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When that time of the month comes, you might expectseveral unpleasant symptoms, from bloating to muscle pain.
Hormonal acne comes up whenever the hormone levels in your body fluctuate.
This causes your skin to increase sebum production.
According toWebMD, they will not tackle the root of the issue like the combined oral contraceptive pill would.
Certain ingredients will help prevent pimples and treat existing acne.
How we selected products
The products we recommend for people with hormonal acne include several dermatologist-approved ingredients.
One ingredient we prioritized in our selection process was salicylic acid.
Also known as beta-hydroxy-acid (BHA), it’s one of the most highly-recommended ingredients for mild-to-moderate acne.
PerNetDoctor, salicylic acid is oil-soluble, meaning it dissolves easily in oil-based substances.
Salicylic acid goes deep into the skin’s pores, clearing out any oil and debris.
Easily one of the most powerful anti-acne ingredients available over-the-counter though is adapalene gel.
Of course, it’s easy to overdo the anti-acne actives.
Personal discretion is advised in selecting whichacne-fighting ingredientsand products you want to incorporate into your routine.
confirm togo easy with acid-containing products, and avoid using them simultaneously with adapalene gel, asDifferinnotes.
New York-based dermatologist Evan Rieder recommended La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Acne Face Wash for acne-prone skin, perNew Beauty.
The product works on papules, whiteheads, clogged pores, and enlarged pores.
Buy theLa Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Acne Face Washfrom Amazon for $14.99.
Best toner
People with acne-prone skin can benefit from using a toner, perDerm Collective.
Using a toner that contains both AHA and BHA can be especially beneficial.
Together, they remove dead skin cells and deep clean your pores.
She finds the product gentle enough to use with hertretinoinprescription.
Buy thePixi Clarity Tonicfrom Ulta Beauty for $18.
The same can be said about skincare and the importance of preventing breakouts.
Having aspot treatment handy for such emergenciescan be just as important as following a regular skincare regimen.
The Good Molecules BHA Clarify Gel Cream is an acne treatment that can banish such blemishes.
Beauty product reviewer Maha raved about the product’s ability to control oiliness on herYouTube channel.
The cream effectively zapped away most of her chin acne.
She found the product reduced redness and calmed inflammation - healing breakouts while hydrating the skin.
The gentle formula can also be applied all over the face, if desired.
Bye, bye blemish!
Buy theGood Molecules BHA Clarify Gel Creamfrom Ulta Beauty for $10.
According toByrdie, cystic acne tends to leave behind discoloration and scars.
The product offers mild exfoliation and brightens discoloration.
In fact, 93% ofGlow Recipeproduct testers claim the serum “visibly smoothed texture and bumps.”
The serum features a water-gel texture that easily absorbs into the skin.
Get glass skin and buy theGlow Recipe Strawberry Smooth BHA + AHA Salicylic Acid Serumfrom Sephora for $40.
Best exfoliant
Exfoliating your skin regularly is key to preventing acne breakouts, perWest Lake Dermatology.
The process clears your face of dead skin cells that can clog pores and cause pimples.
Not allexfoliatorsare made equally though.
Some physical exfoliants contain harsh exfoliating beads that can potentially cause micro-tears on your skin.
One chemical exfoliant that dermatologists recommend for acne-prone skin is Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant.
According toHypebae, the product gently exfoliates and effectively unclogs pores without drying your skin.
Because this product is a stronger exfoliant, users are advised to customize the frequency to their skin sensitivity.
Buy thePaula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliantfrom Amazon for $30.40.
Furthermore, some exfoliating actives can wreak havoc on your skin barrier if overused.
To replenish your skin after exfoliating, it’s important to moisturize.
According tothe brand’s website, the moisturizer contains plant-derived AHAs that slough off dead skin cells.
Buy theOrigins High Potency Night-A-Mins Resurfacing Cream with Fruit-Derived AHAsfrom Ulta Beauty for $38.67.
Adapalene also reduces inflammation, making this retinoid specifically effective against acne.
The product should be used at night, as it can make the skin sensitive.
This product doesn’t work as a spot treatment.
When using the product, Differin warns against using any AHAs or BHAs in your routine.
Buy theDifferin 0.1% Adapalene Gel Acne Treatmentfrom Amazon for $32.37.
According toInsider, body acne can be sparked by your hormones.
The gel-based body wash uses skincare ingredients usually used on the face to treat the body (perTarget).
Salicylic acid and bamboo specifically help acne-prone skin, treating existing blemishes and preventing further breakouts.
The product has an impressive 4.5-star rating on Target’s website.
Show your body some love and buyDove Acne Clear Body Cleanserfrom Target for $7.99.
Exfoliating your body is especially beneficial in managing body acne.
In fact,Forbesreports that over half of people who deal with facial acne also suffer from body acne.
The outlet recommends the Differin Acne Clearing Body Scrub to help prevent and treat body acne breakouts.
Sarah Vo, a beauty product reviewer onYouTube, deals with body acne and tried the scrub out.
She also told viewers that the large pimple on her shoulder reduced significantly.
Buy theDifferin Acne Clearing Body Scrubfrom Amazon for $10.42.
Best body treatment
Treating hard-to-reach spots like “bacne” can be difficult.
That’s whyForbesrecommends the Bliss Clear Genius Body Acne Spray to target those areas your hands can’t reach.
The formula contains 2% salicylic acid, pore-minimizing niacinamide, oil-controlling zinc PCA, and calmingcentella asiatica.
Over the duration of two weeks, the product also reduces oil production by 23%.
According to Vo, existing breakouts heal faster and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation fades from using the spray.
Those hard-to-reach areas just spray this and it will do the trick for you.," she said.
It’s a stroke of genius buy theBliss Clear Genius Body Acne Sprayfrom Amazon for $14.99.
It exfoliates the surface layer of the skin, creating a brighter complexion.
“Healthlinealso notes mandelic acid’s ability to calm inflammation.
BuyThe Inkey List Mandelic Acid Treatmentfrom Sephora for $10.99.
These pimples are inflammatory, hard to treat, and can often be painful.
This causes pressure and triggers pain in some people.
According toSlate, microdarts penetrate the pores so the active ingredients can reach deeper into the skin.
This is great for “early-stage cystic acne,” which often occursduring that time of the month.
Slate writer Shannon Palus tested the product and found that it helped shrink her pimple.
Then use the cleansing wipe that comes with the microdarts before applying the sticker.
Buy theZitSticka KILLA Kit Deep Zit Microdart Patchfrom Amazon starting at $54.
