What’s the Deal With Hormonal Cystic Acne?

Here's the thing, we're not teenagers anymore. So, that means that we shouldn't deal with teenage problems anymore. Right??

As teens (or even pre-teens), most of us couldn’t wait to grow up. Growing up was the symbol of freedom and an eventual escape from the giant craters on our faces!

Unfortunately, this was but a distant dream as painfully big zits continued year after year.

Little did we know that we weren’t dealing with the regular run-of-the-mill acne. Many of us have had hormonal cystic acne for years and never even knew it!

So, I would say it’s time to finally tackle this problem at the root. And, I have just what you need. 

Here’s your crash course to Hormonal Cystic Acne!✨

The Breakdown of Hormonal Cystic Acne

If you have ever had a large bump that seemed like a pimple, looked like a flying saucer, and hurt with the fury of a thousand suns- that my friend was hormonal cystic acne. 

Often appearing in the T-zone area, hormonal cystic acne will show up in the most annoying places like your forehead, chin, or nose. While it’s not an easy task getting rid of them, the real question in all of this, is why do these suckers keep popping up?!

As we could guess from the name, hormones play a huge part in the development of hormonal cystic acne. 

When your hormones are doing their usual acrobat routine due to changes in your body (such as puberty, periods, and menopause),  acne is not too far behind. What happens on your face is the direct result of what’s happening in your body. An excess of hormones can mean an excess of oil production, and this creates a serious problem for the skin.

While it is true that hormonal cystic acne can affect both men and women, studies show that over 50 percent of women between the ages of 20 to 29 are affected. And, almost 25 percent of women in their forties and beyond can still see flare-ups.

This is not necessarily good news, but it does get us one step closer to understanding why hormonal cystic acne happens. So, let’s continue on our journey!

What Causes Hormonal Cystic Acne?

Blackheads, whiteheads, small pimples, galore!! They all SUCK. But when dealing with hormonal cystic acne, the bar is raised. Bacteria can get trapped in your pores and cause redness, inflammation, and painful swelling. And, don’t count on a quick departure either, because hormonal cystic acne can stick around for a while! 

Here are some factors that lead to hormonal acne: 

1. Oil Overload- An overproduction of oil can lead to quite a slippery situation when it comes to acne. It’s a recipe for clogged pores and sets the stage for bad bacteria (known as P. acnes). Yikes!
2. Hormonal Imbalances- We’ve already learned that hormones play a part, but, did you know that some underlying medical issues could directly affect hormones too? These can include PCOS, endometriosis, and imbalances in sex hormones. All of these also contribute to oil overproduction. 
3. Too Much Stress- Studies have shown that a person under a lot of stress can experience hormonal cystic acne at a higher rate. This is because your stress hormone, cortisol, spikes when you're overwhelmed, and as you know, hormone spikes increase your sebum (or oil production) levels. Be gone, stress! 
4. Missing Out On the Zzz's- Believe it or not, when you don't get enough sleep, your face suffers. Dermatologist, Neal Schultz explains that resetting your internal clock over and over again will impact your adrenal glands. In turn, an abnormal amount of cortisol and testosterone will be released. So, repeat after me, "I will not mindlessly scroll through Instagram until 2 am!" 

Is Hormonal Cystic Acne Different From Regular Acne?

Ok. I'll be the first to admit that I am one of those people that used to think all acne was the same and called it whatever I wanted to. I mean, after all, did it really matter what category it fit into?? 

I soon realized, however, that it actually matters a lot. Often we can get lost in the confusing web of all things acne-related, and it can just seem like a jumbled mess of words. Our brains simply can't separate zits from pimples!

But in order to attack the problem, we have to know what the problem is in the first place. Hormonal cystic acne is different from the regular acne we all know and hate.

According to board-certified dermatologist Daniel P. Friedmann, the main difference between acne (aka bacterial acne) and hormonal cystic acne is what's happening on the inside. Hormones are always in a state of flux, and women, in particular, feel the effects of hormonal cystic acne the worst. 

From periods to pregnancy, we have a lot going on around the clock. These constant changes result in hormonal imbalances that affect our skin. Without a proper way to handle these imbalances, acne will persist. While many would tell you that acne can be cured by simply washing your face regularly, hormonal cystic acne doesn’t work that way. 

This means that the only way to tackle it is with a proven system that will not only heal the skin, but also help to address the elephant in the room. That’s where Averr Aglow comes in!

How To Treat Hormonal Cystic Acne

It’s time to show acne who's the boss once and for all! Hormonal cystic acne doesn’t have to be your permanent situation, and Averr Aglow can make sure it’s not! 

The Clear Skin Kit is the perfect combination of products to tackle any acne situation. Expertly crafted, it can help to balance out the overproduction of oil, fight off bad bacteria, and heal hormonal breakouts. You also never have to worry about harsh chemicals that can act as hormone disruptors because all of our products are naturally-based. 

Thousands of women at every stage of life have written a new chapter in their skin story, and now it's your turn. Here’s to a fresh start! ❤️

Written by

Shiloh Garcia