Acne And Adult Menstrual Cycle – Its Like Adding Insult To Injury

Acne and adolescence seem to go hand in hand and then we step into adulthood hoping to say goodbye to the bane of teenage years. However, sometimes acne refuses to go or resurfaces with regularity around the time of the menstrual period, which can be called the acne and adult menstrual cycle syndrome.

The onset of the teen years brings with it many physical changes like facial hair, voice cracking, gangly limbs and acne, which further add to teenage angst. By the time, we reach our 20s - the physical changes have added a new dimension to our personalities, mostly for the better. For most adults acne also becomes outdated.

Some adults continue to suffer acne well past their teen years. The reasons for acne outbreak in adults are not very clear. If you had acne as a teenager and continue to have it as an adult, the causes for it could very well be the same but if you suffer from acne as an adult then there could be other reasons for it.

Whenever there is an imbalance of any sorts in the human body it shows up in the form of fever, illness, and indigestion. One of the well-known and widely accepted causes of adult acne is hormonal imbalance. When the hormones break away from their normal pattern and behave in an unpredictable manner, outbreak of acne is one of its manifestations.

Adult acne affects nearly fifty percent of pre-menopausal women and twenty-five percent of adult males. Some adults who have never had acne suddenly develop acne in their late 20s or 30s. The main culprit for acne in adult women is hormone. The hormonal imbalance is triggered off usually by the menstrual cycle.

Before the onset of the menstrual cycle, a female body undergoes hormonal changes. Estrogen levels start going down and progesterone levels go up. These changes help the oil producing glands i.e. the sebaceous glands to start producing more oil. This blocks the pores in the skin, giving rise to pimples. Fifty percent of women complain of acne outbursts and increased facial oiliness during the week preceding menstruation.

While all women accept the menstrual cycle as a part of their biological lot, the discomfort of pain and cramps and bloatedness makes it an unwanted nuisance. When it is accompanied by an outbreak of acne, it can take you down to the depths of despair.

The menstrual cycle accompanied by acne can wreak havoc in women. The see-sawing hormones can also give rise to mood swings God help a woman if she is perceived to be behaving “out of sync”. Nasty barbs like “It has to be PMS (pre-menstrual stress) or “that time of the month” are directed to her. Even at the workplace, the modern day career woman is not spared such comments by her male counterparts.

Treating Adult Acne

Women need not despair as help is always at hand. You can get relief by following some simple lifestyle changes like cutting down on your salt intake a few days before the menstrual cycle. Eat lots of greens, fruit and fresh food, avoid processed foods which contain high levels of salt. Excess salt causes bloating as well as acne outbreak.

Regular exercising, even if it is a brisk walk helps to get rid of the body toxins giving the skin a healthy glow.

Drinking plenty of water keeps the system flushed and hydrated leading to a healthy skin.

Proper skin care is of utmost importance. Regular cleaning with a mild facial cleanser followed by toner according to your skin-type is recommended. Avoid scrubbing hard as it leads to skin irritation and acne flare up. A light moisturizer completes the skin care regimen. Never ever pick on your pimples as this can lead to scars and as far as possible avoid touching your face as often surface bacteria gets transmitted with our fingers resulting in further acne outbreaks.

In very severe cases your dermatologist may prescribe a hormone therapy to regulate the hormone levels during the menstrual cycle.