You’ve probably been there—you’re sticking to your usual skincare routine (face wash, moisturizer, toner, oils), but still, right around your period, your face decides to go rogue and breakout. So, what causes period acne in the first place?
According to naturopathic doctor and skincare coach Stacey Shillington of Naturopathic Beauty, period breakouts happen where there’s too little of the hormone progesterone being produced in your body, creating an uneven ratio between low progesterone and higher estrogen.
This type of acne occurs either a few days before or after you start your period. It’s typically around your jawline and chin, and, Stacey adds, “it's usually deeper cystic acne, not as surface as some other acne can be.”
That means that face wash alone won’t get rid of it—it’s “much deeper than what you’re doing topically,” says Stacey.
Don’t worry, we wouldn’t leave you hanging there … we gathered Stacey’s top tips for preventing hormonal breakouts below.