12 Ways to Get Rid of Period Acne

Most women experience period acne during their menstrual period every month. This is an especially stubborn type of breakout which can be caused because of the hormonal changes. Generally about 2 weeks before the mensturation period, your body increase progesterone and estrogen hormones so as to prepare the uterus for pregnancy. During this time, there is an increase in the production of prostaglandins or the hormone-like substances produced by the uterine lining that cause the uterus to contract and relax. So, such breakouts or period acne occurs because of the fluctuations in hormones. Though, many women get period acne, the good news is that there are several ways to get rid and prevent them during your menstrual cycle. Read below and know about how to get rid of period acne.

1. Know Your Cycle Well to Get Rid of Period Acne:

   Knowing your period cycle will aid you in taking care of your skin before it begins to break out. A week before your menstruation period, there would be an increase in the level of progesterone and this would stimulate the sebum production. The sebum coming out of the skin pores, blocks it and this greasy pores causes pimples or period acne. Moreover, there is also a slight increase in the level of testosterone during this time, which also contribute to the production of sebum and period acne.

   What you can do is, follow your regular skin routine so as to keep your skin clean and also make use of a toner or a face wash with salicyclic acid or benzoyl peroxide; which would de-grease and un-clog the pores and thus help in reducing perid acnes.

2. Try Birth Control Pills to Treat Period Acne:

   Birth control pills help in slowing down excess production of skin oil, by blocking the normal increase in estrogen and progesterone that occurs 1 or 2 weeks prior to menstruation. This can quash breakouts caused by this regular fluctuation. It is to be noted that it is very much important to know that since every woman is different; birth control pills may aid in reducing period acne for some, but not for others.

3. Wash Your Skin Gently With A Cleanser:

   To get rid of period acne, it is essential for you to wash your skin every morning and every night using a gentle cleanser. Make sure you are not using a rough scrubbing product to wash your face or washing more than 2 times in a day; else it could make your period acne worse. The University of Maryland Medical Center also recommends using only facial products and makeup that are non-comedogenic ( They will not clog pores) and are oil-free.

4. Get Rid of Period Acne By Cleaning Your Cell Phones:

   People do not realize how many germs and bacteria reside on the screens of their cell phones, which can cause breakouts on the cheeks and jawlines while talking over with the phone. So, it is always essential to clean your cell phones’ screen while using it.

5. Avoid Touching Your Face:

   Most women have a habit of touching their face mostly. By doing this, without even your notice, you would be dragging dirt and bacteria from your hands to skin which could cause pimples. So, keep your fingers off your face, else wash your hands before touching up your skin.

6. Applying Retinol Creams Can Help Get Rid Of Period Acne:

   You can use retinol creams to get rid of period acne. Whether it is retinol at the chemist shop or a prescription such as Retin- A, the vitamin A derivative, helps in keeping pores clear of clogging skin cells. Make sure you are giving retinol at least 8 weeks of regular use before you look for the results. It must be noted that there would be a requirement of a prescription cream for tough acne.

7. Eating Plenty of Vegetables Can Help:

   One more way to get rid of period acne is by eating more vegetables. Vegetables not only help you stay healthy, but also help in preventing period acne.

8. Take Nutritional Supplements:

   You also need to take nutritional supplements on a regular basis so as to help prevent period acne. The University of Maryland Medical Center states, “The mineral zinc can reduce acne, while the L-carnitine amino acid can improve the side effects that sometimes occur with retinoid acne medicines. When you take these supplements in doses as recommended by your doctor, can improve the overall appearance of your skin, along with clearing the period acne during your menstrual cycle.

9. Shower After Workouts:

   If you plan your workouts the also get yourself a shower soon after you finish with your workouts. If not, there would be sweat build-up, bacteria and oil get produces during that barre class can mix to flare the period acne really quickly. Prone areas include not only your face, but also your chest and back as well.

10. Consider Accutane To Get Rid Of Period Acne:

    In case your period acne is severely cystic and has not responded to any treatments, then go for a prescription of Accutane. You will want to talk with an expert dermatologist about this option, as there may be some side effects and also your medical history should also be considered before using it.

11. Colonic Hydrotherapy Sessions Can be Beneficial:

    There is another way to get rid of period acne. You can consider getting a series of colonic hydrotherapy sessions. In these sessions, water is allowed to trickle in to the colon, thus causing the colon to release its contents. All this happens in a very much controlled setting, so you need not have to worry about any big mess. The fecal matter is collected right in a tube that actually flows down the plumbing, many women, especially those who have PMS symptoms are highly constipated and having such a session right before the period is not only a way of how they would get rid of period acne, but also a way to eliminate a lot of other symptoms of PMS.

12. Herbal Remedies To Get Rid Of Period Acne:

    Herbs are wonderful sources that would help to get rid of period acne. They have anti-microbial agents in them that acts either on the surface of your skin or inside your body. You can prepare a paste of an effective herb and apply it directly to your skin to get rid of period acne. Now, what herb you actually can use? Echinacea, Comfrey and Alfalfa are three of the most beneficial herbs you can start with. Just mix 1/4 teapsoons of each of them all together and then add water to form a paste to be applied on the skin and left on for few hours before rinsing it.

To sum up, it can be said that period acne is caused because of an increase in hormones and it would be difficult to completely prevent it. However, with the help of some of the simple steps, one can keep her skin relatively clean and clear and get rid of period acne when its time of the menstrual cycle.

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Also Read:

• Causes of Acne in Women After the Teen Years
• Which Female Hormone Causes Acne?
• Which Birth Control Pills Cause Acne?
• How & Why Do Hormones Cause Acne?
• How Long Does Puberty Acne Last?