You Are NOT Alone: Menstrual Acne

Since the human body’s largest organ includes the skin, we don’t have to look very far to discover that the majority of the population is dealing with some kind of skin problem. From adolescence, through adulthood, acne, characterized by comedones (pimples) and blemishes, is the most common skin concern in the US, affecting over 55 million Americans annually.

The known and scientifically accepted causes of acne are genetics, clogged follicles, and bacteria.

Some common triggers are stress, cosmetics, certain foods and hormones.

Menstrual acne, a flare-up of blemishes every month that coincides with menstruation, is one of the most common triggers in women. According to a study published in the Archives of Dermatology, 63% of acne-prone women experience this increase in breakouts and inflammation around the time of their periods.

Menstrual-related acne is not a matter of hygiene; it is an internal effect. However, any extra bacteria you introduce to your face will worsen menstrual acne. So while you cannot change the relationship between acne and hormones, there are things you can do to make those breakouts less severe.

Taking special care of your skin around your period may assist in not making things worse.

    1. Avoid touching your face; your hands introduce dirt and bacteria.

    2. Clean your cell phone regularly; phones breed bacteria, and you hold them against the most vulnerable area to hormonal acne: your jaw line and chin.

    3. When working out at the gym, cover all mats with a towel; don’t put your face in dirt and germs.

    4. A healthy diet with lots of oxygen-rich foods like leafy greens helps keep skin clear.

    5. Exercise is always vital to keeping healthy circulation of the skin, as long as sweat is not left on the skin to reabsorb toxins that were excreted.

    6. Clean and Exfoliate skin to reduce dead skin buildup, and oxygenate follicles. Read our recent detailed blog KEEP IT CLEAN.

    7. Maintaining a healthy moisture balance is important as well. Many acne skincare products are very drying, and this can cause the skin to overproduce oil and cause more breakouts. So you should be moisturizing properly with natural organic oil based products like Ultra Beauty Balm. 

     

    This problem can greatly affect one’s self-esteem and in some cases be incredibly painful. Please let us know how we can support you. Please reach out to us with questions and concerns, or share your story of acne and how you cleared up your skin!

    MMA Tip of the Day:

    EVERY DAY PROBLEM SKIN SOLUTION, keep your skin clean, exfoliated and highly moisturized with natural products like Medicine Mama’s Zinc Facial Soap, Honey Facial Scrub and Ultra Beauty Balm . Get your skins natural balance back!

     

    Sources:
    WebMD
    DermaDoctor.com
    Archives of Dermatology
    Women’s Health Magazine

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