These personalities are somewhat mercurial, their swings determined by the ebb and flow of hormone surges. This can be due to the normal course of a women’s menstrual cycle or to the onset of menopause. The specific hormones that create havoc in the skin are androgens, which stimulate the sebum glands to enlarge and produce more oil. As the sebum glands expand, the extra oil stimulated by the androgens makes the pores become clogged causing acne.

Do any of the following traits apply to your skin?

• Skin breaks out before menstrual flow begins
• Skin has been blemish-free until your late 40’s
• Blemishes tend to be larger, deeper, cyst-like and prone to lower cheeks and chin
• Skin is more prone to oiliness
• Enlarged pore size

Skincare Regimen:
Cleansing: use a sulfate-free gel-based cleanser twice a day only to combat oiliness. Try Aloe Cleansing Gel

Exfoliation: exfoliate daily with a glycolic peel containing salicylic acid to dry up excessive sebum and remove dead skin cells. Try Skin Renewal Gel 10% for Overactive Skin Alternatively, use a fruit enzyme to unclog pores. Try Pumpkin Enzyme Peel

Toning: Mist the skin throughout the day with homeopathic floral waters. Try Lavender Hydrolat

Face Oil or Moisturizer: use a lightweight face oil from a slightly astringent vegetal oil such as hazelnut, blended with antiseptic essential oils such as juniper and petitgrain. Try Neroli Toning Serum

Use a lightweight or oil-reducing moisturizer with antioxidants such as Vitamins A, C and E. Make sure moisturizer does not have acne-exacerbating oils such as lanolin, mineral oil or other petroleum-based ingredients. Try Protective Moisture Cream

Treatment: eliminate blemishes with anti-bacterial oils and with clay and sulfur to dry out blemishes. Try Moss Extract Blemish Remover

Skin Fitness:
Eat richly colored fruits and vegetables filled with anti-oxidant beta carotenes such as cantaloupe, grapefruit, mangoes, carrots, peppers and dark leafy greens to delay the signs of aging.

Eat plenty of foods fortified with Vitamins B6 such as oily fish, yogurt, eggs, bananas, avocado and cauliflower which can help balance hormone levels. Avoid foods that contain iodides such as shellfish, seaweed or iodide salt can that aggravate acne. Try to eat soy-based foods that contain phytoestrogens (i.e. plant estrogens). These can help to modulate the effects of estrogen, a causative factor in acne flare ups.

Herbal Remedies:
Drink five cups of green tea daily which is rich in anti-oxidants
Add skin healing herbs such as Burdock Root, Red Clover Blossom and Dandelion Root to juice or tea. Try Clarifying Skin Tonic
Apply Tea Tree Oil to skin with Q-tip to help clear up occasional break outs
Take Bach Flower Rescue Remedy as directed for stress

Skinceuticals:
Take a multi-vitamin daily. Try Naturopathica Multi-Vitamin Preventative

Take an additional 250 mg of Vitamin A that can help reduce sebum production (Note: pregnant women should not take large doses Vitamin A which can cause birth defects).

Beauty & Balance:
Since hormonal skin can be stressful be sure to incorporate some stress reducing activities such as walking, meditation or belly aching laughter into your daily routine.

Schedule a weekly Bath Water Cure and try a relaxing herbal bath. The feet have hundreds of nerve endings and can benefit from daily foot massages to relax over-stimulated nerve pathways and reduce hormonal swings. Try Peppermint & Tea Tree Foot Balm

Special Rx:
Do not over wash skin which causes oil glands to overcompensate and produce more oil.
Do not pop blemishes. But since you are going to do this anyway, here’s how: gently squeeze blackheads with clean hands wrapped in cotton or tissues. Sweep away debris and dab with tea tree Oil. Do not touch!
Apply a blemish reducing mask for ten minutes to kill the bacteria that causes blemishes and reduce redness. Try Moss Mask Blemish Remover

Skincare Express:
Mist face with antiseptic hydrolat or toner throughout the day to keep skin bacteria free.
Schedule regular monthly facials to help control acne flare ups.