Menstruation is part of a woman's natural life cycle, which repeats monthly for most of her life. Despite the naturalness of the process, it brings considerable discomfort to the fair sex.
And it is associated not only with painful sensations in the sacrum and lower abdomen, but also with the condition of the skin on the face or body.
A woman's body is much more hormone-dependent in its natural processes than a man's body. Every month, an egg matures in the girl’s body. If she is not fertilized, her period begins in about two weeks. The entire menstrual cycle is divided into four phases, each of which is distinguished by its own hormonal changes. Why do acne appear before menstruation?
Causes and location of rashes
The appearance of acne before menstruation is often associated with increased activity of the sebaceous glands, which produce too much sebum. The secretion begins to accumulate in the openings of the pores, adheres to keratinized tissues, and then to dust.
This process causes the formation of sebaceous plugs that block the excretory ducts, which creates excellent conditions for the activation of pathogenic bacteria, the activity of which provokes inflammation and the subsequent formation of pimples ( acne ).
Abnormal activity of the sebaceous glands is associated with a sharp change in the usual hormonal balance, which is the norm with PMS.
The affected area is usually the T-zone, that is, foci of inflammation are located on the forehead, nose and chin. In addition, acne covers:
- cheekbones and décolleté area;
- back;
- buttocks;
- scalp, etc.
To normalize the condition of the skin in each of the listed areas, it is necessary to undergo an adequate course of treatment, as well as ensure subsequent prevention of such manifestations.
Causes of rashes on the face during menstruation
The reasons for the appearance of various types of rashes during menstruation are factors such as:
- adolescence;
- taking hormonal medications;
- presence of stress;
- presence of gastrointestinal disease;
- poor climatic conditions, for example, high humidity or dryness;
- low-grade cosmetics;
- systematic squeezing of pimples;
- the presence of propionic bacteria in the body, which work faster in the middle of a woman’s cycle, which leads to the formation of a rash;
- consumption of fatty, unhealthy foods and alcohol;
- lack of proper hygiene and cleanliness in the house: dust, poor cleaning, lack of skin care leads to the formation of pimples and blackheads.
What changes occur in the body
The first day of menstruation is the beginning of the monthly cycle, which is divided into four main phases:
- follicular;
- ovulatory;
- luteal;
- desquamative.
The first stage is characterized by an increase in the level of estrogen, a hormone that makes the sebaceous glands less active and promotes the production of hyaluronic acid. Thanks to these changes, previously appeared rashes disappear.
During ovulation, the level of luteinizing hormone increases sharply, which supports the process of producing even more estrogen, which brings the skin of the neck and cheeks to ideal condition.
Starting from the middle of the cycle, reverse processes are observed: a decrease in the amount of estrogens and an increase in the level of progesterones produced by the corpus luteum. The principle of action of hormones of the second type is the opposite: activation of the sebaceous glands and increased susceptibility to harmful factors (allergens, stress, etc.). This trend is also supported by the male sex hormone – androgen.
The result of such changes is the appearance of acne 2-7 days before the start of menstruation.
Interesting guesses and factors
Cosmetologists have a theory about the occurrence of acne on different parts of the face, for example, rashes on the forehead hint at problems in the functioning of the intestines. At the same time, on the cheekbones or near the eyes they speak of problems with the kidneys and adrenal glands.
Inflammations on the nose indicate a malfunction in the cardiovascular system, and on the cheeks - with the respiratory system. But acne before menstruation appears due to an imbalance of hormones.
In addition to all of the above, the following reasons can be additionally identified:
- Poor nutrition - we have already talked about this in detail in this article. The predominance of sweet, starchy, fatty foods, with a large number of preservatives and dyes contributes to various skin rashes.
- Incorrect care. Excessive cleansing with scrubs and peeling violates the integrity of the skin. This gives bacteria free access to the ducts of the sebaceous gland. And an incorrectly selected fatty cream itself clogs the pores.
- Blockage of the ducts of the sebaceous glands. Using primer, foundation, concealer, highlighter clogs our skin. Insufficient makeup removal and poor cleaning every day give poor results on the face.
- Preferring to go to the pharmacy yourself rather than sit in line at the doctor’s is fraught. This also applies to contraceptives. But they contain hormones in their pure form! And after consulting with a friend, at the pharmacy we confidently say the name. What do we hear? Refusal! Do not be surprised. Such drugs must be sold strictly according to a prescription. If it was sold, then blame yourself for the change in the condition of your skin, hair and nails. Yes, yes, this is exactly how a “selected” medicine can ruin your appearance.
Treatment
To get rid of acne that appears during menstruation, as well as before and after it, it is recommended to start therapy in consultation with a gynecologist and dermatologist. They will carry out the necessary diagnostic measures, after which they will be able to individually select medications that normalize hormone levels.
Medication
Acne, the appearance of which is caused by hormonal imbalance, can be eliminated with the help of medications using one of two methods:
- autohemodialysis (as a result of the procedure, the patient is transfused with plasma from her own blood, which helps cleanse the body as a whole and eliminate acne);
- taking oral contraceptives (they can bring a woman’s hormonal levels back to normal).
In both cases, the result will be noticeable, but not everyone will agree to autohemodialysis, and the second option involves the continuous use of medications and a high likelihood of side effects.
Phytotherapy
The condition of the skin noticeably improves under the influence of estrogen and flavonoids . These substances color plants blue, purple, red, orange and yellow. But they also have an antioxidant effect, preserving female beauty and youth.
Citrus fruits, grains, legumes and some medicinal plants have similar properties. During the treatment process, they can be used for both internal and external use.
To ensure skin regeneration, increase its elasticity and make the tone more even, use pineapple pulp and parsley . carrot juice is good , which will not only reduce oily skin, but also relieve inflammation and provide antioxidant effects.
Essential oils (basil, sage, tea tree, etc.)
help cleanse pores and destroy pathogenic bacteria
How can you prevent acne?
Acne doesn't just happen. The reasons have already been described earlier. To prevent this disease from forming on the skin, you should follow simple rules:
- Wash your face twice a day every day. Do this with warm water. It will help open the pores and remove dirt from them. Do not burn your skin with hot water. Before this activity, it is important to wash your hands, because they may become contaminated.
- Try to do at least minimal skin care. Use moisturizing toners, creams and smears. They will saturate the skin with useful microelements and help it to be beautiful. Plus, it will relieve dryness.
- Never go to bed with makeup on. It is this that causes clogging of pores and the formation of negative consequences. In addition to acne, irritation may occur.
- Touch your face and hair with your hands as little as possible. They contain a million bacteria that easily penetrate the skin and cause inflammation.
- Do not share towels, hygiene products, rubber bands, or other similar items with brothers, sisters, and other household members.
- Try to wash your bedding and pillows more often. Dirt accumulated on laundry negatively affects the health of the skin.
- Wash your hair more often. It is oily and dirty hair that becomes a factor in the appearance of acne on the forehead.
- Try to drink your daily amount of water and eat foods rich in proteins and carbohydrates. All this gives additional energy and maintains body tone.
- Do not eat foods that contain a high glycemic index. These are instant food, chocolate and others.
Important! You need to give up alcohol and cigarettes. In addition to “clogging” the pores, they negatively affect the entire body. Lead a healthy lifestyle and exercise.
How to avoid getting a rash
You can prevent the appearance of rashes not only through the use of medications, but also through a number of preventive measures:
- Compliance with the rules of a healthy diet, as well as the inclusion in the diet of foods that help activate metabolic processes.
- Work on strengthening the body's defenses:
- maintaining an acceptable level of physical activity;
- taking vitamins;
- constant ventilation of living spaces and frequent walks in the fresh air.
- Regular and proper facial care (taking into account individual characteristics).
All this will reduce the oiliness of the skin, make it less dry and prone to inflammation, and therefore will help reduce the likelihood of acne.
Prevention
Getting rid of premenstrual acne is much more difficult than preventing it from appearing in the first place. To do this, it is necessary to apply the following prevention methods:
- Follow a proper diet, avoiding eating fatty, smoked, fried, canned and salty foods that stimulate the sebaceous glands. You should also avoid baking, sweets and alcohol.
- Regularly consume the following foods that normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands: eggs, seaweed, fatty fish, carrots, walnuts, chicken, fruits, spinach, beets. Fermented milk products also have a good effect on the skin.
- About a week before the onset of menstruation, use medications that stabilize the sebaceous glands.
- Apply drying masks made of white or green clay two to three times a week.
By understanding the causes of acne during menstruation, you can not only treat it correctly, but also, over time, get rid of this phenomenon altogether. This requires comprehensive measures that will improve not only the condition of the skin, but also the functioning of the body as a whole.
Women's opinions
Reviews from women themselves indicate how pressing the problem of acne before menstruation is:
I have to take extra care of my skin during the 10-day period before the start of menstruation: use a special foam for washing, wipe my face with toner. In this case, blackheads do not appear or only one or two appear. If you don’t do this, it will cover your entire face and you can hardly touch it.
Oksana
Pimples appear regularly, but I prefer to simply leave them alone: they go away on their own after two days. The worst recipe for such situations is to wipe the rash with alcohol. It is better to use high-quality lotions and other cosmetics.
Svetlana
In my case, acne appears a week before the “red days”. They are clearly hormonal in origin, since when using oral contraceptives, acne completely disappears. And all other PMS symptoms disappear as well.
Arina
As you can see, the most suitable way to combat acne must be selected individually.
Why do acne appear after menstruation?
Now let's talk about a seemingly inexplicable phenomenon. We found out that before menstruation, acne indicates that the cycle is going normally, and during it - that ovulation is simply delayed. But why acne after menstruation? After all, this cannot be associated with hormonal activity. In theory, it was already over and everything should have returned to normal. But why then do women suffer from acne after their period is over? The problem is really less common, and therefore there is little information. But there is still an explanation. Even a few.
Firstly, the point may be that the skin did not react to the abundance of excess sebum immediately, but after progesterone stopped being released intensively. This happens rarely, and is observed in women with dry or normal skin, who do not react so actively to excess sebum.
Secondly, perhaps menstruation has weakened your body too much. This really happens, especially against the background of various diseases or vitamin deficiency. As a result, the immune system is less active in fighting acne, easily allows bacteria into the body and does not protect you from their attacks. Because of this, acne can actually appear on the face after menstruation.
Thirdly, it may not even be about menstruation. There are a huge number of reasons for the occurrence of rashes - from poor diet to diseases, and it would be wrong to blame everything on menstruation when it has already ended. In this case, you should pay attention to other things. For example, maybe you've been eating a lot of fatty foods or drinking alcohol lately? Maybe you tried a new foundation? We recommend that you familiarize yourself with most of the factors that can influence the occurrence of acne in this section of our website.
ethnoscience
In addition to medications, there are also traditional methods for treating acne:
- Mix the infusion of chamomile and calendula with two tablets of furatsilin, which must first be crushed, and apply the mask to the face before bed. After a month of use, the skin will acquire a healthy appearance and beautiful color.
- Foam from fresh draft beer applied to the face perfectly dries out pimples on the face,
- A mask of grated sour apple and horseradish is applied to the face and left on for half an hour, it has an anti-inflammatory effect.
- A freshly cut piece of pumpkin that you rub on your face will help get rid of acne.
- A more modern, but still folk remedy is grated ginger mixed with honey and lemon juice; it should be taken orally, a teaspoon at a time throughout the day. It strengthens the immune system well and is an excellent anti-inflammatory agent.
Every woman should remember that mood and emotional state also have a negative impact on the body and contribute to the appearance of rashes. You need to learn to avoid stress that undermines the health of the entire body, especially during the menstrual cycle.
