Monthly blemishes or spots related to periods
Period-related breakouts manifests often as red spots (with or without pus), mostly around the chin or mouth area. Breakouts typically occur in the days before a period and in the early days of the cycle.
Cleansing is an important step in skincare. If you wear oil-based makeup or SPF during the day, use a gentle oil-based makeup remover, then follow with a cleanser. A gentle cleanser is half the battle won in skin health, so choose your cleanser wisely.
Daily Skincare Routine
For monthly blemishes or spots related to periods
AM:
1. Rinse face with cold water.
2. Apply Vitamin C Serum in Oil to the whole face + massage particularly well over the spot with this serum. The powerful antioxidants and soothing elements help speed the inflammatory cycle of the spots. The serum in oil also nourishes and repairs the skin barrier. The vitamin C also helps with the prevention of deep scarring.
3. Take Skin & Biotics Food Supplement (2 capsules at once) to assist in the monthly rebalancing of hormones.
PM:
1. Cleanse face with Triple Action Cleanser + cold water to rinse. This concentrated cleanser doesn't foam and only a small amount is needed. It mildly exfoliates and adds probiotic. Pat dry leaving a little bit of moisture for the next step.
2. Massage over the spots with Vitamin C Serum in Oil .
3. Apply Regulating Cream (for dry skin, mix 1 drop of Vitamin C Serum in Oil with Regulating Cream), and apply to whole face to regulate bacteria and prevent future blemishes.
Nutrition
Based on the new science of nutrition, healthy eating now has a new purpose. Given the overarching importance of our gut microbiome in overall health and skin health, we should be choosing foods to feed our gut microbiome. To improve menstrual breakouts, a skin problem related to hormones, we should also prioritise food to help balance our hormones.
Foods that help feed our microbiome are:
- Fibre-rich fruits and vegetables such as oats, broccoli, bananas, apples, cabbage, etc.
- Diversity of plant based foods - aim for a minimum of 30- 35 different foods (including herbs, spices, seeds, fruits, vegetables) per week to improve the diversity of the gut microbiome .
Foods that help restore hormone balance are:
- Healthy fats such as olive oil, flaxseed, crushed hemp seeds, avocado, nuts.
- Omega 3s (fish oil or omega 3 supplements).
Increase consumption of phytoestrogens:
- Soy products like edamame, tofu, miso.
- Flaxseeds crushed, garlic, sesame seeds.
Reduce sugar:
- Higher sugar (including simple carbs) produce more insulin. More insulin leads to more androgens. More androgens lead to more sebum and potentially to acne or spots.
- In ageing skin, sugar leads to premature ageing in a process called glycation. Glycation damages collagen and elastin and can't be reversed, leading to sagging skin and wrinkles.
Lifestyle
Exercise increases blood flow, and blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells around the body, including the skin. Physical movement is also key in hormone balancing. Any form of exercise works, from fast walking to resistance training like weightlifting. Find an activity you like to do, and you're more likely to stick with it.
Managing stress is another key element of heath and healthy skin. Incorporate some kind of breathing exercises into your life, even if it's just a few minutes each day. Yoga is a great way to combine physical and breathing exercises. In sustained periods of stress, we recommend taking our Skin & Stress Food Supplement, rich in antioxidants and magnesium.
Improve your sleep and take time out to relax. Stress is an aggravating factor for skin breakouts, and many people suffer stress without recognising the symptoms.
