If you’ve ever noticed breakouts pop up like clockwork before your period, or your skin suddenly flaring up post-partum, you’ve experienced hormonal acne.

Hormones have a powerful influence on the skin, particularly during puberty, the menstrual cycle, and periods of high stress. For many teens (and adults too), understanding this link is the first step in getting clearer skin.

Why Hormones Trigger Acne

 Hormonal acne is usually linked to an increase in androgen hormones (like testosterone). These hormones increase the size and activity of your sebaceous (oil) glands. More oil means a higher chance of clogged pores and inflammation, which are the perfect conditions for breakouts.

This type of acne often shows up around the lower face. Think jawline, chin, and sometimes the neck too. It can include both surface breakouts and those deeper, cystic pimples.

When Hormonal Shifts Happen

Teen years

This is when we see a major spike in hormones, which is why acne often begins around puberty.

Menstrual cycles

For females, breakouts tend to flare in the lead-up to a period or during due to hormonal fluctuations. Where you experience breakouts in relation to your cycle can actually give us clues as to the specific hormones inducing these breakouts.

Stress

High stress levels increase cortisol, which similar to androgens, can cause an increase in oil production & inflammation.

PCOS and other conditions

Some medical conditions, like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, can also lead to excess androgen levels and persistent breakouts.

Can You Fix Hormonal Acne Naturally? 

While you can’t “turn off” hormones, there are ways to support your body and reduce their impact on your skin:

• Support your blood sugar levels with regular meals and low-GI snacks/meals
• Incorporate more omega-3 fatty acids into your diet (think salmon, flaxseed, walnuts, fish oil supplements)
• Manage stress through movement, taking time to switch off and getting enough good quality sleep
• Use non-comedogenic skincare to avoid clogging pores further. You can use ingredients decoders such as inci decoder which will look at skincare ingredients which tells you the comedogenicity of an ingredient (aka how likely it is to clog your pores)

Sometimes, especially in moderate to severe cases, a more medical or professional skincare approach is needed. That might include topical treatments, hormone-balancing support, or even seeing a GP/Naturopath for further testing.

Why Understanding The Root Cause Matters

One of the biggest mistakes I see is treating all acne the same. If your breakouts are driven by hormones, you need a different approach than someone whose acne is caused by poor product use or diet alone.

This is something I will be exploring deeply in our upcoming Teen Acne Workshop. I’ll be helping young people and their families understand what’s going on beneath the surface and how to work with (not against) their skin.

If this sounds like something your teen needs, register for the Teen Acne Workshop here.