What to do if you have acne during menstruation

Acne during menstruation can be alleviated by adjusting your diet, keeping clean, avoiding irritation, using medications, and regulating your mood. Acne during menstruation may be related to changes in hormone levels, increased oil secretion, clogged hair follicles, bacterial infection, mood swings and other factors.

1. Adjust your diet

During menstruation, you should reduce your intake of high-sugar and high-fat foods, such as chocolate, fried foods, etc. These foods may stimulate the sebaceous glands to secrete more oil. You can add carrots and spinach that are rich in vitamin A, as well as oysters and pumpkin seeds that are rich in zinc to help regulate sebum metabolism. Avoid excessive consumption of dairy products, especially skim milk, as they contain hormones that may aggravate acne.

2. Keep it clean

Cleanse your face every day with warm water and a mild amino acid cleanser, and avoid using alcohol-based or highly alkaline cleansers. After cleansing, use oil-free moisturizing products promptly to maintain skin barrier function. When sweating increases during menstruation, it is necessary to wipe off the sweat in time to reduce the probability that sweat and sebum will mix and clog pores. Be careful not to over-cleanse or use exfoliants too frequently to avoid damaging your skin's protective layer.

3. Avoid stimulation

Skin sensitivity increases during menstruation, so you should avoid squeezing acne with your hands to prevent the spread of bacterial infection. Reduce the use of makeup products and choose mineral foundation labeled "non-comedogenic" when makeup is necessary. Use physical sun protection when going out, and give priority to hard sun protection measures such as sun hats and masks. Keep pillow covers clean while sleeping and change them 2-3 times a week to reduce bacterial exposure.

4. Use of drugs

When redness, swelling and acne occur, you can use topical antibiotics such as fusidic acid cream and clindamycin phosphate gel as directed by your doctor. For closed acne, you can use adapalene gel containing retinoic acid, which needs to be used at night and away from light. Stubborn acne may require the oral short-acting contraceptive pill ethinyl estradiol and cyproterone tablets for hormone regulation, but this must be used after evaluation by a gynecologist. All medicines must be used under the guidance of a professional physician and should not be applied by oneself for a long time.

5. Regulate emotions

Hormonal fluctuations during menstruation can easily trigger emotions such as anxiety and irritability, and may aggravate acne through neuroendocrine pathways. You can relieve stress through soothing exercises such as yoga and meditation, and ensure 7-8 hours of sleep every day. Appropriate supplementation of bananas and deep-sea fish rich in vitamin B6 can help stabilize your mood. If the mood disorder continues to worsen, it is recommended to consult a psychologist for professional intervention.

Breathable cotton underwear should be worn during menstruation, changed daily and washed in time. Maintain a regular schedule to avoid staying up late causing endocrine disorders. Record the correlation between the menstrual cycle and acne attacks. If acne continues to worsen or is accompanied by abnormal menstruation, you should see a gynecologist or dermatologist in time. For daily use, you can choose skin care products containing tea tree essential oil, aloe vera and other anti-inflammatory ingredients for local care, but you need to test a small area first to prevent allergies. If acne does not subside or leaves obvious acne marks after menstruation, it is recommended to go to the dermatology department of a regular hospital for professional treatments such as red and blue light, fruit acid peels and so on.