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Acne-prone skin is a rite of passage for many, but spots aren’t reserved just for teenage T-zones – if you’ve found yourself battling blemishes later in life, know that you’re not alone.
If you’re reaching for pimple patches or lotions and potions promising a clearer complexion, it might be time to consider a more supercharged spot solution. Enter the ZIIP DOT – a blemish treatment device using electrical currents to clear and calm breakouts quickly. But what is hormonal acne, and how can this high-tech zit-zapper help? Let’s unpick it.
Hormonal acne refers to spots and blemishes triggered by fluctuating or unbalanced hormone levels, whether caused by puberty, the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause.
Typically located across the lower half of the face and chin, this type of acne often manifests as deep and inflamed cysts below the skin’s surface, alongside papules and pustules and more superficial whiteheads and blackheads, leading to generally congested skin with an uneven texture.
Hormonal acne is caused by changes in hormone levels, particularly androgens such as testosterone, which increase the production of sebum (oil produced naturally by the skin). This is because, although crucial for keeping the skin supple, an excess of sebum can clog pores, allowing the blemish-causing bacteria Cutibacterium acnes to breed and blemishes to develop.
Hormonal fluctuations occur throughout life and can be triggered by age, medication, health conditions, and lifestyle factors. This explains why many see spots popping up in adulthood despite managing to avoid troublesome skin throughout adolescence.
Although acne is most often associated with testosterone, other hormones have their part to play. While falling estrogen and rising progesterone (alongside testosterone) levels trigger period pimples, menopausal acne is caused by a reduction in estrogen, resulting in a relative increase in testosterone as hormones fall out of balance.
As with any type of acne, hormonal breakouts can vary in duration, lasting from a few days to several weeks, depending on the cause of hormonal changes, the type of treatment applied, and measures, if any, taken to address changing hormone levels.
While it is typical for breakouts associated with the menstrual cycle to appear just ahead of your period before clearing again, menopause can cause more persistent acne, as declining and fluctuating hormone levels can take time to stabilize or address with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
If you’re longing for a clearer complexion, there are several options available for addressing hormonal acne, from skincare solutions to more medicated measures:
If you suspect menopause may be to blame or you experience other hormone-related symptoms such as irregular periods, excessive hair growth, or hair thinning, you may wish to seek medical advice. While methods of combined hormonal contraception can help to lower androgen levels and, in doing so, reduce oil production, HRT uses estrogen to balance hormones during menopause for clearer, healthier-looking skin.
When dealing with spot-prone skin, it’s important to pay close attention to the products you use and opt for skin-clearing active ingredients. Think chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid to help unclog pores and control oil production and actives such as retinoids to accelerate cell turnover and help fade any scarring left behind.
Even subtle lifestyle adjustments can significantly improve hormonal acne. With the stress hormone cortisol known to cause an increase in oil production, measures taken to promote relaxation can be helpful. Meanwhile, as research has shown that refined sugars and dairy can contribute to oil production and inflammation, limiting the intake of these food types and maintaining a healthy, nutrient-rich diet can be beneficial.
If you want to stop breakouts in their tracks, the ZIIP DOT offers a high-voltage anti-acne solution. Non-invasive and pain-free, this blemish treatment device is clinically proven to clear spots and soothe blemishes from the very first use, harnessing the power of Nanocurrent™ and Microcurrent technology. While Nanocurrent™ penetrates deep into the skin, soothing inflammation and accelerating healing by sparking cell renewal and repair, Microcurrent helps to treat and prevent blemishes by drawing out impurities and reducing bacteria, making this innovative at-home skin-clearing device the perfect companion for hormonal skin.
Each ZIIP DOT comes with a 30ml bottle of Clear Gel, formulated to amp up your anti-blemish treatment. With active ingredients including Dendriclear™, mint, cucumber, and aloe to fight blemish-causing bacteria, reduce inflammation, and soothe, this conductive gel allows waveforms to pass effortlessly through the skin for maximum results.
The bottom line? Don’t let hormonal blemishes hold you back – this calming and clearing combination is the skincare step your beauty routine might just be missing.
