How To Treat Your Severe Cystic Acne And Fall In Love With Your Skin!
How to manage your hormonal cystic acne and fall in love with your skin!
If you’re like us, you thought you said goodbye to acne in your teenage years. Growing up meant glowing up, am I right?! So why does acne still seem to be something we struggle with as adults? And as if regular acne isn’t a struggle in itself, you find out you have hormonal cystic acne, which can be even more aggressive and painful. As frustrating as it can be to deal with and how hopeless it can make you feel, there are ways you can treat your cystic acne naturally and fall back in love with your skin!
What is hormonal cystic acne?
Cystic acne is one of the most severe forms of acne due to the bacteria and oil that get trapped in pores and result in inflamed, painful cysts. Unlike other forms of acne, cystic acne can affect anyone regardless of skin tone or age. However, people who are likely to suffer from cystic acne are typically adolescents whose hormones are still developing or women with hormonal irregularity due to their menstrual cycles.
Who is affected by hormonal cystic acne?
While it is true that hormonal cystic acne can affect both men and women, studies show that over 50 percent of women between the ages of 20 to 29 are affected. And almost 25 percent of women in their forties and beyond can still see flare-ups.
Hormonal cystic acne is an often uncomfortable and unwelcome occurrence for many young people in their teens or early 20s. Noting that it is most commonly found on your face, shoulders, upper arms, chest, and back. If you have parents who experienced cysts, then there’s a greater likelihood that this could affect you too.
What causes hormonal cystic acne?
Hormonal cystic acne is a common yet frustrating skin condition caused by an imbalance of hormones, as well as excess oil secretions and bacteria. Hormones called androgens are usually at the root of hormonal cystic acne; they stimulate the production of sebum or skin oils that encourage the growth of bacteria in clogged pores.
Genetics can also play a role in determining who will be affected with hormonal cystic acne, primarily due to one's natural sensitivity to androgen levels. Additionally, fluctuating hormone levels caused by puberty or stress have been found to increase this condition.
Women with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), going through PMS, or menopause may have extra struggles with hormonal cystic acne.
While there isn’t a cure to stop it from happening, different treatment plans or preventative methods can help offer hope for those affected by this very common skin struggle.
What to do to prevent hormonal cystic acne?
Cystic acne is not only the most stubborn kind of breakout, but it also leaves behind lasting scars. And what's worse? Popping and squeezing them could make things much more difficult for your skin - spreading bacteria across the face even further! The best way to stay clear from cysts without causing damage is by resisting any urge to touch them.
What can I do about my hormonal cystic acne?
Luckily, there are a number of treatment options available. Antibiotics can help control bacteria and inflammation, while birth control pills may regulate your hormones. Ointments such as benzoyl peroxide kill bacteria while calming any redness or swelling associated with the area; retinoid creams (a form of vitamin A) also aid in unclogging pores and assist antibiotics in fighting against infection. To shrink sebaceous glands - which produce oil - isotretinoin is one option along with injections from a doctor containing steroids that target cysts directly at their source.
Helpful skin care habits to help manage your hormonal cystic acne
Practice good skin care habits.
This includes several practices:
Wash your face daily to remove excess oils. (Avoid using harsh products, as these can cause irritation.)
Exfoliate on a regular basis with a gentle (non-alcohol-based).
Use oil-free and noncomedogenic cosmetic products, which are less likely to clog pores.
Don’t sleep in your makeup.
Gently pat skincare products onto your skin instead of scrubbing aggressively.
Try to use sensitive or gentle skincare products. Evidence suggests that certain natural ingredients—tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, cinnamon, aloe vera, and witch hazel—may help soothe and combat cyst acne.
Adopt healthy lifestyle habits.
As with healthy skin care habits, this involves several behaviors:
Exercise on a regular basis. (Just wash your skin after working out.)
Take steps to reduce stress.
Prioritize getting proper amounts of sleep every night.
Eat a healthy diet that is low in sugar, processed foods, dairy, and fast foods and high in probiotics, fiber, vitamin A, zinc, and high-quality proteins.
Spend time outside in the sun.
Exposure to UV rays in sunlight can help kill bacteria. So slather on your (oil-free!) sunscreen and spend some time outdoors every day. Bonus: Vitamin D is also good for the soul!
Keep your bedding clean.
Your skin regularly comes in contact with towels, pillowcases, and sheets, so it’s important to consider how these linens affect your skin’s health. Make sure to wash towels and sheets frequently to limit the chance of spreading the infection from your skin to the linens and then back to your skin. Avoid using harsh detergents or bleaches, and choose natural, unscented laundry products to protect your skin from potentially irritating substances.
Regularly clean your phone.
These days our faces and hands are on our phones probably more than anywhere else. These things are germ magnets! It’s important to disinfect our phones frequently to keep the bacteria off of our faces. Just think, we take our phones to the bathroom with us… and without even realizing it, we’re touching our faces.
Keep it cool.
Washing your skin with cold water or even gently gliding an ice cube over your skin for a few seconds can help soothe pain and inflammation brought on by cystic acne.
Don’t let your hormonal cystic acne steal your joy!
Hormonal and cystic acne are common skin conditions that can affect people of any age and gender. Understanding the underlying cause of your hormonal cystic acne is essential in managing it. The best approach to preventing and treating hormonal cystic acne is establishing good skincare habits, controlling stress, eating right, exercising often, and following a consistent treatment plan. It’s normal to feel discouraged, but know you’re not alone, and the right method will work for you. While every person’s skin is different, it is important to listen to your body for clues as to what works for you and visit a professional who can create an individualized plan for you.
Now that we understand the causes of hormonal cystic acne as well as preventive measures we can take to help our skin progress toward better health! Take advantage of all the support at your fingertips, and remember that if you struggle with any scarring or damage to your skin from your acne, we know just the people who can help you with that.
Honey Rose Aesthetics is here to make your skin dreams your new reality!
