These Acids In Your Skincare Routine Can Help Treat Hormonal Acne

Pimples appear to be an unstoppable curse placed on mankind. While some have it worse than others, you just cannot escape it. Pimples are annoying whether you struggle with full-blown acne where you need a dermatologist on speed-dial to help with, or just suffer from the occasional breakout that is so perfectly timed right before a big event in your life.

Sometimes, it's somewhat self-inflicted. Perhaps falling deep into a chocolate-coma the night before wasn't your best idea, or maybe it's been a hot minute since you switched your pillowcase. When you know the cause, you know it's a brief wave that will pass. That is unless you're faced with the plague of hormonal acne.

Puberty's gift to us all is the one that often just keeps on giving. If you're unfamiliar with it, hormonal acne is when you begin to break out when you are on your period or expecting it. Hormonal acne can usually be found around your chin and jawline and it is "almost always cystic and inflammatory in nature," according to board-certified dermatologist Elyse M. Love (via Byrdie).

As with any skin condition, it's always best to consult your dermatologist. However, there are a few saving grace ingredients you can incorporate into your skincare routine to battle hormonal acne.

One of the most common concerns you see skincare products targeting is acne. From acne clearing washes to pimple patches, the market is filled with solutions. However, some can be more harmful than others, so it's important to do your research and focus on ingredient lists.

When tackling hormonal acne, everyone's made the mistake of attacking with the harshest of products or picking at your pimples. In reality, all you need to do is incorporate an acne-fighting acid into your routine to help prevent and heal breakouts.

Salicylic acid is the powerhouse of all acne-treating ingredients. Salicylic acid is a BHA (beta hydroxy acid) that exfoliates your skin by unclogging your pores and helping to control oiliness that can cause further acne (via Allure). If you look closely enough, you'll find salicylic acid is an ingredient in most acne-targeting skincare products, so try to find a simple version of it and make sure to always apply SPF after using.

Another acid that can help offer some anti-inflammatory properties to your acne is azelaic acid. Azelaic acid works to also unclog and clear out your pores while also helping reduce any redness or irritability of your breakouts (via Healthline). Another added bonus to azelaic acid is that it can help heal any scarring or hyper-pigmentation once your pimple calms down! That's a win-win.