Hormonal Acne: How to deal with it

We notice that acne is an increasingly big topic and many of you suffer from annoying but also painful blemishes. You keep asking how to deal with acne and which products really help. There is still a lot of uncertainty and many myths about the do's and don'ts of care. That's why it's very important for us to talk about acne and accompany you on your way to healthy skin.

From many messages on Instagram and direct feedback from our virtual skincare consultation and Clean Beauty workshops in the past, we know that many of you have only been suffering from hormonal acne since coming off the pill. Are you affected too? Find out in the following article how acne develops and how you can fight annoying pimples and blackheads. Let's go:

How exactly does hormonal acne actually develop?

Acne is one of the most common skin diseases in industrialised nations. Between 70% and 95% of young people are affected by blemished skin to some degree. But more and more adults, especially women, suffer from acne later in life. Experts estimate that up to 40% of adults over the age of 25 suffer from blemished, acne-prone skin. And 75 - 85 % of them are female.

Many of the skin changes we experience during puberty and as adults are due to the sebaceous glands. We have these sebaceous glands all over our body. They produce an oily substance called sebum, which serves to protect the skin from pathogens.

Acne is caused by these sebaceous glands producing excessive amounts of oil. This can have many causes, such as genetics, diet, stress, medications, environmental toxins or the wrong skin care regimen. In hormonal acne, the excess oil production of the sebaceous glands is fuelled by hormonal changes. The androgenic ("male") sex hormones, such as testosterone, which are present in both sexes, play a special role here. Sebum production can change during the menstrual cycle. Discontinuing hormonal contraception can also lead to acne outbreaks, as the body is no longer supplied with synthetic hormones and the proportion of androgenic hormones increases.

In addition to the excess oil production, there is also increased hornification of the skin. The skin has problems shedding dead skin cells. The pores become clogged and sebum continues to be produced. Bacteria that are on our skin accumulate in the excess sebum and lead to inflammation.

This inflammation manifests itself in varying degrees of severity and ranges from mild redness and blackheads to painful pustules or cysts that are located underneath the skin. Hormonal acne as an adult usually occurs on the lower part of the face, in the jawline, around the mouth area and on the lower part of the cheeks. Now that we understand how acne develops, let's talk about how to manage it.

How can you support the healing of the skin and which products help you with acne?

Unfortunately, the myth still persists that blemished skin and acne need particularly harsh "anti-pimple products". The desperation often leads to sufferers feeling that they have to dry out the skin and kill bacteria. Again and again, acne is equated with a lack of hygiene and is thus often also associated with a lot of shame. Harsh cleansing products with alcohol and sulphates, as well as drying soaps and intensive peeling rituals can attack the skin's natural protective barrier and only further boost oil production! The result is often oily and irritated skin and severe inflammation.

To get rid of acne in the long term, skin care should therefore consist of getting the excess oil production under control and rebuilding the skin's natural protective barrier! An intact skin barrier can ward off pesky bacteria and therefore prevent new inflammations. You may not believe it, but by providing your skin with nourishing oils you can normalise oil production. Our Balance Face Oil, for example, contains valuable jojoba oil and squalane, which have a chemical structure similar to our sebum. This gives your skin the impression that it has enough oil and reduces its own oil production. In addition, Balance Face Oil provides your skin with important vitamins, antioxidants and antibacterial ingredients that contribute to the regeneration of the skin's protective barrier and inhibit inflammation.

As described above, acne is caused by a cornification disorder of the skin, whereby dead skin cells cannot be removed and lead to a blockage of the sebaceous glands. Our Cleanse Charcoal Mask is a real all-rounder! You can apply it 2-3 times a week to cleanse your skin gently and deep into the pores. For a mild peeling effect, you can wash off the clay mask in a circular motion. Clay also contains important minerals that soothe inflammation and strengthen the skin. After applying the face mask, you can use our Balance Face Oil.

One of the most frequently asked questions is how often you should cleanse your face with a cleanser. We tend to recommend that you only use a gentle oil cleanser at night to remove make-up and sunscreen. In the morning, just wash your face with water.

Please note that the natural regeneration process of the skin takes about 28 days. Therefore, give your skin some time to get used to new products and to react to the ingredients. If you are struggling with acne, remember that your skin should be treated gently and with love.

Why Skin Positivity is so important

We are passionate about informing you about acne and giving you tips to help you bring your skin into its healthy balance. Acne is an emotionally charged issue and can also be extremely painful! If we can contribute to your skin being 'happy and healthy' again with our natural skin care products and thus improve your life quality, then we have achieved our goal!