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Would someone please tell our skin that puberty is over? It ended years ago, and still we are dealing with the aftermath. Why do adult women have the kind of acne we experienced as teenagers? The large, inflamed, all over your face type that blisters up out of nowhere and manages to come the morning of a large, important event…and stay for days.
At first we assumed it was hormonal as it cropped up around that PMS week. Lately, I have been hearing more women complain of acne all month long that never seems to go away or follow a pattern.
Guess what? It can still be hormonal, just not necessarily the type you are thinking. Acne along the jaw line is traditionally considered “hormonal acne.” This could be due to your female hormones of estrogen and progesterone, your testosterone or DHEA levels, your thyroid, your blood sugar and insulin, and/or your adrenals. I suggest having a full hormonal work-up to see if you are out of balance.
Acne may also be due to the foods we put in our body. High carbohydrate diets tend to cause more swelling of our tissue resulting in more acne on our face. The cells swell up and trap bacteria and debris inside resulting in cystic mounds. High sugar diets create the same results. I suggest eating more proteins with every meal and cutting out the juices, soda, and sugar in your coffee, candies, cookies and other unnecessary sweets. Limit your breads and pastas too. Also, consider cutting dairy out of your diet for a month and watch the results. I know it’s hard, but your skin cells will thank you.
What are you putting on your face? Heavy chemical cleansers full of fragrance may inflame your skin. Opt for more environmentally friendly cleansers and moisturizers that nourish and protect without leaching and striping.
Lastly, what are you putting on your hair? All that hairspray, gel, frizz-tamer, and scented chemical shampoo locks into your strands that then brush against your jaw line, forehead, and cheeks all day long. Read labels and opt for more organic, face friendly brands.
Add a Comment3 Comments
I'm 50 and STILL have acne. My brother quit dairy and ended his battle with cystic acne. However, now I'm confused because my dermatologist is saying I have rosacea. Are they different? Have I been treated for the wrong thing all these years? I've done dermabrassions, accutane, antibiotics, creams, etc. etc. etc. I would suggest adding this to the list of things that help: Change your pillow case frequently and wash it in hot water with mild soap. Natural white cotton works best for me. Thanks for the tips, Linda (lslassiter)
July 17, 2009 - 2:22pmThis Comment
Hi, Linda:
Yes, rosacea is different. Here's some information from our empowHer resources that you might find helpful:
Rosacea 101
Treatments for Rosacea
Risk Factors for Rosacea
Hope this helps!
July 17, 2009 - 6:19pmThis Comment
Very informative links, thank you. Information is such power (thus the site name, right?) I've also got my condition under control with daily use of Metronidazole cream. Simple but effective.
July 20, 2009 - 9:17amThis Comment