Areas affected by hormonal acne
Female Hormonal Acne
Women with hormonal acne have deeper-seated cysts in the jawline and chin areas. Occasionally, the cheeks and even the neck may be involved. Rarely, even the upper lip’s skin can be affected. Classically, these cysts appear or worsen around or just before the menstrual period. Women with hormonal acne sometimes have co-existing non-hormonal acne, which can be mild, moderate, or severe. However, in many cases, the patient never had significant non-hormonal acne as a teenager. There may be pink or red marks present called post-inflammatory erythema after pimples have resolved. As some of the inflammatory pimples heal, there can be scars.
Main Treatments
• Use adapalene gel or other retinoid at night on the entire face
• Use benzoyl peroxide leave-on gel in the morning on the entire face
• Use anti-acne cleansers when washing the face
• If very oily, use anti-acne toner
• Take oral zinc supplements for 2-3 months
• Take fish oil supplements on an ongoing basis
• Consider seeing a dermatologist for spironolactone
• Use benzoyl peroxide leave-on gel in the morning on the entire face
• Use anti-acne cleansers when washing the face
• If very oily, use anti-acne toner
• Take oral zinc supplements for 2-3 months
• Take fish oil supplements on an ongoing basis
• Consider seeing a dermatologist for spironolactone
Skin Care
• Remove causative or exacerbating factors
• Use non-comedogenic sunscreen as needed
• Use moisturizer only if dry
• Use non-comedogenic sunscreen as needed
• Use moisturizer only if dry
Add ons
• For new zits, use pimple spot treatment
• For flat red or pink blemishes, use a blemish spot treatment
• For any raised scars, use scar spot treatment
• If you use hormonal contraception, make sure it’s acne-friendly birth control
• If you are pregnant or attempting conception, your treatment options are more limited. Visit our page on acne during pregnancy
• Breastfeeding patients may safely use all the treatments recommended on this page except spironolactone.
• For flat red or pink blemishes, use a blemish spot treatment
• For any raised scars, use scar spot treatment
• If you use hormonal contraception, make sure it’s acne-friendly birth control
• If you are pregnant or attempting conception, your treatment options are more limited. Visit our page on acne during pregnancy
• Breastfeeding patients may safely use all the treatments recommended on this page except spironolactone.
Mild Acne - Moderate Acne - Severe (Cystic) Acne - Hormonal Acne - Acne During Pregnancy - Acne & Breastfeeding - Retinol - Anti-acne Cleanser - Anti-acne Toner - Benzoyl Peroxide - Zinc Monomethionine & Fish Oil - Pimple Spot Treatment - Blemish Treatment - Scar Treatment - Sunscreen - Moisturizer - Avoiding Exacerbators - Comedogenic Ingredient List - Azelaic Acid - Birth Control Pills - Clindamycin - Doxycycline - Isotretinoin - iPledge - Spironolactone - Minocycline - Bactrim (SMX/TMP)