As you can imagine, I've seen my fair share (more than) of hormonal skin conditions. I’ve witnessed firsthand how hormones can wreak havoc on our skin and also people’s mental health—it’s pretty upsetting. While many skincare trends come and go, the impact of hormones on our skin is a constant battle, mainly for women but also men. Let's dive into five of the most common hormonal skin conditions, their causes, symptoms, and some unconventional yet science-backed solutions.
Adult Acne / Cystic Acne
Causes:
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Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone
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Increased androgen production
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Stress-induced cortisol spikes
Holistic acne solutions:
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Balance your gut microbiome.
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Evening Primrose Oil to naturally balance your hormones.
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Supplements with GLA aka Gamma Linolic acid—super high in Omega-6.
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Shatavari tea—fantastic for women in all stages.
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Consider adaptogens like ashwagandha to manage stress.
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A face oil that mimics your natural sebum and won’t clog your pores.
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RadicalSeeker honey mask. The honey is antibacterial and works wonders on hormonal acne. I recommend exfoliating no more than 2x a week.
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I'm a big fan of hydrocolloid pimple patches for breakouts. They protect open pimples from infection speed up healing, AND block UV!
Menopausal Dry Skin
Causes:
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Declining estrogen levels
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Reduced collagen production
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Slower cell turnover
Holistic menopausal skin solutions:
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Explore phytoestrogen-rich foods like flaxseed.
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Try facial cupping to stimulate collagen production. I love this little cup.
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Use a niacinamide-rich serum like Vibrant Boost Face Mist.
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Take DHEA. Biomatrix DHEA is my go-to tincture.
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A Neolifting facial to super-boost your collagen production.
Hormonal Eczema
Causes:
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Fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone
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Thyroid imbalances
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Stress-induced cortisol changes
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Staph on the skin—90% of people with eczema have this.
Holistic eczema solutions:
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Use a mineral-rick bath soak to soothe skin like ClearingTides Soak.
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Try acupuncture to balance hormones. If you’re in LA, Vidor Acupuncture is amazing.
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There are great studies on seabuckhorn oil for atopic dermatitis, a form of eczema. Topical is great. You can find it in LitFromWithin face oil and GoldenHigh oil cleanser.
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Avoid all synthetic skin care products, detergents, and dryer sheets.
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Cut out dairy altogether. Gluten can be a trigger too.
Perioral Dermatitis
Causes:
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Hormonal imbalances, particularly low estrogen
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Overuse of topical steroids—a huge misconception! Since the steroids don’t fix the issue, read on for how to solve it long-term.
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Gut health issues
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Your toothpaste
Holistic perioral dermatitis solutions:
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Implement a low-inflammatory diet. The biggest culprits for inflammation are dairy, gluten, and nightshades. This doesn’t have to be a forever thing, just until it’s under control.
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Go on an ‘actives’ cleanse by removing all active ingredients in your skincare routine. One of the reasons so many people are suffering from this issue is all the different products they are using have active ingredients that don’t play well together. Not to be old but TikTok has really worsened this problem.
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For a simple balancing routine to reset use LitFromWithin face oil in the morning. Oil cleanse and then use MoonLitFromWithin face oil (or Lit works too) at night. THAT IS IT until things come back to balance. For a before and after, check this out!
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Strengthen your oral microbiome.
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Check your toothpaste. Avoid sodium benzoate and glycerin. My favorites are Uncle Harry’s and Living Libations.
Melasma
Causes:
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Pregnancy hormones
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Birth control pills
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Sun exposure combined with hormonal changes
Holistic melasma solutions:
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Incorporate vitamin C-rich foods in your diet. Check out this full list of my fave foods for your skin for more on food as medicine. We did a podcast on this too!
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Try facial gua sha to improve circulation. Here’s a handy how-to. Make sure to use a high-quality face oil like LitFromWithin.
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Use natural brightening ingredients like licorice root extract. You can find licorice root extract in the VibrantBoost face mist.
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Have a healthy relationship with the sun. Next week’s podcast is all about the sun! Subscribe here or on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube so you don’t miss it.
✨Jenny Jewel✨
Consider herbs that support healthy hormones:
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Estrogen balancers: Black Cohosh, ginseng, and chamomile
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Progesterone protectors: Chaste berry and maca
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Testosterone harmonizers: Nettle root and pine pollen
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Love and light,
Jenny