PERIOD ACNE: HOW TO TREAT IT?

No matter how much you wash your face and follow your routine skincare, it keeps coming back. Yes, we’re talking about period acne. But what’s with all the stubbornness when it comes to period acne? To understand that better, let’s get into the details of what ‘period’ actually is.

Period, it all starts at puberty and the struggle becomes a monthly process for every woman for almost forty years (give or take a few years!). Although menstruation turns into a routine check every month, it comes with its own set of pain points- the ugly cramps, the raging hormones, and worst of it all, the cystic acne. 

But why does ‘period’ happen in the first place?

The female body works in miraculous ways. Well, it’s just biology but does that mean it ain’t magic? Absolutely not! 

The female body prepares the uterus for fertilization by creating a lining to hold and conceive a fetus every 20-30 days. But when it doesn’t happen, the lining sheds itself and releases through the vagina; that my friend, is when we bleed! 

What’s the reason behind acne breakouts during the period?

During the menstruation cycle, hormone levels fluctuate; meaning the production of progesterone lessens down while the female sex hormones, commonly known as estrogen, shoot up. The imbalance between the ratio of the following hormones leads to an unusual rise in oil or sebum production in the body. Excess oil clogs open pores and also paves the way to skin inflammation, which becomes the main reason for your skin breaking out.

You would often have the urge to pop them out, but be aware, the more you mess with period acne, the worse it gets. Squeezing and popping can also leave scars behind (trust us, you won't like that!) 

These acne breakouts can be observed right before you start bleeding and typically breaks around the chin and the jawline. The thing is, these are not your regular acne that can be treated with your everyday cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. This one goes deeper than usual and requires special attention to care.

What are the topical remedies to treat period acne?

Salicylic Acid: With its anti-inflammatory properties, this effective peeling agent helps to reduce your period acne by peeling off or exfoliating the top layer of the skin.

Topical Retinoids: Derivatives of Vitamin A with anti-inflammatory benefits, these are yet again another solution to maintain clear skin by treating mild to moderate acne.

Benzoyl Peroxide: Infused with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, this is one of the finest treatments to reduce period acne, swelling, and redness.

What are the other practices that can help avoid period acne altogether?

Do not overplay with skincare: Stick to your basic cleanser, toner, and moisturizer rather than experimenting with a hundred products that claim to zap your zits. What you can actually do is introduce a serum infused with Salicylic Acid to your routine to fight acne.

Give your liver a detox: Drinking lukewarm water with lemon and honey in the morning is a blessing to your liver. Doing so every day can eventually help balance out your fluctuating hormones. And when your hormones are balanced, it's definitely bad news for period acne!