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In my freshman year of college, I started gaining weight and developed acne on my face. Both the weight gain and acne were shocking and different, as I had always been thin with clear skin. After failed attempts to clear up my skin with skincare products, my mother decided to take me to the dermatologist for answers. The dermatologist concluded that it was in fact hormonal acne, given that I had an irregular cycle at the time. I was then advised that I try taking birth control to help regulate my cycle and clear up my skin…and so I did. The pills worked to clear up my skin, but the weight stayed. In fact, I probably gained more! LOL. What I didn’t know back then was what it means to have a hormonal imbalance and its effects. Acne and weight gain were only some of the side effects. So, before you beat yourself for any weight gain, your hormones could also be the reason!
When you have a hormonal imbalance, you have too much or too little of a certain hormone. Even tiny changes can have serious effects throughout your whole body, including physical, mental, and emotional changes. These may manifest in diverse ways: feeling tired all the time or having difficulty sleeping, gaining or losing weight despite unchanged diet and exercise habits, feeling unusually anxious or stressed, having mood swings that were not experienced in the past, and more serious issues such as infertility and decreased libido.
Hormonal imbalance acne particularly can ruin your day before it’s even started. If you’ve experienced hormonal imbalance acne, you know it’s different from regular acne because it’s more severe and takes longer to heal. It can be tough to combat the issue on your own, so if you’re dealing with hormonal imbalance acne, you should find professional help from a skin specialist! They can provide the advice and treatments needed to eliminate this problem.
Thankfully, there are some things you may try on your own to help you overcome your hormonal imbalances. According to Medical News Today, here are some ways to reduce hormonal imbalances,
- Maintaining a moderate body weight
- Eating a nutritious and balanced diet
- Exercising regularly
- Practicing good personal hygiene, focusing on washing areas with a lot of natural oils, such as the face, neck, back, and chest
- Using OTC acne washes, rinses, and medicated creams or gels for minor to moderate acne
- Reducing and managing stress
- Practicing yoga, meditation, or guided visualization
- Limiting sugary foods and refined carbohydrates
- Avoiding packaged foods
- Replacing older non-stick pans with ceramic pans
- Using glass containers to store and heat foods and drinks
All in all, hormonal imbalances can be a major problem for many women out there- and for men too! Trust your body – if something doesn’t feel right, there’s probably a reason for it!
