Period Acne

Period acne

Is different from the typical acne you may experience during other weeks of your menstrual cycle. These breakouts of pimples are usually on the lower half of your face (chin, cheeks), jawline and neck. They are usually red, inflamed, raised bumps (papules) that rarely develop into a white head They can be very frustrating but try to resist squeezing them. This may only make them worse and take longer to go away.

The two main hormones involved in the production of PMS acne are estrogen and progesterone. In the first 14 days of the menstrual cycle, estrogen is the most prominent hormone.

In the last 14 days of the menstrual cycle, progesterone is the most prominent hormone. This is why acne is prominent in the first 14 days of the cycle or before bleeding begins. In those last two weeks of the cycle before the period of bleeding begins the increase in progesterone causes the swelling of the skin and compression of the pores.

At the same time, the substance sebum is accumulating under the skin All the while the higher levels of testosterone cause even more sebum to be produced and in the 63% of women who are inclined to have acne, this sebum acts like oil on the skin and adds to the clogging of the pores resulting in pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads – acne.