Do I Have Hormonal Acnes?

Are you no longer in your teens?

Do your pimples pop around your chin and jaw line?

Do you have painful cysts on your face (deeper bumps below the surface of the skin that you cannot remove with normal manual extraction)?

Do your acne breakouts occur once a month?

Are you seriously stressed?

Do you use oral contraceptives?

Do you have irregular menstrual periods?

As far as you know, do you have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or increased androgen levels (testosterone levels)?

Are you pregnant, or do you plan to become pregnant soon?

Are you a menopausal woman?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have hormonal acnes. Hormonal acnes are a type of acnes that are related to fluctuations in your hormones. They most often occur in women between the ages of 20 and 40. About half of women in their 20s have hormonal acne because those are the years when women are most hormonally active. Hormonal acnes are caused by fluctuations in hormones called estrogen and progesterone. Hormonal fluctuations can be related to a woman's menstrual cycle or occur cyclically, regardless of menstruation. In some cases, hormonal fluctuations associated with menopause can lead to acne outbreaks.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have hormonal acnes. Hormonal acnes are caused by a hormonal imbalance that leads to increased oil production in your pores and inflammation of your skin. They usually form on the lower part of your face, including the chin and a jaw line. They can appear in the form of blackheads, white spots or small pimples. Hormonal acnes often presents as cysts deep under the skin, which are tender to the touch. These cysts usually cannot be removed by manual extraction. Hormonal acnes can also appear along the side of you face or neck.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have hormonal acnes. Hormones fluctuate naturally at certain periods of your life, so it is possible that hormonal acnes will appear around the time of your period, when you switch hormonal birth control, during or after pregnancy, and during perimenopause and menopause. In addition, increased levels of cortisol, a so-called stress hormone, can contribute to hormonal acne. Mild to moderate hormonal acne can be treated with over-the-counter cleansers and topical retinoids. In other cases, it is necessary to take oral medications such as oral contraceptives and anti-androgen drugs.