How to take care of acne skin due to hormonal changes?

I am 38 years old, recently I have a lot of acne on my face, making me lose confidence. I heard that hormonal changes cause acne. What should I do to get rid of it quickly? (Ngoc My, Tien Giang)

Reply:

Hormonal acne is commonly known as acne, which appears due to changes in hormones in the body. Hormonal acne affects all age groups, but is most common in puberty, women before and after giving birth, pre-menopause, menopause or during the menstrual cycle. This is the stage when the body undergoes certain changes that cause hormonal disorders, forming hormonal acne.

High humidity and sweating can make acne worse. To care for your skin from the outside, wash your face no more than twice a day and after sweating; use a mild cleanser and warm water, not hot water. Avoid rubbing or squeezing acne because it can cause inflammation or make the condition worse; choose cosmetics that are marked non-comedogenic. Household items should be kept clean.

Remember to drink enough water every day, from 1.5 liters or more. Doctors recommend that people with acne due to hormonal changes should limit makeup as much as possible. If you do, you need to remove makeup thoroughly to avoid residue that can clog pores. Acne treatment products containing BHA, AHA, Benzyl peroxide... can be used. Moisturizers and sunscreens should be chosen with suitable ingredients. Do not touch your face to avoid bacteria from entering the skin.

Washing your face with a gentle skin care product helps clean pores and reduce acne. Photo: Freepik — Washing your face with a gentle skin care product helps clean pores and reduce acne. Photo: *Freepik*

To take care of your skin from the inside, you should sleep 8 hours a day, limit staying up late, avoid stress and pressure. Supplement foods containing zinc, vitamins C, B, E to help brighten and healthy skin, eat lots of green vegetables and fruits. Sweet, spicy, fried, greasy foods, alcoholic beverages... should be limited. Teas, cooling and detoxifying foods such as green tea, artichoke tea... are beneficial for acne-prone skin. Patients should see a dermatologist to get a suitable treatment plan.

Changes in hormone levels in the body can make acne worse, such as: causing generalized dermatitis, increased sweating and sebum secretion from pores, clogged skin cells in hair follicles, creating conditions for propionibacterium acnes bacteria to grow and cause acne.

Menopausal and perimenopausal acne are both forms of hormonal acne. All acne originates from clogged pores, but teenage and menopausal acne are distinctly different. Teenage acne typically appears in the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). Menopausal acne is mostly papules, whiteheads, or cystic acne that is hidden deep under the skin.

Acne in women during menopause may be due to a drop in estrogen levels or an increase in androgen hormones, especially testosterone. In some cases, acne occurs even when women use hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to relieve symptoms of menopause. This hormone can cause pores to dilate, allowing dirt and bacteria to enter, forming acne.

Mild acne is mainly blackheads and whiteheads. Acne is classified as mild when there are fewer than 20 comedones, 15 inflammatory lesions, or fewer than 30 non-inflammatory comedones. Moderate acne may or may not be inflammatory, leaving scars. Acne is classified as moderate when there are 20-100 comedones, 15-50 inflammatory lesions, or 30-125 total lesions. Severe acne is often inflamed and leaves scars.

Acne can affect the psychology. Even mild acne can make the patient lose confidence. When suffering from hormonal acne, the patient should see a dermatologist - Aesthetic Dermatologist. The sooner treatment is done, the less likely it is to leave scars and prevent acne from recurring.

MD.CKI Vo Thi Tuong Duy
Dermatology - Skin Aesthetics Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

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