3 Signs You're Dealing With Hormonal Acne, and the Products That Can Help

If there’s one key skincare lesson that's most important to learn, it’s that not every product will work for everyone's skin. Similarly, not every routine, even the viral regimens made famous for their epic results on TikTok, will be able to deliver the results you’re hoping for. But one thing is certain: regardless of your skin type—from oily to sensitive to mature—all humans are susceptible to blemishes, breakouts, and varying degrees of acne. It's one of those common skin concerns that simply doesn't discriminate.

Different kinds of acne can have different root causes, but perhaps the most weighty to treat is hormonal acne. "Hormonal acne is adult female acne caused by or sensitivity to, the male kinds of hormones we as women all inherently have," says Rita Linkner, MD, FAAD. "In order to combat hormonal acne, oral medications are needed as the issue at hand is hormonal."

But how can you really know if you're dealing with hormonal acne? Consulting a trusted dermatologist to make a diagnosis is key, but in the meantime, here are some characteristics to help you identify it.

1. You're Breaking Out Along the Jawline

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According to Linkner, the region of your face where acne shows up can be a good indicator of whether or not it's hormone-related. She says breakouts showing up exclusively in the lower region of the face, especially along the jawline, can likely be linked to hormonal issues. "Realistically, hormonal acne can happen whenever, but high hormonal states like pregnancy and premenopause are common instigators," she explains.

2. The Blemishes Are Cystic

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If you've ever dealt with cystic acne, you know how uncomfortable the firm cysts can be. Aside from being painful, Linkner says cysts on the face can also point to hormone imbalance. "Usually, hormonal the acne type is cystic in nature," she says. While other types of blemishes might come to a head that you can eventually squeeze and expel the bacteria, hormonal acne often doesn't. "Face oils can make hormonal acne worse and should be strictly avoided," Linkner adds. "Especially tea tree oils or other essential oils."

3. Typical Acne Treatments Aren't Working

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Since hormonal acne can commonly be linked to underlying internal imbalances, there's only so much you can do to treat it topically. Linkner says that in order to truly eradicate hormonal acne, oral medications are your best bet. "Isotretinoin, spironolactone, and oral contraceptive pills are the three most effective ways of treating hormonal acne," Linkner advises. "Vitamin A [via isotretinoin] resets the sebaceous oil production, spiro works on the sensitivity to testosterone at the cell receptors level, and OCPs balance the estrogen to progesterone in the blood," she adds.

But just because topical treatments can't clear hormonal acne with the same efficiency as prescription oral medications, that doesn't mean there aren't products that can help things along. Keep scrolling for the at-home skincare solutions Linkner recommends for those dealing with hormonal acne.

The Best Skincare Products for Hormonal Acne

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(Image credit: @amy_lawrenson)

Though we may not always be able to completely extinguish hormonal acne with topical treatments, we certainly can do a good job of keeping your skin cleansed, hydrated, and moisturized.

Shopping for acne-fighting products that will meet your skin exactly where it's at isn't an easy feat, which is why we rounded up some of the best hormonal acne skincare products on the market right now.

Foaming Cleanser

Exfoliating Acids

Retinoids

Sunscreen

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