Skin and the Menstrual Cycle: Why Your Skin Changes Throughout Your Cycle
The short explanation: Your menstrual cycle affects your skin through hormonal changes. Estrogen can make your skin glow more around ovulation, while progesterone and androgens in the luteal phase can increase sebum production and lead to hormonal acne. For example, many women experience pimples before their period, more glow around ovulation, or dry skin during their period. By understanding your cycle, you can tailor your skincare to the different phases.
👉 Do you know the phases of your cycle? If not, read about them here.
If you were asked to name an organ in the body, you might first think of the heart, lungs, or brain. But did you know that the skin is actually the body's largest organ?
In fact, skin makes up about 16% of your body's weight and performs a number of important functions every day.
Your skin is both the receptionist who connects your body to the outside world, the guard who decides who comes in, and the plumber who makes sure you can get rid of fluids such as sweat and sebum (oil). And your skin is also the Falck rescuer who helps heal wounds and scrapes if, for example, you fall and hurt yourself.
Yes, your skin is pretty amazing. That's why it's important to take good care of it. One way to do that is by understanding how your menstrual cycle affects your skin. Your hormones not only affect when you get your period, but also how your skin feels!
In this article, we explain how the two things are related and what you can do to reduce skin breakouts during your menstrual cycle.
The article is written by Emma Libner, author, vagina activist and sexologist.
PMS Acne and Ovulation Glow: How Hormones Affect Your Skin
You may already know it. That your skin feels even and delicious one week, then turns into tired and oily folds the next. If you also find that your skin sometimes seems a little indecisive, you are far from alone.
Studies show that up to half of people with a menstrual cycle experience skin changes – for example, acne, dryness or increased oiliness of the skin.
The reason for the skin's mood swings is - among other things - to be found in your hormones, which communicate with the body's cells through so-called receptors. The hormone estrogen, which naturally peaks around ovulation, can, for example, affect the skin's firmness and texture, just as the small sex hormone can also help promote the skin's natural ability to retain moisture. In English, it is therefore also called the "ovulation glow", when the skin appears camera-ready around the time of ovulation.
Conversely, the hormone progesterone, which dominates the second half of your cycle - after ovulation and before menstruation - can make your skin appear less firm and more oily. So can the so-called androgens, a group of sex hormones normally associated with the biological male sex (including testosterone, which all bodies produce regardless of the sex they are assigned at birth).
When the amount of estrogen drops after ovulation, the balance between the hormones can therefore risk tipping over, causing the skin to go from looking healthy and fresh to instead appearing oilier and the pores more clogged (did someone say hormonal acne?!).
How your skin changes throughout the menstrual cycle
In short, your menstrual cycle can be divided into four phases: the menstrual phase, the follicular phase, the ovulation phase, and the luteal phase.
Here you will get a simple overview of them all, so you can adjust your skincare routine to the different cycle phases and get the most out of your skincare.
👉 Would you also like to optimize your training after your cycle? Then read the guide here.
The menstrual phase (approximately days 1-5):
During the menstrual phase, estrogen and progesterone are at their lowest levels, which can make the skin more dry and sensitive.
Low estrogen levels mean your skin has a harder time retaining moisture for a while. At the same time, the dip in progesterone and testosterone can result in less natural lubrication for your skin. So there's no harm in feeling a little dry and chapped at this stage of your cycle - make sure to use a rich moisturizer and drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated!
If you have a tendency to redness, irritation or eczema, you may also find that your skin flares up more easily during your period. This is due to the amount of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, which you may be most familiar with when it comes to menstrual cramps (and upset stomach).
Prostaglandins can lead to increased inflammation, which can also make your skin more sensitive. Therefore, it may be a good idea to wait with exfoliation and hair removal until the next phase of your cycle.
Follicular phase (approx. days 6-14):
The red wave has subsided and you are now on the other side of your period. During the follicular phase, estrogen levels begin to rise again, often giving the skin more glow and elasticity.
Estrogen, which stimulates the formation of collagen and hyaluronic acid, gradually increases, giving the skin a much-needed moisture boost. As a result, your skin begins to feel even, elastic, and soft again.
If you want to help your skin along, you can use a gentle exfoliation to remove the dead skin cells left behind by the dry period of the menstrual phase. As always, remember to use a good moisturizer to avoid drying out after exfoliation. On the body, we recommend Calming Cream - a body lotion with magnesium, which is documented to reduce TEWL - Trans Epidermal Water Loss; loss of moisture in the skin.
The ovulation phase (approximately days 14-16):
Many people experience what is often called an “ovulation glow” during this phase. Estrogen levels are now at their highest. At the same time, the increase in androgens means that the skin appears more moisturized - or glowy, if you want.
Due to your skin's increased resistance during this phase of your cycle, the period around ovulation can be a good time to try laser hair removal if you're into that kind of thing. You can also try a product with harsher ingredients if you have something in mind that you'd like to try for the first time.
The luteal phase (approximately days 17-28):
During the luteal phase, progesterone rises, which can increase sebum production and lead to hormonal acne. At the same time, estrogen, which we were otherwise so happy about, falls.
The change in hormones now makes the skin prone to hormonal breakouts and flare-ups of existing acne because the skin secretes more sebum, which can clog pores. At the same time, progesterone can cause fluid to accumulate in the tissues, which can lead to swelling and a puffy feeling in the face.
Our tip: Make sure to cleanse your skin well to avoid (further) clogging of pores. And as always, remember to moisturize your skin!
👉 Do you also suffer from PMS? Up to 80% of us do, read more and learn more here.
Your skin is another sign of your cycle
Your skin is actually another sign of your body's cycle – just like your energy level, your discharge or your mood. Many people only discover the connection when they start tracking their cycle and noticing patterns from month to month.
For example, if you often get pimples right before your period, it could be a sign that you're in the luteal phase. And if your skin suddenly feels clearer and glowy, it could be related to ovulation.
Hormones affect much more than your skin
Skin changes are just one of many places where hormones show up in the body. The same hormonal fluctuations that can cause PMS acne or ovulation glow also affect your mood, energy, and appetite throughout your cycle.
Therefore, it can be helpful to see the skin as a signal from the body – not just a cosmetic problem.
Typical skin problems throughout the cycle
No matter how annoying it is that your skin is so affected by hormones, it is quite common and many people experience various skin changes throughout the menstrual cycle, for example:
-
hormonal acne before menstruation
-
dry skin during menstruation
-
increased glow around ovulation
-
oily skin in the luteal phase
- hormonal breakouts on the chin and jawline
For example, if you suffer from perioral dermatitis, which is an inflammatory condition of the skin around the mouth (but it can be located in many other places, another classic is by the nostrils), then it is quite common for it to flare up during, for example, the luteal phase.
The skin is just sensitive and affected by what happens inside the body. When you begin to understand the connection between your skin and your cycle, it often becomes easier to work with your body instead of against it.
Finally, it is important to emphasize that when you get to know your cycle, you can also begin to understand your skin better. For example, many people find that their skin care works better when it is adapted to the different phases of the menstrual cycle. But of course, it is not only your menstrual cycle that affects how your skin feels.
Wind, weather, changes in the seasons and the use of different products can - among many other things - affect the skin. Not to mention your genes, which are what they are.
Remember that everyone is different, so what works for others may not necessarily work for you. Ultimately, you know your skin best. And if you suddenly start to experience significant changes in your skin that you don't know the cause of, it's always a good idea to consult a dermatologist.
FAQ: Skin and the Menstrual Cycle
Why do you get pimples before menstruation?
During the luteal phase, progesterone and androgens increase, which can increase sebum production and clog pores.
When in the cycle is the skin at its best?
Many people experience more glow around ovulation, when estrogen levels are high.
Can hormones affect skin moisture?
Yes. Estrogen helps the skin retain moisture, while lower estrogen levels can make the skin drier.
