Treating Acne During Menopause Naturally

Acne is often linked to adolescence. However, are you close to menopause or are you already there, and you have acne spots on your face, neck or upper back? Not only do you suffer from it, but the products you find on the market are not necessarily suitable: stripping products mistreat your skin and dry it out! Why do we suffer from acne during menopause? How to treat menopausal acne naturally? More than an e-shop, Gapianne supports women through the different stages of their intimate lives: menopause is an important one. In this article on acne in menopause , we offer natural treatments to reduce your acne.

 

What exactly is acne during menopause?

Is acne in menopause the same as in adolescence? How does it manifest? Treating acne naturally during menopause means first knowing how to recognize it and understand its causes. We answer your questions about menopausal acne.

How does acne appear during menopause?

Acne during menopause most often manifests itself in the form of pimples located on:

• the face (chin, cheeks, contours of the mouth),
• the neck (especially at the border with the hair),
• chest and upper back.

Generally, pimples can appear in the months/years preceding menopause as a warning symptom. Most often, these are transient spots which tend to disappear once menopause sets in.

How do acne and acne spots form?

The skin is made up of sebaceous glands located in hair follicles, small pockets which have the role of producing hair. These glands produce sebum which forms a thin film on the skin in order to protect it from drying out and external aggressions.

However, in acne, the walls of the channel that connects the hair follicles to the skin's surface tend to thicken. Its diameter is narrowed and the diffusion of sebum outside the follicle is slowed or even blocked. This is seborrheic retention .

This phenomenon, associated with excessive production of sebum which sometimes occurs, leads to an accumulation of sebum in the follicle , what is commonly called “a pimple”. This increases in volume and, sometimes, ruptures under the pressure of accumulated sebum.

Furthermore, when a follicle is blocked and filled with sebum, inflammation can appear as well as superinfections leading to the development of a pustule or a cyst containing pus...

And here you are, the happy owner of skin with imperfections : blackheads, white spots and cysts. WE love !

What causes acne in menopause?

Acne is most often multifactorial or increased by certain causes. Here are the different causes that can explain why you have acne during menopause.

• Heredity and genetics: If your family members, especially women, suffered from acne during their adolescence, pregnancy and menopause, it is very possible that genetics are playing tricks on you. Don’t hesitate to ask them for their tips for getting rid of their acne: your skin may react like theirs!
• Lack of hygiene / Excess hygiene: while it is commonly accepted that a lack of hygiene can cause pimples, it is less known that excess hygiene can lead to the same result. And yet: if you clean your face with products that are too harsh for your skin, it can react and generate sebum to protect itself, leading to the appearance of spots. It is also possible that your products are no longer suitable for your skin which has changed with menopause.
• Use of comedogenic products: we are more and more aware and you may already know this but it is totally possible that you have comedogenic products in your facial care / makeup routine (increasing the generation of comedones, pimples) . Starting from scratch is sometimes the best solution: we will then give you tips and routine ideas to take better care of your skin.
• Healthy lifestyle: consuming alcohol, smoking or even eating sweet and very fatty foods are behaviors that can have the impact of leading to an increase in acne spots.
• Hormonal fluctuations: the drop in estrogen and progesterone levels are involved in the increase in acne spots during menopause. Present in too low quantities in the body during menopause, female hormones can no longer play their regulatory role and male hormones, androgens, are found in excess. Sebum accumulates on the surface of the epidermis, causing acne.
• PCOS: hormonal acne is one of the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome marked by very significant hormonal fluctuations. However, PCOS does not stop at menopause, on the contrary: it has an influence on the symptoms of menopause and can be responsible for more severe acne.

How to naturally prevent acne during menopause?

Since menopausal acne is multifactorial, it is important to use all the levers that you can use to prevent its appearance. Here are ten steps to naturally prevent the appearance of acne during menopause.

• Reduce (stop) smoking: the chemical components contained in cigarettes contribute to damaging the quality of the skin, notably accentuating its aging and the appearance of spots. Quitting cigarettes, in addition to being a good thing for your health, is excellent for preventing menopausal acne!
• Reduce (stop) alcohol: excess alcohol tends to affect hormonal levels and thus increase hormonal acne. So, reducing, or even eliminating, alcohol is a good move to prevent acne during menopause!
• Reduce (stop) sugar: like alcohol, sugar affects hormonal levels. It thus stimulates hormonal acne. Consuming less sugar is therefore beneficial for avoiding hormonal acne!
• Supplement: promoting a good hormonal balance with the help of food supplements can have the effect of postponing hormonal imbalances linked to menopause for as long as possible. It's a great way to prepare your body. 🌈 At Gapianne, we recommend the Hormonal Balance food supplements from the Miyé brand. These supplements combine the effects of plants and vitamins to regulate the inconveniences linked to hormonal fluctuations. To increase their effect, take them for 3 months.

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Do not triturate your skin: we mentioned this in the paragraph on the formation of acne spots: these are caused in particular by contamination by bacteria of blocked hair follicles. However, the more you touch your skin, the more you risk putting bacteria everywhere and making things worse. Picking your skin won't necessarily give you acne (acne being a specific condition) but it can increase the risk of developing pimples!

• Avoid abrasive scrubs: There are different types of scrubs in the market that aim to eat away dead skin to release the skin and look better. Choose scrubs with fruit acids, or with natural microbeads. Scrubs made from unpolished fruit stones can break down your skin and cause blemishes.
• Do not strip your skin with too strong cleansers: because your skin is too oily, you may be tempted by the idea of ​​stripping and eradicating all of the sebum from the skin. Except that this has the opposite effect: the sebaceous glands create even more sebum to counter the eradication of sebum! 🌈 At Gapianne, we love the anti-imperfection facial cleanser from the Nidéco brand. Made with aloe vera, it's very gentle! We also appreciate that it is rated 100/100 on Yuka, proving a composition that is safe for your health and respectful of the environment.

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Limit the products applied: Korean skincare has invaded the West and it is easy to see it as THE solution to skin problems. After all, what's better than a multitude of products to answer each of our problems? Applying so many products to our skin, however, carries a major risk: increasing the chances that our skin will be in contact with a product that it does not tolerate well. Limiting the products applied and rarely changing your routine is the best solution to know your skin better and easily identify what does it good (or not).

Do not compromise on makeup removal: if you wear makeup, we can only urge you to scrupulously respect the makeup removal phase! Remnants of makeup on your skin can actually contribute to clogging the hair follicles of your skin and causing pimples. 🌈 At Gapianne, we have selected Oden's anti-acne makeup remover oil for you. It combines carnation vegetable oil and daisy solar macerate to deeply cleanse the face while protecting it. You will appreciate that it rinses very easily with clean water and that it leaves no greasy finish!

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Protect your skin from the sun: in addition to accelerating the aging of the skin, exposure to the sun has a significant impact on acne: the sun increases sebum production and thickens the epidermis, the upper layer of the skin. , which is conducive to the formation of acne spots under the skin... Wearing sunscreen and limiting exposure to the sun is essential.

✋ Remember: hormonal acne is multifactorial and can bother you during menopause regardless of your lifestyle. The “luck” factor is important! This is why we can only recommend that you do the best you can and not feel guilty, even if acne appears during menopause.

H2: How to naturally treat acne during menopause?

We have seen how to prevent this acne, now let's see how to treat it. Our first recommendation is to turn to your doctor and dermatologist. At the same time, we offer you some actions and a natural routine to improve the texture and appearance of your skin if you suffer from menopausal acne.

H3 Consult your doctor and a dermatologist

We can never say it enough: when you encounter a health problem, the best response you can give is to first turn to your doctor. If your menopausal acne is combined with other symptoms of menopause (hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, etc.), he may consider offering you hormonal treatment but if acne is the only symptom, he will most certainly redirect you to a dermatologist. The latter, as a skin expert, will be best placed to make the correct diagnosis, answer your questions and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

H3 Starting from scratch!

If you suffer from acne, we also advise you to limit the products you apply to your skin. When our skin is giving us trouble, it's common to add more and more products and treatments. However, this accumulation of products can increase reactions on your skin or between products. Instead, we recommend that you first reduce the products you use as much as possible to see what happens: a light cleanser and a moisturizer (if your skin feels tight).

H3 Taking care of your interior

If acne is mainly of hormonal origin at menopause (and throughout the life of menstruating people for that matter), it is often multifactorial and can be made worse by a substandard lifestyle. Eating a balanced diet, not too fatty, not too sweet or even drinking a lot and limiting alcohol and cigarettes are actions that you can take to naturally reduce your hormonal acne.

We also recommend that you choose food supplements that can provide your body and your skin with a boost of interesting active ingredients. Evening primrose oil has proven its benefits on hormonal fluctuations responsible for menopause problems. Consuming it in small daily doses can help you feel better about yourself. 🌈 On our e-shop, we fell for the mature skin supplements from the Oden brand . In addition to bringing you the benefits of evening primrose oil to regulate your hormones, these capsules are combined with the effects of borage oil to improve your skin. Not content with acting on acne, they also act on wrinkles! And as a bonus they are 100% natural 🌿, organic and made in France 🇫🇷. To be tested urgently!

H3 A 6-step routine to treat menopausal acne naturally

For pretty skin, less is more **.** This principle goes a little opposite to many routines you will find but it is the one we recommend. The fewer products you put on your skin, the more you will be able to see which ones have a positive (or negative) impact on the beauty of your skin.

H4 A morning routine

1. Skin cleansing (morning): cleansing your skin well at the start of the day provides a clean base for applying your skincare and makeup. This keeps you feeling fresh and doesn't trap bacteria. 🌈 We have selected for you the anti-imperfection facial cleanser from the Nidéco brand. Its ingredients are designed to gently cleanse you. Rated 100/100 on Yuka, it is formulated in a French laboratory and is produced in France or Belgium.

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1. Applying a moisturizer (morning): hydrating your skin is an important step for its appearance and for you. On the one hand, this plumps it up and on the other hand, it prevents your skin from feeling tight. It is important to hydrate your skin even if it is naturally oily.
2. Applying sun protection (morning): protecting your skin from the sun is the last step in this skincare routine. We recommend that you opt for this gesture on a daily basis to make it part of your habits–this avoids having to remember to put on cream when you go out.

H4 An evening routine

1. Makeup removal (evening): removing makeup at the end of the day is a non-negotiable step! Leftover makeup can actually clog your pores and cause pimples to form! 🌈 We have selected for you Oden's anti-acne cleansing oil created from carnation vegetable oil and daisy solar macerate. It rinses off very easily with clean water and leaves no trace of grease or makeup!

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1. Skin cleansing (evening): complementing your makeup removal with a deep cleansing of the skin is recommended. This will remove the last impurities of the day from your face. 🌈 Once again, we recommend the anti-imperfection facial cleanser from the Nidéco brand, already recommended a little earlier.

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1. Applying a night treatment (evening): all that remains is to nourish your skin for the night! This helps plump it up and make it more effective. In addition, the advantage of nighttime is that you can apply oil without fear of its photosensitive effect. Our recommendation for acne-prone skin that needs nourishment is hazelnut oil, which regulates sebum production and reduces pore size. 🌈 On our e-shop, we have selected for you the anti-acne hazelnut oil from the Oden brand. We love the brand values ​​and the superior quality of the oil: 100% natural, made in France and vegan.

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💡 Our tip: Is your skin not made to be cleansed twice a day? Favor evening cleansing to remove the impurities of the day.

Driven by the drop in hormone levels that occurs during perimenopause and menopause, hormonal acne can develop during menopause . A problem that can take over your head and affect your morale, sometimes already damaged by the fluctuations of this period. If you are experiencing this problem at the moment, we want to reassure you one last time: as we have seen in this article, there are natural treatments for acne in menopause . All you have to do is find the one that suits you and reduces your acne!

These articles on menopause might interest you:

Plants that relieve menopause >

Insomnia and menopause: how to get back to sleep? >

Swollen stomach and menopause: prevention and natural treatments >

Menopause and fatigue: a symptom as impactful as it is neglected >

White discharge during menopause >