As if being bloated, crampy, and cranky as all get out isn’t bad enough, some of us also get period acne. As a matter of fact, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4142818/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">65 percent </a> of people report a worsening of their acne during their period.

Period-Related Acne Breakout

Acne that’s related to your period is more likely to flare up during the week leading up to your period or during your period. Plus, it tends to clear up or improve when your period is ending or over.

Differentiate a hormonal acne from a regular acne

<ul><li>Blackheads. When a clogged pore remains open, the pimple rises to the surface of your skin and looks black.</li><li>Whiteheads. Stay under the surface of your skin. Form when a blocked pore closes, causing the top to appear white.</li><li>Papules. Inflammatory acne. These are the small, pesky pimples that look like pink bumps. They tend to hurt.</li><li>Pustules. Inflammatory acne, pustules are red at the bottom. The tops are white or yellow and filled with pus.</li><li>Nodules. Form deep under the skin. They tend to be large, solid, and painful.</li><li>Cysts. Deep and filled with pus. They’re painful and can cause scarring.</li></ul>

Type of blemishes

Your hormones fluctuate throughout your menstrual cycle. Just before your period starts, estrogen and progesterone levels drop. This triggers your sebaceous glands to secrete more sebum, an oily substance that lubricates your skin. Too much can result in clogged pores and breakouts.

Why period -related breakout?

<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-testosterone">Testosterone </a>, a male hormone that we all have in our bodies regardless of our birth sex, affects us differently depending on levels of our other hormones.When your hormone levels fluctuate toward the end of your period, testosterone can also trigger sebaceous gland sensitivity. This result in more sebum and clogged pores.

How testosterone impact Woman 

<ul><li>a warm compress for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, three or four times a day to soothe pain and help draw out pus</li><li>a <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/make-cold-compress">cold compress </a>or ice <a href="https://www.aad.org/media/news-releases/how-to-treat-deep-painful-pimples">5 to 10 minutes </a>at a time to relieve pain and swelling</li><li><a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/benzoyl-peroxide-for-acne">benzoyl peroxide </a>to kill bacteria</li></ul>

Relief for painful breakout

Don’t try to pop chin cysts. It will lead to more pain and increase your risk for scarring.

Pro Tip - Don't Pop the Cyst

<ul><li>Avoid irritating products, such as greasy sunscreens, cosmetics, oils, and concealers.</li><li>Protect your skin from friction from things like tight collars, straps, or helmets.</li><li>Limit your exposure to UV rays by staying out of the sun when possible and using nonoily moisturizers with sunscreen.</li><li>Wash your face after activities that cause you to sweat.</li><li>Use acne products as directed. Applying too much will irritate and dry out your skin.</li></ul>

Dealing with Breakout

<ul><li>sugary foods and drinks</li><li>white bread</li><li>other highly processed foods</li></ul>

Food that Worsen Acne

Nothing makes an already crummy situation worse quite like period acne. Learn how to deal with everything from painful chin cysts to vulvar acne.

The Ultimate Guide to Period-Related Breakouts

Denise Lim