How Your Period Affects Your Skin by Kat Sarmiento

Besides the obvious bloating, constipation, abdominal cramps, and hunger, there’s one other period symptom that almost every woman on the face of the earth can relate to: breakouts. 

In a study published in the online journal “Archives of Dermatology,” researchers found that around 63% of women go through life with premenstrual acne flares. These flare-ups typically manifest between seven to ten days before the onset of a woman’s period. 

Now, you’re probably wondering why your skin has to go through a lot during your period. Below, we take a look at how your period affects your skin, plus tips on how you can overcome or ease these symptoms. 

What causes all these breakouts?

A lot of things are happening in a woman’s body before, during, and after their period. From hormone shifts to higher sebum (oil) production, these changes cause the skin to break out or even become irritated. 

Due to the lower levels of estrogen in the body during menstruation, women may also experience drier skin along with their breakouts — a combination that is uncomfortable, to say the least. This is because the body sheds more water than it retains during menstruation. 

Luckily, there are numerous solutions to pimple problems and skin dryness that you can try out at home. 

Good skin hygiene

One of the best ways to battle breakouts and skin dryness on your period is by practicing good skin hygiene. The extra bacteria that gather on your skin while you’re on your period may worsen your menstrual acne — which is not something that you want to happen. To keep your skin happy, glowing, and healthy, the following skin hygiene tips can help:

• Wash your hands before touching your face or avoid touching it entirely
• Make it a habit to clean your phone regularly
• Have a consistent skincare routine

Some people with sensitive skin are better off using natural, zero-waste skincare products for their routines. This is because these products don’t have all those little chemicals that may cause the skin to flare up and break out. 

Consider birth control

It might not seem like the most obvious solution to period acne and dry skin; however, it can help in some cases. Studies have shown that birth control pills or any other substance that raises estrogen levels can help lessen the effects of testosterone in the body. Higher levels of testosterone in the body can cause sebum production to spike, which in turn causes period acne. 

Note: Every woman’s experience will be different; therefore, you can’t expect to have the same results as other people. Before going on the pill, make sure you consult a licensed physician to help you walk through the basics of birth control.

Cut-down on dairy

Dairy is one of the major proponents for acne breakouts in some people. This is because most dairy cows are treated with artificial hormones that interact with the body in a strange way. Ingesting hormones from an artificial source can cause an imbalance in the human body, which may manifest as acne on the face and skin. 

If you suspect that drinking or eating dairy is worsening your skin condition, consider reducing your dairy intake or avoiding it entirely, if possible. 

Be gentle with your skin

Another reason you’re experiencing breakouts and dry skin is that you’re using products that are stripping your skin of the nutrients it needs to stay glowing and healthy. If such is the case, it’s best that you shift to using more skin-friendly products such as all-natural cleansers, moisturizers, and toners. 

Are constantly struggling with period rash? 

Sometimes pads contain chemicals that react negatively with the skin. By switching to period underwear, you will never have to worry about rashes ever again. 

Period underwear is made of skin-friendly, absorbent, and high-quality materials that help women feel fresh and clean the whole time. Not just that, they can also help people get to net-zero emissions by providing them with a reusable alternative to disposable pads and tampons. 

Limit caffeine intake

Caffeine is a diuretic, meaning it makes you pee a lot more than any other drinkable substance — right next to alcohol. Since your body is technically in a water deficit during your period, overdosing on coffee can worse skin dryness as well as acne breakouts. Limiting your intake to one or two cups a day should be enough to keep you going. 

Final thoughts

Periods can be inconvenient and irritating for many women. They feel everything from moodiness and food cravings to abdominal cramps and migraines. Breakouts and dry skin are yet another symptom that women need to watch out for. Fortunately, there are ways women can keep skin conditions from worsening during different menstrual stages. 

By following the tips we mentioned above, you should be able to have much more bearable period experiences. 

Guestblog by Kat Sermento, professional content writer.

For natural period products have a look at our &Sisters range. Some zero waste. All natural and without any toxins.