Have you noticed your acne becoming worse during lockdown? Or even acne problems starting to arise when you’ve always had clear skin? Due to the current global pandemic, the majority of us are being forced into the confinement of our own homes to help stop the spread. As a result of this, we are spending numerous hours behind the screen, on the sofa or messing up our sleep schedules. And quite possibly our eating habits or diets are taking a turn for the worse. This can all lead to an increase in acne problems that we’ve been experiencing during these unprecedented times.
Acne is a very common skin condition that large proportions of children, teenagers and adults suffer with; an almost estimated 80% of the population aged between 11-30. However where your breakouts occur, the types of breakouts you get, as well as age, gender, genetics, and diet, all influence what type of acne you may suffer from. For those who menstruate, the acne you get close to when you’re about to get your period, that’s called hormonal acne. However hormonal acne doesn’t just act up around that time of the month. Hormonal imbalances within the body which leads to hormonal acne can cause long-term frustration in terms of your skin. So what's the best hormonal acne treatment?
Can I treat hormonal acne?
The first step is to identify if you are suffering from hormonal acne before you begin overloading your skin with acne treatments and active ingredients. Hormonal acne is typically caused by imbalances in testosterone and oestrogen as you get closer to your menstrual window. After ovulation oestrogen levels drop dramatically which causes testosterone levels to rise slightly higher. High levels of oestrogen during your fertile window is what gives skin the ‘natural glow’ and you should notice skin feeling more plump and radiant. High testosterone levels result in more sebum production and larger pores which results in more or severer acne.
Some common identifiers are where your acne appears on the skin:
- In puberty hormonal acne typically appears in the T-zone especially on the chin
- In later teenage and adult years hormonal acne typically appears along the jawline and on the chin
Also acne on the back and chest area can appear in adult years. It takes the form of:
- Blackheads
- Whiteheads
- Enlarged pores
- Excess sebum production
- Cysts (the sensitive bumps under the skin which never surface into pimples)
In terms of treating hormonal acne, topical treatments like phytoestrogen are gaining more popularity. There are also oral contraceptives and acne medications such as Accutane, which you can be prescribed with by a dermatologist. However nutritional knowledge, lifestyle and diets, sustainability, exercise and responsibility are becoming a bigger focus in the media because with lockdown we are having to learn how to take care of our wellbeing. Many people are turning to natural methods and holistic treatments, not just for acne but their lifestyle as a whole. As hormonal acne is caused by hormonal imbalances in the body, the biggest and most effective solutions come from changes in lifestyle and diet, to level out hormones. Supplements have become a very popular hormonal acne treatmnet also as they can amplify effects that come from altering or improving your diet and are very good as an additional aspect for your health.
Jawline acne caused by hormonal imbalances
The place hormonal acne likes to present itself best is along the jawline and chin. High levels of the male hormones testosterone and androgen are what causes these to appear. Some women can have an underlying condition of polycystic ovarian syndrome; which is also coupled with irregular periods, hair thinning and weight gain, which can be a cause of hormonal acne. Other factors can be if you’re taking any birth control, other medications etc. However, a leading problem is in diet and having diets with high consumptions of sugar, dairy and processed foods, which results in many people with hormonal imbalances within the body, leading that to be presented on the skin.
What’s caused on the inside is best treated from the inside
Hormonal acne stems from hormonal imbalances within our bodies. Topical treatments can only take you so far however the real cause of the problem remains inside. Therefore to best combat hormonal acne, the starting point should be to better adapt and balance out your hormones. This targets the core of the issue and will not just improve skin but has great effects on your wellbeing, lifestyle and overall health.
Acne treatment supplements
Research indicates that by supplementing your diet with certain vitamins, minerals and nutrients, these can better help keep hormonal acne under control. One main anti-acne supplement that has been gaining popularity through research is vitamin D. A study with 80 people who suffered from acne and 80 people who didn’t, highlighted a vitamin D deficiency as a key difference between the two groups. It’s been linked to acne severity and follow-up studies have shown that increasing vitamin D through supplements improved the acne in under two months. An explanation for this is that vitamin D has key anti-inflammatory properties, which is great for acne inflammations on the skin.
- Omega-3/ fish oil can help to reduce inflammation which helps to fight acne and improve the appearance of discolouration.
- Collagen supplements for acne is what provides the elasticity in our skin, it can help to increase plumpness and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
- Zinc can help clear bacteria-causing acne from the skin’s surface and has many anti-inflammatory properties to help solve current acne breakouts.
- Vitamin A (Retinol) stimulates the production of new skin cells to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and shorten the healing time of damage to the skin from acne.
- Vitamin C can encourage new collagen in the skin to grow and is a natural component that you already have present.
Change up your diet to fight hormonal acne
The biggest causes of acne which go hand-in-hand with each other are stress and inflammation. Stress whether it be physical from the environment or your state of mental health can increase the production of the stress hormone CRH (corticotrophin-releasing hormone). This stimulates sebaceous glands in the surface of the skin to secrete sebum which leads to pimples. The most effective ways to keep levels of inflammation and stress under control is through lifestyle and diet.
Food sensitivities or intolerances can cause an activation of the adaptive and innate immune response, typically known as type I hypersensitivity reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions basically mean that your immune system is inappropriately over-responding to something, in this case, an allergen in food. The best mechanism your body has of its primary immune system is inflammation of the area. Cytokines are released which are pro-inflammatory mediators, resulting in inflammations on the skin or what is more commonly known as a pimple. Continuation of this is what leads to problematic acne.
Certain diets can also increase inflammation in the body. Something key to watch out for is a high glycemic diet. The glycemic load of food measures the impact it will have on your blood sugar levels. A high glycemic load means that after digesting the food, there is a rapid spike on your blood sugar levels which can put the body under stress. This is done by an increase in insulin levels to combat this increase in blood glucose which in turn can lead to an increase in inflammation within the body, resulting in more severe acne.
Can dairy cause acne?
Dairy has become a scapegoat in the health community for being a large contributor to acne in the diet. But is this true? Let’s unpack this.
A scientific study conducted shows that across all genders and ethnicities there is a general consensus that no matter what type of dairy you consume: semi-skim milk, full-fat milk, yoghurt, cheese etc… that there is a significant increase in the risk of developing acne between the ages of 7-30. To break that apart, if the results of a study are concluded as significant that means statistically we can say that there is some type of correlation between the two. Milk and dairy products are shown to increase the secretion of insulin in the body and also increase the production of hormones such as IGF-1. These are large aggravators of the skin and result in inflammation which leads to acne.
Can gluten cause acne?
More recently, studies have been done on gluten as a skin aggravator leading to acne. Gluten has been painted in the media as bad for the skin however from some extensive research I’ll conclude this claim as false. Unlike dairy, there are very little studies that show any correlation between the intake of gluten and acne severity. A very small proportion of people have gluten intolerances or sensitivities e.g. those with celiac disease, for those select few cutting gluten out of their diet would prove beneficial and may lead to improvements in their skin. In fact, foods which are whole grains are even beneficial to have in your diet to fight acne. What I will say is, I think the misconception comes from the presence of refined foods with a high glycemic index, that usually also contain gluten. Foods such as white bread or white rice have high glycemic indexes and it is this in the foods that are causing severe acne due to what I mentioned earlier, not the gluten which they contain.
Can sugar cause acne?
Any form of sugar has been shown to increase inflammation which we now know directly causes acne. It increases insulin levels within the body which is secreted to reduce blood glucose. Insulin increases sebum production of the skin which increases the amount and severity of acne. A study in 2011 shows also that sugar increases the production of CRP (C-Reactive protein) in the body. This is a direct link to inflammation which by now, we all know is not good news for acne.
Osmosis Skin Defense is the best natural hormonal acne treatment
People are beginning to view lifestyle, health, acne and diet as all intertwined. Sort of like a domino effect where if one aspect falls the others begin to join. For long-term problems such as acne rather than focusing on the quick acute treatments, a more holistic approach to the matter can ensure longer-term effects.
Osmosis Skin Defense is an effective, natural adult hormonal acne treatment. Osmosis focus on combining high quality, science-backed ingredients to help maintain the overall long-term health of your skin. And they seem to be very successful at this as just by looking from their reviews, everyone stays satisfied. Let us know what you think below and whether you’ve tried Osmosis Skin Defense capsules!
Osmosis Skin Defense Vs Skin Accumax
Skin Accumax has an advanced nutrition programme filled with extensive research and their supplements have been developed for over 15 years. The supplements are free of potentially harsh chemicals, vegan and for those with possible allergies, are GMO, wheat, yeast and soy-free, so they really are accessible to everyone. Their ingredients are constantly being tested, improved and sustainably sourced to ensure they provide maximal effects for your skin. As everything Skin Accumax uses is natural with vitamins and nutrients we find in our diet and the foods around us, the risk is far less than for example using medications as a form of hormonal acne treatment. Especially when each of our bodies is so unique, when it comes to medications it can be a difficult process of trial and error to see what your body will accept or reject. However, with Skin Accumax that worry can be diminished as you know what is going into your body and can be left all rest assured.
Up until recently Skin Accumax was the leading natural supplement for treating acne, but Osmosis Skin Defense is far more effective.
Osmosis Skin Defense contains 400mg DIM, which is 10 times more potent than Skin Accumax. As it’s 100% naturally found in broccoli, it’s safe to use and in this case more is better. Osmosis Skin Defense helps clear your skin from acne fast and effective.
A natural approach is better for your health
Natural remedies have been common around all parts of the world for hundreds of years. Recently it has taken a huge place in the media in western countries and has gone much more mainstream in terms of helping to treat or maintain long-term conditions. Osmosis Skincare has set a standard of sustainably sourced, effective natural supplements for the skin. Especially for long-term conditions such as acne, which are heavily dependent and fluctuate based on our health, hormones and genetics; the natural approach may be something to look into. The focus shifts to developing all aspects of your life from wellbeing to diet to exercise which during this pandemic is something we could all benefit from. That’s one aspect I really enjoy about the natural method - the focus on overall health instead of smaller problems. It’s a method that seems to be working with Osmosis Skincare as their results are all that needs to speak for them.
