Hormonal acne
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An everyday name, not a formal diagnosis, for breakouts that follow hormone shifts: around periods, pregnancy, perimenopause, or starting or stopping the pill. It often shows up along the chin and jawline.
You might notice
- spots along your chin and jawline
- breakouts that flare around your period
- acne that started or came back in adulthood
- spots after starting or stopping the pill
- acne alongside irregular periods or extra hair growth
- breakouts during pregnancy or perimenopause
Who can help
- Nichola Weir · Licensed Esthetician · Integrative Acne SpecialistProfile →
- Dr. Michelle Cárdenas, ND · Naturopathic Doctor (ND)Also works with PCOS (now also called PMOS)Profile →
- Dr. Rachel Alioto · Naturopathic Doctor (ND)Also works with PCOS (now also called PMOS)Profile →
An esthetician is the place to start for skin care, and a naturopathic doctor if you'd like to look at what's underneath.
See everyone for skin →Where it can overlap
- Acne
Hormonal acne is a form of acne. Established
- PCOS / PMOS
Hormonal acne can overlap with PCOS / PMOS. Established
- PMS
Hormonal acne can flare with PMS. Established
- After birth control
Hormonal acne can overlap with after birth control. Associated
- Hair changes
Hormonal acne can show up alongside hair changes. Associated
- Irregular periods
Hormonal acne can show up alongside irregular periods. Associated
2 more threads +Fewer threads −
- Blood sugar
Hormonal acne may be worth exploring alongside blood sugar. Emerging
- Skin changes
Hormonal acne can be part of skin changes. Woo exploration
Established: well documented · Associated: linked, not a cause · Emerging: early research · Woo exploration: worth exploring, not yet sourced. A link isn't a cause.
Keep exploring
7 sources · how we checked
Everything on this page was researched from clinical guidance, government health sources and published reviews first, then single studies. Where a connection is only worth exploring, it says so.
- Adult acne American Academy of Dermatology · Professional medical organisation
- Adult Acne: What Causes It and What To Do About It Cleveland Clinic · 2024 · Academic medical centre
- Hyperandrogenism: What It Is, Symptoms & Treatment Cleveland Clinic · 2025 · Academic medical centre
- PMS (premenstrual syndrome) NHS (UK National Health Service) · 2024 · Government health source
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine (NIH) · 2026 · Government health source
- Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) NHS (UK National Health Service) · 2026 · Government health source
- Should You Try a Birth Control Cleanse? Cleveland Clinic · 2022 · Academic medical centre
A note from Woo: Body Map is here to help you explore and ask better questions. It isn't a diagnostic tool or a substitute for medical care. Relationships shown here represent areas that may be associated or worth exploring, not a diagnosis or statement of cause.
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