone exactly is causing this acne to occur in females? According to an article from Columbia Skin Clinic, “Hormonal Acne: What it is and Why it Happens,” three hormones of estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone fluctuate during a women’s menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause to cause breakouts to occur. As these hormones increase, the body starts to produce more sebum, an oily, waxy substance.
But there are ways you can treat hormonal acne naturally. Let’s examine some of those ways.
How to Treat Hormonal Acne Naturally
There are plenty of acne-fighting skin products out there. Some contain just the right natural ingredients to treat your blackheads and pimples. However, making some dietary adjustments could help in treating hormonal acne naturally. Avoid eating foods that can cause your blood sugar to fluctuate such as ice cream, cake, candy, or pop. Cut out refined carbohydrates such as white bread, pasta, or pastries. Also, be sure to reduce your intake of dairy products such as milk, cheese, or yogurt. A review of 9 studies in 71,819 people showed that people who drink milk were 16% more likely to have acne than those who don’t.
So what should you eat to reduce your chances of getting acne? Eat more whole nutrient-dense foods such as fatty fish, chia seeds, vegetables, fruits, and legumes. These types of foods reduce inflammation which causes acne.
Natural Remedies for Hormonal Acne
If you’re dealing with mild hormonal acne, plant-based natural remedies could sometimes be helpful. These remedies are usually without the harsh potential side effects of prescription medications. However, research on natural remedies is lacking and nothing has been proven to show that they could effectively treat adult acne.
Some examples of natural remedies for hormonal acne are alpha hydroxy acid (AHAs), green tea, or tea tree oil. Alpha hydroxy is a plant acid derived mostly from citrus fruits. They help decrease the appearance of acne scars and can be found in many OTC masks and creams. Green tea and tea tree oil help decrease inflammation in the body. One study shows that 5 percent topical tea tree oil could relieve symptoms for people with mild to moderate acne.
Do Adult Acne Go Away
It takes a lot of work to clear up adult acne, or hormonal acne, and keep it at bay. Having a healthy diet filled with nutrient-dense foods, establishing an effective acne-fighting skincare regimen, and talking to your doctor about your persistent breakouts will help your skin stay clear. Patience is key in treating this condition because it could take up to four to six weeks to see skin improvement. The treatment process varies for different people. But if you work hard enough to take care of your skin daily, you’ll be successful at keeping adult acne away.
Are you a woman struggling with adult acne? What are some remedies or treatments you’ve used to treat your problem? Please share your ups and downs with adult acne in the comments section below. As always, be sure to like or share this post with the next woman struggling with this condition.
