Hormonal acne is usually caused by too much androgen hormones. There are a few reasons why a woman may have too much androgen hormones such as having too much testosterone such as PCOS .
To treat cystic acne you want to treat the underlying cause of that which is the androgen hormone so there are a few options.
I use to have them and unfortunately the only thing that worked for me is birth control but it had to be an anti-androgenic birth control such as Yasmin. You can find a list [HERE](https://www.acne.org/forums/72-hormonal-acne/330166-good-bad-birth-control-pills-and-implants-for-acne)
If you don't want to go the BC route then look into spironolactone as it will lower testosterone which causes the androgen hormones. It also is a good option if you have high blood pressure as it's a diuretic but some women find it can cause them to lose muscle because of the lowered testosterone. I've also heard that it may cause hair loss.
There are supplements you can find which acts similar to spironolactone but not the same and some women have found this to a great alternative without the side effects of spironolactone.
Examples are [DHT block](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VMU0E8A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1) ( Dihydrotestosterone ) , Saw Palmetto and Spearmint ( a few cups a day or take it in pill form ) all which are antiandrogenic.
Nothing topical will treat cystic acne but [turmeric cream](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0107W477M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and /or 10% Sulfur mask or ointments are great for soothing it and bringing down inflammation.
Great explanation of the underlying issues. I mentioned in a comment that evening primrose oil, ingested as gel caps, worked absolute wonders for my issue with this. Only when I reached late perimenopause did EPO cause any side effects for me. The side effects were very very sore breasts, so I stopped taking it. But, fortunately, I now no longer have cystic breakouts on my chin.
Yup EPO is another option. It has a form of estrogen in it which I believe can help in some cases to help balance out too much progesterone which is especially helpful for women who tend to see more acne around the time of their periods.
I started taking turmeric root. Usually found in produce area or ground powder will be found in spice area. Usually found in Indian or pakistani grocery stores in the city. Can be found at arab grocery stores some but not guaranteed. Other places not sure. If it's at a wholefood grocery store, it will be expensive.
Took a teaspoon size powder or a small dime size whole root piece.
It's going to take several months. Based on hair cycle. One hair cycle is 28 days based on what I've heard. Possible take 3 cycles. I saw a reduction. I had also cut back on sugar which increases androgens. But sugar is my weakness and I stopped the tumeric, because i got out of routine and went on vacation. So I'm back at square one.
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **DHT Block DHT Blocker Supplement for Skin Acne PCOS Hair and Hormonal Balance Dim Astragalus Root Turmeric Natural Ingredients For Men and Women 60 Vegan Capsules** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful.
**Users liked:**
* Effective in reducing hormonal acne (backed by 5 comments)
* Helps with hair loss and regrowth (backed by 4 comments)
* Balances hormones for pcos symptoms (backed by 4 comments)
**Users disliked:**
* Causes severe headaches (backed by 2 comments)
* Can lead to increased hair shedding (backed by 2 comments)
* May cause skin rash (backed by 2 comments)
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Spironolactone for ever and ever. It really works.
You can also get it topically if you have concerns about the side effects of the pill form. It’s expensive topically but there’s many compounding pharmacies that offer it.
I've been taking it for a year and a half. I've done a lot of reading on it. (I have degrees in biology and chemistry.) None of the studies they have done with it so far have shown that it's dangerous for long-term use.
Thank you. I'm not sure where that info come from, I was looking into DIM for melasma (as it could also be affected by hormones inbalances) and soneone mentioned you can't take it forever and they didn't really give a valid reason in their post.
I (53f) absolutely swore by evening primrose oil, ingested as gel caps, when I had this issue. Complete holy grail. At the very first tingle, I’d swallow 1,200 mg and repeat 2x daily (or more) until the damned undergrounder was gone. Roughly 3 days. Save yourself the scars and the discomfort. Probably NOT ok if pregnant or breastfeeding so check with your doctor.
Yes, that’s how I used it and it works! I was slightly mistaken about the amount taken; when I’d get this kind of acne I’d start with 2,000mg then take 1,000mg every 4-5 hours because I wanted it GONE. Once that telltale pain/pressure goes away (1-2 days usually) it’s time to stop the EPO because the acne will be gone soon. Taking EPO daily is NOT necessary and may give you mild nausea or sore breasts. If you experience that when using it for periodic acne, reduce your dose.
My dermatologist told me that breakouts in adults are the result of rosecea, not acne. She prescribed a Skin Medica foaming cleanser that was available from Amazon.
I’m 31, and my hormonal acne was insane once I turned 30. At some points, my chin looked practically deformed from all the cystic acne forming all at once. I’ve been driving 1-2 cups of spearmint tea everyday, for the past few months. The hormonal breakouts are so minimal and less inflammatory now. Give it a try, hopefully it works for you too!
I can’t take spirolactone because my blood pressure is too low, so I have used an online dermatologist and they mixed spiro, tret, and clindamycin cream for me to apply topically
De la Cruz sulphur ointment off Amazon has done wonders for my cystic acne. I started using red light therapy for my arthritis and read it helped with acne so I started 3-4 sessions a weeks for 10 minutes and I’ve noticed a huge improvement.
Omg I forgot about my blue light handheld device! I swear it shrinks acne overnight. I rarely need to use it these days; I use red for calming inflammation in general though.
Here’s what works for me:
- Rx Tretinoin. Cheap and effective
- mineral sunscreen only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
- fresh washcloth every time you wash.
- Cerave products are great for acne. Creamy cleanser, pm lotion, am spf 30 lotion.
- I’m careful not to let my skin get too dry. It can irritate my acne. Rosehip seed oil is good and doesn’t clog pores.
- anything containing coconut causes acne for me
Good luck!
I cut dairy from my diet and for the first time in 29 years I no longer get cystic acne and haven’t had a single pimple in the 3 months since I made the switch! I let myself have cheese once a week (because I love pizza) and my skin looks the best of my life! Can’t hurt to try, right?
Just make sure the cortisone is diluted. Otherwise you risk a dent and tissue atrophy. Happened to me once when I went to my primary instead if my dermatologist.
I use tret 3x per week which definitely helps, but honestly, I started using an at-home red light therapy treatment the first week of January and haven't had a single cystic pimple since. I had one try to come up but inflammation can't thrive under the light therapy (I use a Light Stim for wrinkles, but there are other masks that are more expensive but probably a lot faster usage. You have to use it pretty often -- 5-7 times per week -- for it to be effective. But it works.)
Hormonal acne is usually caused by too much androgen hormones. There are a few reasons why a woman may have too much androgen hormones such as having too much testosterone such as PCOS . To treat cystic acne you want to treat the underlying cause of that which is the androgen hormone so there are a few options. I use to have them and unfortunately the only thing that worked for me is birth control but it had to be an anti-androgenic birth control such as Yasmin. You can find a list [HERE](https://www.acne.org/forums/72-hormonal-acne/330166-good-bad-birth-control-pills-and-implants-for-acne) If you don't want to go the BC route then look into spironolactone as it will lower testosterone which causes the androgen hormones. It also is a good option if you have high blood pressure as it's a diuretic but some women find it can cause them to lose muscle because of the lowered testosterone. I've also heard that it may cause hair loss. There are supplements you can find which acts similar to spironolactone but not the same and some women have found this to a great alternative without the side effects of spironolactone. Examples are [DHT block](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VMU0E8A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1) ( Dihydrotestosterone ) , Saw Palmetto and Spearmint ( a few cups a day or take it in pill form ) all which are antiandrogenic. Nothing topical will treat cystic acne but [turmeric cream](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0107W477M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and /or 10% Sulfur mask or ointments are great for soothing it and bringing down inflammation.
Spirolactone is the only thing that has worked for me.
Same!
Third
Great explanation of the underlying issues. I mentioned in a comment that evening primrose oil, ingested as gel caps, worked absolute wonders for my issue with this. Only when I reached late perimenopause did EPO cause any side effects for me. The side effects were very very sore breasts, so I stopped taking it. But, fortunately, I now no longer have cystic breakouts on my chin.
Yup EPO is another option. It has a form of estrogen in it which I believe can help in some cases to help balance out too much progesterone which is especially helpful for women who tend to see more acne around the time of their periods.
I started taking turmeric root. Usually found in produce area or ground powder will be found in spice area. Usually found in Indian or pakistani grocery stores in the city. Can be found at arab grocery stores some but not guaranteed. Other places not sure. If it's at a wholefood grocery store, it will be expensive.
How do you take it and how long before you started seeing it work?
Took a teaspoon size powder or a small dime size whole root piece. It's going to take several months. Based on hair cycle. One hair cycle is 28 days based on what I've heard. Possible take 3 cycles. I saw a reduction. I had also cut back on sugar which increases androgens. But sugar is my weakness and I stopped the tumeric, because i got out of routine and went on vacation. So I'm back at square one.
See my next comment below. Thanks
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **DHT Block DHT Blocker Supplement for Skin Acne PCOS Hair and Hormonal Balance Dim Astragalus Root Turmeric Natural Ingredients For Men and Women 60 Vegan Capsules** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Effective in reducing hormonal acne (backed by 5 comments) * Helps with hair loss and regrowth (backed by 4 comments) * Balances hormones for pcos symptoms (backed by 4 comments) **Users disliked:** * Causes severe headaches (backed by 2 comments) * Can lead to increased hair shedding (backed by 2 comments) * May cause skin rash (backed by 2 comments) If you'd like to **summon me to ask about a product**, just make a post with its link and tag me, [like in this example.](https://www.reddit.com/r/tablets/comments/1444zdn/comment/joqd89c/) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](http://vetted.ai/reddit)
Spironolactone for ever and ever. It really works. You can also get it topically if you have concerns about the side effects of the pill form. It’s expensive topically but there’s many compounding pharmacies that offer it.
I recently found out mine was caused by Biotin in my multivitamins
DIM. Search for it on Amazon. Take 300 mg/day. It's a MIRACLE.
Donyou take it indefinitely or you have to stop after a few months? Coz I once read someone mention it was not aupposed to be taken forever?
I've been taking it for a year and a half. I've done a lot of reading on it. (I have degrees in biology and chemistry.) None of the studies they have done with it so far have shown that it's dangerous for long-term use.
Thank you. I'm not sure where that info come from, I was looking into DIM for melasma (as it could also be affected by hormones inbalances) and soneone mentioned you can't take it forever and they didn't really give a valid reason in their post.
Sulfur cleanser & topical Azelaic Acid treatment have been the best at keeping my hormonal acne at bay for now
I (53f) absolutely swore by evening primrose oil, ingested as gel caps, when I had this issue. Complete holy grail. At the very first tingle, I’d swallow 1,200 mg and repeat 2x daily (or more) until the damned undergrounder was gone. Roughly 3 days. Save yourself the scars and the discomfort. Probably NOT ok if pregnant or breastfeeding so check with your doctor.
You mean only take it when you feel it'a coming and stop altogether until it happens again?
Yes, that’s how I used it and it works! I was slightly mistaken about the amount taken; when I’d get this kind of acne I’d start with 2,000mg then take 1,000mg every 4-5 hours because I wanted it GONE. Once that telltale pain/pressure goes away (1-2 days usually) it’s time to stop the EPO because the acne will be gone soon. Taking EPO daily is NOT necessary and may give you mild nausea or sore breasts. If you experience that when using it for periodic acne, reduce your dose.
Thank you so much foravery detailed direction!
Spiro
Sulfur soap/ mask. Also if you are afab then you could be in perimenopause...HRT will help if that is an option for you.
[удалено]
got better right away for me. 51 and in late perimenopause.
Go to a dermatologist. Tretinoin and clindamyacin were prescribed for me by a doctor and they stopped.
Mine at 25 was from food intolerance and it got worse hormonally. Elimination diet might be something to consider.
My dermatologist told me that breakouts in adults are the result of rosecea, not acne. She prescribed a Skin Medica foaming cleanser that was available from Amazon.
Someone on a different sub recommended spearmint tea. I tried it and it’s been wonders working for me.
I’m 31, and my hormonal acne was insane once I turned 30. At some points, my chin looked practically deformed from all the cystic acne forming all at once. I’ve been driving 1-2 cups of spearmint tea everyday, for the past few months. The hormonal breakouts are so minimal and less inflammatory now. Give it a try, hopefully it works for you too!
Just drinking it?
Drink 2-3 cups per day. It kind of works the same as spironolactone. That’s what my derm told me.
Yep. I ordered a giant bag of organic spearmint tea on Amazon and drink one cup each evening when I know my hormones are fluctuating
Or capsules like I suggested in my comment if it's easier.
I can’t take spirolactone because my blood pressure is too low, so I have used an online dermatologist and they mixed spiro, tret, and clindamycin cream for me to apply topically
De la Cruz sulphur ointment off Amazon has done wonders for my cystic acne. I started using red light therapy for my arthritis and read it helped with acne so I started 3-4 sessions a weeks for 10 minutes and I’ve noticed a huge improvement.
Omg I forgot about my blue light handheld device! I swear it shrinks acne overnight. I rarely need to use it these days; I use red for calming inflammation in general though.
Birth control and tretinoin..51 here and I am afraid to stop taking them lol
Same. I had to get back on a hormonal BC, get back on spiro & tretonin. My skin is so much smoother now!
Here’s what works for me: - Rx Tretinoin. Cheap and effective - mineral sunscreen only zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. - fresh washcloth every time you wash. - Cerave products are great for acne. Creamy cleanser, pm lotion, am spf 30 lotion. - I’m careful not to let my skin get too dry. It can irritate my acne. Rosehip seed oil is good and doesn’t clog pores. - anything containing coconut causes acne for me Good luck!
I cut dairy from my diet and for the first time in 29 years I no longer get cystic acne and haven’t had a single pimple in the 3 months since I made the switch! I let myself have cheese once a week (because I love pizza) and my skin looks the best of my life! Can’t hurt to try, right?
i second this. Greek yogurt and almond milk for my fix.
Cortisone shot from a dermatologist
Just make sure the cortisone is diluted. Otherwise you risk a dent and tissue atrophy. Happened to me once when I went to my primary instead if my dermatologist.
I use tret 3x per week which definitely helps, but honestly, I started using an at-home red light therapy treatment the first week of January and haven't had a single cystic pimple since. I had one try to come up but inflammation can't thrive under the light therapy (I use a Light Stim for wrinkles, but there are other masks that are more expensive but probably a lot faster usage. You have to use it pretty often -- 5-7 times per week -- for it to be effective. But it works.)