Topical Steroids May Increase The Death Of Skin Cells: The Evidence
Researchers believe that not only do topical steroids prevent new skin cells from growing, but they also increase the number of skin cells dying at any given time. More dead skin cells piling up means a higher likelihood of clogged skin pores. Clogged pores, or comedones, are the first stage of acne lesions.8 However, at this point we have no direct evidence that topical medications like hydrocortisone really lead to more clogged pores and more acne.
Summing up the evidence, there are multiple good reasons to avoid treating acne with topical hydrocortisone and only one reason to think the drug could actually help. On balance, it is probably wise to leave this treatment on the drugstore shelf.
It is also important to be aware of potential side effects when considering any treatment.
Topical Steroids May Decrease Skin Inflammation In The Short Term: The Evidence
As we have already mentioned, acne is an inflammatory disease. Inflammation around the glands that produce skin oil is a key part of how acne begins and gets worse. Therefore, a treatment that reduces inflammation should help with acne.
One of the ways that hydrocortisone prevents skin inflammation is by making blood vessels narrower , which stops inflammatory cells from the blood from reaching the skin. When the blood vessels become narrower, the skin turns pale, which doctors call “blanching.”
One study looked at blanching in 10 volunteers who applied hydrocortisone cream to the arm twice a day for 5 days. As expected, the researchers found significant blanching in the volunteers’ skin after only a few days. They also noticed that the effect was additive: in other words, the blanching became stronger with repeated treatment.6 This means that the blood vessels in the arm became narrower, presumably leading to decreased inflammation. The volunteers in this study were acne-free, but if they had had acne, perhaps they would have experienced a temporary improvement in their breakouts.
Interestingly, the researchers found that the skin returned to its normal, non-blanched color one day after the volunteers stopped treatment. In other words, we can assume that the anti-inflammatory effect of the hydrocortisone cream is short-lived.
Expand to read details of study
What Helps Get The Best Results
When taking hormonal therapy for acne, it helps to:
-
Give the medication time to work
-
Take the medication at the same time every day
-
Use everything on your acne treatment plan
-
Keep all follow-up appointments with your dermatologist
-
Contact your dermatologists office right away if you experience signs of a serious side effect, such as cramping in your leg or arm
Hormonal therapy is an option for many women with stubborn acne, but its not always the only option. A dermatologist can tell you what can help clear your stubborn acne.
ImagesGetty Images
ReferencesCarol, R. Hormonal therapies serve as key adjunct acne treatment. Dermatol World. 2012 May . 2-6.
Ebede TL, Arch EL, et al. Hormonal treatment of acne in women. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2009 2: 1622.
Harper JC. Use of oral contraceptives for management of acne vulgaris. Practical considerations in real world practice. Dermatol Clin. 2016 34:159-65.
Kim GK, Del Rosso JQ. Oral spironolactone in post-teenage female patients with acne vulgaris: Practical considerations for the clinician based on current data and clinical experience. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012 5:37-50.
Plovanich M Weng QY, et al. Low usefulness of potassium monitoring among healthy young women taking spironolactone for acne. JAMA Dermatol. 2015 151:941-4.
Zaenglein AL, Pathy AL et al. Guidelines of care for the management of acne vulgaris. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016 74:945-73.
Read Also: How Early Can You Ovulate After Period
Now Wtf Was I Thinking
A few months ago, I came across a bizarre and beautiful article from Dazed titled 5 Uses for Your Period Blood. My own period blood had zero uses at the time , so this intrigued me. The first suggestion was do a face mask, and my beauty-obsessed, body-loving brain bypassed the WTF stage and went straight to the I-MUST-TRY-THIS stage.
Fine, maybe there was a momentary ripple of repulsion, but I quickly realized that reaction was mostly stemming from pure patriarchal BS. I mean, Im definitely not the first person to google Is semen good for skin? And there are countless articles about aesthetician Georgia Louises viral penis facial, made from human foreskin cells and loved by classy lady Cate Blanchett. So if dicks can make it into mainstream beauty, why should period blood be any different? Um, it shouldnt, IMO.
According to the article , menstrual blood is filled with stem cells along with incredibly rich nutrients, like zinc, copper, and magnesiumall of which are also found in trendy beauty products and acne treatments on the market . Still, the prospect of brighter, smoother skinand the lack of medical foresight, whoopswas enough to convince me to try it out on myself. Multiple times.
Can A Man Get An Infection From Period Blood
YES, a man can get an infection from ingesting period blood. If your partner has blood-borne pathogens, they can transmit that infection to you.
Sexually transmitted infections like hepatitis, HIV, and yeast live in blood and can spread through contact with infected menstrual blood.
So, if you are not certain of your partners health, it is advised not to ingest their menstrual blood. In case the period blood is in your mouth, you should spit it and wash it. However, if your partners menstrual blood is free of blood-borne pathogens, then you wont get an infection when you ingest period blood.
Don’t Miss: What Happens When You Have A Period
Does Progestin Cause Acne
In most cases, an excess of progesterone causes hormonal acne. Progestin is a synthetic version of progesterone found in birth control. Some progestins activate androgen receptors and ultimately make your skin more oily, resulting in acne. But in some cases, progestins can block androgen receptors and do the complete opposite, lessening acne.
Does Acne Really Fluctuate With Menstrual Cycles
Hormonal acne is due to a high ratio of progesterone to oestrogen. Oestrogen peaks just before ovulation and progestogen is the dominant hormone in the second half of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone binds to the skin receptors and leads to an increase in sebum production by the sebaceous gland. This contributes to acne formation. Hormonal acne tends to settle after a period with most patients stating that their skin is almost clear mid cycle.
Read Also: Can You Get Your Period While Pregnant
What Happens If I Ingest The Menstrual Discharge Of My Partner
As long as your partner is free from any STDs and STIs, then ingesting menstrual discharge is fairly safe. However, it is not possible to know whether your partner has blood-borne pathogens or not.
Sometimes, the woman may not even know that she has a blood-borne diseasethat why many experts advise men not to ingest menstrual discharge because of the risk involved.
In case the blood is on your mouth, you should spit it and rinse thoroughly. However, if you are certain that your partner does not have a blood-borne disease, you should have nothing to worry about when you ingest menstrual blood because it wont harm you.
First Know What Youre Dealing With
Before going into battle, its always best to know who your opponent is. In the case of period acne, this means knowing how to differentiate a hormonal break out from a regular one.
The easiest way to do this is to look at the timing. Acne thats 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.
Already have acne? You might notice that it gets worse during this time. If you tend to have clear skin, you might notice a pimple or two pop up.
Also Check: Best Way To Stop Period Pain
You Might Also Notice It Popping Up Down There
Seeing any kind of lump anywhere near your vaginal area can set off some major alarm bells. Before you panic, know that some people do report vulvar breakouts before their period.
Hormones can be to blame for breakouts in this area, but there are other possible period-related causes, too.
Menstrual pads, for instance, can rub against your skin, irritating your hair follicles and leading to ingrown hairs and folliculitis.
Other period products can also cause contact dermatitis, which is a reaction to something that touches the skin. Scented tampons, pads, and wipes can do it.
The deep pimples and cysts that sometimes come with periods can be pretty painful for some, but there are things you can do to ease the pain.
To get relief during a painful breakout, try:
- 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
Period-related acne can be particularly stubborn. You can help speed up the healing process with a mix of over-the-counter products.
Here are some other things you can do to deal with breakouts:
One of the most frustrating aspects of period acne is that it usually just keeps coming back. Here are things you can do throughout your cycle to stay two steps ahead of those pesky hormones.
Symptoms Of Premenstrual Acne
Premenstrual acne might include two different kinds of pimples: blackheads and whiteheads.
Blackheads are also called open comedones because they are open at the skins surface. They look black because of their exposure to oxygen.
Whiteheads are also called closed comedones because they are closed under the surface of the skin.
Apart from blackheads and whiteheads, other types of bumps from acne before your period may include:
- Papules Small raised red bumps that occur due to infection and inflammation of hair follicles
- Pustules Small red pimples with a white or yellowish pus-filled center
- Nodules Solid, painful lumps underneath the skin
- Cysts Large lumps that are underneath the skin, generally painful, and contain pus
The area around your chin and jawline is more prone to getting premenstrual acne.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Know When Your Period Is Coming
C Ayurvedic Treatments For Hormonal Acne
1. Abhyanga
Ayurvedic oil massage or Abhyanga with the essential oils mentioned above can be highly beneficial for curing hormonal acne. Abhyanga helps balance your Doshas and relieve your body of harmful Ama toxins that can cause hormonal acne.
2. Shirodhara
The Ayurvedic procedure of gently pouring medicated liquid and oil on the forehead is known as Shirodhara. Being an effective stress relieving technique, Shirodhara is often prescribed for hormonal acne. It also pacifies Dosha aggravations and detoxifies your body.
3. Nasya
The ancient technique of administering medicated oils, ghee through the nasal cavity is called Nasya. Nasya is effective against acne conditions and helps to relieve Pitta vitiations, especially.
Vedix Tip: Applying an Ayurvedic Lepa made from Lodhra, Yastimadhu, Chandanam and Milk can reduce sebum secretion and inflammation and help with the overall acne condition.
Hormonal Acne And The Menstrual Cycle
According to a dermatological study, more than 60% of all women affected by acne experience regular premenstrual worsening of their symptoms3.This is because the female menstrual cycle causes hormone levels to rise and fall and skin is affected differently at different times of the month.
The menstrual cycle usually lasts for 28 days and each day is different hormonally:
- Day 1 to 14 Two hormones released by the pituitary gland Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone control the function of the ovaries and their hormone production. At this point, oestrogen is dominant over progesterone .
- Day 14 to 28 Progesterone levels rise and it becomes the dominant hormone. Significantly for skin, this rise stimulates sebum production. Oestrogen levels drop.
Shortly before bleeding begins, both oestrogen and progesterone are at their lowest levels. At this point testosterone is actually at a higher level than the female hormones, causing even more sebum production.Premenstrual acne usually flares up between seven and ten days before a period i.e. around days 18 to 21. During the period itself, the condition of the skin generally improves. 3 – http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/acne/features/period#1
You May Like: Can You Have A Period While Pregnant
Balance Your Blood Sugar
If youre suffering with hormone imbalances that are wreaking havoc on your skin you 100% need to keep those blood sugars as stable as possible! When you eat something high carb, sugary, or you skip a meal, your blood sugar will spike. When sugars get digested, they can cause the pancreas to produce more insulin and the insulin like growth factor to help maintain the balance of blood glucose. Too much insulin and IGF-1 will, in turn, trigger a release of androgen hormones. An excess of androgens means that our skin will produce too much sebum, which will then lead to clogged pores, blackheads and whiteheads which can then lead to inflamed, cystic acne. Avoid all sugar and sweeteners and over consuming carbs including natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup and healthy whole grains like rice and quinoa.
Facial Treatment Using Patients Own Blood Components Offers Relief Of Common Skin Conditions
RAPID CITY S.D. The Vampire Facial® a phrase heard around the world by Kim Kardashian fans. The social media and tv star praised the benefits of this trending esthetic treatment. The procedure involves micro-puncturing the skin with a special device, and then painting the patients own blood components over the face, is gaining popularity as an effective approach to help issues including acne, acne scarring, large pores, signs of aging, and hyperpigmentation.
Nic Yost, a nurse practitioner who owns and operates a downtown medical spa in Rapid City, offers a
similar procedure she has coined, the Blood Facial. According to Yost, there is a growing demand for this procedure because of the results that are seen.
People are wondering what are you using on your skin, what did you do to change your skin? Because its that noticeable, even after one treatment, said Yost.
During a treatment, a vial of your own blood is drawn, and your platelets are isolated using a top of the line centrifuge in order to get a platelet-rich plasma . PRP is a concentration of one type of cell, known as platelets, which circulate through the blood and are critical for blood clotting. Platelets contain many factors that are essential for cell recruitment, multiplication and specialization that are required for healing.
Typical downtime is approximately 4-7 days, but Yost has found a way to make the recovery time shorter.
- Before Blood Facial
Read Also: Period On Birth Control During Active Pills
How The Menstrual Cycle Influences Acne
Several hormones in the body control the menstrual cycle. The average cycle lasts about 28 days, and on each one of those days, hormone levels can change. The changes the body goes through in the first half of the cycle are predominantly controlled by estrogen, and the second half is influenced by progesterone.
If there are acne flares one to two weeks before menstruation, if they go away with the onset of a period, and if this pattern repeats at least twice in a row, it may be because of premenstrual acne.
During this time, the ratio of estrogen and progesterone changes, which can affect the occurrence of acne breakouts. The drop in these hormones a few days before a period may also trigger acne flare-ups.