Why do I get spots just before my bleed?
You might notice your skin looking different throughout your cycle or you might not but every now and then you notice your skin isn’t as good as it was last week. Why is that? .. and it could be for a number of reasons but a big one is you guessed it hormones. This is one of the reasons why no matter how many products we lather on our face when we don’t look into the root cause our skin upset things will not improve.
My whole journey into this space was training as a holistic facialist reminding me of just how important within really is. What we eat, what we drink, what we consume, our environment, how we talk to ourselves matters. Getting to the root cause matters.
As we move through our monthly cycle so does our skin. With hormones fluctuating throughout our cycles your skin is prone to various changes inline with these.
So what’s happening to our skin within these cycles? Let’s take a look.
As always remember this advice is general and doesn’t always mean it is right for your skin, even more so if you have an imbalance. If your skincare routine works for you consider if you actually need to make changes.
Winter season (your bleed) ~
Hormonal acne can be present during the first few days but then will often ease off. Due to oestrogen being low during menstruation skin can be dry and in need of extra hydration.
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Hydrating serums such as those containing hyaluronic acid, rich balms and oils bringing much needed moisture are great additions particularly during this time. Boosting collagen during these times through foods and supplements can insure you glow all month long and decreasing any wrinkles that seem more prominent due to reduced hydration. If acne is present try using products with anti inflammatory and bacterial ingredients such a lavender, aloe or green tea. Nini organics will always be my fave for acne supporting but not stripping the skin.
Spring season (the week post bleed) ~
As oestrogen continues to rise through this season it boosts collagen helping to bring a plumpness and glow to the skin. Fine lines can appear decreased once more.
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Continuing using hydrating mists and serums reducing the use of rich balms as our skin produces more oil but still providing nourishment with facial oils (or moisturisers).
Summer season (ovulation) ~
Thanks to ovulation, often during this time we feel the best version of ourself and our skin will reflect this. This is the point in our cycle when we want to be more extroverted and everything within is mirroring to this energy encouraging us to do so.
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Building a regular skincare routine to support the balance of your skin during this time will insure longevity of the glow and healthy appearance. Make sure to support oil production by not over using products that will strip the skin such ‘actives’ which are products with actives which target a certain skin concern. For example physical exfoliants or AHA’s and BHA, retinol, and vitamin C serums. Foaming cleansers are also mostly stripping with over use, a gel or cream cleanser might suit you better before and during ovulation.
Do this through the use of a cleanser, rose mist, oil, exfoliating 1-2 times a weeks will be sufficient.
Late summer and Autumn (last two weeks before your bleed) ~
After ovulation the progesterone rise increases the potential of the chances of an over production of sebum and clogged pores. With a lot of hormones at play and a sharp drop off a mix of skin upsets can arise. This can bring about acne if there is excess oestrogen or testosterone and androgens present. Hormonal acne for a lot of people indicates the coming of their bleed as it is normally most present during this point and into a few days of the winter. This type of acne is found around the jaw. In TCM each area of the face is mapped helping us to treat acne in each area from within, the jaw is associated with the reproductive organs.
Focus on ~
Gentle exfoliation during this time will help to keep extra sebum (oil) production at bay but don’t over do it as it is counteracting, by striping your skin you actually increase sebum production. Gua sha and lymphatic draining can be great for all seasons but especially here as it increases circulation and the detoxification process (don’t use a Gua Sha over active acne as it can bring more heat to the area causing further irritation but around the area and neck will help to draw the toxins away.)
Being mindful of your skincare routine during the 4 inner seasons can help us to proper nurture our skin and helping it to look at its best of ‘year’ long.
If you want to talk more on this subject why not book a facial with me and we can explore your skin upsets and get to the root cause.
